106-pound Father Judge wrestler Robert Lawlor worked hard to make the cut — and now he’s one of the team’s top wrestlers.
Many wrestlers struggle with cutting weight.
Robert Lawlor had the exact opposite problem.
Last year, the Father Judge High School 106-pounder wrestled mostly junior varsity because no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get close enough to the minimum weight to compete.
He ate smart.
He lifted.
He did all of the tricks you’re supposed to do when you’re looking to pack on the pounds, but he wasn’t able to bulk up enough.
“I eat a good amount,” Lawlor said. “When you’re wrestling, you’re burning a lot. I tried to have a lot of protein, beef and chicken, and vegetables, trying to eat smart. It was tough because I did want to wrestle, but I just worked on getting better.”
After the season ended, Lawlor got both bigger and taller and now he’s just over the 106-pound mark. His weight isn’t the only thing that has gone up.
Lawlor is now one of the top wrestlers for the defending Catholic League champions, and he’s doing it by putting forth the same effort he has since he began wrestling when he was a child.
On the year, Lawlor is 23–6 with 14 pins to his credit, and he’s one of the favorites to win the Catholic League championship in the individual tournament. He also took sixth place at the always tough Escape the Rock tournament at Council Rock South last weekend.
There are many reasons for the improvement, and Lawlor is quick to pass the praise to those who helped him.
“I’d have to say I’m astronomically better than I was at this time last year,” Lawlor said. “A lot of it has to do with me getting bigger and stronger, that helps a lot. But I’m also a lot better, I’d have to say, because of the coaches at Father Judge. They’ll go over things with you when you need it and they’ll help you.
“Nobody is going to like it when someone says you have a lot to work on, but at the same time, I know when they tell me that, it’s only going to make me better. I know when they’re telling me what to get better at, they’re doing it to help me.”
Lawlor also gives credit to his practice partners, Eamonn and Liam Logue, who are a shade heavier than Lawlor. Rolling around with them at practice is no easy task, and that makes wrestling opponents his weight seem easier.
“They’re really good, both are, so working with them has been really beneficial,” Lawlor said. “They help me out with stuff. Sometimes when I’m wrestling, I’ll find myself in the same position I did the day before in practice, and I know exactly what to do. They’ve helped me in that way, and it helps because they’re really good, so if I can go against them, I can go against anyone.”
Lawlor has had help, but he’s put himself in position to be very good.
The Bustleton resident began his wrestling career when he was very young. His father was friends with the coach of a Neshaminy youth club, so by the time he got to Judge, he had plenty of experience.
But his wrestling reached a whole new level when he arrived at Judge.
And since he arrived, the Crusaders have picked up two Catholic League championships. This year, they’re gunning for №3, but it will be tough.
The wrestlers the Crusaders have are solid, but thanks to injuries and other circumstances, they forfeit four matches.
That automatically puts Judge down 24 points right off the bat.
This week, they head into the Catholic League playoffs, and winning a third straight title will be a tall task with the lack of depth, but Lawlor isn’t ready to hand the plaque over just yet.
Judge meets Roman Catholic on Wednesday night, the winner meets host Archbiship Wood immediately following the first match.
“Honestly, for me it means we just have to wrestle that much harder because we have to score more points, that’s how I feel, personally,” Lawlor said. “We’ve had a couple of injuries and that makes it tougher, but we’re going to try. The only thing we can do is keep going, keep getting better and see what we can do.”
No matter what happens in team play, Lawlor knows whatever work he puts in, he’ll get back when the individual tournaments start.
Lawlor has high expectations for himself, and anything less would be a letdown for him.
“I know I have to just win the next match,” Lawlor said. “My goal is to get to states and win a few matches. I’m doing pretty good, but there are a lot of mistakes I have to fix.
“It helps to have great wrestlers around me and great coaches. Whenever I need to work on something, I have people who can help me. They help me and I try to help them.”
The only bad thing? Now, instead of gaining weight, he has to make sure he stays in shape.
“I’m on a strict diet to stay at my weight,” Lawlor said. “Maybe days after tournaments, I’ll have a (cheat day), but after that I’m right back on schedule. Making weight was a lot easier last year.”
