Ohio visitors dominate Crusaders
Liberty wins quarterfinals at Virigina Duals. Nazareth drops into consolation round.
Andrew Cerniglia trailed national No. 3-ranked Sam Dover of St. Edward by just three points entering the third period of Friday’s 152-pound bout.
The Notre Dame-Green Pond junior chose bottom to start the final two minutes, then spent the rest of the bout underneath Dover.
It was a pattern established early by coach John Heffernan’s Eagles, who are ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams.
They get you down. They don’t let you up.
“That’s why we schedule matches like this against St. Edward’s,” Notre Dame coach Matt Veres said, “to expose your weaknesses.
“We got turned on bottom, got ridden for whole periods or even [longer]. We made mistakes. Now we’ll get back in the room, correct them and get ourselves better.”
Notre Dame lost 55-12 to visiting St. Edward, of Lakewood, Ohio, forfeiting four bouts and losing all five closely contested ones — including Cerniglia against the Ironman champion and Powerade runner-up.
Dover got the showdown’s only two takedowns, one each in the final 45 seconds of the first and second periods. He then gave Cerniglia no daylight in the third.
“I thought Andrew scrapped hard,” Veres said. “He had his leg attacks, needed a couple of finishes. He got ridden, but I like the fight he had, the grit he showed.
“Hopefully, we’ll correct his mistakes come March in the state tournament and get him to the top of the podium.”
Josh Bauman (132), Nick Vonelli (138), Derek Berlitz (160) and Isaiah DeJesus (170) also had reasonable chances to win
their matches, but either was unable to get out from bottom or finish their attacks.
Despite appearances at some of the elite national tournaments in December, Notre Dame will take more from Friday match.
“At the Ironman and Beast, you get exposed,” Veres said, “but it’s a little easier to see [the mistakes] in a dual meet.
“We got caught with underhooks. We were getting spun on, getting ridden with legs. In a dual meet like this, it’s magnified.”
Two winners
Ryan Crookham had little trouble moving to 22-2 this season with a pin of St. Edward’s Jack Elmore in 1 minute, 53 seconds at 120. The Notre Dame freshman had five takedowns before locking up Elmore.
At 126, Brandan Chletsos needed only 66 seconds to finish off St. Edward’s Hudson Poole.
Crusaders lineup
Richie Markulics (132), Tucker Klump (182), Eshan Swartz (220) and Anthony Schiraldi (285) are expected back from injuries soon, according to Veres.
“We’ve got some guys banged up up top,” the first-year Crusaders coach said. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Richie. Hopefully, starting next week they will be in our lineup and we’ll hit the postseason running.”
Veres also said Bauman won’t be at 113, where he started the season. He’ll fall in the 120s and low 130s moving forward.
Bauman was third at districts last year and fifth at regionals as a freshman 106-pounder.
Tony Morello is at 113 now for Notre Dame.
Elsewhere
Liberty got consecutive pins from Damen Moyer (195), Jake Ahmad (220) and Jaden Freeman (285) to rally past Camden Catholic (N.J.) in Friday’s quarterfinals of the Virginia Duals tournament.
Coach Jody Karam’s club faces St. Augustine Prep, which beat Pennsylvania 3A No. 4ranked Erie Cathedral Prep 3923 in the quarters, at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Nazareth lost 30-25 to South Plainfield in the quarters and drops into the consolation bracket. Coach Dave Crowell’s club takes on Smyrna, Del., at 10 a.m. Saturday.
In Friday’s first round, Liberty knocked off Lafayette (Va.) 73-3 and Nazareth beat Benedictine (Va.) 43-23.
Up next
Notre Dame returns to Colonial League action with a visit Wednesday to Southern Lehigh.
St. Edward competes in Saturday’s Who’s No. 1 event at Blair Academy (N.J.).
St. Edward (Ohio) 55, Notre Dame-GP 12