Ryan Rossiter experienced anxiety after allowing a takedown late in regulation during his 120-pound match Saturday.
The feeling seemed familiar to Rossiter, a sophomore on Upper Perkiomen's wrestling team. Seven days earlier, in his debut varsity match, he was pinned in the first period.
But against North Penn's Devon Weiss, Rossiter overcame fatigue and the anxiety of his first home match to score a 6-5 overtime victory.
He allowed a takedown with 30 seconds remaining in the third period before rallying to post an escape in the first of two overtime periods.
Rossiter (2-3) said he'd come a long way in a week. Head coach Sam Walters said his wrestler relied on superior conditioning to win.
"Ryan did well," Walters said. "He rallied for the victory. That's all that matters."
The victory – the final bout in a 45-26 loss to North Penn in a non-league match – highlighted a three-win flurry for the Indians. Jared Kuhns (106 pounds) and Jarek Swanson (113) posted consecutive major decisions.
Michael Felix (170) Robert Rosado (285) each delivered a pin for Upper Perkiomen, which fell behind 36-0 to start the match.
Clinging to a 5-3 lead in the third period, Rossiter searched for oxygen. During a stoppage, standing in the middle of mat, he leaned forward in an attempt to regain his breath.
"I was exhausted," Rossiter said. "But I didn't put my hands on my knees. That's forbidden here. It's a sign of weakness."
Weiss scored a takedown with 30 seconds remaining in the period. Rossiter stayed off his back to force the extra periods.
In the first of two additional 30-second periods, Rossiter started on the bottom, and posted an escape midway through.
In the second OT, Weiss chose the bottom position. However, Rossiter wouldn't allow him an escape to earn the victory.
Rossiter, who wrestled at the middle school level as a freshman, said he struggled initially to adapt to the high school's training regimen.
"The running I did for the ninth grade team was similar to what we do now to warm up," he said. "I've gotten used to it."
Against the Knights, Upper Perkiomen forfeited three weight classes – one more than usual due to an injury – beginning with the opener at 126 pounds. The team lost dropped its initial six bouts before Felix posted a third-period fall against Ryan Gilmore at 170 pounds.
Mickey Hopkins, a junior, followed with a 3-1 win over Ryan Cody at 182 pounds for the Indians.
"On my scoresheet I identified toss ups at 120 and 182 pounds," Walters said. "We won them both."
One weekend earlier, Upper Perkiomen finished sixth out of 20 teams in the 2015 Mule Classic Tournament at Solanco High School.
Kuhns won the 106-pound title. Svanson finished third at 113 pounds, while Jacob Folk (152) Felix (170) and Billy Brower (192) finished fourth.
The Indians shift their focus to the Bethlehem Catholic Tony Iasiello Christmas City Wrestling Tournament, scheduled for Dec. 29-30.
Their next dual meet, scheduled for Jan. 6, will be at home against Boyertown in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.