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CLEVELAND - Lehigh University sophomore Luke Stanich said he “(stinks) at everything.”
Apparently, he is pretty good at wrestling.
A former state champion at Roxbury High School, the fifth-seeded Stanich came from behind to defeat Iowa State’s fourth-seeded Anthony Echemendia, 6-4, in Friday’s 141-pound quarterfinals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Stanich will face Ohio State two-time national champion Jesse Mendez in Friday night’s semifinals.
“I’m not the most athletic kid, you could ask my teammates,” said Stanich. “Playing dodgeball, I (stink), playing spike ball, I (stink). I (stink) at pretty much everything. So if I want to get the job done, I have to go out and give it seven minutes tough.”
Now a two-time All-American at Lehigh, Stanich won one state title at Roxbury and almost didn’t win that, topping St. Peter’s Prep’s Caedyn Ricciardi in an epic final his senior year.
Ricciardi is the No. 17 seed in the 141-pound bracket at NCAAs.
Stanich noted he’s had a strong support system - including a brother who toughened him up - and good training at Edge growing up. Now he feels Lehigh has elevated him in the next phase of his career.
“I’ve jumped levels (at Lehigh), and I’m not slowing down,” said Stanich.
In the quarterfinal, Stanich notched a third-period takedown then rode Echemendia out for the rest of the match, earning a riding time point in the process.
“Echemendia was strong,” said Stanich. “I was stronger, and I think he felt that. It might not always look like it, but I’m going to give it seven minutes of the best fight I got because it’s all I can do.
“A lot of guys would have been comfortable giving up the escape and getting the next takedown. He was definitely more tired than I was, and I could have gotten it done that way. But we also talk in practice. ..... I’m really good on top, but I don’t do it enough in matches because I’m really comfortable on my feet. Working that ride is something to be proud of.”
Stanich was an All-American as a true freshman two years ago at 125 pounds. He took a redshirt last season as he planned to go up two weight classes and during the year off he won a U-20 world championship.
Stanich was injured in his first match at the world championships and still came back to win the title, but he missed the start of the season and didn’t debut until January.
“For me keep notching things off my checklist and evolving,” said Stanich of the world crown.
There’s a big goal on his checklist he can take care of Friday night.
“I’m going to go out there and give it seven minutes of fight, like I said, and if he’s going to beat me he’s going to have to leave it all out there on the mat,” said Stanich. “I’m not going to let him roll me up like he’s been doing. I’m going to give him a good fight.”
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