Matt Vines possesses a switch. It’s an off-and-on switch.

Vines has the ability to transform himself from a mild-mannered, humble young man into a fierce and relentless warrior.

It’s a switch that served him well during the fall season for the Northern Lebanon football team. It’s also a switch that can be quite effective in wrestling.

On Monday night at home, Vines patiently waited his turn to provide a helping hand in Northern Lebanon’s duel meet with rival Elco. And once he stepped on to the mat and got his chance, he contributed in a big way.

Vines’ first-period fall provided Northern Lebanon with six team points, as the Vikings jumped out to a 35-0 lead on the Raiders. Vines’ middle-weight and lower-weight teammates then proceeded to place the finishing touches on an impressive 64-9 victory.

The win clinched at least a tie for what could be Northern Lebanon’s fourth straight Lancaster-Lebanon Section Four championship – a title the Vikings sewed up later this week with a triumph over Columbia.

Northern Lebanon has high hopes for the rest of the 2015-16 campaign, both as a team and individually. And Vines is a big part of those plans.

– Jeff Falk