Chesmont League wrestling continued Wednesday night (1/24) and the Cougars travelled down to Avon Grove to take on the Devils. The two teams have been at a few of the same competitions this season, but have not crossed dircect paths. With Chesmont placing implications, East was able to hold the line in a back-and-forth affair that saw them put on an average, but winning performance. The Cougars won the dual 43-31, and Keanu Manuel (106), Kyle Mittelstadt (126), Matt Romanelli (160), Spencer Uggla (170), Josh Wileczek (195), and Zach Aceto (285) collected falls. Lukas Richie (132) and Brett Horne (138) earned decisions to round out the scoring. Alex Hillestad (113) delivered a great performance as he staved off a major decision despite being undersized. Although it wasn’t their greatest outing, the Cougars know the season is long and more challenges await them. It’s time to get back to fundamentals and prepare for next week’s league conclusion at Boyer Gymnasium.
Month: January 2018
The Cougars bounce back at the Denver Duals!
After a tough midweek loss against district rivals, East wrestling decided to respond and compete at the level they know they’re capable of. Travelling to Cocalico HS on Saturday for their annual “Denver Duals,” the Cougars posted a 4-1 record on the day and lost a close one in the championship dual. They defeated Westtown 49-30, Allentown Central Catholic 66-14, Solanco 54-29, and Garden Spot 42-41, but fell to eventual champions Cocalico 32-39 in a hotly contested final. Junior captain Lukas Richie (126) went 5-0 on the day and recorded his 100th win! Senior captain Josh Wileczek (195) also went 5-0 and continued to perform with great leadership. Keanu Manuel (106), Kyle Mittelstadt (132), Jett Lucas-Murphy (145), and Zach Aceto (285) all finished 4-1, while emerging sophomore PJ Grubb (182) went 3-1. Congrats to the Cougars for getting back on track and setting the stage for a competitive finish to the regular season. Good luck this week with Chesmont League action coming back into the fold!
East falls in the Battle of the Brandywine!
Despite the cold and snow, Downingtown East Wrestling hosted crosstown rivals Downingtown West on Wednesday night (1/17) for an evening of wrestling action. The “Battle of the Brandywine” always promises some excitement for the entire Downingtown wrestling community, and this edition was no exception! At the finish, West claimed the title with a 43-18 victory, but East captured 4 victories and held firm in some of the defeats. Keanu Manuel (106) and Jett Lucas-Murphy (145) recorded falls for the Cougars while Matt Romanelli (160) and Josh Wileczek (195) picked up decisions. With a number of young and inexperienced guys in the line-up, East showed that it has promise and that their future along the Brandywine and in the Chesmont League depends on how they bounce back. Good luck this coming weekend at Cocalico!
The Blue and Gold return to the Big Red!
This past weekend (1/13) saw the Cougar grapplers head back up the Northeast extension to Souderton HS and the Big Red Duals. The 16-team event brings in competition from all over the region and beyond to battle it out for a dual meet championship. After a day’s worth of wrestling action, the Cougars took 5th place going 3-1 on the day. They defeated Penncrest 51-18, Pennsbury 56-19, and Methacton 46-25, but fell in the quarterfinals to host Souderton 27-36. Keanu Manuel (106), Lukas Richie (126), and Josh Wileczek (195) were undefeated on the day going a perfect 4-0. Jett Lucas-Murphy (145), Matt Romanelli (160), and Zach Aceto (285) all went 3-1. Congratulations to East for staying tough on a long day and continuing to improve despite the odds!
Downingtown East pressures but falls short against the Warriors!
On Wednesday 1/10, East wrestling hosted it’s home opener against league foe West Chester Henderson. The Cougars unveiled their new home mat and put the pressure on a more experienced Henderson team. At the end of the evening, East fell 27-36, but for much of the match, the younger Cougars had the WCH crowd on edge. Josh Wileczek (195), Keanu Manuel (113), Kyle Mittelstadt (132), and Brett Horne (138) recorded falls for East, while Lukas Richie (126) secured a crucial decision. In the final bout at 182 lbs., freshman Matt Romanelli went the distance with highly ranked senior Ray Martin, losing a tight 3-2 decision. The Cougars showed great effort in their performance, but know that it will take even more to get on the winning side of duals like this. Good luck this weekend at Souderton’s Big Red Duals!
East keeps climbing at the cage!
Over this past weekend, the Cougar grapplers travelled down to the edge of Chester County to once again “Rage in the Cage” at Garnet Valley HS. The 8-team event promises each team three duals, but only one can be crowned champion. East battled their way to the finals beating Interboro 58-13 and Wilson-Westlawn 34-32. In the championship dual, the Cougars fell to WC Rustin 36-38, but the contest was epic. Each team finished with 7 weight classes won, but Rustin captured a bit more bonus. Congrats go out to the champions from West Chester, but also to the Cougars who continue to squeeze the competition despite their overall youth. Keanu Manuel (106), Lukas Richie (132), Matt Romanelli (170), and Josh Wileczek (195) all finished with unblemished 3-0 records on the day. This coming Wednesday, WC Henderson comes to East for our home opener and second league match. Good luck Cougars!
The Cougars win the Battle of Route 100!
On Wednesday 1/3, Downingtown East Wrestling travelled down the Chester County artery known as Route 100 to take on the West Chester East Vikings. Joined by their younger brothers from Lionville Middle School, the Cougars competed in this third annual event that features two duals, DEHS v. WCE, and Lionville v. Fugett MS. The wrestling action took center stage as D-East defeated the Vikings 36-31 in a series of hotly contested battles. Alex Hillestad (106), Lukas Richie (132), and Josh Wileczek (195) recorded falls for their team, while Keanu Manuel (113), Brett Horne (138), Jett Lucas-Murphy (145) and Jack Lawton (160) collected the winning decisions. The win gives the Cougars an opening victory in the Chesmont League and a springboard for this coming weekend’s duals at Garnet Valley. Go EAST!
Downingtown East reclaims lost title!
With a relentless team effort, the Downingtown East wrestlers took back a familiar championship over the New Year’s weekend! Returning to the 28-team Ralph Wetzel Classic at Hatboro-Horsham HS after falling several spots in the team finish last season had many of the Cougars anxious to get back. The team did not disappoint! After a hard-fought two days of competition, East reclaimed the team title with a haul of 175 points, surging above second place finishers Hatboro-Horsham who settled with 142. Keanu Manuel (106) and Lukas Richie (132) captured individual titles, while Brett Horne (138) finished with silver. Josh Wileczek (195) took home the bronze, Kyle Mittelstadt (126) and Matt Romanelli (170) came in 4th, Jett Lucas-Murphy (145) captured 5th, and Spencer Uggla (160) picked up a fall to secure 7th. In the Junior Varsity competition, Will Vincent (138) charged to his first title, while Billy Dyer (182) and Zach Sharaf (285) wrestled back hard for 3rd. Congratulations go out to the young Cougars for wrestling for each other, and putting together their best performance yet! ChesMont league competition starts after the holiday, so the celebration must be short-lived and the focus reset. Good luck Couga
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Downingtown East Wrestling 