This column was originally published in the Jan. 15, 2013 edition of The Mercury.

Five down, five to go … weeks that is.

In his first year, Pottstown head coach Brad Bechtel has guided the
Trojans to an impressive 14-5 record already this season.
(File photo by Tom Kelly III)

In other words, wrestling’s regular season is at the halfway mark.

The first half sure was entertaining, and the second half certainly should be when it kicks off this week with Owen J. Roberts visiting Spring-Ford in the newest feature-of-the-year and continues into next week with the opening rounds of the district duals.

But before claiming to own wrestling’s crystal ball and taking a glimpse into it, there is a need to take a moment or two to acknowledge a few teams and individuals who provided some much-needed fresh air to the sport that in recent years was becoming quite stale, perhaps even a little boring, and definitely way too predictable.

First and foremost, Pottstown is already 14-5 … and not the result of a softer schedule but the result of a handful of upperclassmen’s commitment and the influx of another handful of very skilled freshmen. The Trojans debuted with four wins at the Jim Thorpe Duals, where they’re accustomed to getting only one, perhaps two, and took second — with four wins and a championship setback to neighboring rival Methacton — at the Avon Grove Duals.

Pottstown’s refreshing look features a foursome of feisty freshmen, namely twins Logan and Mason Pennypacker, Bubba Gephart and Bryant Wise. They’re being pushed by juniors Robbie McCoy, Darien Hain, Patrick Bohn and Josh Slody, and the entire group — as well as the rest of the team — are being led by seniors like Sebastian Shiffler, Jordan Eckstrom, Jasheel Brown and Mason Weber, who labored through and didn’t quit during the last two of six straight losing seasons.

The Trojans have five Pioneer Athletic Conference matches remaining. In between them they travel to the Kennett Duals. They’ll get at least one more win, of course, which would equal the program’s best in 18 years. Should they pin down another six, though, they’d equal the Pottstown record few will forget — that 20-0 mark, complete with PAC-10, section, district and regional team titles, back in 1988-89.

And speaking of refreshing, or freshmen, it’s been a long, long time since one has stepped onto the area mats with as much promise — and those often unfair expectations — as Boyertown’s Jordan Wood has. He’s 14 years old, 220 pounds … and as good as advertised, or projected to be while coming through the youth ranks. He’s already been tagged as one of the best in the district and entire state.

And while most of the attention this week will be focused on Wednesday night’s OJR and Spring-Ford showdown, it’ll shift to Wood (18-1, 11 pins) and his anticipated brawl with Pottsgrove’s Pat Finn (15-1, 10 pins) the following evening in the Falcons’ gym. Finn is arguably one of the best big boys in the entire district, too, and very familiar with Wood.

A number of other individuals have stepped up and into the spotlight during the first half of the season as well. Perhaps none more noticeably than Perkiomen Valley junior Nick Giangiulio, the only remaining unbeaten in the area. Giangiulio was ranked second in the district behind OJR’s Adam Moser, but will move up ahead of him after last Wednesday night’s 3-2 ultimate tie-breaker down in Graterford.

Giangiulio, who was second at both sections and districts and just one win away from going to states a year ago, is 13-0 at 152 and 3-0 at 160 thus far. He was golden at the Southeast Pa. Classic and Wetzel Holiday tournaments, and has defeated a pair of district qualifiers, three regional qualifiers, and a state qualifier (Moser) this season.

The list behind Giangiulio — or honorable mention headliners at this juncture — would include, among others, Boyertown freshmen phenom Lucas Miller (21-2); the very good Hill School threesome of Chad Saunders (20-2), Nick Flanigan (20-3) and Kostya Golobokov; Methacton’s Joe Staley (20-2), Mike Baccaro and Tracey Green; OJR’s Derek Gulotta, Peter Fratantoni, Kyle Shronk and Gordon Bolig; Phoenixville’s Jordan Valenteen; Spring-Ford’s Ryan Hayes, Sean Hennessey, Tyler McGuigan, Mason Romano and Josh Boyer; and Upper Perkiomen’s Dante Steffenino (21-3), Wolfgang McStravick (23-3) and Kyle Fellman.

Now, if the injuries heal and the flu bug disappears, the second half of the regular season could be even better…

Especially with Owen J. Roberts heavily favored to win its second straight District 1-Class AAA Team Duals title and with as many as five other PAC-10 rivals figuring into the mix and perhaps getting one or two more spots in the state duals.

Especially with the new postseason format, or league championships taking the place of sectionals… and especially without having to drive too far to watch them (at Boyertown) or the next two weeks of postseason competition (districts are at Spring-Ford; and the regional is at Pottstown).