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Redskins follow familiar script The Redskins ease by the Owls year after year. Only the final score changes. By TOM WARING
The Redskins ease by the Owls year after year. Only the final score changes.
It was no different last night, as Neshaminy cruised to a 45-10 victory at Neil A. Armstrong Middle School.
Neshaminy's first-year coach, Mike Ortman Jr., was delighted.
Ortman watched his 189-pounder, Jack Fleming, record his 15th victory of the season and 10th by pin. He saw his 135-pounder, Jeremy Kershbaumer, wrestle his best match of the season. And he witnessed another solid effort by sophomore Brad Bullman at 112 pounds.
Neshaminy (3-1 overall, 2-0 Suburban One League Patriot Division) is a young team that is trying to peak for a key seven-day stretch late this month in which the Redskins will challenge Council Rock, Pennsbury and North Penn.
"Anytime you score 45 points in a dual meet, you have to be happy with the performance," Ortman said. "We're not there yet, but we're getting there."
Bensalem (0-3, 0-3 SOL Colonial) is also trying to get "there," but coach Jim Stewart knows it won't happen overnight.
Still, there were positives last night. Freshman Lou Paglaicetti was dominant at 103 pounds, winning by major decision. Sophomore Victor Cortes won by shutout at 152. And sophomore Joe Maroney improved to a team-best 11-4 by winning at 171.
Stewart is confident about the future. He and longtime assistants Joe "Pizza" Ruggerio and Fritz Colteryahn were joined this season by four new assistants - former Neshaminy head coach Ed Curran, former Neshaminy assistant Tom Fario and former scholastic stars Bill Brady (Bishop Egan) and Mario Harpel (Neshaminy).
"It's the greatest possible thing, having those four guys come in the room," Stewart said.
About a half-dozen expected starters have quit the program this season, but Stewart calls that a "bump in the road." The new coaches have enforced tougher rules as part of an effort to build a winner.
Bensalem had just two seniors in the lineup last night, and Stewart believes his wrestlers are improving every day.
Stewart wanted to bring proven winners into the practice room, and even offered to allow Curran to become head coach.
Curran, who had four successful seasons at Neshaminy before resigning after clashing with athletic director Sheila Murphy, didn't want to be a head coach - now or ever.
He's content building up the program at Bensalem.
"We have a good crew," he said. "We're trying to create a mindset and start a tradition here."
The coaching staff wants to see improvement at the high school level. If that happens, the coaches believe, the kids in the youth programs and junior highs will have the incentive to keep Bensalem winning at the varsity level.
Thursday, January 11, 2001 |
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