Senior Paul Marcello added another chapter to his storied Hopkins career, as he took home the 141 pound title at the NCAA East Regional Wrestling Championship at Gettysburg College last Saturday. Marcello’s first place finish clinched him his fourth straight NCAA championship appearance, making Marcello the first Blue Jay in history to accomplish the feat.
Marcello, who has an overall record of 26-8 on the season, started the regional off strong, dominating Washington & Lee’s Tyler Kaelin by a score of 17-3. Marcello kept the momentum going, needing only 6:25 to pin Matt Spano of Gettysburg College.
In the semifinals, Marcello faced a more formidable opponent in Dylan Thorsen from The College of New Jersey, who came into the regional ranked eighth in the country. Marcello won the tough fought match by a score of three to one. In the final, Marcello battled third-seeded Dale Falva to a one to one tie, sending the match to overtime. In the first period of the sudden death overtime, Marcello scored a takedown on Falva, securing his first-place finish and championship birth.
Like Marcello, sophomore Paul Bewak entered the East Regional as a number one seed, wrestling in the 125 pound weight class. Bewak, who has a record of 34-4 on the season, has had a dominant year, earning him the honor of Centennial Conference Wrestler of the Year.
Going into the Regional, Bewak acknowledged the importance of staying clam and focused to achieve success on the big stage. “For regionals you have to make sure you don't break under the pressure”, Bewak said. “Yes it's the NCAA qualifier and yes it's a huge deal, but you can't let that make you so nervous that you shut down and not perform what you're capable of.”
Taking this approach into his quarterfinal match, Bewak earned a convincing victory over Erick Orellana of Centenary College, winning by a score of 11-4. However, Bewak’s semifinal match was a bit of a different story. Up against fifth-seeded Chris Donaldson of Ursinus, whom he had previously defeated by a score of 2-1 in the Centennial Conference championship, Bewak lost to Donaldson by an overtime score of 8-4. This placed the Centennial Conference Wrestler of the Year in a two match, must win battle for third place, with a NCAA Championship bid on the line. Bewak recognized he let that match slip away.
“I got lazy in my semi's match and I paid for it. My opponent wanted it more and he ended up on top”, Bewak said. “I knew I had no choice but to forget it ever happened and refocus because taking third place was the only way I could keep my season going.”
Needing two wins to secure a place in the NCAA Championships, Bewak quickly put the disappointing loss behind him. In the consolation bracket semifinal match, Bewak wasted no time, pinning Stevens’ Anthony Geiger in just two minutes. Bewak then took down Hunter’s Jaydon Rice in the consolation final, winning 7-4 and securing his NCAA bid.
Junior Ray Yagloski and freshman Kyle Spangler both narrowly fell short of earning NCAA Championship bids, each placing fourth place in the 133 pound and 184 pound weight classes respectively. Junior Henry Stauber placed sixth at the regional, earning three wins in the tournament.
Both Marcello and Bewak will enter the NCAA Championships with lots of postseason experience and high expectations. While Marcello will attempt to finish his Hopkins career with a NCAA Championship title after becoming the first Hopkins wrestler in history to win an individual regional title, Bewak will look to improve on his seventh-place finish at NCAA's last year. While Marcello and Bewak will be competing individually, both wrestlers believe that they can benefit from each other’s advice and encouragement going into the NCAAs.
“I expect both Paul Marcello and I to finish high on the podium out in Iowa,” Bewak says. “We know how to push each other to the limits and get things done. It's going to be a great trip.”
The NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships will be held in Grand Rapids, Iowa March 15-16.
