Delaware Valley 34, Collingswood 24 – NJSIAA Group 2 semifinal – Rapid Recap
Birthday boy Tommy Schlittler of the Terriers celebrated with a clutch, match-changing fall in the penultimate bout as Delaware Valley rallied past Collingswood Sunday morning at the Pine Belt Arena at Toms River North High School
Schlittler’s pin at 113 of Brian Cole in 3:33 erased a 24-22 Panthers’ lead and Del Val sophomore AJ DeRosa finished off with a pin at 120 to secure the win for the Terriers (22-3). Schlittler, a sophomore at Delaware Valley, turned 16 today.
Delaware Valley will wrestle Hanover Park, which defeated High Point 32-30 in the other Group 2 semi, at 2 p.m. in the Group 2 state final. The Terriers seek their eighth state championship and first since 1999.
“Tommy became the full-time starter at 113 halfway through the season and he’s faced the other team’s best wrestler in a lot of the matches,” Del Val coach Andy Fitz said. “His record doesn’t show how well he’s wrestled. That was a really good match for Tommy.”
Turning point: Schlittler’s pin. Delaware Valley, which, once again, lost the coin flip, was in some trouble after Collingswood’s Andy Clark posted a fall at 106 to put the Panthers (26-5) ahead.
Top performer: This doesn’t usually go to a losing wrestler but Terrier junior Eli Kalfaian held Collingswood’s state-ranked Michael Taulane without bonus points in a 6-1 loss at 220 pounds. In this kind of tight, high-stakes dual meet that kind of work is underrated. Knowing how to lose matters.
What it means: One more dual meet, and a big one, for Delaware Valley. “We have five hours left in the dual-meet season,” Fitz said. “We have to make it a good five hours.” The Terriers have reached their second consecutive Group 2 final and survived a major challenge from the South Jersey champs.
Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.
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