SOL Wrestling Notebook (1-17-17)

Glenn Kaiser highlights some of the top performance at the Big Red Duals and Escape the Rock. Check out Sharon Shiipe's gallery of photos taken at the Souderton Duals...CLICK HERE!

North Penn Avenges Loss At Big Red Duals

North Penn got a little revenge from an earlier loss to Archbishop Wood this past weekend at Souderton High School.  The Knights rebounded from an earlier 39-35 loss to Wood at the Rock Yard Duals hosted at Council Rock North a week ago.  The Knights turned the table on the Vikings with a decisive 46-30 win at the Big Red Duals, just as they turned the tables on Pennridge last year after suffering a loss to them at the Rock Yard. The Knights came back to defeat the Rams in league competition to nail down a title a short time after their dual at CR North. 

Coach Rob Shettsline worked his line-up magic and got big bonus points to stifle Wood from a second win over NP this season in the third place bout.  The Knights downed a solid Unionville team 46-24 to get to the semis where they could not overcome Spring-Ford who was supposed to have a down year after heavy graduation losses, but S-F handled the Knights 41-20 to send North Penn to the consolation final match.  There, Owen Verespy (220) decked Wood’s Connor Bishop to seal the deal with the team score. Verespy dropped a decision to Bishop at CRN a week prior.  Verespy’s fall was one of five pins in a row for the Knights.  Colin Shannon (152), Reid Dentner (170), Ray McNamara (182), Garret Quallet (195), and Ryan Cody (285) recorded the six pin falls for the Knights.  Verespy also knocked off Mike Maquire from Unionville by the score of 2-0 for a solid win to put him in the conversation at 220-pounds this season.

The Knights upped their overall record to 10-6 and 3-0 in the SOL Continental Conference. 

The hosts Souderton impressed as well, going 3-1 on the day topping Neshaminy 49-22 in the fifth place bout.  The Indians defeated Wissahickon 48-25 and Pennsbury 52-22, with their only loss coming at the hands of Archbishop Wood.  Souderton’s Brandon Bach joined the 100 Win Club earlier this season in his senior year, and after the weekend, he now has a 107-32 career record.

Doyle Captures Belt at Escape the Rock

Council Rock South’s Joey Doyle was the lone SOL wrestler to capture a championship belt at the prestigious Escape the Rock tournament held at Doyle’s home school. Council Rock South.  Doyle was crowned the 220-pound champ from the #2 seed with a 2-1 decision over Bishop McCort’s Josiah Jones.  Doyle wrestled strangers from afar on his way to the title, downing Broad Run’s Jonathan Birchmeier 4-1 in the semis, as well as knocking off wrestlers from JW Robinson (VA) and Huntingdon (PA).  Doyle joined the 100 Win Club recently as well for his efforts, upping his career record to 105-37 and 16-1 on the season.  As usual, the ETR was loaded with talent from around the country and featured many of Pennsylvania’s and the nation’s best wrestlers.  Obtaining the belt from the ETR is a great wrestling accomplishment.  Ed Evans and the rest of the CR South crew always put on a great show with FloWrestling at their side.

Pennridge put two wrestlers in the finals, both whom had high expectations in Matty Parker (120) and Josh Stillings (160).  Both came up short in their hopes to leave with a belt, as Stillings took to the mats first for his final with a game plan against a familiar foe.  Stillings’ efforts and progress were evident, but they were not enough to reach the top of podium, as he was edged 2-1 by North Alleghany’s Eric Hong.  Stillings will have to wait until March for this rematch, as both will look for a state title at the Giant Center.  Parker, who is seeking a state title of his own at 120, was derailed in the finals, getting decked in the second period by New Jersey Delbarton’s Patrick Glory in 3:47.  Parker can only gain experience with the loss, as his mission has not changed - win a state title.  Parker knocked off local rival from Owen J Roberts Luke Resnick early in the quarterfinals handily 9-2.  Parker will certainly be primed once the post-season gets underway along with his teammate Josh Stillings.

Several other SOL wrestlers grabbed spots on the podium, including another of Parker’s rivals Aiden Burke (CR North), who finished sixth after losing in the semis and had to medical forfeit the rest of the way.  Luke Lucerne (CRN) was terrific at 106 earning the fifth place medal at 106-pounds after dropping a close 2-1 decision to CR South’s Max Mendez 2-1 in the consi-semis.  Lucerne finished with a 12-0 major decision over Delbarton’s Anthony Clark.  North’s Cameron Robinson finished eighth at 132-pounds.  South’s Mendez went on to finish fourthat 106.  The Golden Hawks’ Riley Palmer had to settle for sixth place at 152 after having to forfeit as well due to injury.  With the absence of Zack Trampe for the Golden Hawks, they finished out of the top 10 in the team race in 13th, Pennridge was 22nd, and CR North 25th in the 50-team event.

The ETR is the last big individual tourney of the season for most, as league duals and dual meet tourneys make up the remainder of schedule.  Preparation for individuals will hopefully continue as teams square off in league duals if coaches let the best wrestle the best.  If not, some tough dual tourney match-ups will have to do the trick.

CR South remains unbeaten at 7-0 as a dual team after going 5-0 at the Parkland Duals on January 7.  The Golden Hawks remain atop the National Conference.  Quakertown (5-2/3-0) with two solid wins over both Plymouth Whitemarsh and Hatboro-Horsham seem to be a lock to win the American.  North Penn is primed to capture its second straight Continental Conference championship at 10-6/3-0.

See you on the mats…

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