QUAKERTOWN >> Nothing went the way Matt Parker expected it to.
At Saturday night’s PIAA Class AAA District One East wrestling championships at Quakertown High School, the Pennridge junior wrestled an old foe, Council Rock North junior Aidan Burke.
But after a scoreless first period, Burke deferred his choice until the third period, an against-the-grain move, as the bottom position is considered an offensive position.
But Parker one-upped Burke in the unorthodox derby by cutting Burke loose – and putting himself behind, 1-0, to begin the third period.
It all turned out OK for Parker, however, when he took Burke down with just six seconds left on the third-period clock to earn a 2-1 win and the 113-pound title.
“I wrestled him before and I knew he’s tough to ride, so I relied on my conditioning,” said Parker, whose win total hit 99 for his less-than-three-year career. “I wasn’t expecting him (to defer) in a scoreless match, but I guess it worked for him.”
Parker was one of four Pennridge wrestlers to be adorned with a gold medal in the tournament as the Rams came just this close to earning the team championship.
That trophy was carted home by Council Rock South, which also landed four golds to sneak past the Rams, 195.5-178.5.
Pennridge senior Kyle Gentile was another Rams winner as he blanked Quakertown’s Nick Bonomo, 9-0.
For the state’s second-ranked wrestler at 182 pounds, it was his third career district crown.
But despite the score, it didn’t come easily.
“I’ve wrestled him a bunch of times,” Gentile said. “We’ve wrestled five times in high school and a lot in middle school.”
Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt for Gentile, however.
“Oh no, we’re friends,” the champ said. “He gives me a good match almost every time, and he’s a real nice guy.”
A first-time winner was 106-pound freshman Tyler Williams of Souderton, who didn’t get his anticipated foe in the final, but made the best of it, blanking Josh Stahl of Quakertown, 11-0.
“I was expecting (Neshaminy’s) Colton Jordan,” Williams said. “I wasn’t expecting a rematch (of the Suburban One Continental Conference final), but it was nice to get a major.”
Williams began the run of championships, and was soon joined by the aforementioned Parker (113), Truman’s Gunnar Fuss (120), Pennridge’s Kordell Rush (126), Council Rock South’s Zack Trampe (132), Council Rock South’s Riley Palmer (138), Truman’s Dustin Stone (145), Council Rock South’s Dylan Schwartz (152), Pennridge’s Joshua Stillings (160), Council Rock North’s Josh Shalinski (170), Gentile (182), Council Rock South’s Joe Doyle (195), who was also named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, Quakertown’s Gavin Caroff (220) and Neshaminy’s Bruce Graeber (285).
