2018 Colonial League Championship Wrestling Preview (Brought To You By Spirk Brothers Inc.)

Est. Read Time: 6 mins

The 2016-2017 Saucon Valley grapplers completed the Drive-for-Five!

The Saucon Valley wrestling program has been on quite a run. Five consecutive Colonial League titles and 65 straight league wins is quite a story. The Panthers last lost in league action to the Pen Argyl Green Knights on Dec. 23, 2011. The Knights went on to win the League title that season. But, since then, it has been the Panthers dominating and taking over the record books. Monday night, the Panthers will make the “Trip-for-Six!”

A quick glance back at Colonial League Championship runs…..

Saucon Valley: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Pen Argyl: 2009*, 2010, 2011, 2012 (* shared with Wilson)
Northwestern Lehigh: 2007, 2008
Northern Lehigh: 2004*, 2005, 2006 (* shared with Wilson)
Wilson: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004* (* shared with Northern Lehigh)
Northern Lehigh: 1998, 1999

The hits keep rocking!

The Colonial League Championship will be held Monday night at Catasauqua Area High School. Using two mats and wrestling simultaneously, the semi-finals are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Then, at 7:30 p.m., the winners will square off and compete for the 2018 League title.

2018 Colonial League Championships

#1 Saucon Valley Panthers (8-0) v. #4 Bangor Slaters (5-3)

#2 Northwestern Lehigh Tigers (7-1) v. #3 Wilson Warriors (7-1)

Saucon wrestlers celebrate with the 2014-2015 Colonial League Wrestling Championship trophy.

2017-2018 Colonial League Championship Tale of the Tape

#1 Saucon Valley (8-0)

Jan. 10, 2018 defeated #3 Wilson (51-22)
Jan. 18, 2018 defeated #4 Bangor (44-31)
Jan. 22, 2018 defeated #2 Northwestern (47-22)

#2 Northwestern Lehigh (7-1)

Jan. 20, 2018 defeated #4 Bangor (38-30)
Jan. 22, 2018 Lost to #1 Saucon Valley (47-22)
Did not wrestle #3 Wilson

#3 Wilson (7-1)

Dec. 13 2017 defeated #4 Bangor (44-27)
Jan. 10, 2018 Lost to #1 Saucon Valley (51-22)
Did not wrestle #2 Northwestern Lehigh

#4 Bangor (5-3)

Dec. 13, 2017 Lost to #3 Wilson (44-27)
Jan. 18, 2018 Lost to #1 Saucon Valley (44-31)
Jan. 20, 2018 Lost to #2 Northwestern Lehigh (38-30)

“The minute you think you’ve got it made, disaster is just around the corner.”

Joe Paterno

No doubt the Panthers are mindful of the fact that they have beaten all three of these teams earlier this season. That prior success, however, can be a dangerous disguise leading to overconfidence and complacency. It can be a pitfall for an unsuspecting Panther to become trapped. Overconfidence can make it easy to lose your edge and let your guard down. It becomes simple to just set the cruise-control and enjoy the ride. Complacency is a cunning distraction. It brings on mental fatness evolving from the glorious thoughts of the past.

The Panthers will have to stay sharp. Saucon will, once again, aim to be ready and defend themselves from the attack of others who have become annoyed with their reign of dominance. It is easy to say the past does not matter, but much more difficult to realize it. These Panthers will be focused and find a way to stay hungry.

Coach’s Quote
“Our kids are very self motivated. They all understand the task at hand. Regardless of the outcome in previous matches, we still need to be ready to compete at the highest level. Nothing is handed to us and we are fully aware that each and every night we will be facing teams that are highly motivated in trying to take us out.”

Chad Shirk

Saucon Source “Century” Sidebar:

Josh Jones is on the cusp of earning his 100th victory.

With a single victory on Monday night, Saucon Valley junior Josh Jones (126) is destined to join teammates Jason Jones and Angelo Mahaffey as the newest member of the Panthers 100 Win Club. Considering Jones is listed as the #1 wrestler in the area at 126 lbs. by lehighvalleylive.com, he has a real good shot of reaching that century milestone. Classmate Nick Rosengrant, is on the 100-win radar as well.