PENNSBURY:
Season of misfortune winding down
Pennsbury’s seven mat men push into districts
By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
This grappling campaign has been a season of misfortune for Pennsbury.
If it wasn’t for bad luck, the Falcons wouldn’t have had any at all.
In addition to losing two wrestlers who captured regional championships last year when senior Eddie Shupe and junior Josh Dziewa transferred to Council Rock South, Pennsbury has lost to injury combatants in numerous weight classes.
At 103 pounds, with Joe Russo still out with injuries he sustained in an auto accident over a year ago, Kyle Martinowicz then suffered a concussion in a December bout that kept him out for the remainder of the season.
At 119, Jason Ongradi reinjured his back in the preseason and never even made it onto the mat. Same thing happened at 145 where Dave DeMaria suffered a shoulder injury in a scrimmage that kept him out the rest of the season. At 160, Mike Mills had to have shoulder surgery so that meant he was gone for the year. Finally at 171 pounds, Richie Applegate was lost when doctors decided he needed wrist surgery after the end of the football season.
With so many walking wounded, it’s no wonder the Falcons finished in eighth place--out of nine teams--Feb. 14 at sectionals.
“It’s very unusual for so many young wrestlers to sustain injuries that take them out of one season and carry over and take them out of the next,” stated PHS wrestling coach Joe Kiefer.
Adding insult to all those injuries was a late-season ailment that struck junior 140-pounder Mark Nicholson. After tallying 19 victories in 22 tries during the regular season, Nicholson came down with a cold that kept him out of school the week before sectionals.
The junior tried to recover in time for the postseason but was quickly eliminated at the section tourney.
Even so, Pennsbury had seven wrestlers who qualified for this weekend’s District One Class AAA tournament set to take place this Saturday at Council Rock North. That’s the same number as Council Rock South, which entered the season as defending district champion.
“For us to have as many wrestlers make it to districts as a program like Council Rock South I think it says a lot about the testament of our boys and those who have persevered throughout the season,” Kiefer stated.
Of all the grapplers wearing the orange and black this year, senior Matt Johnson has perhaps the best chance to make it to regionals and beyond.
After spending a year at Valley Forge Military Academy, Johnson posted a record of 28-1 this season, surpassing more than 100 wins wrestling as a 171-pounder for the Falcons.
Johnson bumped up to 189 late in the season and that is where he’ll remain throughout the rest of the postseason. At sectionals, Matt won two of his three matches, falling in the finale to CR North junior Jamie Callender, the only person to outpace the Pennsbury co-captain this year.
Johnson did not qualify for regionals two years ago as a sophomore and was not a member of a PIAA program last year. Still he is expected to make it to regionals and perhaps, beyond.
“Matt is our top wrestler--no doubt about it,” Kiefer commented.
Johnson decided to move up to 189 just before the end of the season.
“He thought that he could do a better job there--he would be less focused on maintaining his weight and more focused on his wrestling if he moved up,” Kiefer explained.
Regardless of weight class, Kiefer expects Johnson to fare well at districts.
“He’s a 189-pounder now and that’s where he’s focusing his energy,” the coach said. “We think he has a good chance to qualify for states.”
Senior Matt Funk is also looking to take his first trip to regionals. This is Funk’s third trip to the district tournament. Matt was looking for a third place showing at sectionals this year and would have had it were it not for a late maneuver by a Bensalem opponent in the consolation semifinals.
“Hopefully, he can turn things around at the districts,” said Kiefer. “We’d like to see him qualify for regionals and move on.”
Funk has his work cut out for him this weekend. His first bout in districts is against Upper Darby 125-pounder Joe Carney.
“He’ll really challenge Matt,” said Kiefer, of Carney. “[Matt] will have to have one of his best matches ever in order to beat [Carney].”
At 22-12, senior Brian Kahil is having a fine season working the mat at 130 pounds. Brian placed fifth at sectionals and will have to get past some tough competition including CR South sophomore Matt Martoccio (15-2), who captured a sectional crown at Abington.
“Toward the end of the season and continuing at sectionals he’s done some of his best wrestling of the season.
“It’ll be tough but he has an opportunity to finish top four and move on to regionals.
Of all the grapplers, sophomore Conlan Cornman (22-12) is having perhaps the most surprising season. Not only did the 10th-grader make the jump from JV to varsity this year, he also surrendered weight in just about every bout, wrestling up at 160 pounds.
Cornman went 2-2 at sectionals and made it as far as the Section One semis and consolation finals before falling to a 6th-place finish.
