Tuesday, March 29, 2005
By IVES GALARCEP
HERALD NEWS

ELIZABETH LARA / HERALD NEWS

Lakeland senior Tom Fazio, The Herald News 2005 Wrestler of the Year, became the first athlete in his school's history - and the first Passaic County wrestler in 11 years - to win a state title

WANAQUE - Tom Fazio could just as easily kicked a soccer ball or swung a bat. The Lakeland senior played a variety of sports when he was younger, but none drew him in like wrestling.

Fazio wasn't the quickest kid or the strongest, but on a wrestling mat those things didn't matter. What he did have was toughness and a drive to improve that helped him become a true technician, a wrestler who could beat you with his skills rather than his athletic ability. Rather than pursue soccer or baseball, Fazio stuck to wrestling because it was always his favorite.

A wrestler since he was six, Fazio's commitment to wrestling paid off earlier this month when his mastery of the sport allowed him to plow through a tough 145-pound weight class on his way to Lakeland's first wrestling state championship. The state title, the first won by a Passaic County wrestler in 11 years (since Hawthorne's Rusty Read), also helped Fazio earn Herald News Wrestler of the Year honors.

"Winning a title is something every kid in the state probably dreams about, so to have that chance is pretty incredible," said Fazio. "I know I've put in the work and to win it convincingly makes it even sweeter."

Sweeter because of the ups and downs of a record-setting career that had its share of heartbreaking disappointments. As a sophomore, Fazio dropped a third-period lead in the Passaic County final against Craig Bleaken, who won the match and became a four-time county champion in the process. That same year, he blew a 7-1 lead against Sparta's Matt Stoppay in the Region 1 final, dropping a decision in double overtime.

Things were supposed to get better in Fazio's junior year. He had the look of a state title contender all season, but fell victim to a powerful weight class and unlucky series of events that caused him to be eliminated in Region 1. Fazio lost his region semifinal match while close friend Matt Button also lost in the semis. The defeats meant the two friends and long-time club workout partners had to face each other, with a place in the state tournament on the line. Fazio lost and stayed home, wondering what went wrong.

"I put too much pressure on myself," said Fazio. "In the past I would start thinking about matches instead of just wrestling. Maybe I psyched myself out, who knows. I just know that I needed to focus better and not be afraid to go after people."

The attitude change was clear from the start of this past season. Fazio wasted little time disposing of opponents, recording first-period pins at will. He just wanted to fast forward to the state tournament so he could make up for lost time. Fazio won a third Passaic County title and fourth District 4 title, but his sights were set squarely on Atlantic City. Once he captured his first Region 1 title, Fazio was four victories away from the state title he had always dreamed of.

His path to the championship round wouldn't be easy. He defeated two region champions, including Rutherford native Derek Sickles (Bergen Catholic), to get the state final, where he thrashed Tom Scotton (Willingboro), posting a 13-4 decision that left no doubt as to Fazio's dominance over what was considered one of the better weight classes in the state.

"He just didn't hold back a thing," said Lakeland coach Craig Spencer. "We knew that if he wrestled his best it would be hard for anyone to beat him. You could tell throughout this tournament how focused he was."

He didn't rest much after winning the title. Fazio accepted an invitation to wrestle in the Easton Lions Club All-Star Classic, where he faced two-time Pennsylvania state champion Joe Caramanica in the event's marquee match. Fazio scored a takedown in overtime to beat Caramanica, 4-2, and earn Most Outstanding Wrestler honors.

Fazio's high school career isn't quite over yet. Before going to wrestle for Brown University in the fall, Fazio is headed to Cleveland, Ohio, for the Senior Nationals on Saturday. He will seek to become the first Lakeland wrestler to win a national title. It wouldn't be a bad ending to an already impressive story of an athlete who chose his own destiny and chose wisely.