Central Dauphin head coach Jeff Sweigard doesn't worry about wins and losses. It's all about heart.
That's what the Rams are showing on the mat at Hershey's Giant Center. Wrestlers are bumping around the lineup and doing whatever is needed to move on to the next round.
The Rams wrote the book on team wrestling. And they followed that blueprint to a 32-27 win over Parkland in the PIAA Team Championship quarterfinal round.
Sweigard's crew will face Franklin Regional in Friday's semifinal round, which is scheduled for 8 p.m.
"I'm pretty happy," Sweigard said. "We got the match-ups we wanted even though we lost the toss.
"We weighed in different than we did [Thursday]. We have a lot of things we can do with our lineup."
Starting weight was in the Rams favor.
Tyson Dippery got the Rams rolling with a pin at 138, and Austin Rose followed with a fall at 152. Garrett Peppelman set a team championship record for quickest fall when he planted Rahmeir Thompson in seven seconds.
Sweigard made his first move sending out Steven McNeal at 170 and bumping Colton Peppelman to 182.
It paid off, as McNeal downed Nathan Christman 11-5, and Peppelman rode a big second period -- a dump into three near-fall points -- to an 8-1 decision over Nezar Haddad to bring CD's lead to 23-3.
"I asked Colton if he could beat him, and he said he could but it was going to be close," Sweigard said.
Terrance Parsons held on for a 4-2 decision over Omar Haddad before the Ferster brothers saved valuable points up top.
Dietrik Ferster fought Shaun Heist -- the No 4 ranked wrestler in the state -- to a 10-6 loss. Mike Ferster almost pulled the upset on Zach MacLean before losing in the final seconds 6-5.
"They are battlers, " Sweigard said of the Ferster brothers. "Both lost, but they showed they have big hearts.
"We're OK with losing. We just want to see heart and if a kid leaves everthing in the mat, I tip my hat to him."
Zach Elvin (106) downed Jacob Lizak 3-1. After Parkland's Ethan Lizak buried Phil Petrina, Austin Camacci, who bumped up to 120, won a 4-0 decision over Brayson Haas to extend the Rams advantage to 32-15.
Sweigard forfeited the last two weights to avoid injury. The Rams will need everyone healthy for the semifinal match against the Panthers.
"We emphasize team wrestling January and the first two weeks of February, "Sweigard said. "There is no whining. Dietrik Ferster gave up 35 pounds at 220 and showed heart. That's team wrestling.
"They [Franklin Regional] has a good program, a murder's row through the middle. I'm going to go back and do some research and feel them out."
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