TOWAMENCIN >> In a special ceremony following North Penn’s match with rival Souderton Wednesday night, all five North Penn senior wrestlers were given commemorative shields, as part of the Senior Night festivities.
It was a fitting metaphor for the evening, as the Knights had defended their home mats in commanding fashion.
North Penn pushed ahead in the fourth match of the evening and never let go of the lead, pulling away to a 56-12 victory over Big Red in the Suburban One League Continental Conference finale for both squads.
“They worked hard tonight. They really did,” Knights coach Robert Shettsline said of his seniors. “It’s nice that they can go home with this as their last experience in this gym.
“You always wanna make it special for them.”
North Penn’s Nophir Harrell hangs in mid air as Souderton’s Dylan Heathcote holds on in their 132-pound match on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. (James Beaver/For MediaNews Group)
The Knights honored seniors Jarret Niedosik, Nolan Roberts, Alec Schrum, Nolan Verespy and Pete Yourl.
Schrum won by tech fall (20-5) over Riley Bachman at 138 pounds, Niedosik’s pin of Connor Wolfe at 170 pounds clinched the win for the Knights, and Verespy pinned Leo Richetti at 220.
“I felt good out there, getting good shots, doing all of my moves,” said Schrum. “It was a pretty good night. I felt like everybody did pretty well. As a team, we did pretty well.”
The Knights finished with a 4-2 mark in the conference. The postseason awaits.
North Penn seniors Jarret Niedosik, Nolan Verespy, Peter Yourl, Alec Schrum, and Nolan Roberts gather after the Knights’ win over Souderton in their dual meet on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. (James Beaver/For MediaNews Group)
“I have a lot to work on but I feel like I’m gonna head into the postseason real strong,” Schrum said. “This is a good way to end the regular season.
“I’d like to go to states, win the district. It’s gonna be tough but I think I can do it. I just gotta get my mindset right, get my wrestling down.”
The stands were packed for NP’s final home match.
Said Shettsline: “We have a good relationship with Souderton and it was nice to put on this fundraiser for tonight. There were some good matches there. We were excited about it.”
North Penn’s Jarret Niedosik reacts after Devon Pinkett was victorious over Souderton’s Justin Morales in their 285-pound match on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020. (James Beaver/For MediaNews Group)
Souderton (3-3 conference) got a 10-6 decision from Dylan Bach and, in the tightest match of the evening, a 13-12 decision from Tyler Walter at 152.
“There were some matches where both guys were competitive and that’s always fun to see,” Big Red coach Tristan Boyd said. “There were some familiar faces tonight, and that said, the message is we just have to continue to execute the basics better.
“This was a great opportunity for us to see where those basics are lacking and see what we have to do in the next couple weeks to be ready for the postseason.”
North Penn 56, Souderton 12
106: Luke Ragusa (S) won by forfeit; 6-0
113: Dylan Reinhard (NP) won by forfeit; 6-6
120: Dylan Bach (S) dec. Wyatt Miller, 10-6; 9-6
126: Eddie Galang (NP) pinned Dylan Heathcote, 1:35; 12-9
132: Nophir Harrell (NP) dec. Tyler Geiger, 11-9; 15-9
138: Alec Schrum (NP) tech fall Riley Bachman, 20-5, 3:37; 20-9
145: William Morrow (NP) pinned Anthony Palonis, 2:25; 26-9
152: Tyler Walter (S) dec. Nolan Roberts, 13-12; 12-26
160: Nick Ray (NP) pinned Brayden Crawford, 3:27; 32-12
170: Jarret Niedosik (NP) pinned Connor Wolfe, 1:35; 38-12
182: Benjamin Sanfelice (NP) pinned Dan Villalba, 1:24; 44-12
195: Double forfeit
220: Nolan Verespy (NP) pinned Leo Richetti, 1:11; 50-12
285: Devon Pinkert (NP) pinned Justin Morales, 2:53; 56-12
