Cenci Battles to the End, Bows Out With Class

OXFORD-It may not have been the exit that Phoenixville senior Ken Cenci planned on, as his illustrious career as a Phantoms wrestler ended Saturday with a second straight loss in the PIAA class AAA Southeastern Regional Tournament. However, it can't tarnish the legacy that Cenci’s name will have forever in Phantoms' wrestling history.

It is rare in today’s world that a person would win more than 70 percent of the time at anything, much less in a four-year career in a sport that requires hand-to-hand combat.

Cenci’s overall record of 104 wins and 39 losses with 50 falls gives the Phantoms heavyweight a .727 winning percentage over a four-year span. That's impressive enough, but it is his 35-5 record this season with 25 of those wins coming by way of a pin of the opposition, posting him to a .875 winning percentage, that is staggering.

Cenci, who claimed his 100th victory at the PIAA sectional held at Pottsgrove, had a 28-match winning streak this season and he led the young Phantoms squad with fellow senior Matt Cermanski.

On Friday night, Cenci was ambushed by Kennett High School senior Shawn Stewart (39-3) as Stewart grabbed a 4-0 lead and held on to send Cenci into the consolation round.

“I’m disappointed with my finish,” said Cenci. “But overall it has been a great year. I wanted to win the sectional and got second, but I also wanted to get 30 wins and get to one hundred and that was something I will never forget. I have been proud to represent a great bunch of guys this year and have made friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Saturday morning, Cenci battled valiantly but could not record a point as he fell to eventual fifth-place finisher Mark Muscari from West Chester Henderson by a score of 1-0, as Muscari was able to record an escape as the only tally of the bout.

Cenci will have name on the wall of the Phoenixville High School gym as one of only four wrestlers to claim 100 victories for the Phantoms. And it is doubtful that his record of 93-26 in three years will ever be eclipsed.

"I owe a lot to my coaches and teammates," added Cenci. "They have helped me become the person that I am, and without the coaches and their dedication to our team, I would never have been able to be as succesful."