For the first time in 23 years, Steve Adam won't be required to coach at the PIAA Wrestling championships this weekend in Hershey. Instead, the Upper

Zach Rozanski posted one victory at last weekend's Class 3A Southeast Regional Tournament at 145 pounds.  The  Upper Perkiomen junior ended the season 29 victories  short of 100.

Perkiomen coach plans on attending a family reunion in State College.

            Last weekend, each of his five wrestlers competing in the Southeast Regional Class 3A Tournament failed to qualify for states. Matt Milkowich (106 pounds), Matt Martin (113), Joey Carpenter (120), Mike Milkowich (126) and Zach Rozanski (145) combined to win just two matches during the event at Souderton High School. No one advanced beyond the second round of consolation bouts.

            Adam declined to express his disappointment in their performances. Instead, he pointed out that those wrestlers – four of whom made their first appearance at that level – exceeded expectations during the season.

            "The guys that got to regionals met and exceeded their goals," the coach said. "All five guys are coming back next year.

            Rozanski (29-7), the Indians' lone returning regional qualifier, kicked off his tournament with a 6-3 victory over Sam Elsen, a sophomore from Unionville. He continued Friday in the quarterfinals with a loss to Cameron Robinson – a junior from Council Rock North. Robinson, the No. 1 seed, a state medalist from last season and nationally ranked – posted a second-period fall on his way to defending his regional title.

            "Zach hung with Robinson in the first period," Adam said. "He did well on his feet and set the tempo."

            However, a 5-3 overtime loss to Zach Needles -- a sophomore from Spring-Ford -- ended his season. One mistake on his feet in the extra period cost the junior the match, according to the coach. Adam says the loss will fuel Rozanski's drive as a senior to earn a medal at states and reach the 100-win plateau, of which he is 29 short. 

            At 106 pounds, Matt Milkowich (23-14) lost his initial match by technical fall 15-0 5:01 to Dominic Findora, a freshman from Downingtown West, on Friday.

            The following day, he posted an early second period fall over Shawn Marion, a sophomore from Neshaminy, in the elimination round. But a 29-second fall against Boyertown's Julien Maldonado in the second round of consolations ended Milkowich's season.

            "Matt had an incredible freshman season," Adam said. "Both of the kids he lost to have pretty a legitimate shot to earn a medal at states."

            Carpenter (25-14), who more than tripled his win total from the previous season, opened the tournament Friday with a first-period technical fall loss to Shane Hanson-Ashworth, the No. 2 seed from Council Rock South. 

            The sophomore staved off elimination early Saturday with a 5-1 win over Jake Methlie sophomore from Springfield Delco. However, Carpenter could avoid a season ending loss in the second round of consolations. Luke Lucerne, Council Rock North, registered a technical fall victory midway through the second period.

            "Joey's first appearance in the post-season did not seem to faze him," the coach said.

            Martin (24-9) – who won just seven matches the previous season – opened his    tournament Friday with a first-period fall over Jimmy King, a sophomore from West Chester Rustin. In the quarterfinals, the junior faced the No. 1 seed, Council Rock South senior Maximino Mendez, who scored a fall 66 seconds. However, a 10-3 loss to Central Bucks West's Chris Cleland ended his season.

            Mike Milkowich (14-12) – who doubled his win total from 2017-18 – absorbed a 90-second fall in his initial match by Cooper Johnson, a sophomore from Oxford. The junior was eliminated in his initial bout Saturday after suffering a third-period fall against Jacob Finley, a freshman from Interboro.

            "I thought Mike wrestled very well during the post-season," Adam said.