Parkland wrestling displayed depth and skill in registering two quality wins to improve its record to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in East Penn Conference matches.

“Overall, they have surpassed my expectations,” said second-year Trojan head coach Mike Ottinger. “It’s been pretty impressive.”

Skillful mat work was on display on Jan. 9 during a 37-29 victory over East Stroudsburg South. The Trojans were ready to fight as Gabriel Montanez got down to business in claiming a 7-6 decision over Dawson Miller at 120, giving Parkland a 3-0 advantage.

“Gabe has just done an awesome job this year,” the coach said.

Lucas Kern, Brian Diaz, Joe Dolak and Kale Cummings won four of the next five battles, giving Parkland a 16-5 lead. Particularly impressive was Cummings wrestling at 152, who dismissed East Stroudsburg South’s Jaidon Garcia with a 11-2 win.

“He doesn’t care who he’s wrestling against,” Ottinger said of Cummings. “He just does the job.”

After a loss at 160, Jacob Ortman and Gio Catania won their respective matches at 170 and 182 for a 28-11 lead. However, ESS rallied to win the next two battles, slicing the bulge to 28-23.

The Trojans’ Cory Border (285) and Nathan Kresge (106) ended the Cavaliers’ rally. Border muscled his way to a 4-2 decision over Daniel Opong-Duah. Then Kresge got tough and pinned Nicholas Ruiz at 2:56 to give Parkland an insurmountable 37-23 lead. A Parkland forfeit at 113 produced the final tally.

Three days later, Parkland had an easier time defeating Bangor 48-21. Once again the Trojans started fast, as Edmund Hadid showed his wrestling acumen in smartly pinning Landon Uhler at 1:51 for a 6-0 Parkland advantage. Kern, Diaz, Mason Lansenderfer, Dolak and Cummings continued the winning streak as the Trojans built up a 29-0 lead.

Almost from the season’s start, the Trojans have bought into Ottinger’s philosophy.

“The newer kids have just done what’s been asked of them and the more experienced kids, who are set in their ways, they bought into it,” the coach said. “Last year I think we had a more talented squad, but we have more of a team this year.”

After a loss at 160, the Trojans rebounded in their next two matches. Ortman manhandled Bangor’s Dan Ferguson in a 10-1 decision and Catania dominated Josh Pittenger 14-3 as Parkland led 37-6. Later, Garrett Fitzgerald muscled up and pinned Sergio Murillo in 2:22 at 220 and Kresge won by a technical fall over Robert Curley at 4:00 to close out the Parkland scoring.

“Right now we’re focused on smart wrestling,” Ottinger said.