The Panthers fought hard to win an unprecedented 6th consecutive Colonial League championship!

Saucon Valley’s historic run through the Colonial League continued last night when the #1 seeded Panthers defeated #4 Bangor 35-27 in the semifinal and then finished off Northwestern Lehigh 37-24 for their 6th consecutive Colonial League title.

Panther coach Chad Shirk receives his sixth consecutive Colonial League championship trophy.

In the semifinal against Bangor, Saucon only won six of the fourteen bouts against the Slaters. But, the Panthers earned bonus points in each victory. Saucon rode a wave of pins by Kevin Dyer (113), Nick Rosengrant (132), Justin Kyra (138), and Angelo Mahaffey (160). Jason Jones (145) used a couple of takedowns and a series of turns to add a tech-fall for Saucon. In addition, the Slater forfeit to Josh Jones (126) gave the Panthers their 35 points. Bangor did win seven decisions but were unable to generate any bonus points. The Slaters also received six points for a forfeit (120) to total 27 on the scoreboard.

(The Northwestern Lehigh Tigers defeated the Wilson Warriors 41-24 in the other semifinal match.)

Saucon Valley 35, Bangor 27

106: Bangor’s Dominic Vicario (Sr.) won by decision, (8-4)

113: Saucon Valley’s Kevin Dyer won by Fall, 2:24

120: Bangor’s John-Henry Bacon (So.) won by forfeit

126: Saucon Valley’s Josh Jones (Jr.) won by forfeit (win #100)

132: Saucon Valley’s Nick Rosengrant (Jr.) won by Fall, 1:35

138: Saucon Valley’s Justin Kyra (Jr.) won by Fall, 1:22

145: Saucon Valley’s Jason Jones (Sr.) won by Tech-Fall, (16-0)

152: Bangor’s Eddie Hay (Sr.) won by decision, (6-2)

160: Saucon Valley’s Angelo Mahaffey (Sr.) won by Fall, :38

170: Bangor’s Paul Mastrogiovanni (Jr.) won by Decision, (5-1)

182: Bangor’s Haakon Mathewson (Sr.) won by Decision, (9-4)

195: Bangor’s Joe Schrader (Jr.) won by Decision, (7-6)

220: Bangor’s Nick Nittolli (Jr.) won by Decision, (3-0)

285: Bangor’s Tom McKeough (Sr.) won by Decision, (6-0)

Angelo Mahaffey sitting on another six points against Bangor in the Colonial League semifinals.

In the championship match against Northwestern Lehigh, Saucon Valley won nine of the fourteen matches but the bonus points did not come as easy. The Panthers received four decisions from Dane Druckenmiller (113), Nick Rosengrant (132), Braydyn Lugardo (170) and Nick Warnke (285). They also received a couple of major-decisions from Josh Jones (126) and Dane Csencsits (182). Jason Jones (145) added a tech-fall as he claimed his 150th career win.

Josh Jones in control in the 2018 Colonial league Finals against Northwestern Lehigh.

Thomas Spirk (160) was awarded six points due to his opponent, Caleb Clymer, being disqualified for an illegal move that led to Spirk defaulting as a result of injury. Ahead by a 9-2 score in the heart of the second period, Clymer was aggressively on the attack and seemed to somehow twist Spirk’s arm which led to the penalty. It did not look intentional, but it was illegal nonetheless. Clymer finished 3rd in last season’s PIAA State Tournament.

Saucon’s Jarrett Hirschbeck had the Panthers lone pin of the match when he quickly decked Northwestern’s Isaac Bredbenner to put the exclamation mark on the championship victory. The Saucon Valley Panthers earned a 6th consecutive Colonial League victory!

Junior Jarrett Hirschbeck sends the Panthers into celebration mode!

Saucon Valley 37 , Northwestern Lehigh 24

106: Northwestern’s Jake Dellicker (So.) won by Fall

113: Saucon Valley’s Dane Druckenmiller (Sr.) won by Decision, (6-1)

120: Northwestern’s Ben Griffith (Fr.) won by Decision, (16-13)

126: Saucon Valley’s Josh Jones (Jr.) won by Major-Decision, (15-2)

132: Saucon Valley’s Nick Rosengrant (Jr.) won by Decision, (1-0)

138: Northwestern’s Colin Rex (Sr.) won by Fall

145: Saucon Valley’s Jason Jones (Sr.) won by Tech-Fall, (15-0) (win #150)

152: Northwestern’s Jackson Bernhard (Sr.) won by Decision, (3-1 OT)

160: Saucon Valley’s Thomas Spirk (So.) won by Disqualification (illegal move led to injury)

170: Saucon Valley’s Braydyn Lugardo (So.) won by Decision, (10-4)

182: Saucon Valley’s Dane Csencsits (So.) won by Major-Decision, (16-5)

195: Saucon Valley’s Jarrett Hirschbeck (Jr.) won by Fall, 1:24

220: Northwestern’s Quinn Moyer (Sr.) won by Forfeit

285: Saucon Valley’s Nick Warnke (So.) won by Decison, (1-0)

Keeping up with the Joneses!

On the way to a sixth straight Colonial League title Josh Jones (right) became part of the 100-Win Club. Josh’s brother Jason also reached another milestone by earning his 150th career victory.

UP NEXT: The Panthers will travel to Northampton on Thursday night for the District XI team tournament. The Panthers as the #1 seed earned a 1st Round bye and will take on the winner of #9 Notre Dame Green Pond and #8 Tamaqua. Saucon Valley is scheduled to begin wrestling at 7:30 p.m.

Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!