In the afterglow of Solanco's District Three team wrestling tournament first-round victory over Governor Mifflin Tuesday night, coach John Little cautioned that his Golden Mules weren't quite "there" yet.
Despite six sophomores in the starting 13, the Mules have looked very, very good this year.
Thursday night at Cedar Cliff, not so much.
The Colts (21-2) advanced to today's Class AAA semifinals of the district team championships, dealing Solanco (12-1) its first loss of the year, 45-18.
The win earns Cedar Cliff another shot at Central Dauphin, one of two teams to beat the Colts this year. Central Dauphin, the two-time defending district and PIAA team champions, topped Mechanicsburg, 47-24. Cumberland Valley and Spring Grove will meet in the other semifinal.
Due to the impending storm bearing down on the Mid-Atlantic region, the semifinals and finals, originally scheduled for Saturday, have been moved to this afternoon. Semifinals start at 4 p.m. with the finals set for 5:30.
45-18? Sounds like a thumpin'.
Yes, and no.
"There were some good matches there, but Cedar Cliff was just a little sharper than us," said Little. "They had the swagger on us tonight."
Colts coach Rob Rapsey did not dispute that observation. "Our kids heard some of the rumblings that they only won by seven (in) the first round," Rapsey said. "They kind of fed off that. They said, 'Oh, OK, we'll see tomorrow night.' "
The Colts blew open a close dual with three consecutive falls from 171-215.
But the die had been cast when Cedar Cliff took close bouts at 135 and 140, and escaped potential disaster at 160 and 171.
The evening began at 119 and Solanco's Wink Charles (24-11) kicked it off with a 11-1 major decision over Aaron Vassar (4-6).
Rapsey bumped Brian Mellott (23-7) up to 125, and away from Charles, and got the split he wanted when Mellott escaped with 50 seconds left for a 3-2 win over Hans Herr (17-16).
Dan Neff (32-2) teched out Kyle Podvin (15-17) at 130, putting the Mules back on top, with Jordan Hastings (27-8) coming out at 135.
But David Firestone (22-9) took Hastings down three times on doubles. Hastings reversed three times and trailed 8-6 with 15 seconds left. Coming out front, he took Firestone to his back with a cement mixer, but didn't get the count for back points.
Tie match, 9-9.
"They were just beating us to the punch," said Little.
At 140, Marcus Clement (19-10) ended up besting Joe Welk, 5-4, on a triple-overtime rideout, but how they got there was the story. Welk (26-7) was up 2-1, and on top, working to turn Clement with a power half in the second period. Instead of reinforcing the half, he put in a second half. Two halves make a full nelson, a technical violation. Welk did it twice.
Instead of dominating Clement, Welk was fighting for his life, getting a reversal with 22 seconds in regulation to tie the bout at 4-4.
Clement flurried out of Welk's takedown in sudden victory. Welk survived in the first 30-second OT, and had his chances to reverse from the bottom in both the second OT and the 30-second rideout. Clement hung on both times for the win.
"Our 40-pounder," said Rapsey, "he just would not give up."
Dylan Carmichael (29-4) stopped Brock Snider (19-15), 5-0 at 145 for the Colts' first lead. Connor Moran (33-5) took Grant Dickey (23-6) down to his back at 152 for a 5-point move, nearly getting the fall, then held Dickey at bay for an 8-4 win, Solanco's last on the mat.
Trailing Daniel Schreffler (20-8) by three at 160, Cole Martin (15-18) headlocked Schreffler with 15 seconds left. He never gained control, however, costing him a 5-point reversal and Schreffler prevailed.
Then the roof fell in.
Clint Morrison (27-3) came off the deck, literally, surviving Jesiah Deibler's 5-point pancake in the first period and pinning Deibler (21-11) in 5:05.
Nate Moore-Jacobs (27-5) cement-jobbed Joe Forren (21-12) in 48 seconds at 189. Michael Lebo (25-7) pinned Steve Lam (16-15) in 2:29, also with a mixer.
The night ended on a parade of walkovers as Cedar Cliff forfeited to John Martin (12-4) at 285 and Solanco forfeited to Ian Kehler (1-0) and Chris Vassar (28-6) at 103 and 112.
"It was great to be here and have a good match like that," said Little. "I'm happy to make it this far."
In Class AA:
Schuylkill Valley 52, Annville-Cleona 18: T.J. Renninger and Chris Shifflett started the Dutchmen off with pins at 119 and 125 before the Panthers won 10 of the next 11 bouts.
Heavyweight Zach Smith added another pin for A-C while SV used four pins, three major decisons, two decisions and a tech fall to reach today's semifinals.
