Back to dominance
Waters leads Faith Christian to region team championship
Faith Christian’s Adam Waters called Hershey’s Giant Center the “coolest place to compete.” In the arena bowl, surrounded by the crowd and framed under the lights, he was spellbound last season. But Waters certainly wasn’t intimidated, winning a PIAA Class 2A championship as a freshman. He’ll return this week for Round 2.
“It’s my motivation,” Waters said Saturday. “It’s just the coolest place to compete. I know I only get four opportunities in my high school career, and I really want to be a four-timer. So now I’m just trying to make the most of it.”
Waters continued that journey this weekend at the PIAA Southeastern Regional 2A wrestling tournament, where he moved purposefully through the 172-pound weight class. Waters (31-4) won three bouts with two pins and a technical fall, the latter in Saturday’s final at Freedom High School. Waters’ performance highlighted a huge weekend for Faith Christian, which won six individual titles and qualified 10 wrestlers to states.
Faith Christian repeated as the region’s team champ, scoring 218 points. Notre Dame-Green Pond, which crowned one champ and advanced eight wrestlers to states, placed second. For the Lions, Waters also led a group of middleweight champs that will test the 2A field in Hershey.
Cael Weidemoyer won the 160-pound title with a 4-1 victory in the final, and Max Stein scored a 4-0 decision for the title at 152. Faith Christian’s Joey Bachmann (107), Mason Wagner (139) and Jason Singer (215) claimed championships as well. The top six wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the PIAA championships, which begin Thursday.
Waters said he returns to states with a few more losses but sharper skills. Faith Christian wrestled a competitive schedule this season, visiting Wyoming Seminary, traveling to the Walsh Jesuit Ironman and Beast of the East tournaments and competing at Escape the Rock. Waters lost four close bouts (two in sudden victory) to nationally ranked wrestlers in those events. But in the process, he upgraded his technique.
“There were a lot of challenges,” Waters said. “I wrestled some tough opponents, and it really heightened my level of wrestling. My record may not be as good as it was last year, but my wrestling is even better.”
Having practice partners like Weidemoyer certainly helps. The sophomore, who placed third at 152 pounds last year, said he’s healthy after an early season injury sidelined him in December. He returned feeling fit and strong in January and wrestled a crisp tournament at regionals.
“It’s definitely been a difficult season, a lot of mental battles,” said Weidemoyer, whose first name was inspired by Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson. “I came back from the injury, and that was definitely hard adjusting to the season. But it rekindled my love for the sport, and I’ve been 100 percent loving every practice and every second since.”
As for their duels in the room, Waters and Weidemoyer deferred graciously to each other.
“He’s my go-to practice partner,” Waters said of Weidemoyer. “He’s very strong – stronger than me even at 160.”
“Mentally it helps me knowing that in the room will be my toughest battles,” Weidemoyer said.
The regional finals concluded at 121 pounds with two state champions dueling a week before Hershey. Faith Christian’s Gauge Botero, the weight class’ defending champ, met Northern Lebanon’s
Aaron Seidel, who won the 107-pound title last year.
Seidel and Botero are ranked first and third in the state, respectively, and both have committed to Division I colleges: Seidel to Virginia Tech, and Botero to Michigan. Seidel scored takedowns in each period for a 7-0 victory, which could be a prelude to Saturday’s finals.
Faith Christian’s Chase Hontz (second at 145), Mark Effendian (second at 285) and Cody Wagner (fourth at 189) qualified for states. The Lions, who won two individual state championships last season, seek to defend their team title in Hershey.
Ayden Smith of Notre DameGreen Pond won District 11’s only regional title. The returning state champ turned a decisive tournament at 114 pounds, completing his championship run with three major decisions. Smith, a senior, won the 114-pound state title last season and will bring a 45-2 record to Hershey. Teammates Cooper Feltman (fifth at 121), Tanner Berkenstock (fourth at 127) Gavyn Kelton (fourth at 133) Nino Morici (fifth at 145) Dominic Sumpolec (third at 160) Keegan Ramsey (second at 172) and Connor Smalley (third at 215) qualified for states as well.
Saucon Valley and Lehighton qualified two wrestlers each to states. The Panthers’ Jackson Albert placed third at 145 by escaping with 1 second remaining in the third period for a 1-0 win. Cole Hubert took fourth at 152. Lehighton’s Jacob Ferguson (160) and Reese Balk (285) both placed sixth.
Wilson’s David M’Balla advanced by placing fifth at 133. Palisades’ Danny Haubert (160) was fourth, and Northwestern’s Luke Fugazzato (172) was third.