Bevan sees improvements
Freedom sophomore showed persistence
Connor Bevan found himself in a dangerous situation during his 113-pound match Saturday with Neshaminy’s Charles Doran.
After using an upper-body move to get a takedown, the Freedom sophomore hooked up a cradle but did so by making a fundamental mistake that left him in a bad spot. He was cradled, then he wasn’t. Then he was again.
Bevan grew from his freshman-season experience and a revamped offseason to eventually work out of the first-period trouble and lock up Doran for a pin.
“I thought I was pinned,” Bevan said, “but I didn’t give up. It’s the last three months of taking off football and being in the weight room every day that helped me.”
Bevan needed that determination later in the Battle at Bethlehem Duals after not securing a takedown against Abington Heights’ Brandon Grogan in a 4-2 loss.
Bevan’s final match of the day against Honesdale’s Andrew Howell was looking eerily similar to the Grogan bout. The Freedom wrestler was losing deep into the match before his relentless attacks paid off with a third-period pin.
Coach Dante Terenzio saw that persistence throughout the tournament, one which ended with Freedom taking home the first-place trophy after a 5-0 day.
“Whether guys won or lost, we want them to take something from the match and not get down on themselves,” Terenzio said. “These guys really bounced back, picked each other up.
“That team aspect is something we’re stressing, something we want to instill at Freedom.”
Bevan won 20 matches last season as a freshman but understood he needed to dedicate himself to more mat time and increasing his strength.
He said he felt the improvements in several of Saturday’s matches.
“I’m not relying on my throws as much,” the sophomore said. “I’m taking more shots, working on my angles with coaches after practice. Just working on those fundamentals more.”
Fellow Patriot Pat Carrillo’s focus also was challenged. The senior, who didn’t wrestle the last two seasons, lost two tough decisions to start Saturday, but he responded with three pins to finish 3-2.
“In the beginning he was down on himself,” Terenzio said. “It’s something we talked about: ‘Are you going to bounce back or crumble?’
“Carrillo puts forth a huge effort in the room. He just has to get out of his own head and go out and wrestle like he does in practice. We are big on drilling in practice the way you should in a match. He does a great job of that in practice, and at the end of today he really showed that.”
Late in the seventh-place match against Western Wayne, Southern Lehigh’s bench was fully engaged in the 106-pounder bout involving freshman Mohamed Essiaghi, who was in search of his first career win.
Locked in a 4-4 dual late in the third period with Kelton Slifko, the Spartans bench erupted with the day’s secondloudest roar when Essiaghi escaped, then took down Slifko in the closing moments to secure the victory — and spark the tournament’s loudest ovation.
The Spartans did not forfeit a match and were 2-3 in first-year head coach Brenton Ditchcreek’s debut. Senior Nick DeNave led the way with a 5-0 showing, including three pins. But Essiaghi’s 7-4 decision was the highlight, evidenced by the tremendous support.
Faith Christian finished 2-3 in sixth place after a close loss to Abington Heights. It competed without senior Damon Waltenbaugh, a returning District 1 Class 2A champion, because of injury. Other top returnees Eric Alderfer (5-0, four pins) and Max Schultz (5-0, three pins, one technical fall) had strong showings for the Lions. … Freedom’s Connor Huber suffered an ankle injury while racking up a pin against. … He didn’t wrestle in the championship match for precautionary reasons. … Josh Pittenger and Tanner Edwards were 4-1 for Bangor (0-5), which will be shorthanded most of the season after heavy graduation and a thin roster this year.
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com