The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Riverside’s Farenchak headed to D-II Gannon
with the improved quality of at-bats in the last three frames.
Lake County Grant Hockin (1-1, 6.00 ERA) gave up five runs, all earned, on nine hits over four innings to take the loss.
“I like how he turned it around after getting off to a bad start,” Carlin said of the 22-year-old right-hander.
Jean Carlos Mejia was outstanding in relief of Hockin, limiting the Cubs to one run on four hits over five innings.
Carlin said third baseman Nolan Jones, sidelined since April 7 with soreness in his left knee, feels better and is slated to be the designated hitter when the Captains host the Cubs on April 14.
Alex Farenchak was at a crossroads.
A freshman wrestler at Riverside with high aspirations for his career, Farenchak worried the dwindling numbers in Riverside’s wrestling room might eliminate the program all together. He pondered transferring.
Instead, Farenchak stuck with his heart. And now as a senior, he is part of a flourishing program as a Division I state-placer in his final year.
Farenchak received his just reward for staying put, announcing this week that he has accepted a wrestling scholarship at Division II Gannon University.
“It’s one of the greatest feelings,” Farenchak said. “I’ve always dreamed of wrestling in college at a high level. I’m glad I’m going to be able to do that.”
Gannon won out over the University of Indianapolis and Buffalo, though the latter wasn’t a scholarship opportunity, but rather a preferred walkon position.
Farenchak noted Gannon is part of the rugged Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and is a good school for his intended major — mechanical engineering.
“Their coaching staff was consistently reaching out to me,” he said. “They’re a tough wrestling program. Overall, it’s just the best fit for me.”
He said the level of his scholarship can increase depending on his success on the mat — something that appeals to him.
The adjustment from high school to college shouldn’t be a problem for Farenchak in the classroom. He hasn’t taken a class at Riverside in two years, opting rather to take classes at Lakeland Community College instead as a full-time student.
“I’ll be going to Gannon with 55 college credit hours,” he said. “I’ll be just a few credits short of my associate’s degree in arts and sciences. I think that’ll help me at Gannon. Those adjustments, I’ve already gone through it.”
Farenchak capped his high school career with a 39-4 record this season. Two of his losses came in the rugged Division I state wrestling tournament at Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
Farenchak exited a winner, with a 6-3 decision over Newark’ Hunter Thornsberry in his final match.
“I had a rough tournament,” Farenchak said at the time. “I ended with a win in the last match. That’s the greatest feeling.”
Farenchak ended his career with 127 career wins, sixth on Riverside’s alltime wins list, trailing No. 5 Evan Rosborough (Class of 2013), who had 128. The all-time wins leader in the school is Eric Lakia (155 wins), who is now the head wrestling coach at Lake Catholic.
Farenchak said he leaves Riverside with a treasure chest full of memories, including having his father, Lance, as an assistant coach and in the corner for his two trips to the state wrestling tournament.
No doubt, he said, he is glad he stayed at Riverside.
“I stayed, hoping for the best, and everything worked out,” he said. “It’s great to be able to be part of the program. I think all the achievements (both him as an individual and Riverside as a team) shows how you can do a lot starting from almost nothing.”