FRANCONIA >> In the regular-season finale for the North Penn wrestling team, the Knights won nine of 14 bouts and cruised to a 47-26 SOL Continental Conference victory against Souderton in a packed Souderton Area High School gym Wednesday night.
Souderton celebrated its Senior Night by honoring its eight seniors — Brydon Bateman, Spenser Haslam, Kerry Kehler, Troy Mokluk, Bruno Stolfi, Dean Taipale, Connor Trowbridge, and Tyler Williams — before the dual meet.
After Bateman started the night with a 25-10 technical fall over North Penn’s Nolan Roberts at 152 pounds, Patrick O’Neill put the Knights on the scoreboard with a quick 55-second fall over Tyler Walter at 160.
“I think I did pretty good,” O’Neill said. “I’m still trying to improve on getting the win as fast as I can, have fun doing it, but I’m still trying to get as many points as I can for my team.”
Souderton’s Dan Villalba reaches for the leg of North Penn’s Peter Youri during their match on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)
Jarret Niedosik increased the NP lead to 12-5 after receiving a forfeit at 170 pounds. North Penn proceeded to get close back-to-back decisions from Ryan Schoppe at 182 and Nolan Verespy at 195, extending its advantage to 18-5.
Schoppe topped Haslem 10-4 before Verespy battled Dean Taipale in the match of the night at 195.
Verespy got quickly to work with a takedown to hold a 2-0 lead after the first period. Verespy started on top in referee’s position in the second period and almost got a huge pin in the final seconds, but the clock ran out to giving him a 5-0 lead into the third period.
Taipale got a huge takedown late in the third and was looking to get some back points, but Verespy hung on for a thrilling 5-2 decision.
“I feel pretty good but I just wish that I got the pin in the second period,” Verespy said. “But we got the win as a team and that’s all that matters.”
North Penn’s Nolan Verespy controls Souderton’s Dean Taipale during their match on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)
Dan Villalba snapped the Knights’ winning streak at 220 with an 8-4 decision over Pete Yourl.
After North Penn’s Amir Pickens’ forfeit victory at 285, Dylan Reinhard earned a fall over Souderton’s Luke Ragusa in 3:32, increasing the Knights’ lead to 30-8.
Souderton quickly bounced back at 113 when Dylan Bach pinned Wyatt Miller in 1:33.
North Penn’s Eddie Galang, Jabez Chae, and Will Morrow earned wins in the next three matches — Galang and Morrow with pins at 120 and 132, respectively, while Chae collected a tech fall in between at 126 — to seal the team victory.
Souderton seniors Williams and Trowbridge earned falls in the night’s last two bouts to make the final score 47-26.
With the win, North Penn finishes the dual season 9-7 overall and 5-1 in the SOL Continental.
Souderton’s Brydon Bateman keeps control of North Penn’s Nolan Roberts during their match on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)
North Penn head coach Rob Shettsline was thrilled with how his team performed to build momentum heading into the individual postseason.
“Our kids wrestled well and the kids were ready for Souderton tonight,” Shettsline said. “Some of the matches could’ve gone either way, but we’re very proud of our guys.”
“North Penn is known for doing very well in the postseason,” added Shettsline. “So we will definitely be ready for that in a couple weeks.”
With the loss, the Indians dropped to 8-8 overall (4-2 conference), including an appearance in the District 1-3A duals tournament.
Souderton head coach Tristan Boyd was excited for his team after everything they have done so far this season.
“In general I thought our kids wrestled very well tonight,” Boyd said. “North Penn has a very good squad and our kids fought hard against them.”
“Most importantly we had our seniors in the program and I couldn’t be more proud of what they have accomplished here,” added Boyd. “I wish them the best moving forward after graduation.”
North Penn’s Ryan Schoppe spins to the back of Souderton’s Spencer Haslam during their match on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)
Souderton hits the road for the last dual meet of the season against PIAA duals qualifier Owen J. Roberts Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
North Penn gets a few weeks of practice before competing in the PIAA District 1-3A East Championships on Friday, Feb. 22-23 at Quakertown High School. Souderton compete in the district’s North tournament the same weekend at Pottstown.
