Head coach Kyle Rusnock said that Northwestern would be, "a good measuring stick," for his Rough Rider wrestling team after starting the season 2-0.

His squad couldn't quite measure up.

Catasauqua (2-1) came up short to Northwestern, 51-24, in a Colonial League wrestling tilt Wednesday night at Northwestern Lehigh High School.

"I think they finally realized what it is all about," Rusnock said after the match. "I think they need to know what extra work needs to be put in when it comes to wrestling in high school. I don't think our kids ever quit. I think that we were a little out-manned."

Catty kept the battle in New Tripoli close early on. After dropping the first bout of the match at 120, Oscar Gordon earned a 2-0 decision over Jack Bernhard at 126 to narrow Northwestern's early lead to 5-3.

The Tigers (2-0) won the next four bouts, three by fall, to stretch the lead to 27-3 before Mike Shutta halted Northwestern's dominance. The multi-sport athlete used his agility to fly around the mat against Northwestern's Jason Hottinger. Shutta flew up the scoreboard as well winning an 11-5 decision to chip away at the deficit, making it 27-6 in favor of Northwestern.

The Rough Riders won by forfeit at 170 lbs. and 182 lbs. before forfeiting at 195 lbs. After the dust settled, the Tigers remained in the lead, 33-18.

The final victory of the night came at 220 lbs. when Satchel Stauffer won by fall in 40 seconds over Quentin Moyer. Although his squad couldn't keep pace during the match, there is another test, in Rusnock's opinion, after the match.

"It's a long, long season," he said. "They are going to get stronger, they are going to get better, they are going to get wiser. How are they going to respond to a match like this? The Roughies will ring in the new year at the Hawk Mountain Duals on Jan. 3 and against Palisades on Jan. 5, when they return to league action.