PENNSBURY WRESTLING:Grapplers looking to extend season

Led by top seed Matt Johnson, Falcons looking to go far

By Steve Sherman; Sports Editor

February 4 was a long night for the Pennsbury High School wrestling team as it saw its dual-match season come to a close with a 42-19 loss to Council Rock North.

What’s more, senior Matt Johnson suffered his first loss of the season when he moved up to 189 pounds and was pinned by Rock North’s Jamie Callender in the second period.

Now it’s a whole new ballgame with sectionals beginning 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning at Abington High School.

Johnson (28-1) enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed at 189 pounds. If he finishes in the top four, he’ll advance to the District One South Class AAA tourney slated for Feb. 21 at Council Rock North.

Johnson is looking to make it to states set to take place early next month at Hershey’s Giant Center. Matt has a very good chance to see his wish through.

The senior grappler spent last season wrestling and attending classes at Valley Forge Military Academy and finished third working the mat at 215 pounds in the Independent School League Tournament. Johnson finished fifth at sectionals in his sophomore campaign at Pennsbury.
Though he spent last year competing for another school, his teammates thought enough of Johnson to elect him a co-captain.

“He’s well respected by the young men on the team,” stated Head Coach Joe Kiefer. “And he’s obviously had a very successful season with his 28 wins.”

Junior Mark Nicholson (19-3) is another Falcon with a good chance to go far in individual action set to take place over the next four weeks. Last year, Nicholson punched his ticket to regionals after defeating Paul Ebert, of Council Rock South in district consolations.

With a 33-12 record entering regionals at 135 pounds, Nicholson thought he’d go far--at least make it to states.

He did not.

“He’s hoping to make it to regionals and do well this year in that tournament,” stated Kiefer. “He wants to avenge last year in all three levels this year--by doing well in sectionals, districts and regionals.”

Nicholson is seeded second and will go at 140 pounds in individual tourneys.

Senior co-captain Matt Funk--a No. 4 seed at sectionals--is also having a nice campaign in his final season at Pennsbury. After going 28-17 last year, Funk came back with a 22-8 mark this year.

“Winning 22 matches out of 30 opportunities is a good year for any wrestler, “ said Kiefer.
A three-year varsity wrestler and district qualifier the past two seasons, Funk helped the Falcons nip William Tennent in a mid-January matchup in hostile territory. With his team trailing 33-29, Funk came through with a major decision to lock the sides at 33-all. Pennsbury won the match on the first criteria--they’d won more matches than did the Panthers.

“He’s won some matches over the years that were big matches,” stated Kiefer. “We needed a major decision there against Tennent and he came through--helped seal our win that evening.”
Brian Kahil is another senior having a good year, just one win shy of 20 at 19-11. A wrestler who finished second at sectionals last year, Kahil came into the PHS program with no elementary school experience.

Over the last three seasons, Kiefer says the 130-pounder has blossomed into a solid mat performer.

“He really came into his own when he entered grades 10 and above,” stated the coach. “We are real happy with the kind of progress that he’s made.

“He’s turned into a very strong wrestler.”

Of all the grapplers, sophomore Conlan Cornman (20-10) 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.

“Josh has to be the most pleasant surprise on the team,” said Kiefer. “Winning 20 matches is an accomplishment that speaks well for his future.”

Sophomore Jeff Leib (13-8) has had a solid season, too, winning 13 matches his first year on the varsity mat. He is seeded fourth at sectionals.

Junior Josh Mitchell had a fine year, coming out ahead in 23 of the 30 bouts that he wrestled. Josh is seeded at No. 2 in tomorrow’s tournament.

Junior Kevin Bree (15-11) will work the mat at 215 pounds at sectionals.

Last year, Bree wrestled at 160 pounds but grew into a 189-pounder in the offseason. At sectionals, he’ll wrestle at 215 pounds seeded fifth in the tourney.

“He’s a strong young man and getting better,” said Kiefer. “We’re hoping he’ll be able to extend his season for a couple more weeks.”

Among the group still on the team, the district qualifiers at Pennsbury last year included Funk, Kahil (fifth at districts) and Nicholson (third at districts).
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NOTES: Junior Josh Dziewa (119) and senior Ed Shupe (160) also went to regionals last year along with Joe Erb (215) and Joe Valenzano (189). Shupe and Dziewa have since transferred to Council Rock South; the other two graduated from Pennsbury.

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WT./Gr. NAME RECORD
103/So. - Robert Daniels, (6-9)
112/So. - Jeff Lieb, (13-8)
119/Sr. - Pat Hyland, (16-12)
125/So. – Anthony Argenti, (12-17)
130/Sr. - Matt Funk, (22-8)
135/Sr. - Brian Kahil, (19-11)
140/Jr. - Mark Nicholson, (19-3)
145/So. - Stephan Healy, (7-19)
152/Jr. - George Peel, (11-19)
160/So. - Conlan Cornman, (20-10)
171/Sr. - Ray Robinson, (0-2)
189/Sr. - Matt Johnson, (28-1) no. 1 seed
215/Jr. - Kevin Bree, (15-11)
285/Jr. - Joshua Mitchell, (23-7)
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Postseason Mat Schedule
Sat. Feb. 14 District 1 AAA Section 1
at Abington HS 9:30 am
Sat. Feb. 21 District 1 AAA South
at Council Rock North HS 9:30 am
Fri. Feb 27 South East AAA Regional
at Oxford HS 5:00 pm
Sat. Feb. 28 South East AAA Regional
at Oxford HS