Confidence can be fleeting in a grueling, one-on-one sport such as wrestling.
Easton’s second match in as many nights served as an important, early-season re-boot for wrestlers new and returning.
Freshman Jack Famularo and junior Alonzo Parker bounced back from disappointing setbacks 24 hours earlier with crucial wins Thursday to propel Easton to a 34-27 victory over Parkland at 25th Street Gym.
Famularo picked up a technical fall at 127 pounds to spark a four-match winning streak and Parker clinched the match with a second-period pin at 215.
“The talk last night [after a loss to Nazareth] was that they did a great job, performed well,” Red Rovers coach Corey Keener said. “It wasn’t anything to be upset about.
“Alonzo was calm, super even keel. He doesn’t really get rattled no matter the moment. The match coming down to him with a chance to clinch it, he’s the kind of guy you can put a ton of faith in. He got to be in a situation after the way last night went. He could bounce back, be the guy and get his confidence back, be the guy to seal it for us.”
Parkland led 12-0 after two bouts and regained a 24-23 lead thanks to Donato Ciampittiello’s 11-2 major decision at 172.
But Easton responded with a 19-3 technical fall at 189 from Justin Cosover, who bounced back strong after Wednesday’s loss in the Nazareth match, followed by Parker’s clincher.
Leaders such as Nick Salamone, who finished off talented Matt Velez in 59 seconds at 133, and Noah Fenner at 139 will be key to the continued evolution of the Red Rovers over the course of the next two months.
“They are phenomenal, business as usual,” Keener said. “They are doing a great job being those staples in the lineup right now, guys you can count on almost every single dual.”
Fenner said he and Salamone understand the importance of their work ethic and willingness to be there for the less experienced but talented underclassmen.
Fenner, a junior, felt it necessary to be there for freshman 107-pounder Scott Tabaka right after he lost his varsity debut.
“I tried to cheer him up,” Fenner said. “It was his first varsity match. You can’t raise the bar too, too high. He wrestled JV, then got his varsity shot. He stepped on the line, gave it his best. That’s all that matters.”
There will come a time when the veterans will be needed to pick up every one of the varsity newcomers. It’s a long, grinding season for guys such as Famularo and Tanner Milburn who are experiencing success.
Milburn is 8-0 so far in his freshman season with seven bonus-point victories. Famularo is 4-4. Fellow freshman Logan Young (3-5) and sophomore Wyatt Snyder (4-4) are among newcomers showing promise for Easton.
“I see a lot of potential in them,” Fenner said. “I think they are going to be strong the next couple of years. They’ve got the good work ethic this team needs.”
Parkland showed progress in its third dual, something that did not go unnoticed by head coach Eddie Keichel.
“Good step forward,” he said. “There was a lot of progress from last night [a win over Dieruff]. Huge step forward. We talked about wrestling a full six minutes and bringing the fight the entire time. Competing and scoring points, and focusing on that rather than what the scoreboard says.
“We did tonight more than I expected.”
Luis Moya and Braden Todora picked first-period pins to start the match for the Trojans. Tycen Norman, the only freshman on the varsity roster, used a reversal with 40 seconds left to win 2-1 at 145.
Jorge Moya recovered from an early takedown deficit to get a technical fall at 160 to pull Parkland within 23-20. Ciampittiello followed with a major at 172 for a one-point lead.
Keichel also liked the fight in Chase Kruk and Jared Santilli saving team points at 121 and 139.
“Even guys who lost battled and limited bonus points,” Keichel said. “We limited the damage in a bunch of matches to give ourselves a chance.
“We do a really good job of getting to [our shots]. I thinking finishing on a particular technique aspect, but having that continued belief in ourselves that we are capable of competing and we’re there with some of these top teams in the district.”
Parkland opened the season with a 36-26 loss to Northampton.
Easton’s two losses are to state No. 2 Nazareth and Boyertown, last year’s fourth-place finisher at team states.
The Red Rovers have a lot of potential with a group of first-year wrestlers. Development and confidence will be key for them to keep themselves in the state conversation and have a chance come early February.
Easton wrestled without freshman 107-pounder Mikey Rambone and senior 285-pounder Kurtis Crossman.
Rambone, who is every bit of 107, was given the night off. Crossman, who made his season debut Wednesday with a broken right hand, will go back on the shelf until after the cast is removed later this month.
“We’ll get him back into shape slowly and see what the right time will be to get him back in the lineup,” Keener said. “Whether it’s Beast of the East or Trojan Wars, we’ll see when he gets fully back into the lineup. No need to rush him.”
Up next
Easton (6-2) visits Bethlehem Catholic on Wednesday. Parkland (1-2) hosts Blue Mountain on Monday.
Easton 34, Parkland 27
107: Luis Moya (P) pinned Scott Tabaka, 1:44
114: Braden Todora (P) pinned Brayden Abrams, 0:24
121: Tanner Milburn (E) maj. dec. Chase Kruk, 10-1
127: Jack Famularo (E) tech. fall Ricardo Rivera, 19-3, 5:13
133: Nick Salamone (E) pinned Matt Velez, 0:59
139: Noah Fenner (E) dec. Jared Santilli, 8-4
145: Tycen Norman (P) dec. Wyatt Snyder, 2-1
152: Ethan Krazer (E) tech. fall Danyal Shah, 17-0, 3:08
160: Jorge Moya (P) tech. fall Logan Young, 19-3, 4:25
172: Donato Ciampittiello (P) maj. dec. Mike Zamora, 11-2
189: Justin Cosover (E) tech. fall Jayden Santiago, 19-3, 3:01
215: Alonzo Parker (E) pinned Max Pugach, 2:48
285: Myles Lysek (P) dec. Dan Vargas, 4-1
Referee: Mark Getz
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
