This week’s notebook highlights to top dual matches of last week and ranks the SOL teams heading into the upcoming District Duals.
TEAM DUALS HEAT UP IN THE NEW YEAR
Eagles Soar Over Bears
Norristown is not ready to hand over their title in the American Conference. Upper Moreland, looking to knock of the Eagles and position themselves for a title, came up just a little bit short in their dual this week, losing 36-33 to the Eagles. Reigning Southeast Regional Champion Rashon Lusane from Norristown bumped up to 182 pounds to take on UM’s Justin Hester in the night’s final bout. With the team score all knotted at 33-33, it was winner take all. And Lusane came through with a 7-3 decision to seal the deal for the Eagles.
Upper Moreland has had a somewhat up and down season, heading into the match with a 9-8 record against Norristown. With a solid win under their belt over Wissahickon and a disappointing loss to league opponent Upper Dublin (wrestled at the Delco Duals), they had hopes of dethroning Mark Harner’s Norristown Eagles. Now they can only hope for Plymouth-Whitmarsh to take down the Eagles if they are to gain a share of the American crown.
P-W dismantled Wissahickon 53-7, and the Colonials sport a 7-5 record but still must wrestle UD and Norristown. Norristown has already defeated UD in a dual earlier this season. And with Wissahickon no longer a threat, it will be a showdown for the title on January 22, the night before the District Duals kick-off.
Tennent Notches WinWilliam Tennent, a member of the always-tough National Conference, notched a solid league victory over the Owls of Bensalem Wednesday night, 51-24. The Panthers’ Marc Issac pinned Jasin Speer at 285 pounds to basically secure the win for Tennent as he put his team ahead 39-9 with five bouts remaining. Bensalem’s Tommy Stokes got the night started for the Owls at 138 with a 5-4 OT victory in the night’s featured bout against Jesse Coleman. But consecutive pins by the Panther’s Tom McCoy (145) and Alex Montalvo (152) set the tone for the rest of the night.
Council Rock South continued its winning ways with a drubbing of Pennsbury, 56-10. The Golden Hawks are primed for another return to Hershey for the State Duals with preliminary rounds starting on February 3.
Quakertown and Pennridge Roll
In the Continental, Quakertown defeated CB South 40-27, and Pennridge handled Hatboro-Horsham 43-25 this week. With North Penn sidelined with skin issues, their highly anticipated match with CB East was postponed Wednesday night. Thus, the Continental remains a mystery with North Penn having an edge holding a victory over Pennridge. Saturday night’s match-up of Quakertown and Pennridge will sure have big implications on how the league will shake out.
Quakertown is a solid team from top to bottom with Collyn Dorney down at 106 pounds, freshman Harrison Campbell up to 113, and Tanner Seislove (126) leading things off, and Luke Garges and Matt Stonebeck in the upper middle weights, topped off by Gavin Caroff and Micah Jones. The Rams counter with possibly one of the best starting four in the District with Matt Parker (106), Kordell Rush (113), Scotty Parker (120), and Ben Ross (126) and finish with Ezra Outlaw (220) and Joe Kracz (285). This one will be a dogfight from the whistle.
Pennridge must survive in the middle in this one, as they lost six of the first eight matches against the Hatters. With the match starting at 132, the Hatters jumped all over the Rams 25-9 after the 195-pound bout. But Pennridge’s fab four down low and the two big men captured six in a row in fine fashion with 34 points to shut down the Hatters’ bid for an upset. If you don’t mind the ride up 309, this is one dual you won’t want to miss.
District Duals
With the first round of the District One Duals looming January 23, this weekend and next week’s duals will be heavily weighted for many teams looking to get into the 24-team event.
Front runners for the SOL to compete for one of the four spots in the State Duals are CR South, Quakertown, North Penn, Pennridge, and CB East. Boyertown is the team to beat in D1 this season, with Downigntown East, Spring-Ford, and Garnet Valley the other top contenders. Norristown, Neshaminy, and perennial contender CR North also look to advance. Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Moreland, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, and a few others from the SOL will surely apply for the Duals. Springfield Township will be one of the top AA Teams competing in the duals for a spot in the State Duals.
Matches with value are: CB South vs. Hatboro-Horsham next Wednesday, and for the Hatters this weekend vs. Bayard-Rustin and a potential match-up with WC Henderson in the Rage In The Cage @ Garnet Valley Saturday; Souderton vs. CB East (Wednesday); Upper Moreland vs. WC Henderson & CB South vs. Interboro at the Rage In the Cage.
SOL Dual Team Rankings:
1-Council Rock South
2- Pennridge
3-Quakertown
4-North Penn
5-CB East
Under Consideration In Order: Norristown, Neshaminy, Upper Moreland, & Plymouth Whitemarsh
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