Karam guided Becahi to new heights

FROM THE MORNING CALL

For as young as Bethlehem Catholic's core group still is, it's polished beyond its years. That's the main reason the Golden Hawks were able to win the PIAA Class 2A state dual-meet title, then turn around a month later and qualify nine wrestlers for the state individual tournament.

That was all the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association needed to name Jeff Karam the 2A Coach of the Year. That's more than enough to make him The Morning Call's 2A Coach of the Year as well.

The 1985 Easton High graduate previously coached at Delaware Valley Regional (N.J.) and Freedom before landing on and expertly mining this mother lode of young, exceptional talent at Becahi, which next season should be even better than this, hard as it might be to believe.

The team featured just three senior regulars.

Furthermore, seven of the nine Karam took to states this year return, and when they do, they'll be ready for anything, thanks to the expected repeat of an aggressive offseason program that helped raise accomplishments somewhat beyond the level of expectations in some instances this season.

For example, Karam didn't know how good a dual-meet team he had until it conquered every postseason opponent in its path and surprised him with the state crown.

On the other hand, the gut feeling he had about his squad being even better equipped to score in a tournament format didn't pan out when the Hawks faded to a third-place finish at states — behind Burrell and Reynolds, which weren't able to match up with them in a dual meet.

No matter. The foundation, chemistry and talent all are in place to make a clean sweep next year.

But for now, Karam and assistants Brian Keller, Tommy Rohn and Randy Cruz Sr. just want to let this year's success soak in.

"I love these kids like they're my own sons," Karam said, "and I'm sure they can attest to that as well. I put a lot into it. Ask my wife if you don't believe me. I drive her nuts."

http://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-wrestle-allarea-karam-0324-20110324,0,237933.story