Pennsbury junior Shaun Peel, left, got off to a slow start this year, though he started to make his way back with a 5-1 decision win over Abinton 152-pounder Marcelus Campbell, helping the Falcons to their first dual meet win of the season Jan. 4, 2016 on the Galloping Ghosts’ home court. (Steve Sherman – 21st-Century Media)
ABINGTON – With its first six meets postponed or canceled, visiting Pennsbury couldn’t wait to get out on the mat tonight at Abington in its first dual meet action of the season.
While the Falcons quickly fell behind after Abington seniors Shane Rose (170 pounds) and David McCaughey (182) pinned in the first two bouts, giving the Galloping Ghosts a 12-0 lead, Pennsbury quickly turned the tables.
Two pins and two forfeits by the home team will do that. Falcons freshman Davis Lee helped stemmed the tide, putting junior Zach Manning on his back in 2:24. Senior Jacob Haenle took less time than that, pinning Ray Newlin in 1:30.
A pair of forfeits at 285 and 106 pounds put Pennsbury on top 24-12 and while Abington sophomore Dane Stein tech-falled at 113, the Ghosts got just one more win the rest of the way as the Falcons walked away with a 48-23 triumph.
Pennsbury opened the season with a fifth-place finish at the Saucon Valley Invitational Dec. 10 in Hellertown then had to wait nearly three weeks to compete in the Ralph Wetzel Holiday Wrestling Classic Dec. 29 and 30 at Hatboro-Horsham.
“We’ve been waiting – the whole team – just been waiting to get out here and compete,” said Pennsbury head coach Phil Kealy. “To get out here as a team and do this is fantastic.
“We had a blast at the Wetzel (Holiday Wrestling Classic) – we had seven guys place top four in the JV tournament.
“We’re excited.”
The Falcons had three varsity medalists in the RW tourney including junior Antonio Martoccio (2nd/120), senior Connor Gowton (3rd/160) and junior Doug Molle (8th/126).
Molle and classmate Mark Hertkorn didn’t wrestle the Ghosts due to illness but Pennsbury had plenty of others step up in their place.
Abington gambled in the 120-pound match when it sacrificed freshman Zach Greenberg to Martoccio, a 2015 state qualifier and two-time District 1 medalist. Martoccio – who did not qualify for regionals last year – pinned, as expected but senior Matt Spross suffered a 9-2 loss to sophomore Jacob Dubs, a JV wrestler before tonight.
“We were just hoping to get a match out of him – for him to go out there and battle,” said Kealy. “We had no idea what to expect but it was an awesome match.”
“He’s been working hard in the )wrestling) room and I’m happy with the performance, for sure.”
Junior Sam Humbert (tech fall/132), senior Justin Braim (major/145), junior Shaun Peel (dec./152) and senior Connor Gowton (major/160) closed out a lopsided match in favor of the Falcons.
Abington sophomore Dan Brett scored a late pin for the Ghosts, who fell to 2-1, overall, 1-1 in the SOL National League after beginning their year with dual meet wins over Cheltenham and Bensalem.
Pennsbury had the misfortune of having five meets canceled when Abington decided not to hold the Ghost Town Duals on account of snow and lost another chance to compete when Truman asked for a postponement of the December scheduled dual meet between the schools.
Contact Steve Sherman at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
Pennsbury 48, Abington 23
(Jan. 4 at Abington)
170 — Shane Rose (A) pinned Max Schumer, 2:43
182 — David McCaughey (A) pinned Patrick Chappell, 2:33
195 — Davis Lee (P) pinned Zach Manning, 2:24
220 — Jacob Haenle (P) pinned Ray Newlin, 1:30
285 — Elyjah Slaughter (P) won by forfeit
106 — Ryan McGurrin (P) won by forfeit
113 — Dane Stein (A) tech. fall Ryan Murphy, 19-3 (5:30)
120 — Antonio Martoccio (P) pinned Zach Greenberg, 0:45
126 — Jacob Dubs (P) dec. Matt Spross, 9-2
132 — Sam Humbert (P) tech fall Brian Spurrier, 15-0 (4:53)
138 — Dan Brett (A) pinned Nick Polazzi, 2:19
145 — Justin Braim (P) maj. dec. Marcelus Martin, 13-2
152 — Shaun Peel (P) dec. James Campbell, 5-1
160 — Connor Gowton (P) maj. dec. Sam Giordano, 13-3
