Coach Rohn flanked by the Saucon Valley 2017 state qualifiers.
The Saucon Valley Panthers took 10 wrestlers to the PIAA Regional tournament this past weekend. Collectively, the Panthers earned 106.5 points which earned them a third place finish. Northern Lebanon finished first with 125 points, while Bishop McDevitt was second with 115.
All 10 Panthers won at least two matches in the 2017 Regional championship at Wilson West Lawn High School, but only six advanced to the PIAA state tournament this weekend in Hershey.
Seniors Nate Kehs (170) and Trey Polak (285) along with sophomores Nick Rosengrant (113) and Justin Kyra (132) came up just short of qualifying for a trip to Hershey. One more win and they would have been in. It was a solid showing for sure.
Saucon sophomore Josh Jones is the 2017 PIAA SE Region champion.
Sophomore Josh Jones (120) who finished 6th last year in the Southeast Regional tournament is the 2017 champion. In a rematch of the District XI final last week, Jones once again bettered Baily Wehr from Northwestern Lehigh 5-2.
Senior Paul Miller is heading to Hershey….again!
Senior Paul Miller (126) will be heading to Hershey for a second time. Miller was a 2015 5th place medalist at Regionals and a 2015 PIAA state tournament qualifier. This year, after getting caught and pinned in his first match, Miller bounced back with consecutive pins and a 6-5 nailbiter against Pen Argyl’s Nick Reto to get himself in a position to wrestle for a 3rd/4th place finish. As a precaution, however, Miller did not wrestle and injury-defaulted settling for the 4th place finish. Miller has been battling a nagging injury.
Junior Angelo Mahaffey is going to States!
Junior Angelo Mahaffey (138) finished the Regional tournament with a 3-2 record and a 5th place finish. The junior was pinned and knocked to the Consolation Bracket after being caught and pinned by Nick Bradley from Kennard-Dale High School. Mahaffey, a junior, fought back and with tenacious resolve got his revenge by defeating Bradley 3-2 in an overtime tie-breaker.
Junior Jason Jones is going back to States.
Junior Jason Jones (145) will join his brother and teammate at States. Jones finished 5th last season at Regionals and 4th this year. Jones was knocked out in the semifinals by Bishop McDevitt senior John Pipa. Pipa is a three-time PIAA state medalist with two second place finishes. Jones finished fourth.
Freshman phenom Dane Csencsits (152) extended his first high school wrestling season with a trip to Chocolate-Town. Csencsits battled back after a first round, 7-6 setback with three straight victories to punch his ticket to the state tournament.
Saucon Valley senior Devin Fontanez battled like a champion in the Regional final.
Senior Devin Fontanez (220) pinned his way into the final in a total of one minute and 26 seconds. In the final he ran into senior Cole Nye from Bishop McDevitt. Nye is a returning PIAA state champion and Michigan State commit. Fontanez battled Nye, but came up on the short end of a 4-3 decision.
These proud, powerful Panthers will regroup and head west to Hershey for Thursday’s opening round. Hopefully this time next week Saucon Valley will have crowned its next state champion. Or, perhaps there will be multiple Panther champs.
Good luck Saucon, the Source is with you!
