Scrivanich makes most of opportunity
Liam Scrivanich was bummed last season when he could not make Saucon Valley’s lineup as a freshman.
“I was a little mad at the beginning,” he admitted, “but even though I wasn’t in the lineup I felt I got better.”
There was no shame in not starting for Scrivanich because not many first-year varsity wrestlers earn that distinction within the successful Panthers program.
Scrivanich’s action was limited to eight matches, including two each against four-time District 11
Class 2A medalist Anthony Micci of Wilson and two-time PIAA champion Andrew Cerniglia of Notre Dame-GP.
The sophomore learned from those matches and ones against his training partners in the Saucon Valley wrestling room.
That experience showed Friday night in Saucon’s 54-18 win over host Catasauqua, when he led from the start and beat Jaryn Hartranft, a returning Southeast Regional third-place finisher, 9-3 at 160 pounds.
“The beginning of last season was really devastating for me,” Scrivanich said. “I eventually got over it and used it as motivation for this year.
“I think I worked a lot harder in the offseason, did a lot of running and got with guys when I could. I came into the season a lot hungrier than going into my freshman year.”
Scrivanich picked up a pair of first-period takedowns against Hartranft, who wrestled last season at 106, then secured the match with another in the final 30 seconds of the third period.
The Panther fought through the fatigue in his first bout of the season and first of his career with a mask. He had a forfeit win
earlier this week against Salisbury.
“He’s a pretty darn good kid who had trouble making our lineup last year,” Saucon coach Chad Shirk said. “So it’s good to see him wrestle especially tonight against Hartranft who had a great year last season.
“The stamina is tough for the coaches to get a gauge on right now because you don’t know how much of it is the mask, how much is nerves, how is making weight and wrestling for the first time.
“We’re obviously not where we want to be conditioning-wise, but we have some time before the postseason. Each day we have to get better and get in better shape.”
Scrivanich is aided this year by training with Jake Jones, a state qualifier last season as a freshman, plus other veterans Ty Pfizenmayer, Ty Csencsits and Dante Mahaffey, all of whom weigh more than him.
Jones is bull strong and experienced. Pfizenmayer has that football-tough approach. Csencsits and Mahaffey, two other standout football players, bring other strengths to challenge Scrivanich.
“I feel a lot stronger on the mat because of [JonesandPfizenmayer],”thesophomoreadded, “and honestly a lot quicker because Csencsits and Dante keep me moving. They are quick for big guys. It’s like wrestling lightweights.”
All four Saucon teammates have bumped up multiple weight classes this year.
Practicing with his teammates and relishing the aggressive wrestling style of Saucon assistant Don Rohn is helping Scrivanich’s development, increasing his confidence and motivating him to establish lofty goals.
“I want to place at states if they have it,” he said. “If not, I have next year and my senior year to place or win a state title.
“[With all the COVID-19 stops and starts], I get sad. But I know we’ll be wrestling soon eventually. I just keep hoping.”
Hard work, not hope, helped Scrivanich reach his first goal this season of earning a starting berth.
Saucon Valley’s Connor Nicholas won the night’s closest bout, holding off Cole Brown to win 4-2 at 126. Nicholas had two takedowns, but Brown got one back in the third period. He then let Nicholas up, but ran out of time to get the tying takedown.
Jake Jones (172), Ty Pfizenmayer (189) and Ty Csencsits (215) had first-period falls for the Panthers.
Catasauqua got pins from Mikhail Hartranft at 106 and Gavin Fehr at 138. Fehr trailed Saucon Valley’s Mason Beckowski 5-0 after the first period, but chose top and turned the sophomore midway through the second.
Jacob Nye also got a forfeit at 113 for the Rough Riders, who are without starters Austin Brett, William Bear, Miles Melendez
and C.J. Beller.