Early season wrestling tournaments are the blue prints for postseason success. Bethlehem Catholic hopes the early season grind at the Ironman and the Beast of the East can lay the foundation for where the Hawks aspire to be in March.

The Hawks finished 23rd overall at last weekend’s Ironman Tournament at Walsh Jesuit in Ohio with Kollin Rath coming away as the lone place winner in one of the nation’s toughest tournaments.

Rath, a junior, took third at 150-pounds following a 2-2 ultimate tiebreaker victory over Jaxon Joy of Wadsworth (OH). He was the only Hawk to reach the semifinals, as the defending PIAA state champion and recent Missouri commit proved his pedigree at the event.

It was also new head coach Mike Cole’s first trip to the tournament and came away knowing his wrestlers were going to get tested at the event.

“It is a very tough tourney,” said Cole. “I feel as though there were some bright spots for every wrestler who competed. But, I also feel as though the talent level exposed us for some of our development opportunities. This applies to all of our wrestlers including Kollin.”

The Hawks have their first dual meet of the season on Wednesday against Liberty and then get back into another grueling tournament this weekend in Delaware at the Beast of the East.

Becahi finished second in the tournament last year and Rath won the title last year at 138-pounds. He will be the likely favorite at 150 this weekend as well, but more importantly, this weekend’s tournament will be an opportunity for the Hawks to see what progress they can make coming off the Ironman.

“There are many takeaways from the Ironman and each of the wrestlers will receive and review individual development cards for feedback and discussion across the coaches,” said Cole. “So, going into Beast, they will have seen first hand these development opportunities and have discussed them.

“If the wrestlers apply them within the week, great. If not, this is fine too. Developing as a wrestler is a process. Most importantly Ironman and Beast prepare us for later in the season.”