Shawkat continues to roll for Pascack Hills by Kevin Czerwinski special to The Record
RAMSEY – The Adham Shawkat Redemption Tour continued Wednesday night at Ramsey High School.
The Pascack Hills senior’s technical fall against Steve Lowery proved to be one of the highlights of the Cowboys’ 41-28 victory against the Rams. What made Shawkat’s win so special was the fact that Lowery bested Shawkat last season in a bout that ultimately led to a Ramsey victory.
Wednesday’s effort at 160 pounds, combined with a pair of victories in last week’s BCCA Holiday Tournament over opponents who defeated him in last year’s tournament, has Shawkat brimming with confidence as Pascack Hills heads into the meat of its schedule.
“Last year was different,” said Shawkat, who finished eighth at 160 pounds in the tournament. “This year I wanted to make a point. And, I had momentum coming from the [Bergen] County tournament so this feels good. This is my redemption season. There were a lot of kids last year that I should have beat. I got a second shot at them this year.
“I thought about it a lot in the off-season. I definitely prepared better this year in the off-season. I feel better now and I know what I can accomplish. I’m a senior so the time for it is now.”
Shawkat flirted with the idea of wrestling in college, but has put that idea to rest, preferring to focus on his studies. He’s looking at several schools, including Rutgers, Penn State and Northeastern in hopes of studying bio-medical engineering.
If he continues to show the improvement he has shown through the early part of this season, though, he could reconsider. Cowboys’ coach Dave Bucco is certainly impressed with what Shawkat has accomplished this season, adding that he always thought he could wrestle at his current level.
MORE: Wrestling Top 25 rankings for Jan. 2
MORE: Wrestling Around the Mats of North Jersey
MORE: Who’s trending up after the BCCA Holiday Wrestling Tournament?
“He’s on a nice little roll,” Bucco said. “The whole staff thought that if Adham fine-tuned a little and put some things together, he’d have a big year. We were confident his senior year would be big.
“Last year, he was doing the little things that cost him matches, things like not wrestling for a full six minutes. He’d have a little lull here and there. Last year, he’d be beating a kid 2-1 or 3-1 and the kid would end up reversing and pinning him. That’s what happened against Ramsey last year. There was a nine-point swing because of that and Ramsey won.”
The Cowboys (1-1) picked up victories via the pin from John Giardina (120 pounds), Chris Nolasco (145), Alex Kostantas (195) and Thomas Glickman (220). Ramsey’s Matt Biondi (126), Jonathan Siemsen (132) and Sean Kelly (170) earned victories via the pin.