Unionville claims second win over the season with help from young guns
By Dave Conard, Sports Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
Indians captain Scott Seidenberger shut out Jerome Nelson 8-0 Wednesday night.
MALVERN—Wednesday’s match had all the makings of a classic Ches-Mont battle between two teams that both subscribe to the blue collar work ethic that helped seniors like Unionville’s Mason Popham, who claimed a 3rd place medal at states last season, make their mark in league history.
The Indians (2-0) grappled their way to a 17-0 lead as they claimed all of the points in the first five weight classes, before the Patriots recorded a three point win at 152 pounds, following dominating wins by senior Scott Seidenberger (8-0) over John Dodson and sophomore Mike Caldwell, who recorded a 14-4 major decision over Jerome Nelson.
“We are very young,” said Unionville head coach Chris Matz. “Our guys have really put in the work in the room so far to get ready. We had three JV kids step in tonight for injured players and they did an excellent job.”
Unionville's Zach Pfiefer battled in his 145 pound match.
Unionville freshman Ian Larson, who defeated Johnny Carnes 10-7 along with Cassius Stith and Steve Annan, who pinned Adam Drill in just 33 seconds helped to boost the Indians lead to 35-13, sealing the wins for the visitors.
“We got some great matches from some of our young guys tonight,” said senior Scott Seidenberger. “We were all out at states last year with Mason and that’s what we all want. First we have to take care of our end in our league, then make sure we have a bunch of us qualify for districts.”
Steve Labarge recorded the final points for the Pats on the evening as he nearly pinned Stith, but the Unionville young gun battled back to preserve three points for his squad.
“We may be very young but we do have some depth,” added Matz, in his 11th season. We don’t have that one standout wrestler, but what we do have is a balanced team of a lot of guys that as long as they continue to execute and learn fast, we will be alright.”
“Our guys like Larson, Stith and Annan really looked good tonight,” added Seidenberger, who has committed to Cornell University. “We push them in practice and they push right back, which should make this an interesting and successful season.”
Coming off back-to –back wins over Great Valley and Perkiomen Valley, the Indians will travel to Delaware to compete in the A.I. Dupont classic next Tuesday and Wednesday.
After Battling through the Indians bread and butter weight classes, Unionville posted five consecutive pin falls to close out the match, after Great valley had cut the lead to 4 points with wins in their stronger classes of 152 pounds through 170.
Unionville's Ian Larson lifts up Great Valley's Johhn Carnes in a 10-7 win.
Unionville (53), Great Valley (13)
120- Hammacker (U) defeated Runhke (GV) 11-7 3-0
126- Seidenberger (U) defeated Dodson (GV) 8-0 7-0
132- Caldwell (U) defeated Nelson (GV) 14-4 11-0
138- Larson (U) defeated Carnes (GV) 10-7 14-0
145- Pfiefer, J (U) defeated Burke (GV) 13-6 17-0
152- Disanto (GV) defeated Pfiefer, Z. (U) 13-10 17-3
160- Josephs (GV) pinned Croddman .7 left 2nd Fall 17-9
170- Labarge (GV) defeated Stith 13-5 17-13
182- Hart (U) received forfeit FFT 23-13
195- Bowman (U) pinned Johnon (GV) @ 3:37 Fall 29-13
220- Annan (U) pinned Drill (GV) @ :33 Fall 35-13
285- Hart (U) pinned Lang (GV) @ :58 Fall 41-13
106- Murray (U) pinned Kemmerer (GV) Fall 47-13
113- Walsh (U) pinned Colon @ 3:30 Fall 53-13
