Parkland wrestlers get their wish in Northampton at D11 Class 3A team duals

by Mark Wogenrich, The Morning Call

Posted on January 31, 2009

Now that his team has cleared the district quarterfinal hurdle, Ryan Nunamaker turns his attention to a higher one: Northampton.

''If you want respect,'' the Parkland coach said, ''you have to earn it.''

The Trojans turned back Liberty 36-25 on Friday, advancing to the semifinals of the District 11 Class 3A Team Wrestling championships for the first time in Nunamaker's five years as coach. Parkland meets top-seeded Northampton in today's semis, hoping for a better result than the 52-point loss it absorbed last month. The Konkrete Kids began defense of their district title with a 57-10 win over Stroudsburg.

In today's other semifinal at Freedom High, Easton meets Blue Mountain for a shot at one of the district's two bids to states. Third-seeded Easton eliminated Nazareth 36-15; No. 2 Blue Mountain ousted Whitehall 45-28. The semis begin at 1 p.m., with the championship match scheduled for 6.

For Parkland, and Nunamaker, this district quarterfinal match has been a thorn. Two years ago, Liberty ousted the Trojans in the same 4-5 matchup. Which is why Nunamaker didn't expect his team's 41-27 win over Liberty last week to carry over.

''We knew it would be a tougher match,'' he said. ''These guys went after it tonight and made it happen.''

Parkland won eight bouts, including four of five in the decisive middle weights, to take the match. Andrew Moore's critical decision at 140 pounds and pins from from Brandon Davis (112), Mike Ottinger (135) and Ian Heist (152) carried the Trojans. Josh Heft clinched the match with a technical fall at 171.

''That's what it means to be a three-year starter,'' Nunamaker said of Heft. ''I think he got seven points in the last 30 seconds, which put us over the top.''

In January, Parkland fell 57-5 to Northampton at the Cedar Cliff Duals. Nunamaker said his team ''rolled over'' that day, giving Northampton a bit too much respect.

''We'll be ready to wrestle hard and take it to them,'' he added. ''That's what you have to do.''

Posted by Lou Rivera

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