Matt Lackman walked out of his bathroom one year ago and was about to step on the scale.
“I knew my weight was fine,” the Bethlehem Catholic wrestler recalled.
Instead of stepping on the scale, Lackman fell to the floor. His life went dark for about three minutes.
Lackman’s father, Matt, was there to comfort him. The Golden Hawks sophomore needed consoling a few minutes after he came to because that’s when the realization hit him that his breakout sophomore season was over.
Dehydration was the culprit in his attempt to make weight at 120 pounds. It was a hard cut, Lackman admitted.
It was more difficult for the then 15-year-old to accept that he would not be competing in the postseason.
“Last year hurt a lot,” he said. “I felt I had a good shot at, if not placing, winning states.”
Lackman is part of a large list of Lehigh Valley standout wrestlers who are fortunate enough to get back into the postseason arena this weekend after missing the 2018 tournaments for a variety of reasons.
The first step toward redemption for them starts Friday and Saturday with the District 11 Class 3A tournament at Liberty’s Memorial Gym and the 2A event at Freedom’s Joe McIntyre Gym (2A medal rounds only are at Liberty).
“Knowing I had an opportunity to wrestle this year definitely gave me motivation to work hard in the offseason,” Lackman said.
In a state oozing with tradition and talent, Lackman took a huge leap forward last year as a sophomore.
Remembering how it felt to compete in the District 11 JV tournament the previous year as a freshman, Lackman made sure he was a starter for coach Jeff Karam’s Golden Hawks when the 2017-18 season began.
“Like anything in life,” Karam said, “there’s adversity and you have to deal with it. He worked hard in the offseason.
“He was here for every workout.”
Lackman’s progression was obvious from the start of his sophomore season. He placed seventh at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman — the nation’s premiere high school wrestling tournament — then was seventh eight days later at the Beast of the East — which is the nation’s second-toughest event.
He then shared in the celebration of Bethlehem Catholic’s 2018 District 11 and PIAA Class 3A team titles with, among others, his older brother, Nate, who overcame his own challenges to contribute to the Golden Hawks’ run.
While his brother decided not to compete in the 2018 individual postseason, Lackman was ready to add to his medal collection.
Instead, he found comfort on that fateful Friday in a hamburger before cheering on his Bethlehem Catholic teammates.
And, when the season ended, Lackman went back to work.
“He’s always been a really dedicated kid,” Karam said. “He has a wrestler’s mentality. He knew he had unfinished business.”
Lackman made every offseason workout again in the Golden Hawks’ wrestling room in the high school basement.
His motivation was much simpler than trying to make up for lost time.
“I was just sick of losing,” he said. “I hate losing to anyone. Even when I get taken down in practice, I hate it. It’s the worst feeling the world.”
It has not been a smooth ride in 2018-19, but Lackman’s progression continues.
He finished fifth at the Ironman, missed the Beast and had to withdraw from the Escape the Rock tournament because of a shoulder injury, but won the Christmas City tournament for a second year in a row by not giving up a point.
Lackman’s weight management is better this year. He said he’s been comfortable all season at 138 pounds and knows he won’t have a repeat of 2018.
“After team states, you have two weeks to make weight,” he said. “Last year, I got so far up that trying come back down I had to cut out water.
“This year, I haven’t had to cut a lot of weight and I’m able to focus more on wrestling. Because of that, I’m wrestling better.”
Lackman, the No. 2 seed at 138, will take to the mat this weekend with his mind locked in on his goals and his heart with his brother, who again will not be competing in the individual postseason.
“Nate has been through so much,” he said. “Not placing at the Ironman, I know it’s the best tournament in the country, but that definitely hurt him a lot. He was cutting some real weight this year.
“I can’t say enough about him. He’s a great brother, a great practice partner. Even when he’s not wrestling, seeing him in the corner and knowing he wants me to do well, it helps me with my motivation.”
