Condomitti doesn’t play the ‘what could have been’ game
Jagger Condomitti was reflecting earlier this summer on what his next eight months were going to look like.
The Northampton senior, who rarely takes a break from training, did not like the images in his head.
“Before I knew I was in ‘Who’s No. 1,” he said, “I was like, ‘Why am I practicing?’ Once I got in, it was easy to stay focused.
“[But] I don’t know if there is going to be anything [of a season]. With everything up in the air, it makes it hard for someone like me. I took second [last season at states]. I wanted to take first. You need that to drive you. It may not even happen. It may slip through my hands.”
Condomitti was one a few elite Lehigh Valley wrestlers on pace to make history.
Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Ryan Crookham had an outside shot at becoming the state’s career wins leader. The two-time PIAA champion has 100 wins with two seasons left.
Stroudsburg state champion Lenny Pinto, who is headed with Condomitti next year to Nebraska, seemed destined to become Monroe County’s career victories leader.
Condomitti, with 125 career wins, was on pace to break Josh Haines’ record of 157 at storied Northampton.
Now he is left to prepare for what might not happen.
With Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement on new restrictions Thursday, Northampton, which began practice on Monday, will need 10 days of practice beginning Jan. 4 before it can begin competition.
“[Not getting that record] kind of stings,” he admitted. “A lot of kids win states but not many get to say they are the winningest kid in the school, especially this school.
“I wanted to have that senior season feel, that senior night, that last time wrestling, all that stuff. I stay in contact with Nebraska. They say regardless of what happens, you’ve got bigger things in your future, try to focus on that and not dwell on the what-ifs of this year.
“It just sucks have to deal with it.”
Sophomore Carson Wagner is the other Konkrete Kid who medaled last season at states. He is hoping to improve his standing on the podium in March at Hershey’s Giant Center. He also has the long-term goal of joining Condomitti and a few dozen others on the walls inside Northampton’s Mike Schneider Gymnasium.
“I wanted to get my name up on that board out there,” he said, “but I’m not sure if I get to 100 [career] wins if we only get six matches this year.”
Wagner wrestled in a couple national tournaments over the summer and trained in any gym he could find, including the one where his father works and another set up by Condomitti’s father. He wants to be prepared.
Physically, he’s ready.
He and Condomitti are focused now on leading a relatively young and inexperienced Konkrete Kids roster by example, by being prepared for whatever is next and making the most of a lessthan-ideal situation.
The lineup
Sophomore Carson Wagner competed at tournaments this summer at 106. He’ll likely stay at the weight where he finished sixth in the state in March.
“If there’s a state tournament,” Lisa said, “I’m hoping that monster class of 106-pounders go up. [Carson] is a true 106-pounder. He was walking around the state tournament last year at 106 with a burger in hand.
“If he’s down at 108 and feeling good, I think he can win [states]. He’s at that level.”
Freshmen Mason Basara and Aiden Micheli could be filling open spots at 113 and 120. Both were District 11 junior high medalists last season.
Sophomore A.J. Dew plus seniors Blaise Wagner and Noah Reichelderfer have varying degrees of experience and could be in the next few weights.
Returning Northeast Regional champion Dagen Condomitti, junior C.J. Fritz and junior Alex Hanley are expected at 138 to 152, with returning state runnerup Jagger Condomitti, a Nebraska recruit, next.
Freshman Landon Roland, a District 11 junior high runnerup last season at 155, could be at 172 or 189.
Senior Kyle Perl should be at 215. Junior Makei Hubert could be at 285.
“I think we could surprise some good teams,” Lisa said. “This year sucks because we lost a lot of kids [to graduation], so it would have been good to have these kids get 30, 40 bouts.
“It feels like the whole season is lost.”
The Konkrete Kids
Coach: Seth Lisa, 10th year (111-56).
Last year: 8-1 EPC, 17-2 overall; EPC third place; District 11 Class 3A team tournament third place; District 11 and Northeast Regional individual tournament team third place, PIAA 17th place.
Top returnees: So. Dagen Condomitti (District 11 runner-up, Northeast Regional champion); Sr. Jagger Condomitti (District 11 champion, Northeast Regional and PIAA runner-up); So. A.J. Dew; Jr. C.J. Fritz; Jr. Makei Hubert; Sr. Kyle Perl; Sr. Noah Reichelderfer; Sr. Blaise Wagner; So. Carson Wagner (District 11 and Northeast Regional third place, PIAA sixth place).
Additions: Jr. Alex Hanley (did not wrestle a varsity match last season after a District 11 sixthplace finisher two years ago); Fr. Mason Basara; Fr. Aiden Micheli; Fr. Landon Roland.
Subtractions: None.