This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Wrestling: Cenci, Cermanski Go Out in Style

Phoenixville honored seniors as the Golden Panthers defeated the Phantoms 45-36 Tuesday night.

When Phoenixville seniors Ken Cenci and Matt Cermanski started their final season they probably had a pretty good idea that the Phantoms would not be celebrating a PAC-10 team title, but that has not derailed the duo in achieving the goals that they set for themselves prior to taking mat as seniors.

On Tuesday night the curtain was drawn of the final home meet of the season as the senior athletes from the winter sports were honored in a pre-meet ceremony.

Parents and students alike paid their respects for the dedication and hard work that Cermanski and Cenci have exhibited as two of the finest wrestlers in school history, in front of the Phoenixville PAL wrestling team, which very well may be where the next Ken Cenci comes from.

Find out what's happening in Phoenixvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It was great having the young kids here tonight to see these two outstanding athletes honored,” said head coach Dave Saville. “We are going to miss them on the mat of course, but it’s the other things that they do leadership-wise and just a hard work ethic that will be impossible to replace.”

In typical fashion, Cermanski and Cenci delivered results as they have on so many previous occasions by scoring pin falls in their matches, claiming the maximum of 12 points that they could for their team, which dropped the meet 45-36 to Pope John Paul II.

Find out what's happening in Phoenixvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In a match that featured only three bouts that lasted more than two rounds, the Phantoms found themselves on the short end of a 7-5 advantage in what was a fall fest.

Jordan Valenteen at 140 pounds, Tristen Alvarado at 119 pounds and 130-pounder Brandon Bonner recorded pins along with Cermanski and Cenci to account for all but the six points that Ed McCarthy was awarded by forfeit at 103-pounds.

Cermanski, who improved to 15-10 on the season and scored his 76th career win, needed just 31 seconds to dispatch the Golden Panthers’ 145- pound John Anszewski (12-11).

Ken Cenci, who raised his season record to 30-1, put himself on the brink of a major milestone as he pinned Jake Quin in 51 seconds, which gave him his 99th career win. He's one away from having his name immortalized on the wall of the high school gym on the banner with the Phantoms greats.

Only three men in school history have recorded 100 wins in their careers. Jason Meister (class of ’99) leads all time with 126 wins, followed by Bret Wade (class of ‘01) with 114 and Dominic Viola (class of ’01) who tallied 112 victories for the purple and black.

Depending on how far Cenci goes in the district and state individual meets he could end up as high as second all-time in wins for the Phantoms.

“That was one of my goals to start the year,” said Cenci. “I wanted to win 31 matches to get my name on that wall forever. It has been 10 years since anyone has done that. I absolutely hate to lose, so for me it is something I will always be proud of.”

Cenci is still considering college opportunities that are being presented to him in the form of many scholarships, as to where he will attend next year and whether or not he will pursue his first love wrestling or travel down the football avenue. He will study business wherever he decides to attend.

“I am going to miss this gym,” said Cenci. “And my teammates. We have put so much work in over the years. Matt [Cermanski] and I will always have a friendship long after high school as we have helped each other become the men we are today.”

As for Matt Cermanski, he is well on his way to achieving his life-long dream of being a recording artist. Currently the young guitarist has a video of his original song “Darling” that has been viral on YouTube. It was produced by Cermanski and several friends. He can be found performing at DaVinci’s Pub in Collegeville on Thursday nights and has been on NBC’s Ten Show in Philadelphia.

“I love to wrestle but I doubt that I will in college,” said Cermanski. “I am going to pursue my music career. I have a demo coming out with four songs on it and I love guitar and have always had great support from my family.”

It has been a difficult season for the Phantoms and one can only hazard a guess as to how they would have fared without this dynamic duo, but Cenci and Cermanski are quick to credit their teammates for coming out and trying to succeed on the mat, where once the match starts it is just you, your opponent and the mat.

“I hate losing,” said Cermanski. “Some of our guys have to start feeling like that as well. I will give them credit though; it takes guts to come out here and wrestle. Once you take the mat you’re on your own and that can be scary at times.”

“I think our young guys like Jordan [Valenteen] and Tristen [Alvarado] have done a great job this season. They have really done the work in the room and have improved so much over the season.”

As time goes on it is uncertain what challenges will face Cermanski and Cenci. However, one thing is certain: whatever life deals them they will tackle it head on like they have done for the a very long time and failure will not be an option to these two extraordinary young men.

Scoring

135  Tyler Roger (PJP) pinned Will Miller   at 1:20                           0-6

140  Jordan Valenteen (PX) pinned Nico Peloro  at 3:38              6-6

145  Matt Cermanski (PX) pinned  at :31                                           12-6

152  Conor Myers (PJP) pinned   Tim Labik at 2:26                            12-12

160 John Cheneskie (PJP) defeated Henry Hancock             7-1            12-15

171 Jared Robbins (PJP) pinned Sam Laporte     at 2:41                 12-21

189 Anthony Pugliese (PJP) pinned Paul Hossler   at :38             12-27

215 Alex Genetti (PJP) pinned Colin Mea        at 5:16                 12-33

285  Ken Cenci (PX) pinned Jake Quin   at  :51                            18-33

103  McCarthy won by Forfeit                                                  24-33

112  Zach Schauer (PJP) pinned Pat McGinnis   at  1:06                 24-39

119  Tristen Alvarado (PX) pinned Anthony Mastrangelo  at 2:33     30-39

125  Adam Cusatis (PJP) pinned D.J. Brock    at 1:30                        30-45

130  Brandon Bonner (PX) pinned Anthony Yerger  at 2:58             36-45

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?