TOWAMENCIN >> Jarret Niedosik knows how thin the line is between winning and losing on the wrestling mat.
“Anyone can get beat on any given day,” he said. “It’s happen to me and I’ve happened to be on the other side of it where I’ve pinned kids I’ve shouldn’t have.”
And for a moment Wednesday night, things went from good to bad in a hurry for the North Penn senior. Quakertown’s Kaden Roesener quickly countered a takedown with a reversal that led right into a pin attempt in the first period of their 170-pound match.
“When I went for the body lock, I just brought him down and I was out of position and he just happened to reverse me,” Niedosik said. “Fought off my back.”
Niedosik averted the fall, battled back to take a 7-5 lead at the end of the first two minutes then in the second period avoided any more twists of fate by pinning Roesener at 2:40.
“Honestly, looking to video, I was pinned. I was,” Niedosik said. “I should not of won that match but at the end of the day I did and back to the lab.”
The pin pulled the Knights even 9-9 in the SOL Continental dual meet but from there the visiting Panthers took over, winning the next seven matches as Quakertown claimed a 50-18 victory over North Penn.
“Score was a little deceiving there, North Penn came out they were ready to wrestle they didn’t give any matches,” Panthers coach Kurt Handel said. “And they were physical, they’re aggressive and they came at us. It was a good match to watch, every match was tight.”
The Panthers (14-0, 3-0 conference) collected five pins – Kyle Goodwin (160), Freddie Retter (195), Jeremy McGuigan (285), Kyle Miller (120) and Zach Lewis (132) – while Todd McGann earned a technical fall at 113 as the Panthers kept pace with Central Bucks East at the top of the Continental.
“Our power part of our lineup showed in that middle to lower weight classes,” Handel said. “So, yeah, there was a lot of good.”
North Penn (6-7, 1-2) opened the meet with Alec Schrum avenging a loss to Patrick at last month’s X-Calibur tournament by earning a 5-2 decision over the Panther junior at 145.
“I know I should of beat him at X-Calibur,” Schrum said. “I gave up some stupid points and just adjusted my game.”
Niedosik claimed his pin three matches later but the Knights did not get another win until Eddie Galang’s 10-5 decision over Vinny DeSpirito at 126 cut Quakertown’s lead to 44-12.
“We definitely came in knowing it was going to be a tough match,” Niedosik said. “And honestly I expected my kids to go out there and wrestle to the best of their ability and that’s all I can ask them for.”
Will Morrow picked up North Penn’s fourth win in the night’s final match at 138 due to injury time. Domenic DeFalco – a state qualifier for Quakertown the last two seasons- could not continue after suffering what looked to be an ankle injury after a Morrow takedown in the final seconds of the first period.
“It was a bummer the Morrow and DeFalco match but I’m sure they’ll see each other in the postseason,” Handel said.
Quakertown competes in the Escape the Rock tournament at Council Rock South Saturday and Sunday then hosts CB East for first place in the SOL Continental Wednesday. North Penn visits Central Bucks West Wednesday.
“East Wednesday, the first round of district duals Thursday and the league championships Saturday, yeah, it’s getting busy,” Handel said. “We got Escape the Rock Saturday and Sunday this week so it’s a busy part of the season.”
Schrum dropped a 5-2 decision to McCoy Dec. 20 at X-Calibur and while the scoreline was the same Wednesday, it was the North Penn senior that came away the victor this time.
“He kept hitting the same moves,” said Schrum, who advanced to South East Regionals last year. “He had the same move on bottom, switch on bottom so I adjusted. I gave up a reversal at X-Calibur and I saw it coming.”
Schrum took a 3-2 lead with a third-period escape then went up three with a takedown.
“I just gave up a takedown early, I know I’m better than him on my feet,” Schrum said. “So I guess that woke me up.”
Niedosik, a regional qualifier in 2019, improved to 24-3 with his 12th consecutive win – the last four coming by fall.
“I’m feeling good,” Niedosik said. “I’m really excited. Building my habits outside of the room and just really trying to focus on the goal which is getting on the podium at states. That’s all that really matters to me right now.”
Quakertown took the lead for good when Micah Kunkle collected a 9-2 decision over Rodney Perander at 182 to make it 12-9. Retter followed with a pin in 43 seconds at 195 to put the Panthers up nine.
At 285, McGuigan had the night’s fastest pin in 32 seconds. McGann sealed the Panthers win with his victory at 120, securing a 16-1 tech fall with a three-point near fall at the end of the third.
