Panthers eye sixth consecutive SOL division title
Mason Ziegler got as much of the high school wrestling experience last season as a freshman as anyone could have during a COVID-altered schedule. He has a state medal to show for it. That medal, however, provided motivation instead of satisfaction.
“He didn’t just sit back and enjoy and say, ‘I placed,’ ” Quakertown coach Kurt Handel said. “A couple weeks later, he was at NHSCAs.
“One kid there lit him up pretty good, but he went out and challenged himself even more — which has got to help him.”
And provide more motivation for Ziegler’s sophomore season.
Freshman Collin Gaj came into the Quakertown wrestling room this season with a stellar resume and a national ranking.
Handel made sure to have that conversation with him about what’s ahead. Quakertown’s December tournament schedule, which includes national prep standouts from Wyoming Seminary and Bergen Catholic at the X-Calibur tournament in Wilkes-Barre and a full field of District 11 standouts at the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic, will provide Gaj with a nice introduction to varsity competition.
“Someone like him hasn’t lost much his whole career,” Handel said. “When you face Sem or Bergen, I’m not saying he’s going to lose but just so he knows that’s out there, that there is always someone out there better on any given day.”
Gaj has the maturity and experience to adjust to the next level. He also has the talent.
“Technically, he’s very hard to get out of position,” Handel said. “He’s such a technical wrestler. Like a typical Red Hawk kid, he gets on top and look out. You may not want to go bottom.
“He’s a technically sound kid, stubborn. He doesn’t want to give up points of any kind. He’s one of these really nice kids, but he goes on the mat and he’s a different human being. If you’re scoring on him, you’re working.”
Ziegler and Gaj join a solid group of returnees to give Quakertown a solid shot at winning a sixth consecutive Suburban One League division title and competing with Spring-Ford, Council Rock South and others for District 1 Class 3A supremacy.
The Panthers finished fourth in last year’s district tournament, losing to the Rams and the Golden Hawks.
Quakertown opens this season at Council Rock South on Dec. 15.
“We want to make it out to states and medal as a team,” junior Zach Borzio said. “We can’t have any holes in the lineup. We have to make sure everyone is solid. You’re as strong as your weakest link.”
The lineup
Sophomore Isaac Williams will be at 106. He was thrown into the fire at the end of last season at the District 1 Class 3A team duals where Quakertown finished fourth. Freshman Gerry Stanziola also could see time at 106.
Junior Justin Adamson, who was 17-6 last season at 106, will be at 113 or 120. Ziegler, who was a Southeast Regional champion and 31-13 as a freshman, will be at 120 or 126.
Sophomore first-year starter Christian Dottery or junior Cody Stank, 8-5 last season, will be at 126-132.
“Stank started wrestling in eighth grade,” Handel said. “He’s been coming around since. He just hustles. He’s been to every out-of-season practice and tournament. He’s made strides.”
Todd McGann, a District 1 North section champion with a 23-3 record last year, is at 132.
Gaj is at 138. Junior Evan Hilton will fill in at 132-138.
Borzio, who was Southeast Regional third and 27-3 last season, is at 145. Freshman Gavin Carroll is at 152 and senior returnee Will Buckley is at 160.
Sophomore Calvin Lachman, who was 14-9 as a freshman, bumps up to 172. Senior Kaden Roesener, 16-5 a year ago, is at 189.
Senior Brandon Pierce, who has not wrestled since eighth grade, is at 215.
“He wrestled in the middle school SEPA tournament and placed,” Handel said, “then went the baseball route. He’s a very athletic kid.”
Senior Freddie Retter returns at 285 after going 26-6 last season and missing a state medal by a painfully narrow margin. He lost 4-3 in tie-breaker No. 2 to Easton’s Matt Cruise in the blood round.
Retter, a standout football player, will be delayed in returning to the mat because of an ankle injury.
Junior Drew Tibbets, who got in 18 matches last season, will be an option at 189-215.