“Making it that far was a feather in his cap,” stated Kiefer. “He’ll have a tough go at districts but he’s capable of surprising us again.”
Sophomore Jeff Leib has also pleased the Pennsbury faithful.
“Jeff is right up there with Conlan when you start talking about who was a pleasant surprise for the coaches,” Kiefer commented.
“He did a good job as a JV wrestler last year--as Conlan did. This year, he stepped into the varsity lineup and has progressively improved.
“For them to make the jump to varsity and do as well as they have done is quite a feather in their cap.”
In addition to winning three of his four sectional matches, junior Josh Mitchell won the consolation final battling against Truman sophomore Tom Bremme. Mitchell pinned Bremme the first time out but the last two bouts have been close. Tied at 1-all at sectionals, Josh got a takedown at the edge of the mat just before the final buzzer to outpace the Tiger wrestler, 3-1, and capture a fifth-place trophy.
Junior Kevin Bree also won three out of four matches at sectionals, defeating Dan Clemenson of William Tennent 8-2 in the consolation finale.
“He got a lead and was able to finish the match strong,” Keifer explained.
“If he wrestles the way that he did in that final bout at sectionals, he’ll have a good chance to qualify for regionals.”
***
The District One-Class AAA tournament is slated to go tomorrow morning (Feb. 21) at Council Rock North. Regionals are scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 27-28 at Oxford High School.
As the next few weeks pass, mat fans will get a chance to see who is the best of the best in the Keystone State so stay tuned.
“At this point in the season, you’re getting down to some pretty good wrestlers all the way across,” stated Kiefer. “These are the top eight of 21 schools--it’s a pretty narrow filter that you have to get past.”
***
Pennsbury's D-I Qualifiers
WT/GR NAME REC. SECT. PLC
112/So. - Jeff Lieb, (15-10) 6th
125/Sr. - Matt Funk, (24-10) 6th
130/Sr. - Brian Kahil, (22-12) 5th
160/So. - Conlan Cornman, (22-12) 6th
189/Sr. - Matt Johnson, (30-2) 2nd
215/Jr. - Kevin Bree, (18-12) 5th
285/Jr. - Joshua Mitchell, (26-8) 5th
By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
This grappling campaign has been a season of misfortune for Pennsbury.
If it wasn’t for bad luck, the Falcons wouldn’t have had any at all.
In addition to losing two wrestlers who captured regional championships last year when senior Eddie Shupe and junior Josh Dziewa transferred to Council Rock South, Pennsbury has lost to injury combatants in numerous weight classes.
At 103 pounds, with Joe Russo still out with injuries he sustained in an auto accident over a year ago, Kyle Martinowicz then suffered a concussion in a December bout that kept him out for the remainder of the season.
At 119, Jason Ongradi reinjured his back in the preseason and never even made it onto the mat. Same thing happened at 145 where Dave DeMaria suffered a shoulder injury in a scrimmage that kept him out the rest of the season. At 160, Mike Mills had to have shoulder surgery so that meant he was gone for the year. Finally at 171 pounds, Richie Applegate was lost when doctors decided he needed wrist surgery after the end of the football season.
With so many walking wounded, it’s no wonder the Falcons finished in eighth place--out of nine teams--Feb. 14 at sectionals.
“It’s very unusual for so many young wrestlers to sustain injuries that take them out of one season and carry over and take them out of the next,” stated PHS wrestling coach Joe Kiefer.
Adding insult to all those injuries was a late-season ailment that struck junior 140-pounder Mark Nicholson. After tallying 19 victories in 22 tries during the regular season, Nicholson came down with a cold that kept him out of school the week before sectionals.
The junior tried to recover in time for the postseason but was quickly eliminated at the section tourney.
Even so, Pennsbury had seven wrestlers who qualified for this weekend’s District One Class AAA tournament set to take place this Saturday at Council Rock North. That’s the same number as Council Rock South, which entered the season as defending district champion.
“For us to have as many wrestlers make it to districts as a program like Council Rock South I think it says a lot about the testament of our boys and those who have persevered throughout the season,” Kiefer stated.
Of all the grapplers wearing the orange and black this year, senior Matt Johnson has perhaps the best chance to make it to regionals and beyond.
After spending a year at Valley Forge Military Academy, Johnson posted a record of 28-1 this season, surpassing more than 100 wins wrestling as a 171-pounder for the Falcons.
