SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — Despite Abington Heights jumping out to several large leads early in the match, Delaware Valley head coach Lou DeLauro remained cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances.
The Comets won five of the first six bouts, including one by pin and one by technical fall, to hold a commanding 19-4 advantage, but Delaware Valley rallied to win seven of the next eight and defeat Abington Heights, 41-25, in the Lackawanna League Division 1 opener for each team Dec. 21.
“I knew we were starting off on a spot where we’re not experience yet, but those guys worked hard and kept their matches close against some of Abington’s better wrestlers,” DeLauro said. “Of course you get a little nervous, you never want to be down, but after John (McCarthy) and Joe Porco won I started to get a little more comfortable, but I was still on the edge of my seat.”
Abington Heights sophomore Sam Northup started the match with a 4-2 decision over Shawn Davis in the 152-pound weight class to give the Comets a 3-0 lead. Northup was credited with a takedown in the closing seconds of the second period to clinch the win.
Comets junior Chris Langan followed with a 5-2 decision over Hayden Thompson in the 160-pound weight class to put Abington Heights ahead 6-0.
Junior Owen Hivner picked up an 11-2 major decision, which included two takedowns, over Colin Walters at 170 pounds to give Abington Heights a 10-0 lead.
Delaware Valley’s Andrew Kidd earned a 17-7 major decision over Aidan Price at 182 pounds for the Warriors first win of the evening.
Comets senior Adam Wellard swung the momentum back in Abington Heights’ favor with a 4-2 decision over Troy Moore at 195 pounds.
Abington Heights senior Logan Hivner followed by pinning Shane Fagan in 1:02 in the 220-pound weight class to give the Comets a 19-4 advantage.
“He’s been working hard for us this year and went out and did his job,” Abington Heights head coach Steve Peters said. “He’s a physical kid and I expect to see a lot of improvement from him and the season goes on.”
The match began to turn in Delaware Valley’s favor when McCarthy pinned Abington’s R.J. Knott in 50 seconds at 285. Travis Norman added a forfeit win at 106 and Porco’s dominating 19-4 win by technical fall over Bill Peters at 113 gave the Warriors their first lead, 21-19.
“We didn’t fill the lineup and gave us some pins when we definitely didn’t have to,” Peters said. “Delaware Valley is always a tough team. They came here to work hard and that’s what they did.”
Freshman Machias Magill stretched the Warriors advantage to 25-19 with a 9-0 major decision over Scott Jacoby in the 120-pound weight class.
Abington Heights sophomore Noah Johnson tied the match at 25 after picking up a quick, 33-second pin of Joe Casilla at 126 pounds.
“Some of our younger guys (Northup and Johnson) got their first wins of the year tonight against a tough team, so that’s always good to see,” Peters said. “We also haven’t had a score this close against Delaware Valley in probably 8-10 years.”
Jack Dardia put the Warriors back ahead by five after earning a 15-0 technical fall over Sean Myers at 132.
Mike McKinney’s pin over Abington Heights’ Jacob Rosenstein in 3:14 at 138 pounds clinched the match for the Warriors. Kyle Stoll added a 15-0 technical fall over Eric Jacoby in the final bout.
