Font ResizeThey ignored their peers in school who said they couldn't be as successful as last season's squad. They tuned out newspaper rankings that had them far down the lists. They shunned opposing fanbases and opponents who offered them no respect.
On Friday, the Eagles finally proved their detractors wrong. Bermudian Springs (18-3) finished third in the District 3 Class AA Team Tournament with a convincing 49-30 win over Juniata (25-2) at Milton Hershey School's Spartan Center.
"A lot of people coming into the season, kids in school, nobody thought we could get where we are," Bermudian senior Eric Meszaros said. "No one thought we could get to states, and we came one match and a couple of individuals short of getting there. So we're pretty proud of what we did this year."
The Eagles had a shot at states but fell short in their semifinal match against Schuylkill Valley (24-0). After building an 18-6 lead over Schuylkill Valley with pins from Brad Farley at 103 pounds, Tanner Coyle (119) and Wes Marshall (125), the Eagles dropped the next eight matches to lose 44-30.
Schuylkill Valley scored bonus points with four pins, a major decision and a technical fall to pull away midway through the dual.
Bermudian Springs head coach Dave McCollum quickly dismissed the notion of disappointment after the loss to the Panthers. McCollum instead said he thought his team
"That was the only shot we had at them, was not to give up bonus points," McCollum said.
"Unfortunately they got bonus points ... We almost had to have a perfect match to beat them. But we made them earn it."
In the third-place match, Bermudian and Juniata split the first four matches -- all ending in falls.
Noah Blasone broke a 12-12 tie when he pinned Juniata's Adam Gosshorn 1:35 into the 135-pound bout. The two teams continued to swap wins over the next four bouts. Bermudian forfeited 140 pounds, but Dalton Anthony quickly recovered those six points for the Eagles with a pin of Colton Shertzer in the 145-pound bout.
Bermudian would go on to build a 37-24 lead with a major decision from Tyler Fitzkee at 171 pounds and a pin from Jeff Racine at 189.
Matt Wolf sealed the team win for Bermudian with a pin of Dylan Powell 1:50 into the 215-pound match.
"I always like coming down to be the clincher, because it makes me feel good for the team," Wolf said. "It's a good feeling."
Wolf -- who also acknowledged the doubters the Eagles contended with through the year -- said he expects to be a leader for Bermudian next season.
The Eagles will lose 10 seniors from the current roster.
"It's been awesome. Last year, we had the fabulous five seniors, and these guys stepped up this year," Wolf said. "They were there. It was nice. In the room, they were pushing us and everything."
Although the Eagles will have numerous entries into individual postseason events, McCollum expressed his gratitude for his current crop of seniors who wrestled their final dual as a team.
"This has been an incredible senior class," McCollum said. "From the start of the season until now, they've given us 150 percent ever day, every practice, every match. I can honestly say we did not wrestle a bad match this year."
