Liberty wrestling shows out at NCWA nationals, Ferenczy and Manley take titles
PROPOSAL — After winning the finals of the NCWA tournament, Josh Ferenczy dropped to a knee and popped the question.
Photo Credit: Dana Podell
After another year faced with many adversities, the Liberty University wrestling team took home a second place finish at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) Grand National Tournament March 11.
The Flames were led by career performances from senior Josh Ferenczy and freshman Cendall Manley, who both finished the day as national champions in their respective weight classes.
Both competitors had notable storylines to go along with their victories.
By securing a win in the 170-pound female division, Manley became Liberty’s first NCWA women’s national champion.
Manley is the daughter of Randy Manley, who is an alumnus of Liberty wrestling and also wrestled under Liberty Head Coach Jesse Castro, who was a graduate assistant at the time.
Manley came onboard with the wrestling program as a manager and trained on the side, as Liberty still does not have an official women’s wrestling team.
She competed as Liberty’s sole wrestler in the female division and her first place finish pushed Liberty into 9th place in the women’s team standings.
BUZZKILL — Senior Josh Ferenczy defeated his opponent who was previously 30-0.
Photo Credit: Dana Podell
“Cendall is a wonderful girl,” Castro said.
“She represented as the first woman from Liberty in the NCWA women’s division, and she went out and won a national championship and set a precedent for us there.”
The other victory was a textbook finish to the career of Ferenczy, who defeated his opponent 6-2 to seize the 175-pound title.
But immediately after claiming the top spot, Ferenczy scored his second victory of the day by dropping to a knee and proposing to his now-fiancée Riana Turner.
Ferenczy has been a staple of hard work throughout his career as a wrestler for Liberty.
He made the team as a freshman walk-on, but would later endure a year of ineligibility before joining the team again and eventually establishing himself as a team captain.
“If anyone on our team has a NCWA Division I mentality it’s (Ferenczy,)” Castro said.
“He worked his way to a national championship. (Ferenczy) is special to me. Watching God work in his life over four years and seeing the man of God that he has become and is becoming is so exciting to me.”
Castro believes that faithfulness to God and support from the university has been pivotal for the wrestling program’s continued success despite the many difficulties they have faced.
The Liberty wrestling program began in 1974 but was dropped due to financial issues in 1994.
However, the program returned in 2007 and found continual success in the NCAA East region.
But the program once again faced complications when they were forced to reclassify from Division I to club sport status in 2011.
But Castro continued to persevere and build the program up again with hard work.
“I can’t help but think it’s anything but God blessing us and honoring us,” Castro said.
“We were willing to be used by him. That’s the whole objective of our program — training Champions for Christ. It’s been neat to watch the hand of God on our program.”
Castro also credited the backing the wrestling program has received from the university and the unity of the staff and team.
“It’s not just the athletes, it’s not just the coaching staff, it’s all of the above.”
Coach Castro said.
“Having a university that is supportive and provides for you the financial and moral backing (is crucial). Each person has their part in the program. There are guys who may not be starting for us, but their role is equally important because they’re training side-by-side with the guys who are representing the program at the national tournament. Iron sharpens iron.”
The Flames relentless work ethic was evident as they had seven All-American finishes, meaning seven of their designated competitors finished in the top eight of their weight class.
The team’s performance helped secure Liberty’s third second-place finish in six seasons in the NCWA.
Castro commended the team for another outstanding performance despite extra obstacles.
The team lost two key recruits mid-season, and they also went the whole year without a 125-pound wrestler.
“I think this was one of my more memorable years at Liberty,” Castro said.
“And that’s not just in terms of our accomplishments, but more so because of the obstacles that were overcome throughout the year.”
Castro was most proud of the team’s growth off the mat.
“I think the guys stepped up in the sense of God giving that adversity and wrestling with it,” Castro said.
“Wrestling is a microcosm of life. They understood that adversity is not necessarily there to hurt us. It’s there to strengthen us. James chapter one talks about ‘Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials.’ When we’re being tested as a program, it’s an opportunity to build our endurance. That’s one of the reasons we did so well. We recognized God’s hand in all of it.”
DAVIs is the asst. sports editor.