When Marcus Popp won the prestigious Matthew Merino Wrestling Invitational at Webster-Schroeder last month, his teammates showered him with praise.

“They told me I was finally breaking out,” the Niagara-Wheatfield freshman and three-year varsity grappler said with a smile.

And Falcons coach Rick Sweney, a 30-year veteran of the sport, knew exactly why Popp was finally encountering the success that had eluded him the past two seasons.

“Summer wrestling — off-season training — made him turn the corner,” the coach said. “When you do the number of camps, tournaments and practices that he did, you’re going to develop real quickly.”

Popp, who wrestles at 96 pounds, finished fifth at the Class AAAA tournament the past two seasons. But after training with last year’s sectional finalists, Lancaster teammates Steven Michel and Eric Lewandowski during the offseason, Popp felt he was ready to take that next step.

“I felt more confident in myself,” he said.

The Webster tournament was the first chance for Popp to shine and he did exactly that, claiming a title along with teammates Angelo Malvestuto and Jim Donner, sectional champions a year ago. Working with athletes like that on a daily basis hasn’t hurt Popp’s development either.

“They’ve given me motivation,” Popp said. “They teach me and push me to work harder.”

Popp’s improvement in the neutral position on his feet has been incredible, according to Sweney. He has won the vast majority of his matches thus far by attacking on his feet. Several of his victories have come via pinfall in the opening minute or two of the match.

“His mat awareness and strength have improved a lot,” the coach said.

Now the hope is that all this improvement leads to bigger and better things come February.

“The whole team has got it in my mind that it’s my time to get to states and now my whole goal for this season is to get there,” Popp said.

That would be a welcome sight for Sweney, who will lose Malvestuto and Donner along with several other top wrestlers after this season.

“We need new leaders and I think Marcus is one of those guys,” Sweney said. “I think he is one of those up and comers.”

Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.



MARCUS POPP

• SCHOOL: Niagara-Wheatfield

• SPORT: Wrestling

• GRADE: Freshman

• WEIGHT CLASS: 96 pounds

• NOTE: Won the Webster Tournament and went unbeaten at Cheektowaga Duals

• COACH’S QUOTE: “Summer wrestling — off-season training — made him turn the corner.”

— Rick Sweney