Numbers don't tell whole story at Adam Frey Classic

By the numbers, the second Adam Frey Classic, held July 17 at Rider University in New Jersey, was a success. Over 1,000 fans watched 19 exhibition matches featuring 38 of the top current and recent college mat talent ... raising over $15,000 for the Adam Frey Foundation.

Photo/Danielle Hobeika

But numbers don't tell the whole story.

The event was intended to honor the memory of Adam Frey, Cornell University wrestler who was diagnosed with testicular cancer days after the 2008 NCAA Division I championships. The 23-year-old Big Red wrestler passed away the day after Christmas 2009.

The first Adam Frey Classic, conducted last August at Alumni Gym at Rider, was the brainchild of Frey and Josh Liebman, a former coach who is on the board of directors for the Adam Frey Foundation. The Foundation was established to provide for the needs of cancer patients beyond research or medical care. As Liebman described it, "We donate food cards, money to pay bills, whatever it takes for patients and their families to be comfortable while the patient is in the hospital."

"It all came from Adam being in the hospital, watching the family of another patient split a hamburger four ways because that's all they could afford. Adam felt blessed to be part of a family that didn't have to worry that way, and wanted to see about helping others not as blessed."

"The Foundation was all Adam's doing. It was very important to him."

Last year, the Adam Frey Foundation was the top contributor to Pittsburgh's Hillman Treatment Center -- one of the facilities where Frey received treatment for his cancer --for what they call patient services, i.e., non-research-related donations.

Brothers in the battle

Josh Liebman has known Adam Frey for years. The two first met when Liebman was a freestyle/Greco-Roman wrestling coach, until he was disabled in a car accident.

Ray Brinzer and Josh Liebman (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)

"He and I became close on a road trip to Brockport," Liebman disclosed. "I couldn't sleep, so I went across the street to Tim Horton's at 2 a.m., and Adam was there with a box of a dozen donuts. We stayed there talking till 5 a.m."

"I have a lot of health issues myself. But, when Adam would come out of chemo, he'd ask how I was doing."

"He was very compassionate."

That compassion -- and passionate love of the sport of wrestling -- led Adam Frey and Josh Liebman to join forces to create the first Adam Frey Classic in 2009.

"When we started the event last year, we wanted to go beyond merely raising money," said Liebman. "He wanted a relaxed event, a chance for him to catch up with his friends in wrestling, and have fun."

"After the matches last year, Cindy (Adam's mom) had to pull him out of the hospitality room. That's how much he enjoyed seeing everyone."

Creating a template for success

That first Adam Frey Classic was a tremendous success in terms of raising funds for the Foundation (a reported $15,000) ... and for bringing together the wrestling community.

"Last year, I had to contact everyone (wrestlers and coaches)," said Liebman. "This year, I had a core group of participants from last year. It was a lot easier to put together."

That's not to say there weren't challenges at the second Adam Frey Classic. There were issues with the sound system, and last-minute match changes that are par for the course with any all-star event like this.

Billy Ashnault vs. Mark McKnight (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)

"One of our heavyweights wasn't able to come," said Liebman. "We found out late. I asked if the Rider heavyweight was on campus, but he wasn't. Found out Steve Mocco was planning to come to the event. I called him, and he showed up to wrestle."

"Mark McKnight was scheduled to be a clinician. At the last moment, he stepped up to wrestle Billy Ashnault, giving up 25 pounds, and just coming off shoulder surgery."

As Liebman was quick to point out, the wrestling matches at the second Adam Frey Classic were strictly an exhibition. The matches were shorter than a regulation college bout, with a two-minute first period, followed by two one-minute periods. This was all with the idea that it was summer ... the wrestlers would not be in prime, peak-of-the-season condition ... and it was all for fun. The four-minute matches also made it possible for there to be more matches -- nineteen in all.

The fact it was an exhibition doesn't mean there wasn't real wrestling. There was.

"The guys wrestled competitive but not with the intensity of the NCAAs," according to Liebman. "Guys opened up and wrestled. Egos were put aside."

"They wrestled hard but still had fun. You should've seen the smiles on their faces."

"There's a level of competition, but it's all for fun, for the love of the sport, and for the love of Adam."

A who's who of college wrestling

The second Adam Frey Classic was a who's who of decorated collegiate wrestlers, as well as some recent grads -- "all exciting, entertaining wrestlers," as Liebman described them. A number of the competitors knew Adam Frey -- a native of Pittsburgh -- from his days at Blair Academy in New Jersey, or from his career at Cornell.

Steve Mocco vs. Zach Rey (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)

Among the matches with the greatest "star-power": Two-time NCAA heavyweight champ Steve Mocco, a Blair alum who wrestled for the University of Iowa and Oklahoma State, stepped in to take on 2010 NCAA All-American Zach Rey of Lehigh. Hudson Taylor, University of Maryland's first three-time All-American, wrestled newly crowned 184-pound national titlewinner Max Askren of the University of Missouri. And in a battle of NCAA lightweight champs who originally hail from the Garden State, Penn's Matt Valenti went up against Joe Dubuque of Indiana University.

"Every one of the guys who participated is a class act," said Liebman, with sincere appreciation. "I know we're competing with the beach, vacations, summer wrestling camps to get these guys, so we're thrilled to have the level of participation we got."

In a message posted at his Facebook account, Josh Liebman wrote,

Thanks for all the support at last week's Adam Frey Classic. It was a great event and was great to see all those top-notch wrestlers come out and put egos aside in the name of friendship and paying respect to Adam. Everyone did a great job but I want to give a special thanks to Mark McKnight and Steve Mocco, Mark Rappo and Pat Stritski for stepping up to fill spots and put on a great show for everyone. I know the day meant a lot to me personally and it meant a great deal to the Frey family. I am working very hard to make each year better than the last. Hope to see everyone next year.

From what Josh Liebman said in the interview for this article, his wish may be granted. "Matt Cathell called me on his way home, saying how much fun it was, and he wants to be here next year."

"J.P. O'Connor told me he plans to bring his Harvard teammates next year."

Wrestlers, coaches and fans can go ahead and mark their calendars. The third Adam Frey Classic will be held the second Saturday in July -- July 9, 2011 to be exact -- at Alumni Gym at Rider. You can expect a great day of wrestling, all for a great cause.

Results:
Patrick Hunter dec. Ross Gitomer, 2-0 (OT)
Steve Mocco dec. Zach Rey, 1-0
Boris Novachkov dec. Steve Mytych, 6-0
Jared Platt pinned Harry Turner, 2nd Period
Dan Rinaldi dec. Scott Giffin, 5-3
PJ Gillespie dec. Ryan LeBlanc, 3-1
Matt Cathell maj. dec. Franklin Meile, 11-0
Kellen Russell dec. Mike Rappo, 3-1
Steve Bell dec. John Trumbetti, 7-2
Mark Rappo dec. Pat Strizki, 4-3
Rollie Peterkin dec. Steve Bonnano, 3-0
Billy Ashnault dec. Mark McKnight, 4-3
Mario Mason dec. Alex Krom, 3-2
JP O'Connor maj. dec. Richard Santiago, 8-0
Danny Lopes dec. James Fleming, 1-0
Alex Caruso dec. Rob Morrison, 3-2
Hudson Taylor dec. Max Askren, 2-0 (OT)
DJ Russo dec. Jim Powers, 1-0
Joe Dubuque dec Matt Valenti 3-1

Photos (by Danielle Hobeika):
http://adamfrey.us/?p=603

Sign In

Numbers don't tell whole story at Adam Frey Classic

User Feedback

Recommended Comments

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Categories

Rankings

Browse

Activity

Support