CR South/Pennridge photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. To view photos of all the action, please visit the gallery at the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p65790542
GOLDEN HAWKS CONTINUE TO ROLL
Council Rock South off to a Perfect Start
By Glenn Kaiser
Perkasie, PA-The Council Rock South Golden Hawks wrestling team remained hot this past week with two huge wins over Pennridge and Spring-Ford, both District One rivals and two teams expected to be looming later in the season when the D1 Team Championships get underway. For now, it’s all CR South when it comes to victories as the Golden Hawks remain perfect. South will be tested yet again Wednesday (Dec. 13) when Quakertown heads to Holland, PA for yet another battle of titans. CRS downed a depleted Pennridge team 41-30 last Wednesday in front of a packed house. Despite five starters out of the Rams line-up, 
there were plenty of fireworks. Nine falls were recorded in the match, with Pennridge accounting for five of them. The five falls were the only wins the Rams got in this one, as CRS notched eight wins-four by fall, a tech-fall, two decisions and a forfeit.
In typical fashion, CRS was able to make some moves with Ben Brillhart out of their lineup, get the bonus points and win the key matchups. Gavin Cole (CRS) came back to down Ryan Gallagher (Pennridge) 11-9 after being put on his back early in the 160-pound match. Golden Hawk Anthony Mutarelli impressed with a flawless tech-fall (18-3) over the Rams’ Cole Coffin at 133lbs. Mutarelli displayed all his skills from all positions. Pennridge moved Talan Hogan off of Bekhruz Sadridinnov at 172-pounds which allowed the Rams to trade falls. Sadriddinov clearly wanted to wrestle Hogan again, but in the dual season, with the team score on the line, it was the Rams best option.
CRS seemed in cruise control through 215-pounds after Scott Linkewich decisioned Ian Gallagher 6-2, putting South up 35-18 on the scoreboard. But the ‘Ridge made it interesting with two falls by Riley Cullen at heavyweight and Kevin McFadden’s decking of Eddie Alvarez at 107-pounds, making it 35-30 on the scoreboard. But a forfeit to 114-pound standout Connor Lenahan ended the show. Luke Reitter lit the fire for CRS with his first-period fall over Jackson Reilly at 121-pounds where the match began. Anthony Granite countered for the Rams with his fall over Cody Riccardi at 127lbs., but South ran off three straight bonus-point wins to take control of this one.
CR South was back at it Saturday in another big dual with perennial Pioneer Athletic Conference power Spring-Ford. South overpowered the Rams in a blowout victory, 51-12. CR South looks so impressive they have moved up to #2 in the AAA PA Power Team Rankings behind only mighty BECA. Pennridge dropped a spot to #5 with the loss. Quakertown sits at #9 in the PA Power rankings, and they haven’t even wrestled yet.
Rankings mean nothing when it comes time to grapple out on the mat, but they are indicators that there is a lot of respect for these three SOL teams. When the postseason rolls around lineups will look significantly different with teams hopefully. at full-strength and wrestlers at their preferred weight classes. Nonetheless, the hype is real.
Brian Bealer Memorial Bear Duals at Boyertown H.S.
In other dual action this past weekend, several SOL teams traveled northwest to Boyertown to test their wrestling squads in a very competitive field that included #4 Easton, which seem to be back as one of the powers in the Lehigh Valley. Pennridge, Council Rock North, Pennsbury & Souderton all battled at the Bear Duals. Pennridge went 3-2 on the day with a big win over one of the PAC’s best, Owen J Roberts, 42-29. The Rams were downed by Wilson (West Lawn), ranked #18 (PA Power) in AAA, 33-26 and Easton 46-19. Pennridge dropped Pennsbury 47-30, Pennsbury went 2-3 on the day with a win over Souderton 47-22. Council Rock North went 3-2 on Saturday with lopsided wins against Perk Valley (57-18), Conestoga (43-17) and Souderton (52-24). Souderton was winless on the day going 0-5. Tom Gonce was 4-1 at 285lbs for the Indians. Council Rock North will be a tough out for just about anyone but was downed by OJR 42-30 and Wilson.
Franny Lutz Holiday Duals at Upper Merion H.S.
Cheltenham looked impressive, as they picked up where they left off last season (they finished 10-5 overall, capturing the SOL Freedom title with a 5-0 record). The Panthers won three matches to start their season 3-0, which included a solid win over league foe Upper Moreland 37-21. Head Coach Rob Weneck has turned the Panthers around quickly, and they have the early upper hand in the Freedom Division again this year.
PA National Guard Invitational
William Tennent got off to a good start to their season, finishing third in the PA National Guard Invitational hosted by Executive Education Academy Charter School. Tennent crowned three champs in Aziz Gulyamov (114 lbs.), Brock Rudy (139) and Sean Hazlett (172). They also had four runner-up performances posted by Cameron Guzman (107), Christian Troy (152), Joel Andrewsky (160) and Viktor Purshaha (189). Purshaha has committed to wrestle at Divison III Elizabethtown after graduation. The Panthers had 12 placer-winners in total, with freshman Ryder Holt capturing bronze with his pin in the consolation finals at 133-pounds.
Upcoming Events: An exciting weekend of wrestling is on tap as SOL teams will compete in some of the season’s top tournaments including the Beast of the East at the University of Delaware. Council Rock South and North will both compete in the Beast. South departs the King of the Mountain tournament for the Beast this weekend after competing there for many years. Quakertown will join them in Delaware against the nation’s best wrestlers. Hatboro-Horsham will travel to the Panther Holiday Classic at Mt. Aloysius College to compete in an extremely large field with outstanding individual talent. Locally, two SOL teams will compete in the Travis Manion ’99 Memorial Duals at La Salle as CB South & Tennent will look to see where they stand as dual teams in this 10-team event.
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