It was a good week for the Bishop McDevitt wrestling program.
Scott Lindsey's group had two goals entering the 2013-2014 wrestling season: Make the District 3-AA team duals and win the Capital Division.
Check, and check.
The Crusaders squeaked into the postseason fray Saturday and rode that momentum to a title-clinching 38-27 home victory over Milton Hershey Monday in the deciding Mid-Penn Capital Division match.
“It's a great feeling,” Lindsey said late Monday night. “The kids worked hard. They put it all on the line.
“We gave up two forfeits, and I told them before the match that we were down 12 points. Marcel [Lawson] started us off with a win, and it carried over. It was a big crowd for us and a great match.”
Lawson earned a 12-6 decision over Oliver Delgado-Martinez at 138 to kick things off. Two weights later, Marco Navarro (152) pinned Deshawn Harris and the Crusaders pulled out to a 9-6 advantage.
The Spartans, who received a pin from Charles Waple at 145, took the lead on a forfeit at 160 and Christopher Santana's decision over Rashad Lawson at 170. It was short-lived, as the Crusaders ended the match with a flurry.
Zane Black bumped to 182 and scored a fall. Jake Phillips (195) earned a decision, and Cole Nye (220) beat Spencer Gallitz 8-3. After Spartans heavyweight Tymere Eaton pinned Myles Turner, the Crusaders won the next four matches to clinch.
Jalin Hankerson (106) scored a fall. John Pipa decisioned Myles Taylor 6-0 at 113, and David Pipa (120) earned a tech fall. Jayden Johnson continued the assault with a decision over Craig Donley at 126.
“Griffin Hanes and Terrence White were out,” Lindsey said. “We didn't know how we would fare tonight. We had all kinds of scenarios, and we didn't have us winning in any of them.
“The kids stepped up. They wrestled their best match of the year.”
The Spartans received a forfeit at 132. They will compete Tuesday in the first round of the District 3-AAA Team Championships against No. 4 seed Spring Grove.
Lindsey's Crusaders open the Class AA portion of the District 3-AA Team Championships Wednesday against top-seeded Boiling Springs.