Section V wrestling: South Western uses home mats to advance seven to District 3 Class AAA tourney

The South Western gym emptied, except for a few stragglers in the stands and groups of wrestlers with their coaches scattered across the mats.

One last cheer let out when the hosts were announced as finishing with the highest team score Saturday night at the District 3 Class AAA Section V wrestling tournament.

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Minutes earlier, first-year South Western coach Nate Murren stood near the edge of one mat. There, three of his wrestlers — Derek Wilson, Owen Wherley and Seth Janney — won sectional titles.

"It's really awesome to see young kids doing as well as they are," Murren said. "You have young teams that struggle. We have a semi-young team that's doing really well. I'm feeling really excited about the potential."

Seven total wrestlers from South Western advanced to the District 3 tournament at Hersheypark Arena, which begins Friday. The top three placers in each weight class advanced to next weekend.

For Murren, that feat made him stop from thinking ahead to next season's potential.

"I expected seven or nine to go our way," he said, "but seven is awesome."