Glenn Kaiser recaps some of the weekend’s highlights, including Quakertown coach Kurt Handel’s career 200th dual meet win.
(Submitted photo)
By Glenn Kaiser
Handel Wins 200th Career Dual Meet
If you asked Kurt Handel what it takes to win 200 hundred dual meets as a high school wrestling coach, he’d probably tell you if you coach long enough it will happen. But that is not always the case, Quakertown has always been a great wrestling program, dating back to the 80s as far as this old coach knows, and probably longer if you talk to the locals in the Quakertown area. Handel (Quakertown Class of 1990) himself was a standout wrestler for the Panthers in the late 80s. He has been at the helm of the high school program at Quakertown for the past 15 years.
He has been a longtime member of the District One Wrestling Steering Committee and currently is an at-large member. He was the Secretary of the Committee for numerous years. His input over the years on the committee has been valuable, but most importantly, he has always put the betterment of the sport of wrestling first, while supporting the views of the Suburban On League. Quakertown High School has hosted a number of District One Tournaments and will do so again this year hosting the D1 East District Tournament.
Kurt made his way to the head coaching position at Quakertown along the long road of being an assistant coach and working with the youth program. He always put a quality team on the mat and always gets the best out of his wrestlers. He is a well liked amongst the wrestling coaching fraternity, and we congratulate him on this tremendous accomplishment. Coach Handel was as humble as always after securing his 200th win at the Abington Ghost Town Duals after defeating Pennsbury in the fifth place match 48-25. But you could tell by the smile on his face, he was extremely proud for mostly his team, but as wrestling fans know, deep down he was very proud and honored to reach the milestone.
Hatboro-Horsham Settles For 4th Place At Ghost Town Duals
The Hatboro-Horsham (Hatters) Wrestling Warriors had a good start to their 2015-16 dual meet campaign going 3-2 on Saturday at Abington High School as they finished fourth. H-H pulled out a come-from-behind win in the opening round over an improved Northeast team, 39-36, as the heavy trio of Nick Chapman (195), Nick Schuck (220), and Matt Champman (285) sealed the deal with consecutive falls.
The Hatters had success in the second round of pool action as they continued their pinning ways, picking up seven falls and a forfeit with a 48-32 win over Pennsbury. Spring-Ford (2nd Place) halted the Hatters win streak, tagging them with a 46-24 loss, but the Hatters rebounded with a dismantling of Wissahickon 60-19 to finish 3-1 in the pool rounds. The Hatters racked up bonus points in the team scoring versus the Trojans with eight falls and two forfeits. The featured bout at 195 was won by Nick Chapman (H-H) with a late fall over Wissahickon’s Brian Fennel in a back and forth match. H-H then was pitted against Father Judge in the third place bout. Judge used the strength of their lightweights to squeak out the win at the end, 41-33.
Hatboro-Horsham (fourth) was the highest placing SOL team at the Ghost Town Duals, as Upper Darby won the crown over Spring-Ford 52-23. Quakertown finished fifth overall, recording three wins and two losses. Host Abington finished 2-3 on the day with a win over Upper Moreland 51-24 in pool action, and closed the day with a win over Wissahickon 48-27 in the seventh place match.
Plymouth-Whitemarsh Off To Fast Start
Plymouth-Whitemarsh looks to be the team to beat in the SOL American Conference once again as they look impressive early in the season with a dual meet win over Father Judge Wednesday night 39-31 and a third place finish at the Bob Henry Classic at Avon Grove a week ago. Marco DiBattista (113) & Nick Sidell (195) were crowned champs, and Ben Billings (152) and Quincy Williams (285) both finished second at their respective weight classes.
The Colonials had a fine showing at the Winter Viking Classic at Upper Merion this past weekend as well.
Harry S Truman places second at the Colley Classic at West Chester East, as the Tigers were edged by WC East by a point in the team standings:
http://www.thewrestlingtourney.com/
Click PA State then Colley Classic
King of the Mountain & Penn Mannor results can be found at:
http://www.thewrestlingtourney.com/
Missing results from Abington Ghost Town Duals:
HH 48-Pennsbury 32
113 - Antonio Martoccio pinned Evan Palmer, 0:18 (0-6)
120 - Mark Hertkorn maj. dec. Sam Negron, 18-8 (0-10)
126 - Connor Joyce pinned Antonio Vegas, 0:55 (0-16)
132 - Nick Giuliani pinned Nate Smith, 0:55 (6-16)
138 - Eric Biehl pinned Ethan Norris, 3:17 (12-16)
145 - Brendan Wawrzyniak pinned Shaun Peel, 1:29 (18-16)
152 - Zack Clarke pinned Austin Jaffe, 0:30 (18-22)
160 - Davis Wheeler pinned Spencer Hickman, 4:17 (24-22)
170 - Connor Gowton pinned Joseph Hwang, 0:57 (24-28)
182 - Jalen Edwards pinned Patrick Chappell, 1:31 (30-28)
195 - Nick Chapman won by forfeit (36-28)
220 - Nick Schuck pinned Scott Diethorne, 1:52 (42-28)
285 - Matt Chapman pinned Simeon Appleton, 0:33 (48-28)
106 - Nicholas Visco maj. dec. Grayson Smith, 12-2 (48-32)
Hatboro Horsham wrestlers in bold.
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