Back in action
The follow wrestlers (listed in alphabetical order) missed last year’s postseason for different reasons, but get another shot:
Elijah Bundro, Wilson
Andrew Cerniglia, Notre Dame-GP
Julian Chlebove, Northampton
Bryan Diaz, Parkland
Matt Lackman, Bethlehem Catholic
Patrick Noonan, Stroudsburg
Jeff Pasciak, Stroudsburg
Jonathan Owens, Pocono Mountain West
Nick Rosengrant, Saucon Valley
Stephen Schott, Nazareth
Jaden Freeman, Liberty
Season is over
The following wrestlers (listed in alphabetical order) will not be taking the mat this postseason for a variety of reasons:
Jake Ahmad, Liberty
Tavion Banks, Bethlehem Catholic
Ashtyn Berberena, Wilson
Peyton Brown, Emmaus
Joe Kurtz, Bethlehem Catholic
Nate Lackman, Bethlehem Catholic
Richie Markulics, Notre Dame-GP
David Shook, East Stroudsburg North
Jaden Youwakim, Bethlehem Catholic
Returning champions
Class 3A
Matt Mayer, Bethlehem Catholic (106)
Nick Onea, Pottsville (113)
Sean Pierson, Nazareth (120)
Ryan Anderson, Bethlehem Catholic (138)
Luca Frinzi, Bethlehem Catholic (152)
Caden Wright, Emmaus (160)
Damen Moyer, Liberty (182)
Class 2A
Mikey Myers, Williams Valley (106)
*Richie Markulics, Notre Dame-GP (120)
Josh Jones, Saucon Valley (126)
Nathan Haubert, Palisades (145)
Colin Fegley, Mahanoy Area (170)
Dane Csencsits, Saucon Valley (195)
Kolby Flank, Wilson (220)
*Injured
Predictions box
Here’s a look at Morning Call wrestling beat writer Tom Housenick’s predictions for this weekend’s District 11 Class 3A tournament at Liberty’s Memorial Gym:
106
1. Dante Frinzi, Bethlehem Catholic
2. Braxton Appello, Easton
3. Andreo Ferraina, Nazareth
Wild card: Ryan Stilgenbauer, Northampton
113
1. Tal-Reese Flemming, Liberty
2. Matt Mayer, Bethlehem Catholic
3. Nick Onea, Pottsville
Wild card: Alex Hanley Northampton
120
1. Sean Pierson, Nazareth
2. Cam Enriquez, Stroudsburg
3. Matt Maloney, Liberty
Wild card: Jamar Harrison, Allen
126
1. Patrick Noonan, Stroudsburg
2. Patrick Gould, East Stroudsburg South
3. Mike Torres, Liberty
Wild card: Blaine Wilson, Nazareth
132
1. Julian Chlebove, Northampton
2. Kenny Herrmann, Bethlehem Catholic
3. Drew Clearie, Nazareth
Wild card: Josh Grol, Whitehall
138
1. Devon Britton, Northampton
2. Matt Lackman, Bethlehem Catholic
3. Dashawn Farber, Nazareth
Wild card: Nick Colasurdo, Southern Lehigh
145
1. Ryan Anderson, Bethlehem Catholic
2. Jagger Condomitti, Northampton
3. Nathan Stefanik, Nazareth
Wild card: Dan Farrell, Blue Mountain
152
1. Cole Handlovic, Bethlehem Catholic
2. Michael Kistler, Northampton
3. Jake Dressler, Nazareth
Wild card: Kai Clark, Whitehall
160
1. Luca Frinzi, Bethlehem Catholic
2. Connor Herceg, Nazareth
3. Gaven Krazer, Easton
Wild card: Alex Womack, Pleasant Valley
170
1. Lenny Pinto, Stroudsburg
2. Caden Wright, Emmaus
3. Josh Talijan, Liberty
Wild card: Isaiah Reinert, Easton
182
1. Dom Falcone, Easton
2. Joey Schrader, Bangor
3. Kevin Hennessy, Liberty
Wild card: Jonathan Owens, Pocono Mountain West
195
1. Damen Moyer, Liberty
2. Jayden Bortz, Northampton
3. Ryan Clarke, East Stroudsburg South
Wild card: Chase Levey, Nazareth
220
1. Nick Nittoli, Bangor
2. Stephen Schott, Nazareth
3. Andrew Balukas, Easton
Wild card: Brian Finnerty, East Stroudsburg North
285
1. Jaden Freeman, Liberty
2. Jase Crouse, Bethlehem Catholic
3. Sami Khamis, Stroudsburg
Wild card: Cory Border, Parkland
Team race
1. Bethlehem Catholic
2. Northampton
3. Liberty
4. Nazareth
5. Stroudsburg