Quakertown in command, pins down rival Upper Dublin

UPPER DUBLIN >> Quakertown has set — and expects to achieve — some lofty goals this year.

Said senior heavyweight Fred Retter: “Our team wants to make it to states and we wanna shake it up a little bit. That’s definitely a team goal of ours.”

So despite an impressive 61-6 victory over Suburban One League Liberty Division rival Upper Dublin Wednesday night, the Panthers focused heavily on ways to raise their level of performance.

“We came out here and wrestled a little sloppy,” Retter said. “We gotta go back to work, get ready for a big tournament (Mid-Winter Mayhem at IUP Kovalchick Center) coming up this weekend. And clean up some of the little things and we’ll be good to go.”

Retter, a standout heavyweight for the Panthers, capped off the Quakertown victory by pinning Christian Holland of Upper Dublin in 1 minute, 30 seconds. It was the fourth straight pin for the Panthers, who dominated the upper weights, and sixth pin in the contest overall.

“It’s definitely nice to close out with pins. We expect our guys to go out there and dominate — always,” Retter said. “But it’s always nice to see it come to fruition.”

Calvin Lachman (172), Kaden Roesener (189) and Drew Tibbits (215) also had pins in the upper weights for the Panthers. That led to Retter’s finale.

“I was confident going in,” he said. “I put in the training and went out and did what I do.”

Quakertown led 15-0 before Colin Higgins got a win at 126 pounds for Upper Dublin, pinning Evan Hilton in 2:50. That brought the Cardinals within 15-6.

But after that, it was all Quakertown.

“Overall, I think (we’re wrestling well), but I think we have a lot of stuff to improve on,” Retter said. “We’re putting in the work and I think we’ll see it come through.”

Mason Ziegler (120) and Todd McGann (132) also had pins for Quakertown. Tyler Scheibenhofer won by tech fall at 113, as did Collin Gaj at 138, as the Panthers (3-0 overall) got off to a tremendous start in their Liberty Division schedule.

Quakertown’s next divisional contest is Wednesday on the road, at Plymouth Whitemarsh. The Cardinals are back on the mats Saturday, at the Lion Duals at the Academy of the New Church, and then Wednesday night take on Abington on the road.

Retter, who looks to play football in college, is savoring his last season of wrestling, and it should be a long, fruitful one for Quakertown.

“It’s fun but it’s a little sad, knowing this is the last go,” he said. “But I’m excited to give it all I have to close out the season.”