Downingtown West Wrestling was successful in defeating their top Ches-Mont rival West Chester Henderson 48-17. The evening started with the upcoming junior varsity team. The Whippet’s JV team wrestled eleven matches and finished with a final score of 28-19. This is the future of Downingtown Wrestling and we’re very proud of our JV team!!!

The Varsity match started at the 275 pound weight class. Alex Bause was up against a very tough Kasey Caslin. Alex had a takedown, a reversal and an escape to lead 5-4 with ten seconds left. Then, Caslin got a quick reversal to win the match 6-5. This was the only lead that Henderson would have against the Whippets all night. Rob Akers (103) pinned Tim Boate to begin Downingtown night of domination. Akers took Boate down to his back and pinned him in the first period (1:27). Pat May followed with a pin of his own at 3:12 after leading 7-0 in the first period. The pinning row continued when D.J. Evans got a cradle on Rob Byrnes with just twelve seconds left in the first period.  The final pin from the lightweights came from Jason Scanlon which brought the score up to 24-3.  Jason got a takedown and two back points before getting the slap at one minute even.

The 130 pound contest was more evenly matched, with Chris Uhler wrestling Steve Hess. Hess scored the first takedown. After being slammed on the hardwood, Uhler escaped to bring the score 2-1. Uhler escaped in the third to tie the score 2-2. Hess scored a takedown late in the third period to win the match 4-2. Jake Miller (135) wrestled another close bout against Luke Speers, winning 8-7. Jake scored a take down first, followed by an immediate escape. With the score 2-1, Jake managed another takedown with a cross ankle pick. Speers got a questionable reversal, making the score 4-3. Jake let Speers up in the third, just to take him down to his back for two. At 8-4, Speers escaped and took Miller down with a final score of 8-7. Steve Rathfon (140) worked from his feet for a tech fall over Taylor Breslin with 26 seconds remaining in the third period.

The tide slightly turned for Henderson at 145, when Jim Norley got a second period pin on Matt McDonough. With the score 32-12 in Downingtown’s favor, Josh Homer (152) got the win against Hunter Smith. Josh worked hard to get the first takedown at the one minute mark. He then tilted Hunter for another three in the second period. He was reversed and countered a leg ride with a great block before getting the reversal for a final score of 7-2. Henderson’s Sean Breslin (160) teched Nate Mewhort in the second period, bringing the score to 35-17. This was the last team points West Chester would receive.

The 171 pound match was the best of the night! Throughout the season, Paul Roseberry has had a way of winning the close ones! Against a tough opponent, Paul got the 7-2 decision. Dando Speers managed the first take down and Paul escaped. In the second period Paul escaped right away to tie it up. Paul fought his way back and dug out a take down in the last seconds of the second period to move ahead.  Speers gave up a point for unsportsmanlike conduct when he intentionally smacked Paul. This only motivated Paul to get a last take down with five seconds left to make the score 7-2.  Joe deGaravilla overwhelmed Gary Brown 9-1.  He used three take downs and a tilt to bring the team score to 42-17.  The evening was topped off by Nojan Zommorodian returning to his former school with a quick pin of Mike Mulqueen (1:46).

Read the article by NATE HECKENBERGER, Staff Writer for the Daily Local.