CR South's Sadriddinov ready to roll area wrestling heads into regional tournaments

He's far from the first wrestler to get hit by it and won't be the last.

The Giant Center jitters pop up at exactly the wrong time and by the time a wrestler gets over them, it's usually too late.

What are they? Let Council Rock South junior standout Bek Sadriddinov, who qualified for Hershey (site of the PIAA championships held at the Giant Center) for the first time last season, explain.

"It's such a big building and they're a lot of people watching," Sadriddinov said. "I really wasn't ready for it and didn't wrestle like I'm capable of wrestling.

"I think the experience of having gone through it is going to help me out the next time."

That next time could come quickly as Sadriddinov heads to the PIAA District One Southeast Regional Class 3A tournament, the last step before Hershey, at Souderton on Friday and Saturday as a defending champion.

A year ago, the 160-pound Sadriddinov, a Lehigh University commit, cruised to the regional finals by winning by pin and two major decisions and then scored a 3-1 verdict over North Penn's Will Morrow in the final.

The regional crown gave him a high seed for Hershey, but an 8-2 opening-round loss to Nazareth's Dominic Wheatley quickly dropped the Golden Hawk into the consolation bracket and out of gold-medal contention.

Sadriddinov won his first two consolation matches before being eliminated from the tournament by Lebanon's Griffin Gonzalez, who would go on to place seventh.

"I'll be ready to go this time," said Sadriddinov, who is two wins shy of 100 for his career. "There are a lot of things I need to work on in practice and I'm working hard to prepare for states."

The positive mindset has him thinking big.

"My goal is a state title," Sadriddinov said. "My weight is on point and I feel really good and healthy."

Take a look:Pennridge captures team title, Quakertown crowns four champs at District One-East wrestling tournament

As is always the case at states, every bracket is loaded.

The 160-pound weight class includes defending state champ Dylan Evans from Chartiers Valley (District Seven); returning fourth-place medalist Shawn Taylor from West Allegheny (also District Seven), who is 2-1 against Evans this season; and Bethlehem Catholic's Andrew Harmon, a three-time PIAA qualifier and one-time medalist who beat Sadriddinov 7-0 in early February.

"Everybody at states is good," Sadriddinov said. "And if you're not at your best you can lose.

"It's about preparing and being ready to go right away and I feel confident that I'll be able to do that."

Here is a capsule look at where area wrestlers will be competing this weekend:

What: PIAA District One Southeast Regional Class 3A tournament

Where: Souderton High School

When: Friday, beginning at 5 p.m.; Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The finals and consolation finals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Area teams competing: Abington, Bensalem, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South, Central Bucks West, Council Rock North, Council Rock South, Harry S. Truman, Hatboro-Horsham, Neshaminy, Pennridge, Pennsbury, Quakertown, Souderton, Upper Moreland.

How many move on: The top five finishers in each weight class qualify for next week's PIAA championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Wrestlers to watch: Collin Gaj (Quakertown), Mason Ziegler (Quakertown), Bek Sadriddinov (Council Rock South), Eren Sement (Council Rock North), Joe Collins (Central Bucks East), Max Tancini (Perkiomen Valley), Cole Smith (Spring-Ford), Ben Farabaugh (Strath Haven), Josh Barlow (Kennett), John Pardo (Kennett).

What: PIAA District Two/11/12 Northeast Regional Class 3A tournament

Where: Bethlehem Liberty High School

When: Friday, beginning at 5 p.m.; Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The finals and consolation finals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Area teams competing: Archbishop Wood, La Salle.

How many move on: The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for next week's PIAA championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Wrestlers to watch: Jackson Hersh (La Salle), Andrew Brennan (La Salle), Cormac Morrissey (La Salle), Kollin Rath (Bethlehem Catholic), Sonny Sasso (Nazareth), Sean Kinney (Nazareth), Dagen Condomitti (Northampton).

What: PIAA District One/Three/11/12 Southeast Regional Class 2A tournament

Where: Bethlehem Freedom High School

When: Friday, beginning at 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The finals and consolation finals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Area teams competing:  Palisades, Conwell-Egan, Bristol, Faith Christian, New Hope-Solebury.

How many move on:  The top six finishers in each weight class qualify for next week's PIAA championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Wrestlers to watch: Gauge Botero (Faith Christian), Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian), Adam Waters (Faith Christian), Kevin Bagnell (Conwell-Egan), Daniel Haubert (Palisades), John Haubert (Palisades), Holden Garcia (Notre Dame-Green Pond), Ayden Smith (Notre Dame-Green Pond), Riley Robell (Bishop McDevitt).

For subscribers:The wrestling rankings get shaken up after first week of postseason

Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: CR South's Sadriddinov aiming high as wrestling postseason moves along