Wrestling

Chamberlain punctuates Malvern’s first-ever team title at Prep states

by
Nate Heckenberger
February 18, 2023

MERCERSBURG >> After a day of building momentum, Malvern Prep’s proverbial cork popped in one thrilling turn of events in the 165-pound final at the Pennsylvania Independent Schools wrestling tournament, Saturday.

Shaking off an early takedown, Malvern freshman, Brian Chamberlain, took Hill School’s Colby Isabelle to the mat, ran a half nelson and eventually moved out front to finish an 83-second pin that put the exclamation point on Malvern Prep’s first-ever team title.

Nate Rickards’ win in the 150-pound final, two bouts prior, officially clinched the team race for the Friars, but Chamberlain’s shocking slam of the mat sent the Friars into a frenzy.

Malvern Prep’s Brian Chamberlain celebrates after pinning Hill School’s Colby Isabelle in the 165-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“It’s a great thing,” Chamberlain said. “Helping this team win is amazing. If you would’ve told me five years ago I’d be starting here as a freshman, ending (Wyoming Seminary’s) streak, I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s kind of a lot to take in.”

Of all the success Malvern has found the last decade, chasing down a team title at prep states was its white whale. A year ago the Friars led heading into the finals, only to finish runner up to Wyoming Seminary, who had a streak of 15 straight team titles.

That is, until the Friars had the finals of their lives. Thirteen of them made it, and Lukas Littleton Mascaro (113 pounds), Nik O’Neill (126), Jack Consiglio (132) and Spencer Barnhart (138) earned golds, along with Rickards and Chamberlain, to put this team in the history books.

Malvern Prep’s Nate Rickards. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“It’s a ridiculously good feeling,” Malvern coach Nate Lautar said. “Since I started coaching 18, 19 years ago, Wyoming Sem has won it 15 straight times, so to do it with homegrown talent from our club who’ve been here since day one, it’s amazing. It’s been one of our goals, especially for the seniors, and we finally had the right pieces come in place.”

Chamberlain wasn’t even expected to be one of those places. It wasn’t until three weeks or so ago he found out he’d be in the starting lineup due to an injury to Duncan Christensen.

“He’s not really a backup,” Lautar said of Chamberlain. “He’s a kid who’s put in the time and works hard.”

Malvern Prep’s Brian Chamberlain. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Isabelle finished second at prep states a year ago and is a two-time fifth-place finisher at Prep Nationals, where all 14 Friars will be heading next Friday and Saturday. Chamberlain will be going with a full head of steam.

“I went in knowing I could it,” Chamberlain said. “Whether it’s a senior or a freshman, I’m giving them a little respect, but knowing they’re beatable.”

Malvern Prep’s Lukas Littleton Mascaro cradles Wyoming Seminary’s Wyatt Fry in a 5-2 win in the 113-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Tyler Conroy (106), a fellow West Chester resident, started the finals battling Sem’s Davis Motyka in a 3-1 loss.

Littleton Mascaro got Malvern in the win column with a 5-2 win over an eighth-grader from Sem, Wyatt Fry.

“I’ve been working all year with the team to get as good as I can,” Littleton Mascaro said. “I’ve been grinding it out, trying to get as much out of it as I can.”

Malvern Prep’s Nik O’Neill. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Two bouts later, O’Neill avenged an offseason loss to Sem’s Mathew Botello with a 3-0 victory. It was also his 100th career win and second straight state title.

“It’s pretty cool,” O’Neill said. “I lost to him over the summer, so to beat him and get my 100th, it’s pretty cool.”

Like Rickards, Consiglio and Barnhart won their first titles after runner-up performances a year ago. Consiglio found a cradle early for a 52-second pin.

Barnhart was every bit as dominant in a 16-3 win over Hill School’s Cole Albert.

“It was tough the last two times, finishing second,” Barnhart said. “It feels good to come out on top.”

Malvern Prep’s Spencer Barnhart takes down Hill School’s Cole Albert in a major decision victory in the 138-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Tommy Link (120), SP O’Donnell (144), Reed Fullmer (157), Nick Wehmeyer (190), Stosh Zalota (215) and Phil Tabasso (285) placed second, and eighth-grader, Lukas Zalota (175), earned third.

Westtown School finished 11th out of 17 teams. Ryder Tookes (106) ,Ryan Tookes (113) and Sam Olojo (190) were the highest-placers, finishing fifth.

Westtown’s Ryan Tookes works during a major decision against Germantown Friends’ Theo Molot at 113 pounds. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

“I could’ve wrestled better,” Ryan Tookes said. “I lost to a kid in the consi semis I beat before, but I feel pretty good getting fifth. I just know I could’ve done better.”

Luke Holgate (138) was sixth for the Moose, Titus Henderson (175) was seventh and Jack Bartholomae (120) and Santi Benbow (15) finished eighth.

Malvern Prep celebrates its first-ever team title at the prep state tournament. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Team Standings (top 11)

Malvern Prep, 318; 2. Wyoming Seminary, 305; 3. William Penn Charter, 126.5; 4. Hill School, 116.5; 5. Western Reserve (OH), 95.5; 6. Haverford School, 92.5; 7. Academy of the New Church, 82.5; 9. Germantown Academy, 72; 10. Episcopal Academy, 67.5; 11. Westtown School, 57.5

Championship Finals

106- Motyka (Wyoming Seminary) dec. Conroy (Malvern Prep), 3-1

113- Littleton Mascaro (Malvern Prep) dec. Fry (Wyoming Seminary), 5-2

120- Lilledahl (Wyoming Seminary) dec. Link (Malvern Prep), 3-1

126- O’Neill (Malvern Prep) dec. Botello (Wyoming Seminary), 3-0

132- Consiglio (Malvern Prep) pinned Trujillo (Wyoming Seminary), :52

138- Barnhart (Malvern Prep) maj. dec. Albert (Hill School), 16-3

144- Cartella (Western Reserve) dec. O’Donnell (Malvern Prep), 6-2

150- Rickards (Malvern Prep) dec. Crawford (Wyoming Seminary), 3-2

157- Sealey (Wyoming Seminary) maj. dec. Fullmer (Malvern Prep), 16-7

165- B. Chamberlain (Malvern Prep) pinned Isabelle (Hill School), 1:23

175- Federici (Wyoming Seminary) dec. Glomb (Penn Charter), 6-2