"It was pretty special the way it happened," said Springer, who spent the first three years of high school at La Salle, where as a sophomore he won a silver medal in the PIAA individual championships. "The second I won I looked up, and everybody was cheering. I was like, 'Wow. This is awesome.' "
Springer improved to 35-5 this season, including 28 pins, which lead the district. Seventy-six percent of his career wins have come by fall.
"To watch my brother set that record is pretty amazing," said Mike Springer, Shane's younger brother and teammate. ". . . In high school, he has 128 [pins] - I can't imagine how many he has his entire life in wrestling."
The pin Saturday broke former Brandywine Heights wrestler Matt Yocco's record of 127, set in 2008, when he surpassed Upper Perkiomen graduate Mark Smith.
Who knows how long Shane Springer's mark will last? But here's some food for thought: Mike Springer, not yet finished with his sophomore season, already has 61 career falls, including 24 this year.
"I'm just kind of wondering, because my brother is like 50 matches behind me already," Shane Springer said with a smile. "I can only think about it for a year, I think."
More records. With their victories Friday against Northeast in the District 12 championship meet, La Salle's Matt Cimato and Casey Kent, both with 159 career wins, tied former Explorer Joe Mazzi as the school's all-time wins leaders.
La Salle faces District 4 champ Jersey Shore in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA team wrestling championships Thursday, with a chance for both Cimato and Kent to move ahead of Mazzi.
Cimato (a 145-pounder) and Kent (160) are among the favorites in their respective weight classes to contend for individual state medals in March. Cimato said last week that he may move down to 138 pounds for the individual portion of the postseason.
Matches to watch. The preliminary round of the PIAA Class AAA team wrestling championships begins Monday, when three area teams are in action. Norristown hosts District 3's Manheim Township, and Spring-Ford is at home to face District 11's Parkland. Council Rock North, meanwhile, travels to Big Spring, also of District 3. All matches are set for 7 p.m.
Owen J. Roberts, the District 1 champion, begins its quest for a team state title when it faces the winner of Taylor Allderdice vs. Greensburg Salem on Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Contact Evan Burgos at rallysports@phillynews.com.
