Glenn Kaiser recaps Pennridge’s thrilling come-from-behind win over Quakertown in Friday night’s battle of neighboring rivals. Photos provided by Sharon Shipe Photography. Check back soon for photos in the Wrestling gallery. CLICK HERE.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: PENNRIDGE RALLIES PAST QUAKERTOWN
By Glenn Kaiser
Quakertown led Pennridge most of the night in Friday’s non-league SOL neighborhood rivalry, but in the end, it was the Pennridge Rams who were on top 36-34. This longstanding rivalry at Pennridge had it all when it comes to wrestling dual meets, strategy, excitement, rabid fans, and great grappling.
This was Pennridge’s first dual meet of the season, and it was a doozy, the Rams needed every second of this dual meet to snatch a victory from defeat. Unlikely stars stole the spotlight, and youth was served as both Quakertown and Pennridge faithful packed the gym. From the start with the heavyweights kicking off the match, you knew it was going to be an epic battle. And that it was, but with a familiar result, as the Rams defeated the Panthers for the fourth straight year in a row. But in a surprise to many, Quakertown left no doubt that they are not down or rebuilding, more like reloading as they battled Pennridge to the buzzer.
Stephen Dadio got the Rams off to a good start at heavyweight, with a 3-0 win over Q-town’s Ralph Martin, and they extended their lead with a forfeit at 106-pounds. But Q-town quickly turned things around running off three straight wins to take a 16-9 lead with two falls and a major decision from the 113 to 126-pound weight classes. Kyle Miller disposed of the Rams’ Stephen Nace in 3:21, and Corey Cope dominated John Snyder at 120 with a 15-5 major decision which was followed with Josh Stahl’s decking of Marquez Brockingtown in 2:37. It was Stahl’s first win of the season after returning to the mat Wednesday night in which he dropped a tough 1-0 match to fellow 2017 state qualifier Marco DiBattista (Plymouth-Whitmarsh).
The Panthers opened their SOL American Conference campaign Wednesday evening with a convincing 40-24 win over P-W. The Stahl match was part of the Rams’ strategy to keep strength off strength, which cancelled an anticipated match with Stahl and Rams’ freshmen James Geiger. Geiger got the win at 132 but was unable to secure bonus points. Quakertown countered with two fab freshmen of their own in Domenic DeFalco (138) and Patrick McCoy (145) who both delivered with falls to extend the Panthers lead to 28-12.
However, Pennridge began its comeback at 152 with Evan Widing’s quick disposal of Tyler Cianciola just 43 seconds into the first period. And the heroics began after that at 160-pounds when Jadin Bass rallied in his match with the Panthers’ Jake Wheeler to secure a fall at 4:31 to close the gap in the team scoring to 24-28 still in favor of Q-town. However, Kyle Goodwin extended the Panthers’ lead again with a fall at 170, which was again part of the game plan for Pennridge as they closed the match out with three straight victories.
But not without drama, Max Russell was up to the task of battle, as he lost a hard fought 3-0 match to a much-improved Ram wrestler Logan Green, and with a forfeit by the Panthers to the ‘Ridge’s mega star Josh Stillings at 195, the stage was set for the final deciding bout with Quakertown holding a narrow 34-33 edge in the team score.
The final match of the evening would decide the dual, and with both benches on their feet and at the edge of the mat, Michael Beljan (Pennridge) and Michael Terra (Quakertown) were the last gladiators to battle in the arena. Beljan held on at the buzzer and dodged controversy as a late escape and potential locking hands at the buzzer were not recorded for Terra, for a 4-3 victory, and the Rams escaped the jaws of defeat for their first dual win of the season.
Pennridge 36, Quakertown 34
on Friday, December 22, 2017
at Pennridge
285 - Stephen Dadio dec. Ralph Martin, 1-0 (3-0)
106 - Nathan Manuola won by forfeit (9-0)
113 - Kyle Miller pinned Stephen Nace, 3:21 (9-6)
120 - Corey Cope maj. dec. John Snyder, 15-5 (9-10)
126 - Josh Stahl pinned Marquez Brockington, 2:37 (9-16)
132 - James Geiger dec. Zack Lewis, 4-1 (12-16)
138 - Domenic DeFalco pinned Teddy Zielinski, 1:05 (12-22)
145 - Patrick McCoy pinned Josh Gotwals, 5:06 (12-28)
152 - Evan Widing pinned Tyler Cianciola, 0:43 (18-28)
160 - Jadin Bass pinned Jake Wheeler, 4:31 (24-28)
170 - Kyle Goodwin pinned Christian Perrine, 4:50 (24-34)
182 - Logan Green dec. Max Russell, 3-0 (27-34)
195 - Joshua Stillings won by forfeit (33-34)
220 - Michael Beljan dec. Michael Terra, 4-3 (36-34)
Pennridge wrestlers in bold.
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