Schools Sports

Hirschbeck’s Heroics Lead Panthers Past Unbeaten Warriors (Brought to You by Spirk Brothers Inc.)

After an instant-classic type showdown with the previously unbeaten Wilson Warriors on Thursday night, Chad Shirk and the Saucon Valley Panthers stand alone as the Colonial League’s only undefeated wrestling program.  It certainly wasn’t easy and the outcome definitely hung in the balance for the majority of the match.  Nonetheless, the Panthers reached deep within, climbed out of a hole and escaped the Warrior threat.

Est. Read Time: 7 mins

The Panther bench recognizing Hirschbeck’s heroics.

After an instant-classic type showdown with the previously unbeaten Wilson Warriors on Thursday night, Chad Shirk and the Saucon Valley Panthers stand alone as the Colonial League’s only undefeated wrestling program.  It certainly wasn’t easy and the outcome definitely hung in the balance for the majority of the match.  Nonetheless, the Panthers reached deep within, climbed out of a hole and escaped the Warrior threat.  Saucon defeated Wilson 40-27 and have now won seventy-two consecutive Colonial League matches.

The match started at the 220 lb. weight class and the Warriors jumped out in front with an 18-3 lead after four bouts.  Wilson tallied pins at 220, 106 and 113.  The Panthers Nick Warnke (285) earned a decision to get the Panthers on the scoreboard.

Nick Warnke put three Panther points on the scoreboard.

Saucon and Wilson exchanged falls in the next two bouts.  After building a 4-0 lead, Panther freshman Cael Markle (120) was able to stick Blaze Hartrum.  Any hope for a Panther momentum swing was short-lived though as Wilson’s Carmen Rawlinson (126) returned Markle’s favor and picked up six of his own to give the Warriors a 24-9 lead with eight bouts remaining.

Cael Markle would fight on to earn a much needed pin for the Panthers.

The Panthers, however, would take the next two bouts.  Senior Josh Jones (132), who will continue his wrestling and academic career at George Mason University in the Fall, wasted very little time getting a quick first period pin for the Panthers.  Thomas Spirk (138) followed Jones’ lead and worked hard to secure a decision for Saucon Valley.  Spirk, a junior, put Dustin Hunara on his back in the third period and gathered three near-fall points to secure a much-needed 6-1 win for the Panthers.  With six bouts remaining, Saucon cut into Wilson’s lead and trailed 24-18.

Thomas Spirk gets a turn and some near fall points for Saucon.

Next, Nick Rosengrant (145) took the mat for the Panthers to battle Wilson senior Marckis Branford.  With the score deadlocked 3-3 after two periods and starting from the neutral position, Branford caught Rosengrant with a quick takedown that led to an additional three, near-fall points.  Rosengrant courageously fought off his back, escaped and then took Branford down.  But it was too little, too late.  Branford, who will be joining Josh Jones at George Mason next year, earned the 8-6 decision and extended Wilson’s lead to 27-18.

With a rising tide of uneasiness slowly overcoming the hometown crowd, the resilient Saucon Valley Panthers battled back like the champions they have been groomed to be.  Saucon won the last five bouts to lock up a 40-27 victory.

Freshman Ty Csencsits came up big for the Panthers.

Panther freshman Ty Csencsits (152) and junior Matt Arciuolo (160) each fought hard for their wins.  Csencsits hit a couple of takedowns and an escape to earn a 5-1 decision.  Using four takedowns and an escape Arciuolo collected a 10-1 major-decision.  With three bouts remaining and clinging to a frail, two-point lead the Warriors were anxiously looking over their shoulders as the Panthers crept closer.

Saucon Valley’s Jarrett Hirschbeck battled to the very end and he was rewarded for his efforts.

