Upper Perkiomen's boys wrestling team delivered an impressive performance in its season-opening tournament. Drew Bennett achieved unexpected success by earning a gold medal.

            Bennett's success might have shocked the outside wrestling community, according to head coach Omar Porrata. However, the coach claimed he wasn't surprised by the senior's accomplishment.

            "I see what he and the team does day in and day out," Porrata wrote in a text message. "Exciting stuff."

            Bennett posted one of two championships for the Indians at the Rough Rider Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 29. He reeled off four wins, including three pins, to secure the title at 215 pounds.

            Ben Godshall added a first-place finish at 133 pounds to help lead the Indians to a second-place finish out of 15 teams at Catasauqua High School. The senior moved within six career wins of 100.

            Sean Murray finished second at 139 pounds. Zane Saeger (172) and Brandon Quinton (121) ended up in third place, while Adam Gravinski (160) finished fourth.

            "I loved what I saw," the coach wrote.

            Bennett, a returning sectional qualifier, relied on strong cardio to win four straight matches. He scored three falls.

            After opening with a third-period pin of Valley View's Mason Mitchell, he shut out Brody Moody, from Conwell-Egan, 9-0, in the quarterfinal round. Bennett added two more third-period pins to clinch his title.

            In the semifinals, he beat Jaydon Skipalis, a senior from Lake Lehman. Bennett finished off Elisha Weiss, a senior from Williams Valley, with five seconds left in the match to secure the gold.

            At 133, Godshall won three straight bouts to increase his career total to 94. The returning regional qualifier delivered a pair of first-period pins on Pen Argyl's Warren Ackerman and Cameron Grohowski, a junior from Wilkes-Barre Area, to advance to the gold medal match. The senior then defeated Anthony Swartz, a returning regional qualifier from Conwell-Egan, 9-5.

            "We have high hopes for Bennie," Porrata said. "He's very consistent. He just keeps going."

            Murray, the Tribe's most accomplished wrestler, won his initial three bouts before dropping the title bout at 139. After an opening round pin, the junior scored a pair of decisions against two returning regional qualifiers. He needed extra time to defeat Christian Best, a sophomore from Big Spring, 4-1, in the quarterfinal round.

            In the gold medal match, Murray allowed one point to Michael Gorrell, a returning state qualifier from Conwell-Egan. However, Gorrell posted a 1-0 victory.

            According to the coach, the junior with 76 career victories has displayed the persistence necessary to return to the PIAA Championship. This season, the goal is to earn a medal in Hershey.  "He's got the proper demeanor and a short memory," Porrata said. "Sean has to keep working hard."

            Saeger overcame a second-round loss by winning his final three matches. The senior secured the bronze medal with a 3-1 win over Nicholas Souders, a returning regional qualifier from Big Spring. The coach described Saeger, a three-sport athlete who needs 34 wins to reach 100 for his career, as a leader in the practice room and a hard worker.

            Gravinski, a sophomore, won his initial three bouts with pins, including a 33-second fall over Ayden Ruggear, a sophomore from Catasauqua, in his initial match. His day ended with a pair of losses to returning regional qualifiers.

            Porrata expects the team, which will host Kutztown on Friday night, to compete for the Pioneer Athletic Conference's Liberty Division title. He claims he can't approach a season any other way.

            The coach said he expects a full lineup for most of the season. The roster includes seniors Joseph Schmittinger and Dom Wolfe, juniors Nathan Finger and Estrella Kubola, and sophomores Mason Cunningham, Adam and Emmett Nolan.