POTTSVILLE — Like quicksand, Mahanoy Area’s Rory Dixon — via Marian High School — engulfed his opponent and never let him up.

Dixon, a standout wrestler competing for the Golden Bears through a cooperative agreement, was one of the top performers Saturday at the Schuylkill League Wrestling Championships at Martz Hall.

Tamaqua’s Rylan Reitz also captured his first league gold medal in his debut season as a varsity wrestler, while teammate Brody Schlier rebounded in the 141-pound class to earn a bronze medal.

It was a banner day for North Schuylkill. The Spartans, once a dominant force in the league, claimed their second straight Schuylkill League championship with 210 points, well ahead of Tri-Valley (167). Mahanoy Area finished fifth with 129.5 points.

It marked North Schuylkill’s first back-to-back league titles since 1995-96, and the 15th overall for the program.

Tamaqua coach Jim McCabe said Reitz’s success comes naturally.

“My thoughts process is Rylan comes from a family that loves wrestling,” McCabe pointed out. “He put a lot of time in the offseason, oh, there’s a lot of kids that do that, but a lot of kids don’t do what Rylan does – constantly attack.”

McCabe knows Reitz well.

“He’s not going to be satisfied up 4-0, he’s going to want more points. And that’s what your want out of everybody.”

Reitz backed it up with a 7-0 win over Pottsville’s Cole Cook in the 116-pound final. The bout was scoreless after the first period, but Reitz escaped to start the second, added a takedown and controlled the match the rest of the way to improve to 25-4.

Reitz thrives on a fast pace.

“When I got up (4-0), I just wanted to keep the pressure on (Cook),” Reitz explained. “I want the pace to be fast, and I just want to go after my opponent, putting as much pressure on him.”

Reitz remains unbeaten in league competition. His four losses came in tournaments, all against elite competition.

“You know we tell the wrestlers you can’t sit on a four-point lead; you can’t be happy, and that’s what I really like about Rylan,” McCabe said. “In the wrestling room he’s become a sponge, he wants to learn a lot, he wants to get better.”

Dixon dominates

Perhaps the most impressive performance of the day belonged to Dixon, who, like Reitz, was also a top seed in the tournament.

Dixon exploded out of the gate and rolled to a 24-4 technical fall in 1:53 over North Schuylkill’s Kaden Tavares in the 154-pound final.

“I just want to be as aggressive as I can,” Dixon said of his 27th win of the season. “I like wrestling on my feet; I feel totally in control and taking the other guy down to score points.”

In a matter of moments, Dixon stretched a 6-3 lead into a commanding 17-4 advantage, ending the bout before the first-period buzzer.

“He’s explosive, physically strong, he’s an athlete,” Mahanoy Area coach Nathan Fegley said. “He’s very savvy, his IQ is very high on the mat.”

Dixon, a junior who also stars as a running back for Marian’s football team, credits his aggressive approach.

“I just go and do what I do best,” said Dixon, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two football seasons. Now competing at 154 pounds after dropping from 160, he said he feels faster and stronger.

“I love being on my feet, cutting and taking down the other guy,” Dixon said. “I wear the guy down, from the tilt to the cradle to a pin… doing all that good stuff.”

Bronze rebound

Schlier bounced back after an early loss to take third place at 141. The second seed fell in the semifinals but responded with a 10-5 decision over Pine Grove’s James Hoy in the third-place match.

Schlier trailed 3-0 after one period before regrouping. Earlier, he lost a 9-6 semifinal to North Schuylkill’s Brock Holmes, sending him to the consolation bracket.

“A lot has to do with being mentally (prepared),” Schlier said.

McCabe praised Schlier’s resilience.

“He’s a solid wrestler, and he just needs to believe in what he can do.”

WHERE TO NEXT ... League chairman Ben Ancheff said the tournament will move to North Schuylkill next season. “Now that Jim Thorpe has moved to the (Colonial League), North Schuylkill will take the place next season,” said Ancheff of Williams Valley. The event rotates among Pottsville, Blue Mountain and North Schuylkill.

TOP DOG ... Pottsville’s Terrell McFarland was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler after winning the 191-pound title and earning his fourth Schuylkill League crown.

FIT AS A FIDDLE ... Dixon, who battled knee issues and a torn meniscus last winter, said he is fully healthy. Dixon and teammate Kyler Quick also compete together in AAU events during the offseason. Both wrestled last summer in Florida.