Match No. 11 proves lucky for Farber
Blue Eagle, 11 other area wrestlers advance to meet quarterfinals.
NEWARK, DEL. — Nazareth’s Dashawn Farber never beat Northampton’s Jagger Condomitti in the 10 previous times they’ve wrestled dating to midgets.
When the Blue Eagles junior finally did in the round of 16 Saturday at the Beast of the East tournament, he wasn’t really sure how he did it.
“He had a bar and I slipped it a little bit,” Farber recalled. “He dropped down to a single, then, I’m not really sure.
“I think I kicked his leg over and he went to his back and I was able to keep him there.”
Farber, a two-time Georgia state champion who previously wrestled as a youth in East Stroudsburg, is one of 12 area wrestlers to reach the Beast quarterfinals.
Nazareth teammates Sean Pierson (126) and Connor Herceg (170) also advanced. Bethlehem Catholic (Ryan Anderson at 145, Cole Handlovic at 152 and Luca Frinzi at 160) and Northampton (Julian Chlebove at 132, Devon Britton at 138 and Hunter Werkheiser at 285) also have three wrestlers each in the quarters. Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Ryan Crookham (120) and Andrew Cerniglia (152), plus Saucon Valley’s Josh Jones (132) are three wins away from a title.
Farber’s biggest adjustment against Condomitti came long before they faced one another for the second time in two weeks and third time in three months.
“I didn’t even warm up that much,” the 145-pounder said. “It was more just trying to calm my nerves and say, ‘this is just a
regular match.’
“I tried to take it easy today, not worry about this being the Beast and that I’d lost to him a bunch of times. It was just that this match is 0-0, and I’m going to beat him this time.”
Farber endeared himself to Nazareth long before Saturday’s three wins. He came into coach Dave Crowell’s practice room with a focus and determination to do whatever it took to get
better.
His coaches noticed it. His teammates did, too.
“Farber really honed in on what he needed to work on,” Pierson said after reaching the quarterfinals for the second year in a row. “He takes what the coaches tell him. He takes it to heart and fixes it right away.
“And, he responds to an atmosphere like this. When the going gets tough, Farber is ready to get going. Nazareth people love that about him.”
Pierson believes Farber realizes that there is no time to take off in a match, that you must
compete for six minutes or get burned.
The Nazareth senior learned that from last year’s Beast, and it’s the only thing he is focusing from this point forward.
“All those little gaps, those split seconds of time, they added up to why I didn’t make the semis last year,” Pierson said. “I’m just taking it for what it is, an opportunity to go out and get better.
“If I take into context for what the tournament is, I’m going to get caught up in it instead of just wrestling and having fun.”
Upset
Nazareth’s Justyce Searock quickly worked through a scramble to deck No. 3-seeded Elijah Anthony of Blair Academy in the second round at 285 pounds.
Searock was fifth at the Cumberland Valley Kickoff tournament, then 2-2 in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference action before this weekend.
Consolation survivors
Those locals who are two wins from a medal are: Bethlehem Catholic’s Dante Frinzi (106), Joe Kurtz (195) and Jase Crouse (285); Northampton’s Sam Hanley (126), Condomitti (145) and Jayden Bortz (195); Notre Dame’s Brandan Chletsos (126), Nazareth’s Drew Clearie (138) and Stephen Schott (220), Saucon Valley’s Thomas Spirk (138), Matt Arciuolo (160) and Dane Csencsits (195).
Chletsos had a win earlier over Bishop McDevitt’s Chase Shields, a two-time state medalist.
Who is not here
Several area competitors did not make the trip, including returning Beast of the East medalist Matt Lackman of Bethlehem Catholic at 138 pounds.
Others MIA: Notre Dame’s Richie Markulics (132), Isaiah DeJesus (170), Tucker Klump (182) and Anthony Schiraldi (285); Bethlehem Catholic’s Kenny Herrmann (132); Nazareth’s Blaine Wilson (132; injured) and Nathan Stefanik (152; injured); plus Northampton’s Alex Hanley (113), Michael Kistler (160) and Jayden Bortz (195).
Schedule
Sunday’s action begins at 8:30 a.m., with quarterfinals. Semifinals are at 11:15, with the medal round at 3 p.m.