2-7-07 Sun Valley at Interboro
Photography by
Robert W. Denney Jr
Click on a picture to see a larger version! Check back for updates!!
These pictures are optimized for the net but NOT for printing.
For more information or printable versions, bob@denney2.com
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Christy, Vans Grapple to a Del Val Title
By Bob Denney Jr. (From the Hometown Press, Feb. 14, 2007)
Sometimes, "You just gotta believe!" The Sun Valley varsity wrestling squad edged Interboro 37-32 on February 7 and in the process, earned a share of the Del Val League 2007 Team Championship. The Vanguards finished with a 5-1 record and a three-way tie for the title with Glen Mills and Academy Park, fulfilling a goal that their optimistic head coach Damon Kuzemka set for his grapplers during the preseason, despite the fact that his starting line up included nearly half a dozen first year starters. Paced by their co-captains and a handful of upstarts, the Vans made their coach's ambitious objective a reality.
Needing a win over the Bucs to gain a piece of the prize, Kuzemka and his 'Krew' were not to be denied. But the hosts had a strong side and sense of pride and were determined to play spoiler. The match opened at 140 pounds and co-captain Joe Boccella set the tone for this important affair, storming to a 7-0 first period lead en route to an 18-2 tech fall victory. Junior Kyle Russell followed at 145 lbs. and took charge early with a take down and back points before pushing a second period pin to give Sun Valley an 11-0 advantage. But Interboro would not go quietly, winning the next two bouts despite a massive effort by Adam Porter at 160 against one of Bucs top wranglers. However, Mike Redden and Vince Boyle came up with two of their best performances of the year after Josh Marquard reluctantly accepted a forfeit at 171 pounds. Redden rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead at the end of the first stanza in the 189 match. The back and forth bout was up for grabs when the strapping sophomore took a shot with 40 seconds remaining in the third period and scored a clutch take down for a 9-6 triumph. Boyle followed and wasted little time exerting his will on his unfortunate prey, flattening his foe in just 84 ticks on the clock at 215 lbs as a 'Damon-strative' Kuzemka shouted instructions from the sidle lines. Mark McKain, Boyle's buddy from the varsity football squad, humbly received a forfeit at heavy weight and the locals had a comfortable 31-9 lead with six duels remaining.
But the hosts refused to concede the crown to their league rivals and strung together four straight victories to close the taut tilt to 31-26. However it was how the Vans lost that played a key role in their eventually winning the meet and a share of the DV title. Kuzemka's 'little big men' - super soph Turhan Solis at 103 lbs., feisty frosh Dan Stover (112) and Cody Lee(119) and tenacious tenth grader Charlie Morgan battled like caged tigers, refusing to give up large scores to their more seasoned opponents so the Vans held onto a five point advantage, rather than facing a possible two-point deficit, with two bouts remaining. Senior Matt Christy then capped his stellar varsity career in his final regular season skirmish with a remarkable first period fall, pinning his prey with his legs to give the Vanguards an insurmountable ten point lead and a share of the DV championship. "I knew that I had to at least win so I was just planning on wearing him (Interboro's Lombardi) down but then I saw the chance to end it with a pin so I did," calmly explained the Valley's Captain Clutch after his pressured packed victory.
"I'm so proud of our kids!" exclaimed the Vans' third-year coach of the last minute triumph and of winning a share of the championship. "We were without two starters, so we shuffled things around and the guys came through. Redden and Boyle had huge wins and as Chuck (Grassano) and Dan (Hill) - the two previous Valley head coaches who were in attendance - pointed out, it was the way our lightweights battled and lost, giving up very few points, that helped us win. And then Matt (Christy) nailed it! "Sometimes, as former Phillies reliever Tug McGraw often said during the Fightins' 1981 World Series Championship season, "You just gotta believe!"