The Eagles have landed
a wrestling title

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

When it comes to competition, Brett Sommerer is a machine.
He even has the tattoo to prove it.
The George Washington High School wrestler helped the Eagles pin down a Public League championship victory on Friday night, snapping Frankford High School’s 11-year winning streak with a 33-32 triumph.
Sommerer — a senior with six tattoos, including nuts and bolts on his forearm to signify his power-driven attitude toward sports — faced the Pioneers’ James Stackhouse in the 189-pound bout. A minute and a half later, Stackhouse was pinned.
"I feel really good right now," Sommerer said after the win. "We didn’t want to be too cocky, but we had a good feeling coming in tonight. All I could think was ‘Pin him and win this for your school.’"
So he did.
Sommerer was the third consecutive Eagle to pin his opponent during Friday night’s battle. Frankford took the lead early and kept it, and was in control by 23-15 as the 160-pounders took the mat. Within the next five minutes, everything changed.
First up: Anthony LaRose vs. Quinn Ball. Frankford was pinned.
Next: Russell Amodei vs. Gregory Gibbons. Frankford pinned again.
Finally: Brett Sommerer vs. James Stackhouse. Frankford was pinned for the third time.
The Eagles were up by 10 as the 215-pounders took the floor. Nick Harris was representing Washington, with Mike Gaskins battling for Frankford. Harris was in a bind — and so was Washington’s lead — but he fortunately achieved an escape with five seconds to go, saving Washington two team points and ultimately giving them the win.
"Nick Harris is my hero," said Washington coach Mike McKinney with a smile. "If he didn’t get that point, it would have been a tied match, and I don’t even know if we would have gotten the tiebreaker or not. Coming in, I didn’t think it was going to be a one-point match. I tip my hat to Frankford. They wrestled a tremendous wrestling match."
It was the first time in 11 years that the Pioneers did not win the Public League title. Washington made some wrestling history earlier this month, when the Eagles broke Frankford’s winning streak. On Friday night, they did it again.
"It feels great to beat Frankford," said Sommerer. "And we beat them twice, including the championship. It doesn’t get much better than that."
The championship win was a first for Washington’s boss.
"I feel relieved and I’m super proud," said McKinney. "That was the gutsiest performance I’ve ever seen. My hat’s off to Frankford. They came in with guns blazing. That was a great wrestling match.
"I knew it was going to be a close match, and I knew my guys were going to come through," he continued. "I was really confident."
The Eagles went 11-0 this season, finishing in first place in the Philadelphia Public League.
"We had high hopes for this year," said McKinney. "A lot of these guys have been here for four years. We knew if we could keep this bunch, we have a real good shot. As the year went on, we looked really good. Every time we needed a big match, someone different came up real big. People say who’s your best guy? I said I don’t know, depends on what day it is."
Although Sommerer was not one of the four-year studs on Washington’s wrestling squad, the senior has built a solid reputation for himself on the mats since his debut two years ago.
"Brett is huge," said McKinney. "I have a lot of confidence in Brett, and this year he started getting confidence in himself. The last few weeks, he really turned it around."
Friday night’s victory was the second time Sommerer enjoyed that championship feeling this year. On the gridiron, the linebacker helped the Eagles football team to a Public League title.
"I’ve been playing football my whole life," said Sommerer. "I like to be physical. I wanted to try something new, so I tried wrestling and it worked.
"Playing both sports definitely helps me," he added. "Football helps make me stronger for wrestling, and wrestling helps my moves playing football."
Next year, the 18-year-old Sommerer will attend the Williamson Trade School in Media, where he’ll learn carpentry.
It’s a good bet this last year at Washington will be with him for quite a few years.
"This is incredible," he said. "Two championships in one year — football and wrestling! To go out my senior year like this is perfect. I couldn’t ask for anything else." ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com