Saucon senior Abe Lugo and the Panthers look ready for the post season push.
A few short nights after winning the Colonial League title for the fifth year in a row, Coach Chad Shirk and the Saucon Valley Panther wrestlers took the next step toward a second consecutive PIAA District XI Team title Thursday night. The Panthers roared into the District XI quarterfinals as the #1 seed and steamrolled the Catasauqua Rough Riders earning a 71-0 victory. The Panthers seem to be peaking at the right time.
Nate Kehs picks up six for the Panthers.
Saucon Valley picked up pins from Nick Rosengrant (113), Justin Kyra (132), Angelo Mahaffey (138), Dane Csencsits (152), Nate Kehs (170), Devin Fontanez (220) and Trey Polak (285).
Kehs would have had the quickest pin of the night with his fall in 27 seconds, however Trey Polak was able to stuff his opponent in only 22 seconds.
Fontanez decked Catty senior Ben Nosal in 1:22. Ranked in the Region, Nosal is a tough customer who had only one loss.
Earning a forfeit, Paul Miller (126) also earned six team points for the Panthers.
Saucon Valley’s Angelo Mahaffey pins Catasauqua’s Will-Quon Clemons.
Dane Druckenmiller (106) and Josh Jones (120) did not pick up pins, but their efforts led them to big-time bonus points for Saucon Valley. Without relinquishing a single point to either of their opponents, both Panther wrestlers rolled up technical-falls. Druckenmiller, a junior, mercy-ruled his Rough Rider 17-0 in 1:59. Jones, a sophomore, received his fifteen point margin of victory in 3:46.
Saucon’s Dane Druckenmiller bars it up in the 2017 District XI quarterfinals.
The Panthers received more bonus points courtesy of senior Stephen Good’s 9-1 major-decision over Catasauqua’s Jacob Latsch. With his win, Good improved his season record to 18-9.
Junior Jason Jones battles with Catasauqua’s Ryan Greene.
Three matches managed to go the distance with the Panthers coming out on top in each. Jason Jones (145), Zach Petrucelli (160) and Abe Lugo (182) all won close decisions for the Panthers. Petrucelli shut out Daniel Dailey 4-0 while Jones and Lugo were able to edge out a pair of 2016 PIAA Regional qualifiers. Lugo hung on to defeat senior Tyler Youssef 3-2. Jones worked hard to get the best of Ryan Greene 10-8. Greene was a PIAA state qualifier in 2015.
Wrestler of the Match: Devin Fontanez (220).
Senior Devin Fontanez (220)
UP NEXT: The District XI quarterfinal victory takes the #1 seeded Panthers into the semi-finals at Freedom High School (Bethlehem) tomorrow at 10:45 a.m where they will take on the #4 Northwestern Lehigh Tigers for a third time this season. In the first two meetings combined, the Panthers outscored the Tigers 133-12. If the Panthers avoid the apocalypse, they will waltz into the finals at 5:30 p.m. to battle the winner of #2 Wilson and #3 Pine Grove. A top-two finish and the Panthers are Hershey-bound for the PIAA team tournament where they were the runner-up last year.
Good Luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
