LANGHORNE, Pa. – Neshaminy High School (NHS)’s wrestlers shared the mat with youth wrestlers prior to their match on Jan. 14.

Five wrestlers from the Neshaminy Youth Wrestling Club (NYWC) took the mat against youth wrestlers of Council Rock Wrestling Association (CRWA)about a half hour before the Varsity team’s 46-19 win over Council Rock North High School.

Neshaminy’s wrestlers have been helping the young wrestlers as well, assisting them at their practices with their skills.

“Our team enjoyed working with the youth wrestlers,” Neshaminy boys wrestling coach Frank Bing said. “A lot of the high school wrestlers, boys and girls, go to the youth practice and work with them on technique.”

After the Junior Varsity (JV) match ended, the lights in Gym 3 dimmed as members of the currently undefeated Neshaminy Girls Wrestling team ran out to the mat to entertain the crowd, doing cartwheels and back handsprings, joined by the five NYWC wrestlers.

The five youth athletes from Neshaminy and Council Rock’s youth programs each participated in a bout with a wrestler from the other district. The JV wrestlers from both sides stayed to watch, and were as loud and excited as if it was a real match. Parents, students, and fans packed Gym 3 to watch the kids wrestle before the Varsity wrestlers began their match.

“Having the stands full is always great for the sport,” Bing said. “The kids get pumped up to go out and wrestle for the fans.”

With the five NYWC wrestlers becoming high school students within the next few years, this event allowed them to experience wrestling on a much larger stage and encouraged them to want to continue wrestling.

“I have not seen that many people in the stands in a long time,” Bing said. “With a crowd like that, lights out and running out to music I am sure they were excited to be center stage.”