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Nazareth wins Va. Duals
The Express-Times
Sunday, January 14, 2007
FROM STAFF REPORTS
HAMPTON, Va. | It was a long time coming for Nazareth Area High School's wrestling team.
Ten years to be exact. For the Blue Eagles it certainly was worth the wait.
Nazareth exorcised some demons with a thrilling 32-31 victory over Virginia power Christiansburg to claim the National
Division title in the 27th annual Virginia Duals at Hampton Coliseum.
"We still have to wrestle better but we were (more aggressive)," said Blue Eagles coach Dave Crowell,
whose team claimed the school's first National Division crown since 1997.
Nazareth (10-0), ranked No. 1 in The Express-Times region, was the No. 1 seed in the division and No. 3 in the
nation according to Amateur Wrestling News.
Christiansburg, ranked 16th in the nation, was seeking its third straight win over Nazareth in this event after
knocking off defending champion Great Bridge, Va. 31-29 in the semifinals.
Nazareth lost 33-18 to Great Bridge in last year's semis and 31-29 to Christiansburg in the 2005 semis.
In the championship match, junior Colin Fischl came through with the clutch victory that lifted the Blue Eagles
to their first title in a decade.
Fischl decked Virginia state champ Drew Squires in 34 seconds at 125 pounds. Fischl locked up a near-side cradle
and kept working it for the eventual fall.
"That was huge," said Crowell, whose team reached the finals by besting New Jersey power Camden Catholic
41-24. "(Fischl) countered a takedown attempt and locked on that cradle. He ran him over with it. That was
enormous. We were just happy to get the takedown."
Nazareth found itself down 16-0 after three bouts before Fischl's pin.
"It was unexpected and a huge emotional lift," Crowell said. "It would've been 19-0."
Fischl's pin sparked a four-bout win streak for Nazareth, which went up 20-16 after Andrew Ritchie's 3-0 win at
140.
Two bouts later, two-time state champ Tim Darling started another four-bout run with a 3-0 win over Sam Rakes.
David Crowell's 10-5 win over Brett Buckner capped the run and gave the Eagles an insurmountable 32-19 lead with
two bouts left.
"David's win was big because that kid beat him last year," Dave Crowell said.
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