Thanks to a total team effort, top to bottom, the Downingtown East Wrestling team captured the 2014 “Ralph Wetzel Classic” at Hatboro-Horsham HS. Finishing the two-day event with 248 pts., the Cougars distanced themselves from second place Pennsbury by almost 100 pts. The 32 team event presented countless displays of District 1 battle, but in the end, Downingtown East won the war. Led by champions Wade Cummings (126), Jude McDowell (138), and James Meyer (160), the Cougars boasted 10 place-winners out of the 14 available weight classes. Silver medals went to Austin Lillis (145), Alec Horne (170), Jason Gibson (182), and Billy McGinley (220) after hard-fought defeats in the finals, while James Strommer (113) and Owen Morris (HWT) rounded out strong performances with 3rd place finishes. Brent Czajkowski (195) took 4th after stringing together 4 straight wins and a tough consi-final loss. Congrats also go out to the JV Cougars who collected championships from Connor Birzes (120), Shea Milligan (126), and Carter Regitz (195). Jarrett Hansen (120) picked up a silver, and Harris Alliger (126) and Josh Wileczek (195) secured bronze medals. This Wetzel Classic finish will propel East into the new year where league matches and district dual match-ups await them. Best Wishes to all after a long 2014, and here’s to achieving more goals in 2015!
Tag: jv
JV Cougars go to Pennsbury Classic
Just ripe for the holidays, the “Pennsbury JV Classic” came calling for the JV Cougars! On Saturday 12/20, fourteen DE grapplers hit the PA turnpike with the compass dialed in for Fairless Hills, home of the “Falcons.” The tournament was a meat-grinder with teams such as CB East, Neshaminy, CR North, Father Judge, Saucon Valley, Quakertown, and Upper Darby. Congratulations to Brett Horne (106) and Jarrett Hansen (113) for collecting championships! Brett won a in an overtime skirmish and Jarrett teched and majored his way to gold. Hats off also go to freshman Carter Regitz (195) who fell in the finals 4-3 to pick up the silver. Connor Birzes took the “route of the warrior” losing a tight one in the semis and coming back to secure 3rd with a last period fall. Also, freshman Josh Wileczek (220) picked up 4th place after battling back through a tough heavyweight consolation bracket. But, maybe the greatest highlight of the tournament rested in the resolve of 1st year wrestler, Wayne Salt (138). Wayne fought tooth and nail winning his way to the semi-finals where he eventually fell, but wow, what a ride for our exciting new team member! The Pennsbury Classic gave our JV athletes a platform to sharpen their skills and ready themselves to push our varsity team to its limit. Good luck to all of our wrestlers as the Ralph Wetzel Classic approaches, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
DE Wrestling goes to the Ephrata Duals
On Saturday 12/6, the Cougar grapplers went to spring water country to take on a host of challenges at Ephrata’s annual Winter duals. East finished the day with a 3-1 mark, defeating Garden Spot 48-18, Daniel Boone 59-12, and Biglerville 50-14, but fell to Mifflin County 27-38 in the final. It was a back and forth battle between the two teams, but Mifflin was able to get the bonus points needed to distance themselves and secure the win. Going 4-0 on the day were Brett Horne (106), James Strommer (113), Wade Cummings (126), and Billy McGinley (220). Suffering only one loss were Jude McDowell (138), Austin Lillis (145), James Meyer (160), and the break-out wrestler of the season so far, Owen Morris (HWT). The highlight wrestler of the event was Nik Zimmerman (120), who earned a 2-2 record, but worked above and beyond to compete at one of the most difficult weight classes in the tournament. On the JV mats, congrats to Jarrett Hansen (113), Shea Milligan (126), and Josh Wileczek (220) for going undefeated and setting the pace for East JV squad! Now that the smoke has cleared, it’s time for the Cougars to lock in and focus on next week’s competition, the prestigious “King of the Mountain” tournament in Lock Haven, PA. See you in Mattown USA!!!
Downingtown East Wrestling 