Class 3A Southeast Regional wrestling roundup: Downingtown East’s Cade McDowell shines on Day 1

OXFORD — As a 172-pounder his first three seasons, Downingtown East’s Cade McDowell decided he was willing to do whatever it took to get to states in his senior season.

McDowell cut to 160 for the first time late this season, and after a pair of wins on the first day of the Class 3A Southeast Regional tournament at Oxford High, Friday, McDowell is now just a win away from accomplishing that goal.

Semifinalists will have three chances to get one more win to qualify as a top-five finisher for the PIAA Championships next week in Hershey. Action will restart at 9:30 a.m., Saturday with the first round of consolations. Finals are scheduled for 6 p.m.

McDowell was feeling large and in charge at his lower weight class.

“My weight cut has been going awesome and I feel bigger and stronger than everyone,” McDowell said. “I couldn’t ask for a better weight cut.”

McDowell won a back-and-forth quarterfinal against Great Valley’s Beau Kosmalski and will face top-seeded Jon Smith of Oxford, next.

“(Kosmalski) is tough and he’s got some really good offense,” McDowell said. “Towards the end there, I knew it was coming and I was waiting for his re-attack. He had some pretty good defense and I was having trouble getting to my own shots, so I figured I might as well look for my re-attacks.”

A pair of heavyweights closed out the night with wins. West Chester East’s Justin Williams took a big early lead and held on at the end while Oxford’s Jace McKinney shook off an early deficit to pin his way to the semis.

Williams led Hatboro-Horsham’s Robert Rose, 9-2, and held on for an 11-10 win, staving off a takedown attempt at the buzzer. The Viking now faces the daunting task of facing returning state champ, Dean Bechtold of Owen J. Roberts.

“I was just thinking, ‘you worked all season for this, don’t miss it up now, Jay,’” Williams said of his quarterfinal bout. “It jus shows all the hard work. I know everyone in this weight class has gotten so much bette this year, and it shows I’m improving as well.”

McKinney avenged a late-season loss to Kennett’s Randall Waybright in the first round and eventually pinned Chichester’s Grady Whartnaby in quarters to set up a match against Council Rock South’s Matt Scott. McKinney lost to Scott, 8-4, at district duals.

“It’s more just knowing, this is it for me,” McKinney said of his perspective. “‘Why leave any regrets out there?’ Just give it what you got. There’s under a week left now so I might as well give it everything I got.”

Blake Hostetter (172) is also in semis for Oxford.

Strath Haven’s Nick Farabaugh (215 pounds) won his 100th career match and Council Rock South’s Pat Woloshyn (139) and Kennett’s Zack Jaffe (152) reached 150 career wins.

It was news to Jaffe that he had just become the 10th public school wrestler from Chester County to hit 150.

“It’s really exciting,” Jaffe said. “I was a little surprised by it because I didn’t realize how many wins I was at. They called my name after the match and I was like, ‘what is going on?’ They announced 150 wins and I was like, ‘let’s go!’”

Jaffe will face Central Bucks West’s Kevin Mallon for a chance to become a four-time state qualifier. Blake Boyer (139) has a chance at that accomplishment, as well, and he will see William Tennent’s Brock Rudy in semis.

Conestoga’s Walker Martin (107) pulled away from Central Bucks East’s Johnny Hunter and he will take on Downingtown West’s Shaefer Hoffman in semis.

Brayden Sigle (133) is going for his second straight regional title and he will take on Council Rock North’s Pierce Kane in semis.

West Chester Rustin’s AJ Corp (172) has No. 2 in the state, Chris Dennis of CB West, in the semis.