PHS boys wrestlers split pair of duals
The Parkland High School boys wrestling team split a pair of dual matches to open up its 2024-25 regular season schedule.
The Trojans won their season opener 44-16 at Blue Mountain last Tuesday and then fell in their first Eastern Pennsylvania Conference dual of the season at Northampton 40-24 the following night.
In the victory over the Eagles, Parkland won nine of the 13 bouts, including four pins. The Trojans picked up a quick 11 points in just the opening two bouts as Matthew Velez won by technical fall at 121 pounds and then Eli Russ earned a pin at 127 pounds for an 11-0 lead.
After Blue Mountain got on the board with a decision at 133, Parkland won three straight as Leo Kern recorded a major decision at 139 and both Donato Ciampittiello and Dallas Reyes netted decisions at 145 and 152 pounds, respectively, for a 21-3 lead.
The two teams traded pins with Jorge Moya picking one up at 172 pounds. The Eagles then won back-to-back bouts with a major decision and decision to cut their deficit to just 27-16. But the Trojans won the final three bouts as Max Pugach and Braden Todora earned pins at 285 and 114, respectively, and Luis Moya won by technical fall at 107.
Against the Kids, Parkland won five bouts, with three pins and two decisions.
Northampton opened the match with a pin at 160, but the Trojans responded with three consecutive pins by Jorge Moya, Christopher Toth and Myles Lysek at 172, 189 and 215, respectively, to go on top 18-6.
The Kids tied the score at 18-18 after three straight wins and then Velez gave his team the lead right back with a 4-0 decision at 121. Two straight technical falls by Northampton, however, gave the Kids the lead for good. Kern recorded a 5-0 decision at 139 pounds to round out the scoring for the Trojans.
Parkland had its home opener and hosted Dieruff in a conference dual this past Wednesday night. The Trojans welcome Easton next Wednesday for another EPC showdown and then will compete in the two-day King of the Mountain tournament at Central Mountain High School on Friday and Saturday.