Devin Fontanez and his Panther buddies will be looking for more District XI hardware this weekend .
Ask any coach or athlete and they will likely tell you that a loss stings. It stings badly. The best way to soften the sting is to get back on the winning track. The Saucon Valley Panther wrestlers would all agree that, as a team, they did not take full advantage of their opportunity out in Hershey a couple weeks ago. It was a missed opportunity. For two weeks they had to live with the bothersome sting that comes with a proud program underperforming.
When asked if he had any trouble refocusing his kids to get them ready for this weekend’s District XI Individual Tournament Coach Shirk responded, “We obviously did not get the results we were looking for at team states, but hopefully our kids used it as a learning experience. We were able to give them a couple days off to regroup and refocus. The kids had a great week of practice and we are excited to see what they can do this weekend.”
Shirk added, “We are excited about the upcoming weekend. After two weeks off the mat, our wrestlers are looking forward to getting back and competing. Our coaching staff is looking forward to a weekend of great wrestling.”
With seven seniors competing this weekend, Saucon Valley has a ton of experience to lean on. But, being that it is the last “hurrah” for most of the seniors and their wrestling careers, Shirk was asked if his approach is any different toward the seniors’ curtain call.
“It doesn’t matter if you are a freshman or a senior, our kids need to have the same mentality. They need to be focused and take one match at a time.” Shirk said. “Our kids have to have positive attitudes and clear minds so they can wrestle to the best of their abilities. Whether they are seniors or freshmen, they just need to trust that they have trained and prepared themselves for these moments.”
It seems that, as a team, the Panthers are in a good place physically and mentally. It appears as though they are feeling good about themselves and that they are dialed in. Here is a snapshot of what the Panther wrestlers have to look forward to in each weight class.
106
The Favorite: Freshman Elijah Bundro (28-1) from Wilson is the #1 seed. He is ranked #3 in the state (AA) by “Off the Mat” and #5 in the area by Lehigh Valley Live.
Dane Druckenmiller
The Panthers Dane Druckenmiller (19-15) is the #8 seed. If Druckenmiller can get by #9 Miguel Santiago of Panther Valley, he’d face Bundro to get into the semifinals.
113
The Favorite: Sophomore Richie Markulics (32-1) from Notre Dame Green Pond is the #1 seed. He is ranked #2 in the state and #3 in the area.
Nick Rosengrant
Saucon Valley’s Nick Rosengrant (22-4) earned the #2 seed. Rosengrant is ranked 12th in the state and 4th in the area. It is likely Rosengrant will meet Wilson’s Marckis Branford #3 in the semifinals with the winner taking on Markulics in the finals.
Note: Wilson’s John Consorti (29-2) was ranked #10 in the state at 113, but will wrestle at 126. Consorti’s teammate, Marckis Branford dropped from 120. Branford was ranked 12th in the state at 120.
120
Josh Jones
The Favorite: Saucon sophomore Josh Jones (35-7) is the #1 seed. Jones is ranked 3rd in the state and 5th in the Lehigh Valley.
Note: 120 is stacked with local talent. #2 seed is Ryan McGuire from Notre Dame. McGuire is ranked 14th in the state. Baily Wehr from Northwestern Lehigh is the #3 seed and ranked 5th in the state. In addition, Wilson’s Jared Corriere (29-5) dropped from the 126 pound weight class and comes in as the #5 seed. With his first round bye, Jones will likely need to beat the winner of Corriere and the #4 seed Owen Boyer from North Schuylkill to get into the finals.
126
The Favorite: Wilson’s John Consorti (29-2) gets the #1 seed at 126. Consorti, who was a 2016 PIAA state medalist at 106 wrestled the entire regular season at 113. He was ranked 10th in the state in that weight class. With the Wilson lightweight wrestlers playing musical chairs for the post-season, Consorti evidently bumped down to 106 to wrestle-off Bundro. He was unsuccessful and the only option left was 126.
Senior Paul Miller
Assuming Panther #5 Paul Miller (27-9) can get past #4 Austin Engle of Schuykill Haven in the quarterfinals, Miller will likely see his old friend John Consorti in the 126 semifinal.
132
The Favorite: Senior Tanner McHugh of Tamaqua gets the #1 seed. McHugh was ranked 6th in the state at 138 before dropping to 132 for the post season.
Sophomore Justin Kyra
Saucon Valley’s Justin Kyra (24-5) come in as the #3 seed and could have an interesting matchup with Wilson’s Anthony Micci #6 in the quarters. A win there will get the scrappy sophomore to #2 Mason Madden-Edwards of North Schuylkill in the semis.
Note: Notre Dame Green Pond’s Blake Daniel is inexplicably missing from the bracket. Daniel is a tough customer who is ranked 15th in the state. We are sadly assuming Daniel is injured. He was having a good year and had a great chance to move on to regionals.
138
The Favorite: Senior Sammy Hepler from Tri-Valley earns the #1 seed. Hepler is the #4 ranked wrestler in Pennsylvania (AA).
Angelo Mahaffey
The Panthers get the #2 seed with junior Angelo Mahaffey (30-7). Mahaffey is on a semifinal collision course with Notre Dame Green Pond’s Mario Gordon (28-5) who is the #3 seed. The winner there will likely face Hepler in the finals.
