FRANCONIA >> How crazy was the opening night of the PIAA Class AAA Southeast Regional at Souderton Area High School?
How about top-seeded Doug Zapf of Downingtown West falling in the 106-pound quarters and Boyertown’s Matt Wilde getting pinned in the same round?
And that was just the first weight class.
Upsets, if not the norm, are at least semi-expected on this weekend, which is the prelim to next weekend’s state championships in Hershey.
Fortunately, for the likes of Pennridge’s Matt Parker and Methacton junior Bryce Reddington,, the upset bug stayed away for the evening.
Parker, in fact, notched his 100th career victory with a relatively easy win by technical fall over Octorara’s Liam Babauta, while Redddington took care of Truman’s top-seeded Dustin Stone, 3-2, as both slid into Saturday’s semifinals with impressive wins.
For Parker, the century mark was a nice plateau to reach, but far from the only achievement on his mind this weekend.
“It feels good,” the Rams junior said. “I’m excited about it, but it’s not the ultimate goal.
“I still have the regional title and the state title on my mind.
“We’re in the heat of the season, and I didn’t train all year for 100 wins.”
In the semis, Parker will face Downingtown East’s James Strommer, who is no stranger.
“I saw him at district duals,” Parker recalled. “I just have to follow my plan from the beginning of the year, and that’s to keep scoring points.”
As for Reddington, the returning state qualifier avenged an early season loss to Stone, building a 3-0 lead and then hanging on for the 1-point verdict.
“He beat me the first time we wrestled this year, so I knew I had to wrestle my best,” Reddington said. “He’s really good and I knew it was going to be close.”
In the semis, Reddington will duel Council Rock South’s Lucas Martoccio in what should be barn burner.
“Whoever it is, I just have to wrestle well, again,” Reddington said.
In all, there will be at eight locals in Saturday morning’s semifinals, with Pennridge leading the way with four semifinalists (Parker, Kordell Rush, Josh Stillings and Kyle Gentile) and Methacton (Reddington), Souderton (Kyle Williams), North Penn (Ryan Vulakh) and Upper Moreland (Patrick Walker) each with one.
