NAZARETH ZACH HORAN

Nazareth Area High School's Zach Horan pointing toward his ultimate goal, a state championship
By Express-Times staff
December 11, 2009, 12:24AM

View full sizeExpress-Times Photo | BILL ADAMSNazareth Area High School's Zach Horan, right, wrestling at 125 pounds this season, was second in the state his freshman and sophomore seasons and enters his junior season with an 82-10 record.Nazareth Area High School's Zach Horan knows that expectations for him as a wrestler are high.

His expectations for himself are even higher.

Horan, who will compete at 125 pounds this season, was a state runner-up in his freshman and sophomore seasons and enters his junior season with an 82-10 record.

"I work all year with the ultimate goal of winning states," said Horan.

"And my first two times I came up short. Absolutely, that motivates me, knowing there's something out there I want to achieve and knowing how close I've been. Those losses are definitely motivating me."

Nazareth, coming off its first sub-.500 dual meet season since 1963, is one of the favorites in what should be a competitive Lehigh Valley Conference.

"Last year was very, very disappointing," Horan said. "We just never came together as a team. But it's a lot different this season. We're working longer and harder. Last year there were some guys who really weren't pushing it. This year all the guys in the room are working hard."