Crivelli continues to turn heads while growing as team’s leader
Filippo Crivelli came to Waynesburg University last season as a freshman looking to make a mark on the mat for the prestigious Yellow Jacket wrestling squad. In just his first season as a starter, he won the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title in the 133-pound weight class.
After a championship performance last year, the sophomore is looking to improve on what was a breakout freshman campaign.
“We live on a farm back home,” said Crivelli. “Growing up with all the work that we did really taught me how to be a hard worker and to push myself; and that is something that I have taken with me into wrestling.”
Crivelli started wrestling in fourth grade after his brother saw a flier. The two began wrestling and now are both parts of prominent collegiate wrestling teams.
The Hopewell High School graduate ended last season with a 24-20 record overall, which included two wins at the 2014 PAC Championships. This season, Crivelli is off to a great start with a 12-5 record, after the conclusion of the Ohio Northern University Invitational.
“This year is a lot better for me so far,” said Crivelli. “Coming in last year, I had to adjust to the new coaches instead of my high school coaches and the rest of the team. Guys like Anthony [Bonaventura] have really helped me a lot this season.”
Head coach Ron Headlee is confident in having Crivelli back as a reliable starter.
“He wrestles and trains hard every day,” said Headlee. “He can see where he needs to improve and does it. He’s up there with the top guys in the country, and we’re really excited about where he is at right now.”
Despite being just in his second year, Headlee views Crivelli as one of the key wrestlers he can count on.
“He’s definitely a leader for us,” said Headlee. “When we look at captains they are usually seniors, but when you look at guys who train hard and constantly improve, Filippo is right there as a team leader.”
Crivelli’s quick start to this season hasn’t made the underclassman complacent.
“My goal is to train as hard as I can every day,” said Crivelli. “Being in contention for the conference again means nothing unless I win. If I’m in second, I still lost, and I cannot do that and make it far in Nationals.
Before the arrival of Crivelli on campus, there were questions as to whether he would choose Waynesburg or Thiel College, which is one of three schools with a varsity wrestling program in the PAC.
Filippo’s brother, Marco, is a junior who wrestles at Thiel, which made the decision a lot more difficult.
“I was down between Thiel and [Waynesburg],” said Filippo Crivelli. “I just felt like they thought I was a shoe-in because of my brother, but the coaching staff here at Waynesburg really showed that they wanted me to come. That is part of the reason I ended up here.”
Even though Marco is at a rival school, he is still one of his brother’s biggest fans.
“I always root for him,” said Marco Crivelli. “Even if he is wrestling one of my teammates, I still cheer him on and I love to see him do well.”
Not only does he cheer him on, but also Marco Crivelli thinks his brother is capable of making a name for himself even at his young age.
“He has what it takes to win Nationals,” said Marco Crivelli. “If he keeps up what he is doing and continues to train hard, then he can do anything he puts his mind to.