POETIC JUSTICE: Neshaminy wins PIAA Section I title

RICK FORTENBAUGH, Staff Writer

February 17, 2002

FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. -- While Neshaminy wrestling coach Mike Ortman Jr. would no doubt trade it in for a win in either of his team's dual matches against Pennsbury, the fact remains the Redskins did gain a little revenge against their arch- rivals last night.

Competing in the PIAA Section I Wrestling Championships, Neshaminy won the team title with 178.5 points, which was exactly one more than Pennsbury's 177.5.

What's more, Neshaminy won the team title in the home gym of a Pennsbury team that had put together a monster 22-1 season en route to SONL and District 1 Dual Match championships.

"We're not really too hung up on it,'' said Ortman of his team's championship. "Our bigger focus was trying to get as many of our guys through in the third-place bouts.''

As it turned out, Neshaminy advanced 10 of 13. Throw in individual championships by Brian Rowan (130) Pat Warusz (145) and heavyweight Geoff Donahue, and it was just enough for the Redskins to come out on top.

That and a team penalty point that was deducted from Pennsbury after a Falcon wrestler launched his headgear.

Donahue, of course, wrapped it up in the last bout of the tournament when he beat Pennsbury's Joe Bergen, 7-2. Pennsbury had stayed alive in the 189-pound consolation bout when Bobby Speer beat Neshaminy's Frank Guld, 6-4.

The top three wrestlers from each weight class advanced to the District 1 North Tournament next weekend at Wissahickson High.

Pennsbury wrestlers who will be going there as section champs are Brian Sellers (112), Joe Bowman (140) and Jon Schimf (160), For his efforts, Sellers was named the Outstanding Wrestler after pinning Truman's outstanding freshman Matt Rizzo in the finals.

Pennsbury's fourth No. 1 seed, 171-pounder Pat Frain, came up short when he lost to Bensalem's Joe Maroney, 12-5, in the finals.

Although it finished third, Council Rock had the most individual champs with Jerry Balasco (103), Ray Wambold (119), Nick Dideio (125), and Ryan Collins (189).

Truman also had something to smile about after Mike Olds and Kevin Moore captured individual titles.

Pa. State Private Schools Tourney

BRYN ATHYN, Pa.-- Conwell-Egan had one wrestler in the finals in this tournament that was won by the Haverford School. Germantown Academy was second.

Egan heavyweight Matt Pape made it to the finals, but was pinned in the first period when he was lateral dropped by Cardinal Dougherty's Paul Costello. Pape had beaten Costello numerous times.

Kevin Kurtz was fourth for C-E at 125 and Mike Diduch was eighth at 135.

©The Trentonian 2002