The first dual meet of the season for the Zephyrs included many bright spots when they opened against Freedom last week.

They won five bouts against the Patriots, but in the end they surrendered too many bonus points and lost their Eastern Pennsylvania Conference opener, 54-24.

However, they showed signs that this young team is poised to make its mark every time they step on the mat. Head coach Tim Cunningham said it served as the first step in a learning process that will see them get better as the year progresses.

“The Freedom match was our first match of the year and we learned a lot about our team and the work we have ahead of us to make daily improvements,” said Cunningham.

Of their five wins, two were by decision. Cunningham has always stressed the importance of winning the close matches and newcomers Mike Ajami and Marwan Rajha put that principle into effect when Rajha won 4-3 over Erik Glasthal at 170, while Ajami upended Joe Feith 4-2 at 182.

“We got nice wins from Marwan Rajha and Mike Ajami,” said Cunningham. “Marwan was a JV wrestler last year that won a spot for the Freedom match, and Mike Ajami is a first year wrestler who works extremely hard to improve and it paid off during his match.”

Two of their other wins were falls posted by Nick Demjan who decked Chris Guadagnino in 5:05 at 106, while Caleb Staub pinned Caleb Minkowski in 2:56 at 113. It was a impressive start to their varsity careers.

“The two freshmen Nick Demjan and Caleb Staub really stepped up to the plate, winning and pinning their first varsity match and were very aggressive,” said Cunningham.

The other win was at 195 where Tyler Oswald received a forfeit. Cunningham said that Oswald has been a leader on this team, something they were searching for as they embarked on the 2015-16 season.

After that meet, the Zephs took to the road for the Springfield Duals, a tournament they won last year by going 5-0. This year they lost to Danville Area Senior High School in the championship finals 43-27, their only blemish in going 4-1 in the tourney that features 10 teams.

In the opening round, Whitehall defeated Octorara Senior High School, 48-33. That was followed by a 50-21 win over Martin Luther King High School. In round three, they defeated Radnor High School 64-12, and in round five they dismantled Glen Mills High School 66-9.

The Zephs had a number of outstanding performances, including Noah Rex, Nikitas Davis and Demjan who went undefeated in their five matches.

Nikitas Davis recorded five pins in his five matches to lead the Zephs, while Rex had four pins and a forfeit. Demjan had two falls and three forfeits for his five wins.

Additionally, Oswald had two falls, a decision and a forfeit to finish the tourney at 4-1, his lone loss a 10-2 defeat to Sam Crone of Danielsville.

Staub had a good tourney as well, finishing with a fall, major decision and forfeit to go 3-2, while Josh Grol went 4-1, recording two pins and a decision on the afternoon.