145
The Favorite: Sophomore Nathan Haubert from Palisades gets the top nod at 145. Haubert wrestled most of the year at 152 before dropping for the post season. He is ranked 12th in the state in the AA classification according to “Off the Mat”. He is ranked 5th overall in the area by lehighvalleylive.
Junior Jason Jones
Saucon Valley junior Jason Jones (36-6) is at the other end of the bracket being the #2 seed. Jones is ranked 10th in the state and will likely face Catasaqua’s Ryan Greene #3 in the semis. Jones beat Greene by a score of 10-8 back on Feb. 2.
152
The Favorites: Northwestern Lehigh junior, Caleb Clymer gets the #1 seed at 152. Clymer is ranked 3rd in the state and 2nd in the Lehigh Valley area. Just behind Clymer is Pen Argyl junior Chase Anklam. Anklam is 4th in the state and 3rd in our area. Both Clymer and Anklam finished 6th in the PIAA state championships last year. Anklam was a medalist at 138, Clymer at 145.
Dane Csencsits
Saucon Valley freshman Dane Csencsits (19-13) comes in at #3. If the seeds play out, he will join Anklam in the semis. Once there, anything can happen!
160
The Favorites: Northern Lehigh senior Ryan Farber leads a tough weight class as the #1 seed. Being a 2016 PIAA state medalist, Farber is ranked 1st in the state by “Off The Mat” and 2nd by lehighvalleylive. Joining Farber are Hunter Kennedy from Panther Valley and Collin Fegley from Mahanoy Area. Kennedy #2 is ranked 15th in the state and Fegley #3 is marked as 14th by “Off the Mat”.
Zach Petrucelli
IF Saucon Valley’s Zach Petrucelli #13 can get by #4 Dylan Schock of Lehighton in the first round and then #5 Lamont Singletary of Wilson in the quarterfinals, he will have a chance at #1 Farber in the semis. It’ll be a tough road, but surely “Petro” will embrace the opportunity.
170
The Favorite: Junior Matt Lewandowski from Mahanoy Area grabs the #1 seed. Lewandowski gets a little state-wide love being tagged by “Off the Mat” as the 13th best “AA” wrestler at 170.
Senior Nate Kehs
Saucon senior Nate Kehs #5 had a great outing in Hershey at the team tournament and he is, no doubt, looking to ride that momentum. Kehs (26-9) is ranked 5th in the area by lehighvalleylive. Assuming Kehs can get by #12 Michael Weiser of Schuylkill Haven and then #4 Joe Alexander of North Schuylkill in the quarterfinals, he will meet up with Lewandowski in semis.
182
The Favorite: Senior Jarred Mooney from Palmerton earns the #1 seed at 182. Mooney finished 8th at States last season and ranks 4th right now according to “Off the Mat”.
Senior Abe Lugo
The Panthers are represented by #6 seeded Abe Lugo (13-8). Lugo can find his way into the semis with a victory over #11 Jacob Latsch of Catty and then by beating #3 Kolt Schaeffer of Tri Valley.
195
The Favorite: Senior Brady Mickatavage from North Schuylkill is the man to beat due to the fact that Mooney dropped to 182. Mickatvage is currently ranked 5th in the state.
Senior Stephen Good
With a win over Jack Zimmerman #10 of Lehighton in the opening round, Saucon senior #7 Stephen Good (22-12) will have to go through John Iles #2 of Palmerton. A win over Iles would likely put Good in the semis against #2 Tyler Youssef from Catasauqua. Youssef dropped to wrestle Lugo at 182 when the Panthers and Roughies met on Feb. 2. Lugo beat Youssef 3-2.
220
Devin Fontanez
The Favorite: Saucon Valley Devin Fontanez (32-2) claims the #1 seed. He is the returning District XI champ and a returning state medalist. Fontanez is ranked 2nd in the state and 2nd in the area. Fontanez should cruise into finals and face Catty’s Ben Nosal #2. Fontanez pinned Nosal in 1:22 on Feb. 2.
285
The Favorite: Tri Valley junior Dan Schieb is awarded the #1 seed. Scheib is a former PIAA state medalist in 2015 as a freshman. Last season he did not wrestle due to an injury suffered on the football field. Scheib is a gifted athlete and is ranked 1st in the state by “Off the Mat”.
Senior Trey Polak
If Panther senior #5 Trey Polak (24-9) can get jiggy with and defeat #12 Will Smith of Lehighton, then he will need to get by #4 Joey Kocher of Schuylkill Haven to crack the semis. In the semis Polak would likely face Tri Valley’s Scheib.
This weekend is going to be a whole lot of fun. The Panthers will start at Freedom High School on Friday at 4 p.m. with the preliminary rounds. The Quarterfinals are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. with the first round of consolations beginning at 8 p.m.
Then on Saturday the second round of consolations will begin at 9 a.m. with the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. The remaining consolations will start at 1 p.m.
Saucon Valley and the rest of the AA wrestlers then change venue and head over to Liberty High School to join the AAA wrestlers for the 3rd and 5th place matches at 4 p.m. A short parade of champions will then introduce the finalists at 5:30 p.m. with the championship finals to follow.
The top four finishers in the tournament will keep their state title hopes alive and advance to the PIAA Regional.
Best of luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
Devin Fontanez, now a senior, is looking to repeat as a District XI champion.