Catching Up With: Nazareth Area High School state wrestling champion Brad Silimperi

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Brad Silimperi had many memorable moments during his time at Nazareth Area High School.

The wrestler won three District 11 championships, four Northeast Regional titles and earned 131 career wins for the Blue Eagles, including the victory that gave him the 1988 PIAA Class AAA 98-pound championship.

But more than what happened on the mat, Silimperi recalls the memorable moments he experienced with his teammates during his years at Nazareth.

"I'd have to say that my most memorable moments aren't necessarily who I wrestled or what event I won, but rather the fun times I had with my teammates, especially my best friend and lifelong workout partner Mike Herceg," Silimperi said. "I can't for the life of me remember many of the names of kids I wrestled, but I can still remember the fun memories I had with my teammates."

Silimperi, 41, currently lives in Furlong, Pa. with his wife, Shelia. They have two daughters, Ashley and Krystle, and a grandson, Dominic. They also have a dog, or as Silimperi calls him "son," named Bear. Silimperi has been teaching at the Council Rock School District for the last 17 years, currently serving as an AP Psychology teacher at Council Rock South.

Name: Brad Silimperi

Local connection: Nazareth Area High School (Class of 1990)

Notables: Won the PIAA Class AAA 98-pound championship (1988)

Fifth on the career wins list at Nazareth (131)

All-time career takedown leader at Nazareth (493)

Three-time District 11 Champion

Four-time Northeast Regional Champion

Three-time state finalist

Two-time NCAA Division I National qualifier and Two-time NCAA Academic All-American at Lock Haven University

Coached Council Rock South High School to a state title (2005)

Currently resides: Furlong, Pa.
The 1990 Nazareth graduate continues his involvement with wrestling, serving as the head wrestling coach at Council Rock South High School since the school opened in 2002. Three years after starting the program, Council Rock South won a state championship in 2005. In the offseason, Silimperi runs the Apache Wrestling Club.

Silimperi said he owes his current situation to his parents and the long list of wrestling coaches he had from his youth days to his high school career at Nazareth, including Ray Nunamaker, who won 468 matches in his 34 seasons as coach for the Blue Eagles.

"Everything that I am doing now in my life, I owe it to them (Nazareth coaches) and of course my parents," Silimperi said. "Nazareth helped shape me into the person I am today."

When recalling his state championship win in 1988, Silimperi described a very emotional scene.

"I lost in the state finals the year before, my cousin Annemarie died in a horrible sleigh riding accident during the season, Coach Nunny (Nunamaker) still didn't have a state champ," Silimperi said. "So I basically went crazy when I won. I'm very emotional to begin with so all those emotions came pouring out."

In college, Silimperi was a two-time national qualifier at Lock Haven University after transferring from the University of North Carolina.

One of Silimperi's most memorable moments in his college career might have happened in a parking lot.

On the night before the NCAA tournament during his senior year, Silimperi was left at University of Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena by the rest of his teammates as he was running in order to make weight. While standing in the parking lot outside of the arena, the Nazareth grad ran into legendary wrestler and coach Dan Gable.

"He gave me a ride back to my hotel," Silimperi said. "He was the last one out of the arena that night. He's everything and then some from what you hear about him. It was like I died and went to heaven. I've never been so happy to be cutting weight in my life."

During his time as coach at Council Rock South, Silimperi has experienced a lot of success with his teams. However, he knows the most important thing about his wrestlers isn't how many wins they record.

"I like to consider myself a life coach before I am a wrestling coach," Silimperi said. "We have had seven state champs in only 10 years and 23 state place-winners, yet more importantly it's the things after wrestling that makes me most proud."

Although Silimperi would like to get back to the Nazareth area more often, he definitely keeps an eye on coach Dave Crowell and the rest of the Blue Eagle wrestling program.

"They are one of the teams that we use as a measuring stick," Silimperi said. "Not only that but we constantly pick the brain of coach Crowell whenever we get a chance to see him."

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/12/catching_up_with_nazareth_area.html