Focused Thad Frick off to dominant start at East Stroudsburg University

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

For East Stroudsburg University redshirt senior wrestler Thad Frick, preparations and focus were the two major factors coming into his final season. The economics major made sure he worked hard during the summer so that victory was the only option when the first whistle blew.

"I trained a lot more this past summer than I usually do," Frick said. "I really keyed on getting better at my mat wrestling because I felt like that was one of my weaker points."

So far this season the preparation and attention to detail has reaped benefits for Frick who is currently ranked No.6 in Super Region 1 with a 13-3 record (60-35 overall).

Frick, a 2006 PIAA 160-pound state runner-up from Nazareth Area High School, was named East Stroudsburg University's Championship Award Guys Athlete of the Week after he pioneered an amazing performance on the mat for the Warriors a week ago.

He captured an 8-5 victory over No.4 Zach Lundgren of Pitt-Johnstown (Dec. 7) then moved on to the PSAC Championships (Dec. 10) where he earned a 17-8 major decision victory over Mercyhurst's Adam Lamancusa in the quarterfinals. He followed with a 6-4 win over No.2 seed Kevin Hartnett of Bloomsburg in the semifinals en route to becoming the only Division II wrestler in the finals.

"I knew I was capable of winning the whole thing," Frick said. "Going into the tournament I knew it was going to be tough, but I felt really good about my chances of winning."

Ultimately, Frick fell 12-5 in the finals to defending champion and No. 1 seed Bekzod Abudurakhmonov of Clarion, who is the No. 7-ranked Division I wrestler in the nation at 165.

After the loss he bounced back as he and the Warriors took on Seton Hill and No. 8 Mercyhurst at the Merceyhurst Quad on Saturday. After taking a forfeit in the match against Seton Hill in which the team rallied to win 22-19, Frick posted a 4:47 fall over Lamancusa in their rematch.

Frick's pin tied the score for ESU, which became the final victory for the Warriors who eventually fell 33-14.

He and the rest of the Warriors will have a break in competition until Dec. 28 when they travel to Wilkes-Barre to compete in the 79th Wilkes Open at Wilkes University.

Frick will look to continue this season's success in hopes of capturing Division II Super Regional and NCAA championships to complete his career.

"The end of the year is the real test," Frick said. "Right now I am just trying to put myself in the best position to win."

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