Andrew Park and Dustin Blevins

Staff Writer

  With the 2009-10 wrestling season over, the team can look back on plenty of great accomplishments. In the beginning of the season they competed in the New Hope-Solebury Tournament, coming in ninth place the team had an optimistic idea of how the season was going to go. The next week the New Hope Lions took on the Lions of Lower Moreland, losing 47-28. New Hope’s wrestlers kept their heads up and moved on to the Truman Tiger Duals. Winning two of five the Lions felt like they could keep up with anyone in the district, especially Lower Moreland. Coach Miller kept telling the team that Lower Moreland would be worrying about New Hope. Winning second at the Church Farm tournament really started to spark the momentum, pushing the Lions to five straight victories and first place at

the Delco Tournament, beating Lower Moreland by 80 points.

  The Lions were on a roll as they went into the last part of the season. Going 3-2 at the William Tennet Panther Duals, the Lions were ready to take on the BAL Championships on their home mats. The whole team wrestled hard, beating Lower Moreland once again, crushing them by 50 points and taking home the BAL trophy.

Going to the District Champions the Lions knew that they would be placing high in the rankings. The whole team wrestled with placing so they could make it to Regional’s. In the end of the tournament, New Hope placed third, with nine individual medalists, and sent five wrestlers to Regional’s. In addition to returning Regional qualifiers DevonVoorhees, Dustin Blevins, and Tom Villareale the Lions took a pair of underclassmen to the Regional Championships, Sophomore Marshall Hendricks and Freshman Nick DiPasquale. The wrestlers performed admirably at Regional’s, but were unable to advance anyone to the State Championships.

  Following the scholastic season the Delaware Valley referees named New Hope District 1’s most improved team at their annual all-star event. Coach Miller and senior Dustin Blevins accepted the award after Blevins became the first member of the NHS squad to be named to the all-area team made up of the top seniors from districts 1 and 12 class AA and AAA. This marks the first time New Hope has received the most improved team award, something coach Miller considers a great honor. The Lions look to build on their success and continue to compete at a high level next season.