Thank goodness there’s a tomorrow in wrestling, because yesterday – or last weekend if you will – was a very forgettable one for the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s powers as well as District One’s upper echelon.
There were a handful of positives, among them the significant steps forward made by Perkiomen Valley and Pottsgrove, the renewed punch in some Suburban One lineups, and the continued improvement of a couple of programs in Delaware County. But none of that could overshadow what a devoted (and longtime) District One fan on Monday said was “ugly déjà vu all over again.”
Even Yogi couldn’t come up with that one.
But it sure sounded appropriate after Boyertown went winless at the Cumberland Valley Duals, Spring-Ford went winless at the Parkland Duals, and Upper Perkiomen was thumped by Easton. If you’re counting, or even remotely interested, the three teams that have owned the PAC-10 wrestling mat the last 15 years were a combined 0-11 on Saturday.
Yes, Boyertown was banged up a bit and competed in a very, very good tournament. But head coach Pete Ventresca couldn’t have been pleased with the end result. Spring-Ford, on the other hand, was healthy and competed in a very good tournament. But, as head coach Tim Seislove said afterward, it was the “worst” showing in his nine years with the program and there were “no excuses” for it. And, yes, Upper Perkiomen is rebuilding, reloading or whatever you care to call it. But head coach Tom Hontz doesn’t accept losing, especially 29-point losses, even to a state power like Easton.
There wasn’t a whole heck of a lot of hooting and hollering last weekend from the Council Rock South and Great Valley seats, either. And if you go back earlier in the week, a lot of people are still trying to break down Bensalem’s decision of Pennsbury – the Owls’ first win over the Falcons in 10 years.
Mind you, the tide isn’t exactly turning in the PAC-10 or District One. Not quite yet.
But Boyertown can ill-afford a similar showing Wednesday night at Pottstown or Saturday morning at Owen J. Roberts. And Spring-Ford can ill-afford a similar showing Wednesday night at Perkiomen Valley or Saturday afternoon at Upper Perkiomen … not if either expects to pin down a PAC-10 championship.
More?
Well, Council Rock North is certainly threatening Council Rock South’s neighborhood reign over in Newtown, and they’ll get together Wednesday night for their annual backyard brawl. Quakertown is looking like some of those powerful Panther teams of the not-so-distant past, and is considered the favorite going into Thursday’s showdown against defending champion Methacton, which has won or shared 19 of the last 26 Suburban One titles. And check the memory banks to recall the last time the Central League had a three-team race with Penncrest, Springfield-Delco and Radnor doing the running. Delco and Radnor will see who keeps pace with who when they meet Wednesday night.
If all that sounds the least bit confusing, it is.
But there is a silver lining … make that silver linings.
The Pioneer Athletic Conference title likely won’t be decided until the schedule winds down at the end of the month. Throw out past results and whatever intimidation may still exist because of them (and have everyone healthy), and you’ll get a genuine, down-to-the-wire race between Boyertown, Owen J. Roberts, Perkiomen Valley, Pottstown, Spring-Ford and Upper Perkiomen.
And Sunday morning, when the District One Steering Committee sits down to come up with the seeds for next week’s District 1-AAA Team Duals Championship, bet the house each and every one of the coaches and committee officials will be on caffeine highs and hoarse before they finish penciling in the brackets and heading home.
Yep, thank goodness there’s a tomorrow in wrestling.

HONORABLE
Wrestler of the Week honors go to Daniel Boone’s Josh Sheriff, who won the gold medal at 189 pounds during last weekend’s Berks County Interscholastic Individual Tournament. In the final, Sheriff decisioned Brandywine Heights’ Brad Stoudt – ranked No. 1 in District 3-AA – and was named the Outstanding Wrestler.
Coach of the Week honors go to Perkiomen Valley’s Tim Walsh, who helped the Vikings to a second-place finish at their own Bill Fretz Duals. PV lost only to undefeated Mount Union, listed as No. 1 in the most recent District 6-AA rankings.