Honesdale wrestlers travel to Italy for once-in-a-lifetime international clinic

SCALEA, Italy — Honesdale is coming off yet another stellar season on the high school wrestling mat.

The Hornets powered their way to a Lackawanna League Division II title, then captured the District 2 Class AA duals crown.

Coach Ryan Chulada's squad suffered back-to-back losses at states, but quickly rebounded to claim first place at the individual district tournament.

Putting together another season like that will be a tall order. However, the Honesdale coaching staff assembled a very special offseason program that promises to propel the Hornets right back into the thick of the championship chase.

In addition to hard work in the weight room, a dozen grapplers recently returned from an epic international journey to Italy. There, they participated in the 2024 Liuzzi Wrestling Camp which exposed them to teams from all over Europe and the United States.

More: Honesdale boys varsity wrestling team captures another district crown

Also by Kevin Edwards: Honesdale boys wrestling team advances to District Duals championship match

“This trip is about a lot more than just wrestling," Chulada said. “It teaches our kids about the world in which they live. Plus, the education they receive by visiting some of the most important historical sites in the world is priceless.”

Tour guide and chaperone

Michael Ondich has been a member of Honesdale's varsity coaching staff for eight years.

He wrestled at St. Joseph's Regional High School in Montvale (NJ) and at the University of Scranton. He then embarked on a long and successful coaching career in New York state, before moving to Wayne County in 2016 after his retirement.

Ondich has organized international trips since 1993, combining hard work, fun and a genuine learning experience for hundreds of student-athletes.

This year's adventure began July 1 when 13 wrestlers and two coaches boarded a jet at JFK bound for Rome. After landing in Italy following nearly nine hours in the air, they hopped on another flight to Naples and then were bused to Scalea.

The 2024 Liuzzi Wrestling Camp was held at the Santa Caterina Hotel, a beautiful facility on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Hornet wrestlers attended two practice sessions per day, then put their new knowledge to the test in a competition each evening.

They worked hard on the mat, but also spent plenty of time on the beach, in the water, and enjoying world famous Italian cuisine.

Team building experiences

Julian Pons graduated in June. He was a three-year member of Honesdale's varsity wrestling team and served as a captain during his senior season.

Pons was one of the Hornet grapplers who made the journey, and it's an experience he won't forget anytime soon.

“The trip to Italy was just incredible,” said Pons, who competed at 172 and 215 pounds over the course of his varsity career.

“The people we met were great, and there were some fantastic wrestlers. The coach who ran the clinic was also one of the coaches in Paris for the Olympic Games. He helped teach us lots of new techniques for freestyle wrestling.”

Reed Howell was another member of the group. A sophomore who's looking to build on a solid freshman season, Howell competed at 127 and 133 pounds last year.

“Some of my favorites memories of the trip are from when we were at the resort for camp,” Howell said. “The most important parts were when Coach Ondich sat all the Honesdale kids down for team building.

“Those were super-fun. Everyone really seemed to bond and we got to know each other on a much deeper level.”

Ondich stressed that these team building exercises were one of the main points of the experience.

“The kids learned that it's important to represent themselves, their school and their country positively,” he said. “They all worked hard and made me proud of them. They learned so much about themselves and became better teammates.”

Days of future passed

Traveling and living together for an extended period of time helped to lay the foundation for what coaches and wrestlers alike hope will be a successful future.

Ondich led his young charges on several tours during their time in Italy. This marked his ninth visit to Rome, so he proved to be a knowledgeable and entertaining guide.

Among the highlights of these adventures were visits to the Colosseum, Saint Peter's Basilica, the Spanish Steps, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

All told, the group walked nearly 35 miles during their three days in Rome, creating memories that Ondich hopes will last them a lifetime.

“I couldn't have found a better group of young men and women to take on this trip,” he said. “Hopefully, they'll tell others about their experiences, and we'll have another phenomenal trip in two years time.”

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale wrestlers travel to Italy for once-in-a-lifetime international clinic