Johnson bumped up to 189 late in the season and that is where he’ll remain throughout the rest of the postseason. At sectionals, Matt won two of his three matches, falling in the finale to CR North junior Jamie Callender, the only person to outpace the Pennsbury co-captain this year.
Johnson did not qualify for regionals two years ago as a sophomore and was not a member of a PIAA program last year. Still he is expected to make it to regionals and perhaps, beyond.
“Matt is our top wrestler--no doubt about it,” Kiefer commented.
Johnson decided to move up to 189 just before the end of the season.
“He thought that he could do a better job there--he would be less focused on maintaining his weight and more focused on his wrestling if he moved up,” Kiefer explained.
Regardless of weight class, Kiefer expects Johnson to fare well at districts.
“He’s a 189-pounder now and that’s where he’s focusing his energy,” the coach said. “We think he has a good chance to qualify for states.”
Senior Matt Funk is also looking to take his first trip to regionals. This is Funk’s third trip to the district tournament. Matt was looking for a third place showing at sectionals this year and would have had it were it not for a late maneuver by a Bensalem opponent in the consolation semifinals.
“Hopefully, he can turn things around at the districts,” said Kiefer. “We’d like to see him qualify for regionals and move on.”
Funk has his work cut out for him this weekend. His first bout in districts is against Upper Darby 125-pounder Joe Carney.
“He’ll really challenge Matt,” said Kiefer, of Carney. “[Matt] will have to have one of his best matches ever in order to beat [Carney].”
At 22-12, senior Brian Kahil is having a fine season working the mat at 130 pounds. Brian placed fifth at sectionals and will have to get past some tough competition including CR South sophomore Matt Martoccio (15-2), who captured a sectional crown at Abington.
“Toward the end of the season and continuing at sectionals he’s done some of his best wrestling of the season.
“It’ll be tough but he has an opportunity to finish top four and move on to regionals.
Of all the grapplers, sophomore Conlan Cornman (22-12) is having perhaps the most surprising season. Not only did the 10th-grader make the jump from JV to varsity this year, he also surrendered weight in just about every bout, wrestling up at 160 pounds.
Cornman went 2-2 at sectionals and made it as far as the Section One semis and consolation finals before falling to a 6th-place finish.
“Making it that far was a feather in his cap,” stated Kiefer. “He’ll have a tough go at districts but he’s capable of surprising us again.”
Sophomore Jeff Leib has also pleased the Pennsbury faithful.
“Jeff is right up there with Conlan when you start talking about who was a pleasant surprise for the coaches,” Kiefer commented.
“He did a good job as a JV wrestler last year--as Conlan did. This year, he stepped into the varsity lineup and has progressively improved.
“For them to make the jump to varsity and do as well as they have done is quite a feather in their cap.”
In addition to winning three of his four sectional matches, junior Josh Mitchell won the consolation final battling against Truman sophomore Tom Bremme. Mitchell pinned Bremme the first time out but the last two bouts have been close. Tied at 1-all at sectionals, Josh got a takedown at the edge of the mat just before the final buzzer to outpace the Tiger wrestler, 3-1, and capture a fifth-place trophy.
Junior Kevin Bree also won three out of four matches at sectionals, defeating Dan Clemenson of William Tennent 8-2 in the consolation finale.
“He got a lead and was able to finish the match strong,” Keifer explained.
“If he wrestles the way that he did in that final bout at sectionals, he’ll have a good chance to qualify for regionals.”
***
The District One-Class AAA tournament is slated to go tomorrow morning (Feb. 21) at Council Rock North. Regionals are scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 27-28 at Oxford High School.
As the next few weeks pass, mat fans will get a chance to see who is the best of the best in the Keystone State so stay tuned.
“At this point in the season, you’re getting down to some pretty good wrestlers all the way across,” stated Kiefer. “These are the top eight of 21 schools--it’s a pretty narrow filter that you have to get past.”
***
Pennsbury's D-I Qualifiers
WT/GR NAME REC. SECT. PLC
112/So. - Jeff Lieb, (15-10) 6th
125/Sr. - Matt Funk, (24-10) 6th
130/Sr. - Brian Kahil, (22-12) 5th
160/So. - Conlan Cornman, (22-12) 6th
189/Sr. - Matt Johnson, (30-2) 2nd
215/Jr. - Kevin Bree, (18-12) 5th
285/Jr. - Joshua Mitchell, (26-8) 5th
Labels: Pennsbury, Pennsbury Wrestling, Wrestling
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