NORTHAMPTON – Today’s a big day for Council Rock South senior Dylan Schwartz. In the morning, he committed to the wrestling program at SUNY Binghamton. This evening, he’ll help his team take on Erie Cathedral Prep in the championship round two of the PIAA Class AAA Tournament currently taking place on the mat at the Giant Center in Hershey.
After taking a look at Pitt and the University of Buffalo, Schwartz decided he wanted to be a Bearcat.
Binghamton has gotten itself a nice wrestler in Schwartz. Currently with over 115 varsity wins, Schwartz captured both District 1 and South East Region championships in the 152-pound weight class last year.
Schwartz says he’s fortunate to be one of head coach Brad Silimperi’s charges. The program the coach directs is currently ranked 46th in the nation.
“I think the program has prepared me a lot,” said Schwartz. “Our wrestling is probably the same as most college programs – our work rate and everything.”
Dylan was one of 11 student-athletes who committed to collegiate sports programs today (Feb. 11) on Rock Way. For most of them, next season will mean big changes.
Schwartz has the great fortune however of having one of his best friends heading to Binghamton with him in Golden Hawks running back Brendan Patterson. The duo has been together since kindergarten; both boys attended Richboro Elementary and Richboro Middle School.
“We’re both pretty happy that we’re going to know at least one person even before we get there,” said Schwartz.
While Patterson isn’t going to play football for the Bearcats, he’s also pleased he’ll be able to stay connected to Schwartz.
“Before I committed, I knew he was talking to them,” admitted Brendan. “So yeah, it did have an impact, knowing that I’d be going to a school knowing somebody I was pretty good friends with.”
“We’ve been friends for a really long time now so we’re really excited about it.”
After looking at Villanova and High Point (NC) universities, Patterson says he selected Binghamton, where he’ll play a midfield position for the Bearcats’ men’s lacrosse team.
After a Third Team All-Suburban One National League selection in 2014, Brendan made it onto the First Team last year as a junior.
At 6-feet, 190 pounds, Patterson carried the bulk of the rushing duties his last year playing football at South. One of the top 100 running backs in Pennsylvania, Patterson rushed for 1,134 yards last season for the Hawks.
But football is not where his heart is, says Patterson.
“I always loved football but I always knew I would play college lacrosse, not football,” said Brendan.
Patterson was among the league leaders in winning faceoffs last year at CR South. He says that’s a stat he plans on keeping after come time for the spring varsity lacrosse season.
At 7-3 in league, the Hawks finished in a tie for second place in the SOL National Conference last year.
“We fell a little short of our goals but I thought it was a good season because we lost one of our top defensemen, Cullen Keffer, in a car accident. We were kind of down about it but that motivated us. Overall, I thought we did pretty well last year.”
Keffer was killed in an August 2014 collision near Lake Wallenpaupack that also claimed the lives of two other Council Rock students, Shamus Digney and Ryan Lesher.
Contact the author at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
Council Rock South 2016 commits
Dominique Franco, Track, Villanova University
Savannah Wood, Track, Jacksonville State/E. Carolina
Joe Maguire, Track, Rhode Island University
Anna DiDonato, Lacrosse, Wagner College
Dylan Schwartz, Wrestling, Binghamton University
Emily Wilkinson, Soccer, LaSalle University
Emily Discavage, Soccer, Philadelphia University
Matt O’Donnell, Swimming, Bloomsburg University
Brendan Patterson, Lacrosse, Binghamton University
Mike Stock, Football, Millersville University
Adam Reifer, Lacrosse, Fairleigh Dickinson University
