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February 28, 2021 Kieran Hefferan played a big part in the West Chester East win over Downingtown West on Saturday. [MNG FILE]
DOWNINGTOWN The West Chester East boys basketball team lost an average of 45 points per game from 2020 to 2021, thanks to the graduation of Andrew Carr and Tym Richardson, from a squad that won the Ches-Mont League and District 1 Class 5A championship.
But that was merely a bump in the road for the Vikings.
The 2021 Vikings finished with the best record in the Ches-Mont League National Division, and clinched a spot in Monday’s Ches-Mont crossover game against American Division champ West Chester Rustin, with a decisive 61-55 win over host Downingtown West Saturday at Wagner Gymnasium.
Individually, though, stars have developed, and senior Nate Lucier is the latest.
Coming off a sixth-place finish at the Class 3A PIAA tournament, Lucier has had to wait an extra month to begin his quest to climb all the way to the top of the podium.
The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the start, and threatened the feasibility of actually finishing the wrestling season, but the social distancing, restrictions and isolation hardly phase Lucier, who’s made a career out of finding ways to improve without marquee help in the practice room.
“Wrestling is a unique sport, where, if you set your work ethic and goals and priorities high enough, you can attain the same thing as anyone else,” Coatesville coach Jeff Bowyer said. “It’s not as convenient to find different partners and extra work, but if you’re driven and focused, it’s attainable, and he’s done that.”