Saucon senior Nate Kehs wins by one in ultimate tie breaker.
The Saucon Valley Panthers looked ready to rock and roll with Brookville in order to stay alive in the consolation bracket. Brookville is the returning PIAA state champions and were knocked out of the championship bracket by Northern Lebanon on Thursday. The Panthers dropped to the consolation bracket after their 33-26 setback against Line Mountain in the quarterfinals. As much as the Panthers wanted to get off to a good start, they just couldn’t get enough of the needed traction.
The match led off with Justin Kyra (132). Kyra, a sophomore, fought hard and came back in the third period after being down 6-0. Kyra hit a third period reversal and three near fall points, but it wasn’t enough. Kyra fell 7-5.
Freshman Thomas Spirk took the mat for the Panthers and built a 4-1 in the second period. However, Brookville junior Dontae Constable used an escape, takedown and three near fall points to build a 7-4 lead in the second period. Constable escaped from Spirk at the start of the third period and was able to convert a final takedown to win 10-5.
Saucon Valley’s Angelo Mahaffey rode three takedowns to a 7-1 decision.
Once again it was Saucon junior, Angelo Mahaffey who put the first Panther points on the scoreboard. After a scoreless first period Mahaffey escaped to start the second and earned a takedown. Leading 3-0 going into the third period, Mahaffey converted two more takedowns while allowing one escape. Mahaffey won 7-1.
Hoping to follow Mahaffey’s lead, Jason Jones took the mat against Brookville junior Caleb Hetrick. A second period escape was the difference in the bout as Hetrick was able to ride Jones out in the third. It was a 1-0 victory for Hetrick, who is ranked fifth in the state.
One of the most dramatic matches of the night was between Saucon freshman Dane Csenscits and Brookville senior Clayton Peace. The score was knotted 1-1 at the end of regulation. The senior edged out the freshman 2-1 in an ultimate tie breaker.
Nate Kehs needed an escape and he got one.
Panther senior Nate Kehs (170) also found himself in a tiebreaker scenario with Brookville’s Tyler Park. Again, it was tied up at 1-1 after regulation. Kehs and Park reached sudden-death in overtime. Kehs earned the escape and secured the decision for the Panthers.
Abe Lugo (182) and Stephen Good (195) came up short against the Raiders. Lugo fell victim to a major decision courtesy of Xavier Molnar. Good went down by fall to Noah Cieleski.
Once again Devin Fontanez set out to adrenalize the Panthers. The Saucon Valley senior duplicated his effort against Line Mountain. This time it was Tanner LaBenne whom he decked. Fontanez recored a fall in 2:26.
Saucon senior Devin Fontanez followed a takedown with a pin in 2:26.
At 285, Trey Polak ran into a buzzsaw in Brookville’s Tyler Cook. Cook is ranked third in the state and chained together a second period escape with a takedown and three near fall points. Cook avoided Polak in the third to hold on for a 6-0 decision.
Trailing 2-0 after the first period, Dane Druckenmiller (106) managed an escape to start the second. However, Brookville’s Brodie Joiner followed up his second period takedown with a pin to make the team score 31-12. Joiner’s fall sealed the victory for the Raiders.
Brookville awarded forfeits to Saucon’s Nick Rosengrant (113), Josh Jones (120) and Paul Miller (126).
BROOKVILLE RAIDERS 31 – SAUCON VALLEY PANTHERS 30
132: B Kai Sorbin (18-8, Jr.) decisioned SV’s Justin Kyra (24-5, So.) 7-5
138: B Dontae Constable (16-9, Jr.) decisioned SV’s Thomas Spirk (7-8, Fr.) 10-5
145: SV’s Angelo Mahaffey (30-7, Jr.) decisioned Bryce Walter (6-8, So.) 7-1
152: B Caleb Hetrick (27-3, Jr.) decisioned SV’s Jason Jones (36-6, Jr.) 1-0
160: B Clayton Peace (11-7, Sr.) decisioned SV’s Dane Csencsits (19-13, Fr.) 2-1 UTB
170: SV’s Nate Kehs (26-9, Sr.) decisioned Tyler Park (13-4, Jr.) 3-2 UTB
182: B Xavier Molnar (24-5, Jr.) major decisioned SV’s Abe Lugo (13-8, Sr.) 16-7
195: B Noah Cieleski (22-4, Sr.) pinned SV’s Stephen Good (22-12, Sr.) in 2:23
220: SV’s Devin Fontanez (32-3, Sr.) pinned Tanner LaBenne (18-11, So.) in 2:26
285: B Tyler Cook (24-5, Jr.) decisioned SV’s Trey Polak (24-9, Sr.) 6-0
106: B Brodie Joiner (8-3, Jr.) pinned SV’s Dane Druckenmiller(19-15, Jr.) in 2:50
113: SV’s Nick Rosengrant (22-4, So.) win by forfeit
120: SV’s Josh Jones (35-7, So.) win by forfeit
126: SV’s Paul Miller (27-9, Sr.) win by forfeit
Up Next: Saucon Valley will lick their wounds, regroup and get ready for the District XI individual tournament starting Friday, Feb. 24.
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
