West Chester Rustin wrestlers Corp, Seaman shine at Donegal Holiday Tournament

By NATE HECKENBERGER

nateheckenberger@gmail.com

MT. JOY — The talent West Chester Rustin sophomore AJ Corp has is undeniable.

It was on full display on day two of the Donegal Holiday Tournament Saturday, with Corp dominating his foes in every position on his way to his first high school championship.

As true as Corp’s skill is, so to was the proverbial thorn in his side. Or rather, his knee.

Once during the 172-pound final, Corp used injury time as his braced right knee flared up, repeating a couple occurrences from the day before.

After a promising freshman season was ended early due to a knee injury, Corp is determined to overcome not only the battles on the mat, but also those inside his own body.

“I just have to deal with it,” Corp said. “It is what it is. I have to deal with it every time I go out.  It’s going to happen. … Of course it bothers me and I want to fix it, but when it happens I just have to keep going.”

Fortunately for Corp, he was not tested much at Donegal. He used three technical falls to get to the finals and won there with a 13-2 major decision over Conrad Weiser’s Davis Keppley.

Corp followed teammate Roman Seaman (160 pounds) to the top of the podium, and the pair helped Rustin to a fourth-place finish out of 22 teams. Great Valley finished 17th with one medalist, Beau Kosmalski (152).

Rustin coach Aston White is not so much concerned with the wins and losses in December, but more with the progression that hopefully will culminate in the postseason.

Expectations will be high for Corp, who placed fourth in a much-deeper King of the Mountain tournament at Central Mountain High a week ago, in his season debut.

“We don’t look at it as last season was lost (for Corp),” White said. “He got better last year throughout the season and he’s getting better now. He lost to one of the best kids in the country last weekend and he wrestled Gage Wentzel, who’s also ranked in the nation. He’s there, but it’s not about winning matches now. He wants to medal at states and we certainly think he’s capable of doing so. He just needs to continue to improve.”

White is doing everything to help, adding a former state champion from Owen J. Roberts, Dan Mancini, to a staff that already included former OJR state medalist Ryan Resnick. That duo of middle-weight coaches offers something many rooms can’t, and that also helps guys like Colin Baldesari (145) and Brody Woodbridge (152), who both placed fifth Saturday.

“It allows us to get better,” Seaman said. “If you’re practicing with someone better than you, that’s how you get better. Having those really good competitions in the room really helps elevate our team.”

Seaman earned a tech fall and three pins en route to his final, where he was a 10-3 winner over Donegal’s Caidyn Leaf.

A year ago, Seaman was a sectional champ and qualified for his first regional tournament. Corp won’t exactly sneak up on anyone like his teammate, but at this point he’s just hoping the second half of his season is more career firsts than freshman year encore.

“I just love competition and can’t wait for the next challenges coming up,” Corp said. “I wish I could have done it last year but I didn’t, so this year I’m going to make up for it.”

Oliver Emmonds (127) and Charlie Emmonds (133) placed fourth for the Golden Knights.

Great Valley got Kosmalski to the podium, but he took the long and winding road to get there.

The freshman dropped his opening match, 9-8, Friday, but then won six straight to clinch third place, avenging his first-round loss along the way.

“It shows I have the passion and I have the motivation to just keep grinding,” Kosmalski said. “It shows these guys that I’m right with them.”