When a wrestler falls short of his goal, it is always nice when he gets another opportunity.
Two such wrestlers, a year removed from disappointment, are among those trying to keep their goals within reach in the Northeast Regional Class AA Tournament starting this afternoon in Williamsport.
Mifflinburg's Ty Walter came into last season as another promising freshman who wanted to join the exclusive club of four-time state champions. He didn't make it out of regionals.
Lewisburg's Nathaniel Brown spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the state and was the favorite to win state gold as a junior. He lost in a frustrating state final at 171 pounds.
Walter and Brown made it into the team photo in Williamsport last Saturday night as district champions. Now the work continues.
This time of year, advancing is more important than winning, but, as he joined his fellow district champions Saturday night, Walter said, "My goal was to win this: win regionals and win states. That has to be your goal if you expect to go anywhere. I think I have a shot at winning everything from here on out."
Walter knew it would be tough last year as a freshman competing against older, and stronger, wrestlers at 152 pounds, and he said being stronger has made a big difference this season. He enters the regional 34-3 at 160.
"Last year I was too weak to wrestle the seniors; they just threw me around. I had better technique and I'd be in on stuff and they'd just overpower me. It's been a big difference this year even just adding a little bit of strength and people can't overpower me as easily," he said.
This weekend, he is motivated not just to win, but to avenge the loss to Western Wayne's Casey Fuller, who beat him out of the state qualifying berth in last year's regional tournament. The two are on opposite sides of the bracket, so if they meet it will be in Saturday night's final. Fuller comes in 35-1 and is ranked No. 4 in the state by Off the Mat. Walter is ranked No. 5.
For Brown, it would be understandable if he was nervous as he draws closer to what he hopes will be another shot at the title in his last go-round before heading off to Lehigh University.
"I had some coaches say some really nice things to me this weekend," he said Saturday night. "The nerves I did have are sort of gone now. Coach (Denny) Harer from Muncy told me 'You are only nervous if you don't prepare properly,' and I have two great workout partners in (teammate) Brandon (Smith) and (first-year assistant coach) Eddie (Magrys), and then (former Benton state champion) Eric Hess comes over. They're pushing me extremely hard and I feel like this is the best year, workout-partner-wise, I've had and I have yet to score a point on coach Eddie."
Magrys was a two-time national qualifier at Eastern Michigan; Hess is Brown's future Lehigh roommate and teammate. Smith is also competing this weekend at 189.
"It keeps me humble and keeps me hungry," Brown added.
BACK TO THE MAT: While the season continues this weekend for 48 of the Valley's wrestlers, what about all of the others who have at least another year to get to that level and beyond?
Some are getting ready for their spring sports seasons; some are already working toward the next wrestling season.
Albert Mabus, the 132-pound champion from Warrior Run in 1977, and his fellow Warrior Run Mat Club members want to help those who have a ways to go to be able to compete for post-season medals in the years to come or just have fun with the sport.
The club is inviting all high school and junior high wrestlers who had sub-.500 records this season to compete in a round-robin tournament later this month. Those records may not include forfeits or junior varsity matches.
"This is a nice event for an average wrestler to come and get some competitive matchers under his belt," Mabus wrote in an e-mail sent to the Valley's athletic directors.
But it's not just for boys.
The club will also hold a girls-only division.
Every participant will get a medal and a T-shirt. Wrestlers will get their names on the back of the shirt, providing their entry forms are returned early (by March 8).
The tournament is set for Sunday, March 20. Entry forms and more information are available from area athletic directors or by visiting www.pywrestling.com.
Mabus and Co. should be commended for their effort. Let's hope they are rewarded with a good turnout.
CONDOLENCES: Our business lost a great friend last weekend with the death on Sunday at age 77 of long-time sports correspondent Virgil Scott Jr. "Scotty" was a retired high school teacher, coach and athletic director at Blue Mountain, where he is a member of the Hall of Fame. He spent many years as a sports correspondent in the region, at the Hazleton Standard Speaker, the Pottsville Republican and most recently the Reading Eagle. He was a fixture as the public address announcer at the major track and field events at Mount Carmel High School.
Our sympathies go out to his widow, Barbara, and their family.
— Assistant sports editor Harold Raker covers high school wrestling for The Daily Item. E-mail comments tohraker@dailyitem.com.
