Thursday
April 25, 2024 
With every victory and title, Quakertown’s Jeremy McGuigan’s confidence level has followed suit.
The senior captured the 285-pound bracket in the Suburban One League (SOL) Continental Championships at Central Bucks High School West Jan. 25. McGuigan, who has a 31-6 record with 22 pins, was joined by teammates senior Kyle Miller (120), senior Zach Lewis (132), and juniors Domenic DeFalco (138), Patrick McCoy (145), and Micah Kunkle (182), who all won titles in their respective weight classes.
Quakertown registered 271.5 points followed by locals Central Bucks East (207.5) and Central Bucks West (fourth, 126.5), Pennridge (sixth, 84) and Central Bucks South (seventh, 76) in the seven-team field.
It has been a steady progression for McGuigan and his teammates.
“The league tournament went well, as I pinned both of my kids in the first period and took first,” said McGuigan, who won his first SOL Continental Conference crown. “I feel like I am really becoming a better wrestler here towards the end of the season and the beginning of postseason.
“Our team has high expectations for the rest of the year and our coaches are pushing us every day to better us as a team.”
Head coach Kurt Handel was struck by his team’s dominance as the Panthers placed 12 of their 14 wrestlers in the finals.
“Jeremy (McGuigan) has been outstanding for us, and it was absolutely amazing to see us have that many wrestlers in the finals,” he said. “They all wrestled exceptionally well, and they all are really stepping up.
“It is a real tribute to all of the seniors for all of their hard work and commitment in the offseason. These guys just want to go out and wrestle and they leave it all out there.”
Central Bucks East coach Dave Scarpill also was impressed with his team’s performance despite having starters 106-pounder sophomore Ethan Bean, 120-pounder Donovan Rice, and 132-pounder Mason Stein out of the lineup.
The Patriots’ senior Marcus Chernyshev won the title at 152, and fellow senior Danny Eckley took the top spot at 220.
“Having three starters out and taking second place was quite a feat for us,” said Scarpill. Marcus Chernyshev wrestled smart. He has come a long, long way from his freshman year when he was thrown to the wolves, wrestling varsity with no experience and going 2-20. He is now 19-8 and eying a trip to the southeast regional tournament.
“Danny Eckley also has been coming on for us. He won a long awaited match against Quakertown’s Ralph Martin, pinning him in the finals.”
Scarpill also was pleased with sophomore and Archbishop Wood transfer Quinn Collins, who lost to Pennridge senior Logan Green in the finals at 195. Collins pinned undefeated sophomore Carl DiGiorgio of Central Bucks West in the semifinals.
Along with Green, Pennridge junior Luke Wahlers won the crown at 160. Central Bucks West sophomore Teague McCormick finished first at 106 pounds.
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