By Ron Bracken
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If there is such a thing as a typical Adam Homan match, it was the one in which he gained his 100th career victory.
In the Northwest Regional consolation semifinals, the State College 119-pounder escaped from Conneaut Lake’s Adam Green, took him down and beat him 3-0.
That’s what the Little Lion senior does. He wins with grit and guts. He did it again in the consolation finals with a trip to Thursday’s PIAA tournament on the line, topping Lewistown’s Mike Robinson 2-1 in the overtime rideout period. The two were scoreless in the first period, traded escapes and were scoreless on their feet in the first overtime period. Since Robinson had scored first in regulation he had the choice of positions in the rideout and chose bottom. So Homan rode him the entire 30 seconds.
“He’s like a pit bull, “said State College coach Shad Benton. “He just grinds the whole time. He may not score a lot of points but he wins.
“He’s very basic and he’s very hard to score on. But when you get into some of these matches, that style can really be effective. Sooner or later he’ll have a chance to win the match and he capitalizes on those openings.”
That’s how Homan moved through the District 6 and regional tournaments. His bout scores were 6-3, 2-1 overtime, 11-3, 3-0, 3-0 and 2-1 overtime. His lone loss in that march came by fall against Clearfield’s Brad Pataky in the regional semifinals.
That set up the match against Green which was more than just a chance to join the Century Club. A loss there would have ended his high school career.
That put the magic number in perspective.
“Going to states was more important to me, “he said. “I was just focusing on wrestling. If you think about it (100 wins) then you won’t achieve it. I was just focusing on going to states. But it feels awesome. I’m excited.”
Homan had beaten Robinson by escaping in the rideout in the district semifinals. This time he had to control Robinson for 30 seconds. They went off the mat three times as Robinson tried to stand and escape. Finally, in the closing seconds, Homan was able to catch Robinson’s leg and ride him until the buzzer.
“When it got down to eight seconds and I had a hold on his foot I knew if I could hang on I had it, “Homan explained.
Benton was not quite as certain.
“I was a little concerned, “Benton said. “Neither one of those two has ever been able to ride the other for more than a couple of seconds. But Adam found a way to hang on. He had worked so hard and he wasn’t going to be denied in that situation. I’m so pleased he’s getting a chance to go to Hershey.”
Homan said he is confident when he finds himself hooked up in a nail-biter.
“In tight matches, with my conditioning and the way my coaches train me, I’m confident I can pull it out, “he said. “Basically, it’s mind over matter. I’m focused. I know what I have to do.”
Homan credits the last Little Lion to win 100 matches with helping him in his career.
“I really looked up to Matt Kocher, “Homan said. “He’s a good wrestler and an all around good guy. When he comes home (from Pittsburgh) he shows me stuff he’s learned in college. He just passes it along.”
Homan will meet Southeast Regional champion Mike Rappo of Council Rock South, a junior with a 40-2 record, in his first bout at Hershey on Thursday.
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