In the most exciting bout of the night Saucon Valley senior Jarrett Hirschbeck, nearly mummified with athletic tape masking his injuries, trailed Wilson’s Cayden Trimmer 5-1 late in the third period.  With just under thirty seconds remaining, Trimmer looked to have locked Hirschbeck helplessly into a “cradle”.  As Trimmer was turning the Panther onto his back it seemed as if Hirschbeck momentarily went limp and then somehow popped his head free and reversed Trimmer onto his back.  As the final seconds were ticking away, Hirschbeck clamped down to level Trimmer’s shoulders flat to the mat.  With the fall, Hirschbeck’s heroics gave the Panthers a 31-27 lead with two bouts left on the docket.  It was Saucon Valley’s first lead of the night.

Saucon senior Jarrett Hirschbeck finished with a pin for the Panthers.

It may have been Hirschbeck who changed the course of the match, but it was Brayden Lugardo (182) who sealed the deal for the Panthers.  Lugardo struck for two near-fall points and a takedown during the third period to collect a 5-1 decision.  Lugardo’s win gave Saucon a 34-27 advantage with only one bout remaining.

Brayden Lugardo getting ready to escape.

For good measure Dane Csencsits (195) finished the match with a first period pin for the Panthers.  Csencsits, a junior, hit a sweet, single-leg takedown and then cemented Wilson’s Austin Wickham flat on his back for the fall.  Csencsits’ pin emphatically finished the night giving Saucon Valley a hard-fought, 40-27 victory.

Saucon Valley’s Dane Csencsits finished the night in style.

In addition to keeping their winning streak alive, the victory against Wilson will likely give Saucon Valley the #1 seed in the end of the season, league tournament that is scheduled to be held on Monday, Jan. 28.  The Panthers are a little over a week away from competing for a seventh consecutive Colonial League title.

Celebration time, c’mon!

Saucon Valley 40, Wilson 27

106-  Caden Poff Fr., Wilson, pinned Connor Nicholas Fr., 3:00.

113-  Blake Sheridan Fr., Wilson, pinned Ermal Duka So., 1:14.

120- Cael Markle Fr., Saucon Valley pinned Blaze Hartrum Fr., 3:06.

126- Carmen Rawlinson So., Wilson, pinned Kevin Dyer Jr., 1:06.

132-  Josh Jones Sr., Saucon Valley, pinned Scott Horton So. Fr., :09.

138- Thomas Spirk Jr., Saucon Valley, dec. Dustin Hunara Jr., 6-1.

145-  Marckis Branford Sr., Wilson, dec. Nick Rosengrant Sr., 8-6.

152-  Ty Csencsits Fr., Saucon Valley, dec., Ashtyn Berberena Jr., 5-1.

160- Matt Arciuolo Jr., Saucon Valley, maj-dec., Anthony Micci Jr., 10-1.

170- Jarrett Hirschbeck Sr., Saucon Valley, pinned Cayden Trimmer Jr., 5:45.

182-  Braydun Lugardo Jr., Saucon Valley, dec. Alec Snyder Jr., 5-1.

195-  Dane Csencsits Jr., Saucon Valley, pinned Austin Wickham So., :41.

220-  Kolby Flank Jr., Wilson, pinned Mick Sullivan So., 2:35.

285-  Nick Warnke Jr., Saucon Valley, dec. Roger Russell S0., 6-3.

Wrestler of the Match – Jarrett Hirschbeck

Senior, Jarrett Hirschbeck

Coach Shirk said it:  “Jarrett wrestled for the entire six minutes.  He never gave up on himself or the team!  I couldn’t be more proud of Jarrett!”.

Up Next:  The Panther travel to Palisades for their Colonial League regular season finale on Wednesday Jan. 23.  Junior High is scheduled to start at 6p.m. with the varsity to follow at 7 p.m.

Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!

Photos courtesy of Chris Christian.

Newsletter

Subscribe to receive our newsletter in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday & Friday.

Please wait...

Thank you for subscribing!

About the author

Keith Riefenstahl

Leave a Comment