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FORT WASHINGTON >> A trio of Malvern Prep seniors claimed golds at the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Wrestling Tournament, Saturday, setting themselves up with a path to finish their careers on top of their last podiums next week.
Nick O’Neill (132 pounds), Jack Consiglio (144) and Nick Wehmeyer (190) were champions for for the Friars, who finished runner-up to Wyoming Seminary in the team standings.
All 14 Friars finished top-six to qualify for the National Prep tournament next Friday and Saturday at Lehigh University.
“Winning is the best thing in the world,” Consiglio said. “I love to win. My dad always tells me there’s no thrill in life like winning and succeeding. It feels great wrestling and competing and I love when there’s good competition.”
When Malvern and Sem are in the same gym the tension and stakes are always at a premium and the duo squared off 10 times in the finals.
Nick O’Neill’s younger brother, eight-grader Matty O’Neill (113), was the first Friar to get a shot at Sem, Matt O’Neill led in the third period, but Davis Motyka forced a defensive pin.
Nick avenged his brother’s loss with a 4-3 win over Sem’s Matt Botello for his third straight prep state title.
“Freshman year was COVID but to win all the other three is pretty cool,” Nick O’Neill said. “It definitely means a lot to win states and go to national preps. I finished fourth, third and second my first three years so my goal is to get first this year.”
Lukas Littleton-Mascaro (120) and Jason Torres (126) lost to a pair of Sem hammers in the finals, Nate Desmond and Luke Lilledahl, respectively.
Consiglio earned his second state title with a technical fall over Sem’s Smokey McClure. It took some time for the Stanford University-bound Consiglio to get to his power position of on top, but when he finally scored a takedown in the second, McClure’s chances were gone.
“I basically know every match I’m going to end up on top at some point,” Consiglio said. “When kids avoid it, it’s fun finally getting that takedown. You can rub it in a little more when you get it.”
Nathan Rickards (150) lost a decision to Sem’s Anthony Evanitsky in rideout and Jack Chamberlain (165) and Lukas Zalota (175) were overpowered by a pair of Sem veterans, Joe Sealey and Dom Federici, respectively.
Wehmeyer was at risk of becoming the next Sem victim, trailing against Jake Dailey. A couple flurries on the mat to reverse Dailey and pick up some near-fall points flipped the advantage and Wehyemer came out on top, 12-9.
“I didn’t wrestle this whole week,” Wehmeyer said. “I had a 103 degree fever during the week so this was my first time out and it was still hard to breathe out there. Everything came full turn and I just went out there and had fun.”
Stosh Zalota (215) was pinned by Sem’s Jude Correa in the finals. Brendan Kelly (106), Shane Reilly (138) and Raymond Fitzgerald (157) took third for the Friars and Matt Connolly (285) was fourth.
Brian Chamberlain (175) was the only wrestler for Phelps School and he finished third to head back to national preps after winning states as a freshman for Malvern a year ago.
With no one to practice against at Phelps, Brian Chamberlain’s season has been unique, but he feels it’s going to finish the way he hopes.
“It’s definitely been hard being by myself,” Brian Chamberlain said. “It was hard finding my footing early on. I had to adjust not having a team, but after the Escape the Rock tournament I just said it is what is it is, just go out and wrestle. I’ve been practicing at Stellar Trained (a club at Alvernia University) and Team Renegade (Hill School) and I really feel like I’m peaking in time for national preps and I’m excited for next week.”
Westtown finished 11th in the team standings with two national qualifiers. Ryan Tookes (113) was the highest-placing Moose, at fourth. Luke Holgate was sixth at 144.
Sam Downing (175) and Devin Swarthout (215) finished seventh for Westtown, while Ryder Tookes (106) and Soren Clunk (157) were eighth.
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