Faith Christian’s Adam Waters and Joey Bachmann were both favored to win state wrestling titles. For Waters, it would have been his second, and Bachmann’s first.
Faith was also expected to defend its team state crown in dominating fashion.
Like they have all season, the Lions went out and fulfilled expectations at last week’s PIAA boys wrestling championships in Hershey.
Bachmann led off the lineup in the 107-pound bracket with a 6-1 rout of previously unbeaten Dominic Deputy of Chestnut Ridge, and Waters quickly disposed of Northwestern Lehigh’s Luke Fugazzotto when he dropped him in 1:41 at 172. Overall, the Lions had nine 2A qualifiers attain medals from their 10-wrestler unit.
Along with Faith Christian, Quakertown had a strong team tournament, as the Panthers finished fourth overall in the 3A tournament with four wrestlers bringing home medals.
Bachmann, a freshman who began the season as the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class in the country and finished with a 38-0 record, maintained his confident approach.
“I didn’t have any doubts that I would win,” Bachmann said. “The last time I lost was at Nationals in August. I didn’t really prepare any differently for this than I did for the rest of the season. I felt like I was at my best throughout the whole tournament.”
Still, Bachmann needed to exhale.
“It felt pretty good to win it,” he stated. “It did take a lot of pressure off my chest. I can’t wait to do it again. When I got him in a headlock early, I felt relieved and confident. From there, I knew I could score from any position.”
Waters, a sophomore who battled injuries earlier in the year, finished with an overall 43-4 record. Last season, Waters also recorded a fall to win the title. Over his two years, Waters has notched 67 of his 87 wins in the combined major decision, tech fall, and fall categories.
This year, it was a matter of shrugging off a slow start.
“In the beginning of the year, it was hard,” reflected Waters. “Losing for me is difficult, and I don’t like it. But once I got healthy, everything came together for me.
“My coaches and my teammates also helped me to get back. I kept improving along the way.”
Faith Christian head coach Ben Clymer was ecstatic with his team’s repeat, and the Lions also won the district and regional crowns for the second consecutive year. Along with Waters and Bachmann, Max Stein (152) and Cael Weidemoyer (160) received PIAA silver medals and Mark Effendian (285) was third.
The Lions also had another emotional ride at the tournament, as they have rallied around sophomore teammate Owin Brunner, who is battling leukemia.
“What an amazing weekend,” Clymer said. “Getting to watch these guys compete is such a joy. I got to watch guys like Joe and Adam dominate their way to a title, while others like Chase (Hontz, fourth at 145), Gauge (Botero, sixth at 121), and Cody (Wagner, eighth at 189) pushed through injuries that had them less than 100 percent, but they wouldn’t be denied medals. Cael and Max showed their offseason discipline and elite mindset as they reached the finals for the first time.
“We also have gripped ourselves to Owin’s battle with cancer, and we focused on him while we competed to make him proud. All in all, the memories made with these guys and the coaches, families and fans will last a lifetime and for that, I’m so thankful.”
Quakertown head wrestling coach Kurt Handel also was euphoric about his team’s performance.
Individually, junior and defending champion Collin Gaj was second at 152 (he lost a 3-2 decision), senior Mason Ziegler was third at 121, junior Gavin Carroll was fifth at 145, and senior Calvin Lachman was eighth at 285. Both Ziegler and Lachman will wrestle at Lehigh University next winter.
Though elated with his team’s showing, the tournament also had some tough moments, the coach noted.
“The way we finished was kind of crazy,” Handel offered. “Not many of them accomplished what they wanted to do. It was tough for some of the guys.
“It was heartbreaking for Collin because he was right there. Mason had a hard time because he lost in the finals last year and worked since then to get back there and win it. But he got himself together and finished third.
“If a college coach watched Mason and how he bounced back, he would want him on his team. Calvin injured his knee in the quarterfinals and he was cleared to go. But it did bother him the rest of the way.”
Other locals who excelled were Council Rock North senior Alexander Diaz (107) and junior Eren Sement (127), who both finished third in their respective weights.
Council Rock South’s Connor Lenahan (114) claimed fifth place and teammates Gavin Cole (160) and Bekhruz Sadriddinov (172) both finished in eighth in their individual classes.
Central Bucks West junior Patrick Kelly finished fourth for the Bucks at 139 and teammate Chris Dennis (133) captured sixth place.
Pennridge finished seventh as a team and senior Sam Kuhns was the Rams’ top finisher, claiming fifth place at 152. Teammates Cole Coffin (121) and Quinn McBride (127) claimed sixth place and Talan Hogan captured seventh in the 172-pound class.
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