Wrestling

WC Rustin using White’s OJR roots to progress in pin party vs. WC East

by
Nate Heckenberger
February 15, 2023

WEST GOSHEN >> In some regards, West Chester Rustin coach, Aston White, can likely relate to many of his wrestlers, and in other regards, he likely hopes to see more of himself in more of his wrestlers.

A scrappy, tough-minded wrestler in his day as a lightweight at Owen J. Roberts, White certainly surpassed the of the expectations of many.

Now, White is tasked with transferring that know-how to a Rustin roster that is built more for a breakout than a culmination. Slowly, but surely, the Golden Knights are coming along, and Wednesday they overcame West Chester East, 42-36, in a non-league dual meet that had 11 pins and two forfeits.

West Chester Rustin’s Roman Seaman. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“It’s a good way to end the season,” White said. “It’s nice to finish on a high note. We’re making too many mistakes, still, but we still have time to clean it up. We’re progressing and peaking at the right time.”

White joined the Rustin staff in 2017 when Brad Harkins was the head man, and four years later their roles were reversed. White has found a way to marry Owen J. principles with Rustin’s foundation, adding a couple other former Wildcats, Dom Petrucelli and Ryan Resnick, to the staff.

Despite a lack of star power, Rustin has had a challenging schedule, highlighted by trips to the Parkland Duals and the Mid-Winter Mayhem tournament. It was the way White was taught, and it’s the way he hopes to build the Golden Knights back up.

West Chester Rustin’s Jimmy Boland. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“Obviously we’re young, but I don’t want to keep harping on that,” White said. “Next year we’ll have essentially the same team, and our schedule is done by science. We wrestle a tough schedule and take our lumps and get beat up and wrestle tough kids, and at the end of the season we’re ready to eat nails.”

Some of that showed against East. In a key match at 121 pounds, Rustin’s Jimmy Boland shook off a 3-0 deficit and used a cement mixer to pin Mus’ab Hussein. In the following bout, Shane Barry (127 pounds) got his first win of the season with a second-period fall for the Knights (5-7).

West Chester Rustin’s Charlie Emmonds locks up a cradle against West Chester East’s Drake Buddenhagen at 133 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“We’re not reinventing the wheel,” White said. “(Owen J. coach Steve) DeRafelo had a system in place and did it year after year after year. We’re taking what he taught us and adding our own flavor to it. It’s going to take time, but the kids are starting to buy in and starting to have success, and that’s important because it makes them want to work harder.”

Following a pin by Rustin’s Charlie Emmonds (133), East (10-12) went on a three-bout blitz with pins from Jefferson Cooper (139), Max Parnis (145) and Ashton Sylvia (152).

Pins by Roman Seaman (160), Gavin Seaman (172) and Michael Labus (189) clinched the dual for Rustin, who finishes its regular season slate at the Panther Invitational, Saturday, at WIlliam Tennent High.

West Chester Rustin’s Gavin Seaman. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“It’s been a tough start, but we’re working hard in the room and learning a lot from our mistakes,” Gavin Seaman said. “We’re focusing on what we do best and how we can improve.”

The Seaman brothers get a chance to test themselves against Resnick, who placed fifth in the state as a 160-pound senior for OJR.

“He beats me up, but it’s a great learning experience,” Gavin Seaman said of Resnick. “It only helps me get better.”

West Chester East’s Zach McFarlane works on a headlock against West Chester Rustin’s Leo Flores at 107 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

East also got pins from Zach McFarlane (107) and Justin Williams (215).

“I think we need to work harder as a team,” East coach John Gallo said. “I think hard work will solve a lot of our problems. We need to get grittier and we need to learn how to out-work our opponent.”

West Chester East’s Max Parnis. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

The Vikings completed their regular season and will start their postseason at the District 1-3A Section West tournament at Oxford, February 25. Parnis is currently at 96 career wins, Gallo is hoping he can get back to Hershey with some company.

“I’m excited about our seniors, heading into the postseason,” Gallo said. They’re all wrestling well at the right time.”