Good start for Upper Darby’s Cronin, Kennerly in Hershey

HERSHEY >> Until Colin Cronin hung on for a win at 138 pounds, it was beginning to look like Delco wrestlers would be shut out on the first day of the PIAA state wrestling championships at the Giant Center. Five wrestlers were beaten in their first matches Thursday. Archbishop Carroll’s Nick Poulos was eliminated at 126 pounds in Class AA competition before the AAA county contingent had even warmed up.

The states are about survival and Cronin did just that in a match where he almost heaved in the third period. It was one of three stoppages in the match, the others to clean up the blood of Michah Hoffman of Northern York, who was on top at the buzzer but on the wrong side of an 8-6 decision. Cronin led the bout by scores of 4-0 and 8-3.

“It feels good,” Cronin said. “But I know I definitely was supposed to win. Tomorrow is really what I’m worried about. I’ve got to come out and win and get into the semifinals and then I’ll have a definite spot in the tournament.”

The victory made Cronin 40-1 and put him into the quarterfinals Friday. It gave the next Delco wrestler momentum.

Brian Kennerly, also of Upper Darby, Matt Marino of Garnet Valley and Abraham Charles of Penn Wood are the Delco survivors. Marino lost his first bout at 120 pounds, a 9-3 decision to Zurich Storm of New Oxford. Marino (37-7) bounced back with an 11-6 decision over Trevor Tarsi of Nazareth, a match in which he showed his grit.

“I refocused, got my head on straight and went out there and wrestled my match,” Marino said. “It was a tough match coming off that first one.” In his first match, Marino trailed, 6-3, and couldn’t finish a reverse and takedown that would have knotted the score at 6 in the second period. Storm got a reverse and a takedown near the buzzer.

“I almost turned him and that would have tied him but he was just strong and ready to wrestle and he came out on top,” Marino said. “I wouldn’t say he’s a better wrestler. But he was better today.” Marino won his first match in the states last year, then was beaten in two bouts.

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Garnet Valley’s Matt Marino fights for positioning against Nazareth’s Trevor Tarsi in an 11-6 win in the first round of consolations at 120 pounds. (NATE HECKENBERGER – FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA)