Collingswood reaches S.J. Group 2 wrestling final
Collingswood senior Ryan Harper remembers it as the toughest practice of the season. Collingswood coach Dechlin Moody remembers it as the most important.
Collingswood senior Ryan Harper remembers it as the toughest practice of the season.
Collingswood coach Dechlin Moody remembers it as the most important.
"We needed to change the philosophy," Moody said of the team's workout fewer than 24 hours after a stunning loss to rival Haddonfield in a Colonial Conference clash on Feb. 3.
Seven nights later, Collingswood emerged as a different team in a rematch with Haddonfield.
Riding a flurry of three pins and a dramatic overtime victory by unsung senior Mica Roth, Collingswood registered a 34-32 victory over Haddonfield in the South Jersey Group 2 semifinals Wednesday night in the Panthers' gymnasium.
Pins by Christian Dolan at 152 pounds, Colin Lex at 160, and Nick Barnes at 182 provided the heavy firepower that sent top-seeded Collingswood (20-4) into the sectional final Friday against second-seeded West Deptford.
The Panthers also got strong work from Roth, who rallied from a near-pin to score a 9-7 decision in overtime in one of the match's swing bouts.
"That was huge," Moody said. "That was one of the bouts I had going either way. He fought off his back. He's a dedicated kid and his hard work paid off. He's the hero."
Haddonfield (19-6), the No. 4 seed, suffered an early blow when 126-pound Peter Rhodes was forced to injury-default in the first bout of the night.
Rhodes, who had won by fall in the regular-season match with Collingswood, injured his right knee with one minute, 28 seconds left in the second period and couldn't continue.
"That's a huge swing," Haddonfield coach Mike Miller said. "But you can get caught up in the woulda, shoulda, coulda-type deal.
"We gave up too many bonus points. Too may pins."
Moody said his team way "way too defensive" in the 32-25 loss to Haddonfield in the regular season.
"We needed to get back to taking the offense, attacking, relentless," Moody said. "We did that tonight. We were a different team."
Collingswood 34, Haddonfield 32
126: Will West, C, d. Peter Rhodes, injury default, 3:32; 132: Donny Siok, H, d. Marquis Hayes, 13-2; 138: Ben Klaus, H, dec. Riley Onorato, 4-3; 145: Chris Bollentino, H, d. Aaron Carter, 11-2; 152: Christian Dolan, C, pin Jack Goldberg, 1:54; 160: Colin Lex, C, pin Nick Bateman, 3:38; 170: Mica Roth, C, d. Joe Murray, 9-7 (OT); 182: Nick Barnes, C, pin Bauer Fichter, 5:33; 195: Frank Fortino, H, d. Mike Taulane, 3-2; 220: Dashon Burdett C, d. Will Murray, 13-4; 285: Ryan Harper, C, d. Hunter Fasolo, 4-2; 106: Jack Mooney, H, win by forfeit; 113: Will Sabia, H, win by forfeit; 120: Evan Finnegan, H win by forfeit.
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