Wrestling: Lenape Valley senior Daniel Haws digs deep to secure first state medal

Andrew Tredinnick, New Jersey Herald

March 4, 2022 at 9:58 PM·3 min read

ATLANTIC CITY — A few years ago, Daniel Haws would have thought the worst with his chest on the mat, down by one point and 20 seconds left in the match.

But the biggest evolution for the Lenape Valley senior over the course of his high school career has been his confidence late in matches.

Haws found himself in that exact position, down and the fate of his high school career teetering in the third period against Oak Crest No. 17 seed Hogan Horsey in the second wrestleback round. But the Patriots 126-pounder was able to score a reverse and three back points to notch an 11-7 win and stay alive.

"I literally said myself, I was literally about to give up, be like, ‘Whatever, this is my season,’" Haws said. "I kind of dug deep, stood up, went for it and it worked."

Haws went from the brink of an early exit to extending his stay and securing a state medal on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Daniel Haws - Lenape Valley wrestling in a 126-pound consolation bout on Day 2 of the NJSIAA state wrestling championships in Atlantic City on Thursday, March 4, 2022.

After his thrilling win, Haws picked up two more wins over Freehold Boro's Angelo Messina and a 4-0 decision over St. John Vianney's Joe Giordano in the blood round when he fended off a first-period takedown and scored a reverse and two back points in the second.

"I think my mentality and my confidence is where I’ve changed a lot," Haws said. "It’s helped me win big matches like that. I don’t let myself get under pressure."

Haws will now become Lenape Valley's first medalist since Nick Palumbo won the 145-pound state title in 2017.

"It’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had honestly," said Haws after his win over Giordano. "I’ve been working really hard for this for all four years. I’ve been working as hard as I can. I haven’t really been able to get up on that podium, so now that I’m up there, it feels great."

MORE WRESTLING: Complete coverage of the state championships in Atlantic City

The Patriots senior will wrestle for seventh place after losing a hard-fought 3-1 decision to Joe Manno of St. Joseph Montvale in the wrestleback quarterfinals.

For Patriots coach Anthony Grogan, the run to the medal round for the No. 17 seed proved the resolve that he's developed over his wrestling career at Lenape Valley.

Haws had made two prior trips down to Atlantic City as a freshman in 2019 and sophomore in 2020 but won just one match in each trip. He placed fifth in the North super region last season.

Daniel Haws of Lenape Valley wrestling in a 126-pound consolation bout on Day 2 of the NJSIAA state wrestling championships in Atlantic City on Thursday, March 4, 2022.

"The kid never gave up. He never quits," Grogan said. "You saw his matches today, he was losing in the last 20 seconds didn’t give up. The other match, the kid hit a beautiful double, he almost gets scored upon and the kid just has magic. He has that ‘it’ factor that never stops."

Haws' breakthrough was one of the lone bright spots for Sussex County on Sunday. He is one of four county wrestlers that clinched a podium spot.

High Point senior Brian Soldano will wrestle for his third straight state title after pinning Mount Olive's Anthony Moscatello in 1:10 in the quarterfinals and Middle Township's David Giulian in 1:40 in the semifinals at 190 pounds.

Pope John freshman Carson Walsh dropped a 3-1 decision to Eastern's Jared Brunner in the 113-pound semifinals while at 215 pounds Lions senior Jack Stoll fell in an 8-1 decision to Passaic Valley's PJ Casale in the quarterfinals before notching a first-period pin against Southern's Riley O'Boyle in the blood round.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: NJ wrestling: Lenape Valley's Daniel Haws secures first state medal

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