Tashie has a cauliflower ear and Borrelli has bruised ribs. Both are on a day-to-day status with their injuries and Richards isn't sure when they will return. In the meantime, the Cougars look capable of getting at least some points with their replacements. Jay Tegethoff moved up from 119 to 126 to replace Tashie at Spring-Ford and proceeded to take second place in the weight class.
Tegethoff was just one of eight wrestlers to finish in the top four spots for Springfield. Ed Steager, a freshman, won his first tournament title at 105. The Cougars also had runners-up at 98 with Steve DiEmideo, 112-pounder Joe Woods, and 185-pounder Dan Stumpf. Marc Petroski at 132 and Jim Richards at 167 claimed third-place points, and Brian Bean finished fourth at heavyweight.
"The kids I expected to make it (to the finals) didn't and the ones I didn't expect to did, but I was thrilled with what we got," Richards said. ''These (Springfield's finalists) were all young kids. Some of them wrestled the best they ever have and they learned what they can do."
It was a tough week for Academy Park. Also at the Spring-Ford tournament, the Knights finished last with a meager 18 points. Standout Jason Steel at 126 was the only wrestler to finish in the top three for Academy Park, taking third-place after getting bumped into the consolations by Methacton's Matt Kocur in the semis.
On Tuesday Academy Park (0-4) was edged by Cardinal O'Hara, 39-27. The score was tied with only two bouts left but 185-pounder Brian Verna got his first win of the season for the Lions with a 55-second pin and Brian Meyken followed with a fall of his own at 3:18 in the heavyweight match.
O'Hara co-captain John Welde, after coming up against some tough competition, finally got his first win of the season, a 12-5 decision over Mike Long. The Lions also got pins from Jim Cavallaro at 98, co-captain Mike McCoy at 112, Tim Locke at 132, and Joe Travaglini at 138.
Steel won for Academy Park, and the Knights had four other falls, coming
from 112-pounder Hung Nguyen, 119-pounder Ed Willis, Joe Gardner, who won the 155-pound bout in 28 seconds, and Dan Vink at 167.
Also on Tuesday St. James (3-2) downed Interboro (0-3), 36-29.
