Community Night Recap: A Packed House, A Powerful Showing, and a Down-to-the-Wire Win

Last night at Downingtown West, our wrestling community showed up in a way that felt nothing short of inspiring. The gym was absolutely electric—home stands packed shoulder to shoulder, and even the East bleachers filled with fans who came ready to support their athletes. It was everything Community Night was meant to be: loud, proud, and full of heart. Be sure to check out our Event Program for details of the evening.

JV opened our evening battling through 11 JV bouts, winning six, setting the tone for a competitive night from top to bottom.

During our Whippet Community Night Ceremonies, we filled the the mat with the the past, present and future of Whippet wrestling. DMS future freshmen were welcomed to the Whippet family followed by the res of the DMS team , our Thunder youth wrestlers stormed the center with energy and excitement, followed by our our alumni, and our dedicated coaches. We honored Girls in Sports Day, shining a light on the trailblazers helping expand wrestling in our area. And to close, we celebrated Coach McGehean, whose impact and leadership continue to shape this program year after year. We wish him the best as he steps away from his coaching position.

Then came the varsity match—an incredible, nail‑biting showdown against Downingtown East that wasn’t decided until the very last whistle. Although several of our wrestlers came up short on the scoreboard, many did exactly what the team needed: they refused to give up bonus points, keeping the match tight and giving West a chance to win. That toughness matters, and it mattered last night.

And for those who not only won but secured bonus points—you were difference‑makers:

Shaefer Hoffman opened the night with a lightning-fast fall at 107.
Mason Sigle followed with a dominant major at 114.
Michael Landrum kept the momentum rolling with a technical fall at 133.
Brayden Sigle added six big points with a pin at 145.
Nate Letscher delivered a clutch fall at 189.
And finally—under immense pressure—Ryder Harlan stepped up at heavyweight and sealed the dual with a 7–0 decision, securing the one‑point win for West: 29–28.

Just as meaningful were the efforts you won’t see highlighted in a scorebook—wrestlers who battled for every point, refused to give up pins, and kept West alive when the match could have swung in either direction, Patrick Markey, Connor Schwanke, Cole Harlan, Merhawy Williams and Finn McGovern.

This victory pushed West to 4–1 in league competition, creating a three‑way tie at the top. That alone speaks volumes about the growth, depth, and competitiveness of wrestling across our region right now. The bar has been raised—and our wrestlers are rising with it.

But beyond the scoreboard, Community Night was a celebration of something bigger: a thriving and expanding wrestling culture. From the youngest Thunder athletes to our alumni, from parents to coaches to neighbors who carved time out of their busy schedules just to cheer—every single person played a part in creating a powerful atmosphere that lifts our athletes and strengthens our program.

Thank you to everyone who filled the stands, volunteered, coached, encouraged, and supported. Nights like this help bring wrestling in Downingtown to a whole new level, and we are grateful to be building this community together.

It was a great night for wrestling and for West.

Go Whippets!