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Derry wrestlers rough up Rockets, 57-20

By Mike Dudurich for The 4 min read

DERRY — Jefferson-Morgan’s wrestling team made the long trip to Derry Area High School Friday and their time spent in Eastern Westmoreland County was brief and painful.

The young Rockets had to forfeit five weight classes, lost another when one of their wrestlers was still not quite in condition after recovering for an injury and were manhandled by a good Derry team, 57-20.

“I’m not used to these kinds of nights,” said J-M coach Mike Lesko. “In my seven years, this just didn’t happen. But, I put five first-year kids out there tonight. And these things are going to happen.”

The Rockets got expected performances from their stars, Gavin Teasdale and Bill Bowlen.

Teasdale put an 18-3 technical fall on a solid 120-pounder from Derry, Shawn Broadway, who pushed Teasdale for a while, but Teasdale was just too much. Bowlen also put up a technical fall, pounding Matt Marron, 16-1 at 182.

“We got what we expected from those two,” Lesko said. “Gavin has been spectacular, as you’d expect, and Billy has been outstanding.”

After that it was a night of tough going. The five forfeits, combined with the four pins they surrendered, created a massive hole far too deep for the Rockets to dig out of.

Sophomore Mason Palmer was very good again for J-M, putting a 16-2 whipping on one of the five freshmen in Derry’s lineup at 106. The only other points on the night came when Derry’s Trey Weinell was unable to complete his 132 match after becoming dizzy when he hit his head during his match against Aaron Mylan.

“It’s hard when you’re pulling kids out of the hallway to wrestle,” Lesko said. “But it’s a good thing I had those kids because if I hadn’t, we’d have had five kids wrestling tonight.”

Under normal circumstances, 170-pounder Trevor Kniha would not have wrestled against the Trojans. He started the season injured and has worked his way back, but isn’t in the wrestling shape he needs to be.

“No, he’s not really ready and I shouldn’t have wrestled him,” Lesko said. “It’s tough for him right now.”

As the J-M coach got ready to go into his team’s locker room for a post-match chat, he already knew what the subject matter was going to be.

“I have to sell them on the idea that we have to stay with it, hang in there,” Lesko said. “Nobody likes to lose and it’s tough going through this sort of thing. I have to keep them motivated and wanting to improve.”

He looked across the gym toward the Derry wrestlers and expressed his admiration for their team.

“That’s a good team over there,” he said. “Those freshmen are good and they have the basics down. We’re still trying to teach our kids the basics.”

The Rockets will next be in action at the prestigious Powerade Tournament the 29th and 30th at Canon-McMillan High School.

Section 2 (2A)

Derry Area 57, Jefferson-Morgan 20

at Derry

106: Mason Palmer (JM) maj. dec. Kace Sabedra, 16-2

113: Ty Miller (D) p. Hunter Journic, 3:10

120: Gavin Teasdale (JM) tech fall Shawn Broadway, 18-3

126: Orney Stewart (D) p. Josh Agnew, 3:30

132: Aaron Mylan (JM) won by injury default over Trey Weinell

138: Stone Kepple (D) won by forfeit

145: Micky Phillippi (D) won by forfeit

152: Devin Siko (D) won by forfeit

160: Colton Nemcheck (D) p. Tristian Yeager, 1:00

170: Dom DeLuca (D) d. Trevor Kniha, 2-0

182: Dalton Cogan (D) won by forfeit

195: Bill Bowlen (JM) tech. fall Matt Marron, 16-1

220: Noah Wiencek (D) p. Dalton Fowler, 1:07

285: Austin Miller (D) won by forfeit

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