Josh Jones got he Panthers started with a pin.
With an unprecedented sixth consecutive Colonial League championship forever in their possession, the Saucon Valley Panthers started “Part II” of the 2017-2018 season with a few emphatic smacks of the mat. As the #1 seed in the 2018 District XI tournament, the Panthers waited in the wings of Northampton Area High School while #8 Tamaqua and #9 Notre Dame Green Pond battled to see who would advance and try to take them down. By a 39-37 score, Tamaqua earned the right to face-off against the awaiting Panthers.
It was a dominant performance on Thursday night by the Panthers against the Tamaqua Blue Raiders. With relative ease, Saucon Valley won 12 of the 13 matches (double-forfeit at 120). Tamaqua’s only points were the result of a Panther forfeit (220) after already being comfortably ahead by a 46-0 score.
Saucon Valley sophomore Thomas Spirk wasted little time getting six points for his Panther pals.
Saucon Valley picked up pins from Josh Jones (126), Justin Kyra (138), Jason Jones (145), Thomas Spirk (152), Dane Csencsits (182), and Jarrett Hirschbeck (195). All of the falls, except for the pin by Jason Jones, came in the first period. Jones was busy building a 13-0 lead before he finished the job with a pin. Dane Csencsits completed his day’s worth of work in only :09 seconds.
“Big” Tim Weaver of Saucon Valley picked up an additional six points for the Panthers by accepting Tamaqua’s forfeit in the 285 lb. weigh class.
Jason Jones rolled up a 13-0 lead before pinning his Blue Raider opponent.
The Panthers also received bonus points from sophomore Kevin Dyer (113) and senior Angelo Mahaffey (160). Dyer was never in any serious trouble and controlled his opponent all the way to an 18-10 major-decision. Mahaffey, who led 5-0 after two periods of wrestling, hit a pair of takedowns in the final period to also finish with a major-decision. Mahaffey won 9-1.
Finally, Saucon Valley’s Braydyn Lugardo (170), Dane Druckenmiller (106) and Nick Rosengrant (132) all won decisions by a combined score of 27-9 over Tamaqua. Druckenmiller is a senior, Rosengrant a junior and Lugardo a sophomore.
Saucon sophomore Kevin Dyer shooting for the long legs of Tamaqua’s Randy Steigerwalt.
Saucon Valley 59 , Tamaqua 6
106: Saucon Valley’s Dane Druckenmiller (Sr.) won by Decision, (9-3)
113: Saucon Valley’s Kevin Dyer (So.) won by Major-Decision, (18-10)
120: Double-Forfeit
126: Saucon Valley’s Josh Jones (Jr.) won by Fall, :32
132: Saucon Valley’s Nick Rosengrant (Jr.) won by Decision, (6-1)
138: Saucon Valley’s Justin Kyra (Jr.) won by Fall, :36
145: Saucon Valley’s Jason Jones (Sr.) won by Fall, 2:14
152: Saucon Valley’s Thomas Spirk (So.) won by Fall, 1:08
160: Saucon Valley’s Angelo Mahaffey (Sr.) won by Major-Decision, (9-1)
170: Saucon Valley’s Braydyn Lugardo (So.) won by Decision, (12-5)
182: Saucon Valley’s Dane Csencsits (So.) won by Fall, :09
195: Saucon Valley’s Jarrett Hirschbeck (Jr.) won by Fall, :49
220: Tamaqua’s Bronson Strouse (So.) won by Forfeit
285: Saucon Valley’s Tim Weaver (Jr.) won by Forfeit
Varsity Wrestler of the Match: Sophomore, Kevin Dyer was named wrestler of the match for his 18-10 win over Tamaqua’s Randy Steigerwalt. Dyer worked hard scoring eight takedowns and a reversal to earn a major-decision for the Panthers.
Kevin Dyer
UP NEXT: The Panthers will travel across town to Freedom High School (Bethlehem) on Saturday morning to compete in the semifinals of the District XI team tournament. At 10:45 a.m. the #1 Panthers are scheduled take on the #4 Lehighton Indians (The Indians defeated Palisades 51-30 to advance). If the Panthers can get past the Indians they will likely wrestle Northwestern Lehigh (again) for the District XI championship at 5:30 p.m.
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
