Once again, Pennsbury High School hosted their annual JV tournament and the Cougars travelled on 2/4 to meet the challenge. 13 team members made the trip and 7 of them were able to get on the medal stand. Spencer Uggla (145), Jett Lucas-Murphy (145), and Zach Aceto (220) came away with championships, while Kyle Mittelstadt (120) lost a close 1-0 final to secure 2ndplace. PJ Grubb (160) and Alex Hoke (220) battled through the consolation rounds to capture 3rd place medals and Praneeth Ramesh (138) just barely fell in the consolation finals to grab 4th. Congrats also go out to the other Cougars who wrestled hard and fell short of medal contention, but gained valuable experience as a result. There will be more JV action next weekend at Haverford, so the opportunity for more wrestling awaits!
Author: dtowneastwrestling
East wraps up dual meet season with final effort at Coatesville!
On Wednesday 2/1, the Cougar grapplers made their way over to Coatesville HS for the their final league match and final dual meet of the season. They were up against great odds as the Red Raiders were a team primed for taking the runners-up position in the Chesmont National. The contest was heated with points flying left and right! In the end, each team won 7 bouts contested, but the Raiders emerged victorious 37-31. Despite a great team performance, East’s forfeit was the difference. The Cougars got falls from Lucas Richie (113), Josh Wileczek (195), and Connor Birzes (138), while Kyle Mittelstadt (120), Brett Horne (132), Jack Lawton (170), and Brendan McGinley (285) picked up crucial decisions. East finished the dual meet season at 11-11 and tied for 4th in the league. The coaches, parents, and fans are extremely proud of the effort put forth by this young team; achieving a .500 record and avoiding the league basement after graduating 9 starters and watching a host of others leave for other interests is incredible. A heartfelt congratulations goes out to each team member, regardless of wins or losses. Best of luck to all as the infamous PIAA post-season draws near!
East snatches victory on “Senior Night!”
On Wednesday 1/25, Downingtown East Wrestling welcomed league opponent Avon Grove to Boyer Gymnasium, but also celebrated the contributions of their three senior wrestlers along with their parents. The night was a tremendous success as the Cougars beat the Devils 39-31 and secured their first league win of the season. Congrats go out to seniors Connor Birzes (138), Jake Neubaum (152), and Brendan McGinley (285) who helped to get the team out of the league basement. Lukas Richie (113), Kyle Mittelstadt (120), Brett Horne (132), Jack Lawton (160), and Zach Aceto (220) all registered pins in the effort. Jett Lucas-Murphy (145) picked up a much needed decision and rookie talent Will Vincent (126) fought hard to keep his loss to a major decision. With the win, the Cougars hopped themselves over the .500 mark and now look ahead to their final dual against Coatesville next week. Good luck to East as the dual meet season comes to a close and the post-season starts to emerge from the horizon!
The Cougars rumble at the Denver Duals!
On Saturday 1/21, Downingtown East Wrestling joined a number of District 3 teams in the first annual “Denver Duals” at Cocalico HS. In the 10 team event, the Cougars fought tooth and nail to collect a 2-3 record, getting themselves to a 10 win season despite all odds. East defeated Wilson Westlawn 39-32 and Strath Haven 45-31, while dropping duals to Garden Spot 49-23, Northern Lebanon 57-15, and Emmaus 45-34. Undefeated wrestlers on the day were Lukas Richie (120), Josh Wileczek (195), and Brendan McGinley (285). The team showed great effort and made good decisions on the mat to get their over-all record to .500. With the same mentality, East can target their next league match against Avon Grove and get themselves above the mark. Good luck Cougars!
East goes down in the “Battle of the Brandywine”
Downingtown East Wrestling rolled downhill on Wednesday night (1/18) to do battle with crosstown rivals Downingtown West. Known as the “Battle of the Brandywine,” the dual always delivers the wrestling champion of the Downingtown wrestling community. Downingtown West showed up and logged an impressive 57-7 score-line against the Cougars to claim the Brandywine crown. East only had two victors on the evening, Brendan McGinley (285) and Lukas Richie (120). With several first-year wrestlers in the line-up along with a forfeit, East was unable to dent the West line-up. D-West has a solid team and East is thankful that if anyone is going to wrest the league title from their hands, it is their crosstown rival who will keep it in the community. Good luck to West as the dual season finishes, and good luck to the Cougars as they look to improve in the remaining weeks!
D-East brings Blue and Gold to the Big Red!
Following Wednesday’s league contest, the Cougar grapplers had an early Saturday rise and journeyed up the Northeast Extension to compete in Souderton High School’s “Big Red Duals.” The 16-team bracketed event began at 8:00am, and battled though each round until completion. East secured 9th place after falling in the first round, but fighting back to win their last three. The Cougars lost to Wissahickon by a narrow 42-39 score, but bounced back to defeat Northeast 40-33, Pennsbury 35-34, and Penn Argyl 41-36. Lukas Richie (120), Brett Horne (132), Connor Birzes (145), and Brendan McGinley (285) went a perfect 4-0 on the day. Congrats also go out to Zach Aceto (220) who won by fall to clinch the Pennsbury dual, and Praneeth Ramesh (138) who wrestled up two weights to win a crucial match against Penn Argyl. The Cougars continue to scratch and claw for victories despite the odds. Next week, the league jumps back in to play and East will travel across town to take on district rivals D-West. Good luck to all!
WC Henderson outmatches the Cougars
On Wednesday 1/11, Chesmont league action continued for Downingtown East wrestling as the team travelled to the borough of West Chester to take on WC Henderson. The two teams definitely had some big guns to depend on, but Henderson’s overall balance and level of experience bested the Cougars. Falling 46-24, East did get outstanding performances from Brett Horne (132), Josh Wileczek (195), and Brendan McGinley (285) who all won by fall. Captains Connor Birzes (145) and Lukas Richie (120) also earned victories over key opponents. Once again, the Cougars made a valiant effort in the face of adversity as they forfeited two weights and sent out several first-year wrestlers. The league will continue, and opposition will be strong, but this East team seems to show its resilience no matter what. Good luck to them as they march on to the “Big Red Duals” at Souderton.
D-East takes 4th at “The Rage in the Cage!”
Eight wrestling teams, including your Cougars, collected at Garnet Valley’s annual “Rage in the Cage” event on Saturday 1/7. East was able to put themselves in the medal round by defeating Central Bucks East 39-36, but fell to hosts Garnet 52-24 in the semi’s, and Chichester in the 3rd place round 36-34. The 4thplace finish was shy of expectations, but lessons must be learned. East’s Lukas Richie (120) and Connor Birzes (145) went 3-0 on the day, while Brett Horne (132), Jack Lawton (160), Josh Wileczek (195), and Brendan McGinley (285) went 2-1. Congrats also go out to sophomore Jett Lucas-Murphy (145) who collected his first Varsity win by fall in the day’s first round. This coming week, league contests continue as the Cougars will travel to West Chester borough to take on the Warriors of Henderson. Best of luck gentlemen!
Downingtown East Wrestling 