Month: March 2020

The first weekend in March brings the final stage of the PIAA Wrestling season. Beginning Wednesday, and running the gauntlet through Saturday, wrestlers from across the great state of Pennsylvania kick and scratch for a coveted place on the PIAA podium. For Downingtown East, three brave young men took to the mats at Hershey’s GIANT Center and gave every last drop of strength they had to compete with the state’s best. Keanu Manuel (1-2, 106 lbs.), Ryan Loraw (0-2, 113 lbs.), and Matt Romanelli (2-2, 170 lbs.) fought tooth and nail to secure some hardware for the Cougars, but the wrestling fates pulled some tough strings and they were left with valuable experience and lasting memories to build on. On a positive note, these three are underclassmen, and will most certainly gather and set new goals for 2020 – 2021. Downingtown East Wrestling is proud of the three state qualifiers as well as the rest of the squad for a resurgent 19-20 season! Many thanks for your efforts and best of luck in the days ahead! Remember the tracks you have left behind and break out the tools to forge the new road ahead! INVICTUS

This final weekend of February saw the remaining Cougar grapplers bring their skills to the SEPA Regional Tournament at Soudrton HS. This event is the final qualifier for the PIAA State Tournament and only 5 place-finishers from each weight progress. The action was fierce, and in the end, East placed 6^th out 53 teams and qualified 3 wrestlers for the final competition in Hershey. Keanu Manuel (106) and Matt Romanelli (170) were crowned champions and Ryan Loraw (113) defied the odds and pushed strong to snatch 4^th place. These 3 will look to get on the podium next week at Pennsylvania’s greatest sports competition, the PIAA State Wrestling Championships. Congrats go out to them and their teammates Bo Horvath (2-2, 152), Spencer Uggla (0-2, 160), Ray Wileczek (0-2, 220), and Zach Aceto (1-2, 285) who battled to the end in Souderton. Best of luck to the remaining 3 as dreams are either confirmed or crushed in Hershey, but the memories are worth more than gold. GOOD LUCK!