The Ridley Raiders wrestling squad capped off their 2002-2003 dual meet schedule with a come-from-behind 37-28 victory over the visiting Glen Mills Bulls. After an opening bout pin scored by 140-pounder Corey Brown, the home team suffered defeats in the next 3 bouts. Kevin Scola (171) stopped the bleeding by registering a 2^nd period pin, his 20th victory of the campaign. Unfortunately, the Bulls strong upper weight wrestlers went on to record three more victories including Ridley heavyweight Mike Steven’s heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Bulls highly regarded strongman Callahan Bright. At this point in the match, Ridley found itself trailing by 26-12 and were counting on 103-pounder Eddie Hall to turn things around. As expected, Hall pinned his opponent and turned the tide Ridley’s way. Victories by Matt Ziegler (119), a forfeit to Dave Schaub (125), a decision by Ed Papp (130) and Jessie Mariani’s (135) exciting 12-10 final score, wrapped up the victory and the raiders closed the season with 17 wins and 4 losses. The late season triumphs over Haverford and Glen Mills should secure our standing as the 6^th ranked team in Delaware County.

Haverford High School will be the site of the Section 5 tournament next Saturday, February 15th at 9 am. The following 10 teams will be participating:

• Academy Park
• Chichester
• Haverford,
• Interboro,
• Glen Mills
• Penn Wood
• Ridley
• Springfield
• Sun Valley
• Upper Darby.

Each of the 14 weight divisions will have up to 10 wrestlers. For weight divisions with the full complement of 10 wrestlers, action will begin with pig-tail matches between the 7^th and 10^th seeded wrestlers and the 8^th and 9^th seeded grapplers. From that point on, the wrestlers will be paired in the following sequences:

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals

Top bracket

Seed #1 vs. Seed #8 (or #9) Winners meet Winners meet for 1^st and 2nd

Seed #4 vs. Seed #5 (wrestlebacks) Wrestleback winners meet

For 3^rd and 4th

Lower Bracket

Seed #3 vs. Seed #6 Winners meet

Seed #2 vs. Seed #7 (or #10) (wrestlebacks)

The defending Section V champions, our own Ridley Raiders, will be decided underdogs in the quest for this year’s title. Upper Darby is the solid favorite to win the 2002-2003 crown with Sun Valley and Springfield having outside chances. Dark horses Interboro, Haverford and Ridley would need upsets galore to hang in with those squads. The Raiders expect Eddie Hall (103), Jessie Mariani (135), Kevin Scola (171), John Thomas (189) and Mike Steven (275) to receive the team’s highest seeds. Ed Papp (130), Corey Brown (140), Phil Rayer (152) and Craig Scully (160) if his thumb injury permits) should be seeded in the middle of their respective divisions. Ridley’s Craig Ferrigno or Cory Malampy (112), Matt Ziegler (119), Dave Schaub (125), Dan Goldey (145) and Mark Fritz (215) will have to pull major upsets to offset their expected seeding positions. Wrestlers who place 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd at Sections continue on to the District 1 South meet at Spring-Ford High School on Friday and Saturday, February 21/22. Wrestlers from Sections 4, 5 and 6 will compete with the top 4 finishers moving on to the PIAA Regional competition at Norristown the following weekend.

BEST OF LUCK TO OUR COACHES AND WRESTLERS AT THE UPCOMING SECTION V COMPETITION.!!!!!