The first-year head coach of Upper Perkiomen's boys wrestling team took the reception at last week's non-league home match as a sign that the community appreciates his effort to re-instill excellence in the program. An enthusiastic audience nearly filled the home side of the stands during a dominant performance last week against Springfield Township. 

Joseph Schmittinger, right, squeezes his headlock against Springfield Township's Thomas Saiber at 127 pounds. The Upper Perkiomen senior needed 36 seconds to register a pin.

            "The atmosphere was so much fun," Omar Porrata said.
            The Indians remained undefeated with a 62-10 non-league victory on Friday, Jan. 9. They lost only two bouts. Porrata claimed he wanted to see multiple competitive bouts.
            "I didn't expect us to do as well as we did," the coach said. The Tribe (8-0, 1-0 PAC) scored nine victories by pin in front of a raucous home crowd. Doyle Rooney and Drew Bennett delivered their team's most impressive performances.

            Mason Cunningham (107 pounds), Joseph Schmittinger (127), Ben Godshall (133), Sean Murray (139), Zane Saeger (160) and Estrella Kubola (285) ended their bouts during the first period against the Spartans (4-7). Adam Gravinski (152) registered a technical fall late in the second period for the Tribe, which built a commanding 32-0 lead.
            Victories by Rooney, Bennett and Kubola generated the loudest cheers from an engaged, boisterous crowd. At 172 pounds, Rooney overcame a 9-5 deficit early in the second period.
            The ninth grader parlayed an escape and a takedown into a fall. Rooney (8-5) utilized a cement job – a finishing move that includes a front headlock and a deep underhook – to defeat Will Jones, a senior returning sectional qualifier for the Spartans.

            "Doyle is not afraid of anyone," Porrata said. "He works so hard in the [practice] room. When you do that, good things happen."
            At 215 pounds, Bennett (17-4) needed only 53 seconds to beat Ryan Luce. The senior quickly caught the Springfield senior in a power half nelson.
            Kubola (14-10) capped the match with a dominant victory at 285 pounds. The junior, who won only four matches last season, beat Josh Joseph midway threough the second period.

            Godshall (20-5) used an armbar to pin Gavin McCaney 80 seconds into his bout. With 111 career victories, the senior tied Derek Bennett, a 2006 graduate, for 26th place in the program's all-time list.
            Murray (20-3) moved within seven victories of becoming the 30th wrestler in program history to reach 100 with a 56-second fall against Jack Watson. The junior – a returning state qualifier – has won six straight, and 11 of his last 12, bouts.

            Saeger (21-5) utilized a half nelson to score his 82nd career victory. The senior needed 100 seconds to pin Carlton Dixon.

            With only two remaining home matches, Porrata expressed hope that his team can earn another one in the District One Teams Duals. A victory over Owen J. Roberts on Wednesday, Jan. 14, four days before the seeding meeting, could go a long way towards accomplishing that goal, the coach said.