FRANCONIA >> It’s a shame there were only a handful of fans remaining at Souderton Area High School early Saturday night.
But the threat of ice and snow sent many wrestling fans scurrying for the parking lot long before Spring-Ford froze out Woodstown, 31-28, to land the Big Red Duals team title.
Jonathan Westlake, Ben D’Arcangelo, Jack Files and Chase Smith gained the key victories after the New Jersey-based Wolverines had built a 16-0 lead after just three bouts.
“It was a team effort, up and down the lineup,” said Rams head coach Tim Seislove after the final whistle of a long day had been blown.
“We wanted to win, that was the goal,” echoed Brandon Meredith, “who won by forfeit in the victory. “We knew we were capable of winning, and everyone did what they needed to do.”
North Penn’s Raymond McNamara wrestles Unionville’s Wyatt Maguire in their 182-pound bout at the Big Red Duals on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)
The Rams reached the finals the hard way, topping North Penn in the semifinals, 38-20, while the Jersey-based Wolverines blew up Archbishop Wood, 39-22.
And in the finals, the Rams shook off the early deficit and beat their foes the way they needed to be beaten – via a team effort.
“Before the match, Coach told us they’d get a little rowdy early on, but that all we had to do was do what we planned..
“And it worked.”
Staring at a 16-0 defciit, the Rams got on the board via a Westlake decision at 145,, then got wins from D’Arcangelo, Files and Smith to pull within 19-14.
The Wolverines blew the lead back out to 25-14, but the Rams won out to earn the victory.
“We knew we had to win up top and down low,” Meredith said. “And that’s what happened.”
Wissahickon’s Dan Keller wrestles Woodstown’s Robert Parkell in their 170-pound bout at the Big Red Duals on Saturdya, Jan. 14, 2017. (Bob Raines/Digital First Medai)
Elsewhere, North Penn’s Colin Shannon earned his 100th victory in the day’s opening match, a North Penn victory over Bensalem.
He was pleased with the win, but was more pleased with the performance of his team, especially in the third-place match over Archbishop Wood, a team the Knights lost to recently..
“We had a lot of people step up today,” Shannon said. “Guys like Owen (Verespy) he lost to the guy he beat today.
“We just did what we needed to do.”
Elsewhere, Pennsbury placed ninth, Wissahickon finished eighth and Souderton took fifth, as the Suburban One League contingent showed off their strength.
A win over Downingtown East in the opening round was particularly pleasing to Wissahickon coach Anthony Stagliano.
“We take a lot of heat for our schedule,” he said, “but we beat a quality team in Downingtown East, and we wrestled well today overall.”
Spring-Ford 31, Woodstown (N.J.) 28
126 – Giovanni Chiesa (W) pinned Colin Taylor, 3:48.
132 – Dean Weiss (W) pinned Jake Pajobich, 5:33.
138 – Travis Layton (W) maj.dec. over Oscar Granese, 18-6.
145- Jonathan Westlake (S) dec. Nicolas Bonowski, 9-5.
152 – Ben D’Arcangelo (S) dec. Brian Berry, 9-2.
160 – Robert Parkell (W) dec. Michael Gridelli, 2-1.
170 – Jack Files (S) dec. Kennard Hildreth, 9-3.
182 – Chase Smith (S) tech. fall over Octavian Mathis, 16-1.
195 – Chad Watt (W) pinned Louie Carbajal, 1:23.
220 – Tyler LaRocca (S) dec. Gavin Belll, 3-2 (OT).
285 – Matt Lepore (S) maj.dec. over Hunter Batten, 11-2.
106 – Quin Tobin (S) maj.dec. over Austin Fogg, 12-2.
113 – Brandon Meredith (S) won by forfeit.
120 – Jack Prendergast (W) dec. Dirk Nugent, 8-2.
Third Place Results
North Penn 46, Archbishop Wood 30
126 – Alex Shaffer (AW) pinned Devon Weiss, 3:04.
132 – Jake Yoder (NP) dec. Zac Shaffer, 6-2.
138 – Brett Yoos (AW) pinned Erik Laughlin, 1:43.
145 – Will Laughlin (NP) dec. Austin Gillick, 9-2.
152 – Colin Shannon (NP) pinned Matt Balage, 0:53.
160 – Pat O’Neill (NP) maj.dec. Zac St.Thomas, 16-5.
170 – Reid Deitner (NP) pinned Bill Grace, 0:44.
182 – RJ Mcnamara (NP) pinned Xavier Pomrink, 3:20.
195 – Garrett Quallett (NP) pinned Charles Minniger, 2:12.
220 – Owen Verespy (NP) pinned Connor Bishop, 1:43.
285 – Ryan Cody (NP) pinned Jeremy Wertz, 2:58.
106 – TJ Anglon (AW) pinned Austin Ziegler, 0:24.
113 – Max Shaffer (AW) pinned Jabez Chae, 1:02.
120 – Steven Verzielli (AW) pinned Alex Strum, 0:51.
Top Photo: Spring-Ford’s Brandon Meredith wrestles Neshaminy’s Hunter Pagonis in their 113 -pound bout at the Big Red Duals on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)
