Marple Newtown Claims Share of Central League Wrestling Title

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Pat Callahan was plagued Tuesday night by a recurring thought: being the last wrestler on the mat for Marple Newtown with the Central League championship at stake. So what happened Wednesday night?

The 130-pound Marple Newtown sophomore was the last wrestler to compete with the Central League title at stake. Callahan later admitted he had nightmares over it. But if he was feeling twitchy about his station, he didn’t show it.

He kept jumping up and down to calm his nerves, and then he went out and played the hero role to perfection, winning his bout by an 8-5 decision and giving the Tigers a 31-28 victory over Upper Darby, to win a share of the Central League championship.

Sitting in a corner of Marple Newtown’s gym is a banner honoring past winter sports Central League champions. It stops at 1988 for wrestling, meaning what the Tigers pulled off under some arduous circumstances was the first time in 24 years Marple Newtown won the Central League in wrestling.

The Tigers still have one more league match against Ridley, at home, on Saturday night, for the outright Central League crown. But there is no denying that an additional set of numbers will be added behind the ’88 that now sits on the league championship banner.

“I was having nightmares over this because I thought it would come down to me,” Callahan said. “But I had to stay composed. I was nervous. My legs kept shaking, which is why I was jumping up and down. This wasn’t just about me, but this whole team. I love these guys.”    

And they seem to love him back. Before the match took place, Callahan jokingly stood up and announced he had no problem having the final match come down to him, as long as Marple Newtown was leading by seven (meaning there was no way Upper Darby could win, since a pin is six points).

Tom Antista’s pin at 152 got things rolling for Marple Newtown, and victories by Chris Kurkian and pins by Kenny Smith and Aaron Moldoff played big roles in Marple Newtown’s victory.

Ryan Flynn’s decision victory at 126 set everything up for Callahan. When he walked on to the mat, the score was deadlocked at 28-28 with the match coming down to the winner of his bout.

“Everything I’ve asked of these kids they’ve done and trusted me,” Tigers’ first-year coach Don Tabar said. “Pat Callahan epitomizes everything we’ve preached all year. Pat has that drive, and overall, what really pleases me is this was a great night for the sport.”

The Marple Newtown parking lot was full. The stands were packed with over 1,000 in attendance, filling both sides and the baseline stands that were pulled out. The crowd, both sides, were intense and respectful of one another.

As for the Tigers, especially the seniors, it was a great early graduation gift, as the Marple Newtown student body came rushing out of the stands in a group hug with the wrestling team after Callahan’s victory.

“We realized the history and how long it’s been since Marple Newtown last won a league championship,” Kurkian said. “This was the largest crowd I ever wrestled in front of, and it was great. It was great to go out like this.”

Moldoff still remembers the nasty taste the Tigers had after losing last year’s league championship to Garnet Valley. Wednesday night’s victory meant redemption.   

“We were in the same position last year and we didn’t win,” Moldoff said. “We knew what we had to work on to get back here, and I had an idea it would come down to the last few matches. It’s a memorable way to end my senior year.”