So, the best the L-L League has to offer just got beat, by 27 points, by, arguably, the 3rd-best squad in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Maybe Cedar Cliff is better than Cumberland Valley, maybe not. They didn’t, and won’t, meet this year [and what’s up with that? The MP really has to take a look at its scheduling when its “best” programs don’t face off in the regular season, or need to compete in Invitational Duals to get it done.], so the point is moot. The Cliff is still standing [at least for six more hours]. CV is not.
But what do we care here in the L-L, where the Mid-Penn has once again bullied our lunch money away from us?
Here’s why, and here’s why 45-18 isn’t always 45-18.
Join me now in a parallel universe where Solanco beats Cedar Cliff on Thursday night, earning a real shot at finishing third overall and going to the state duals.
Anybody who can read a won-loss record, or figure out matchups, knew Solanco was going to have to hustle to build a bulge big enough to withstand Cedar Cliff’s strength from 145-215, and take one or two of the bouts within that stretch.
With the year-long forfeit at 112, and the very real potential of one at 103, starting the night at 119 was the best thing that could happen for the Golden Mules.
With a break here, a break there, and some gritting of teeth, Solanco could’ve been right where it wanted to be.
It’s the fault of the Mules’ L-L brethern that Solanco wasn’t.
Explain?
Solanco has a well-deserved reputation for being physical and aggressive, embodied by 130-pounder Dan Neff who, okay, I’ll say it, got jobbed at the L-Ls. There are no skirts in wrestling, and it’s time everybody in the L-L acknowledges that.
As physical and aggressive as Solanco is, it was not enough against a Cedar Cliff squad that fought like a mother bear protecting her den.
Colt wrestlers seemed to say, “You call that a cradle? You call that an armbar? That pancake’s the best you got? No way you’re turning me!”
Any other opponent, Connor Moran gets the pin. Jesiah Deibler gets the pin. Cedar Cliff kids refused to give in to the inevitable. Which, I’m afraid, happens too often here in the L-L.
And without bad luck, Solanco had no luck at all Thursday.
Down 3-2 with :15 left, Hans Herr crowds his opponent at 125 into the go-ahead takedown. But the microsecond before, the referee saw a stalemate and made the call.
Unable to defeat his opponent on his feet, Jordan Hastings trails 8-6 at 135 with :14 left after getting a reversal. Needing a reckless-abandon move, he comes out front and locks up a cement-mixer, taking his opponent to his back with time short. Too late. No points.
In a million years Joe Welk will not throw a full nelson while working a power half, much less two.
Down 7-4 at 160 Cole Martin, who survived a pair of reverse-cradle attempts by his opponent in the second period, hits a headlock from the bottom with :15 left …
[noticing a pattern here? everything seems to be happening in the last seconds of periods. little of it good for Solanco]
… Martin can’t quite finish however, gets no points and goes on to lose.
Now, let’s say: Herr gets the takedown; Hastings gets his CJ; Welk works his power half for 3 back points; Martin gets the 5-point reversal and Moran and Deibler get their falls.
Now, instead fo 45-18 Colts, it’s 39-27 Mules.
And, if my aunt had …
The point is, you have to be lucky, but you also have to be good. And the Mid-Penn teams push each other to be better than good.
CV, Cedar Cliff, Middletown, Lower Dauphin, hunger to be on the same plain as Central Dauphin. Mechanicsburg, Chambersburg, etc., strive to challenge as well.
Here in the L-L, what are we doing? Do we fight each other tooth-and-nail? Or, do we surrender to the inevitable? There’s a reason we revere the Alamo.
Want to know how far we’ve fallen in reputation? Go on PennLive and read how fans from the York-Adams Conference, [York! for crying out loud!], are dissing the L-L.
Gotta laugh to keep from crying.
