The best high school wrestlers in the state of Pennsylvania converged on Hershey last week for the 2015 PIAA State Wrestling Tournament. Among them were five grapplers representing Chad Shirk’s Saucon Valley Panthers. Two of those Panthers were able to leave Hershey with some hardware.
Saucon Valley’s Jack Hill fought his way to a fifth place finish with a 6-4 over Ryan Carlson of Brockway in the medal round. In addition to bringing home his fifth place medal, Hill, a junior, returns with his 100th high school career victory.
Saucon senior Jason Lynch also placed by earning a seventh place medal with an 8-7 win over Derek Dragon of Lake Lehman. Lynch sweetened that deal in Chocolatetown by breaking the Saucon Valley all-time wins in a season record with 51.
Freshman Jason Jones, sophomore Paul Miller and junior Nate Harka did not place, but they no doubt gained valuable experience at the three-day tournament that should help them, along with Hill, lead next year’s Panthers to new highs.
Congratulations to Coach Shirk & Company. You’ve made Saucon proud!
Saucon’s Jack Hill (second from right) on the podium in Hershey.
Saucon’s Jason Lynch in control in the medal round
Jack Hill of Saucon Valley gets a takedown on his way to a fifth place finish at states.
Saucon’s Jason Lynch claims his medal at states.