Wrestlers Zimmer and Corbett are Regional-Bound

In what was an active weekend at the District 1 North wrestling championships for Lower Merion School District, Zeke Zimmer of Lower Merion and Haddon Corbett of Harriton advanced to the regional tournament.

Zimmer placed second at 160 pounds, losing 7-3 to Neshaminy's Nick Russell in the finals, while Corbett was dealt his first loss of the season in the 189 pound championship: a 0:47 fall at the hands of Upper Moreland's John Bolich.

The season ended prematurely for some though, as the Aces' Ron Koren (140 pounds) and Eli Zimmer (189 pounds) were eliminated in first-round consolations and Stefan Vestal (152 pounds) and James Flowers (285 pounds), as well as Harriton's regional hopeful Elliot Levy (135 pounds), fell in the consolation quarterfinals.

"The kids got good experience," said Aces head coach Jimmy Perri of the wrestlers whose seasons ended Saturday. "It's something to build on going forward."

Harriton coach Anthony Ciarello, whose team is in its first season of AAA competition after moving up from smaller AA, was likewise pleased with the performance of his two district qualifiers.

"This is great," said the animated coach. "I wish I could be out there with them. When they win, I feel like I win. When they lose, I hurt. When they beat somebody who's beaten them before, I laugh a little harder."

Someone who won't be laughing, hard or otherwise, anytime soon is the Aces' Cody Kaplan.

The senior, whose 28 wins were second on the team, suffered an ankle injury during a 5-1 loss to Neshaminy's Colby Lederer in the consolation semifinals and wasn't able to get it right in time for the fifth-place match. His high school wrestling career ended with an injury default to Patrick Fennell of Wissahickon.

For a wrestler at a postseason tournament (or worse, a parent), the day is hours upon hours of waiting, occasionally interrupted by brief eruptions of violence, immediately followed by more waiting.

The last two days, for 18 minutes of actual mat time, Zeke Zimmer spent almost 18 hours standing around the Council Rock North Gymnasium.

Zeke and his younger brother Eli used the time wisely though: watching the competition.

"I try to follow the other 189-pounders, see what they do," said Eli.

"You have some kids who sneak into Sectionals, but nobody sneaks into Districts, every move counts when you get here," added the elder Zimmer. This is what necessitates the watching, any edge you can get.

The injured Kaplan also fancied himself something of a scout.

"I'm thinking strategy," Kaplan explained, pre-injury, as he watched two potential opponents square off. "I want to see what their tendencies are, what they do," he said without taking his eyes off the match.

There's also a social component to the proceedings. With so much down time, there's plenty of opportunity to catch up with wrestlers you know --which is apparently everybody. Top level high school wrestling is a very small world.

"We know kids from camps, tournaments, club teams. I know a lot of kids from Norristown and Methacton—we went to Florida this summer. You see a lot of people," said Zeke.

He and Corbett will get more opportunity to socialize next week at regionals.

They should probably still bring a magazine.