St. Joseph's Prep's Endy brings fighting spirit of Port Richmond to wrestling regionals

Five days a week, Bobby Endy follows a two-and-a-half- hour practice at St. Joseph's Prep with a quick shower and a meal at his Port Richmond home. Then he heads to the Rizzo Police Athletic League Center five minutes down the street.

He walks through the double doors and down two flights of stairs into a basement they call "the Dungeon."

On a floor covered with wrestling mats, 35 to 50 kids can be found rolling around every weeknight.

The thick brick walls keep ventilation minimal. The heater in the small room drives the temperature up to nearly 90 degrees, or at least, that's how it feels to Endy.

"They turn the heat up and the heater is right there blowing on us," Endy said. "It's one of the best feelings, being there wrestling, getting your workout in. It's such a convenience, too, because it's literally a few blocks from my house."

On the best days, it starts to rain.

"Sometimes it gets so hot down there, the moisture in the air starts dripping in the ceiling," said Ed Schneider, one of the PAL coaches. "We know it's a good, hard practice when it starts raining in the dungeon."

Endy, a Port Richmond native, recalls growing up in PAL. He wrestled there for nearly a decade.

The stigma that city wrestling was inferior has lingered in the back of Endy's mind, but through the years he has relished the chances to prove that wrong.

"I think there's something about the Philly kids where we have this extra drive," Endy said. "I feel like people expect less from us because we're not . . . known to be the best wrestlers. I believe that when we're successful, people from the greater Philadelphia area are surprised. They say, 'Wow, where did this kid come from?' "

"That definitely drives me," Endy added. "I started working out harder. I go to almost two workouts every night."

Endy's attitude about Philly wrestling is shared by his childhood friend and former Father Judge wrestling standout Joe Galasso, who was the first Philadelphia wrestler to win a high school state championship.

"Philadelphia kids are respectful off the mat, but there's a mean streak and an anger we can put on the mat toward someone, and not have it off the mat with that person," said Galasso, who will wrestle for Cornell. "A lot of Philadelphia wrestlers take on that mind-set while on the mat."

Endy won the District 1 tournament at 152 pounds and is 32-0 for the season. He earned his 100th win last Saturday at districts.

Family and friends greeted Endy to celebrate his accomplishment following the match.

"I was unbelievably excited for his 100th win," Schneider said. "He was always good, he was a good solid competitor from the time he was 9 years old."

In his junior season, Endy just missed qualifying for the state tournament, and he has been focused on getting back ever since.

That journey began Friday night with a win by technical fall at the Class AAA North East Regional at Bethlehem Liberty. The tournament continues Saturday.

As the moment neared, Endy said he was beginning to feel the pressure of one final chance at the state tournament.

"It gave me so much more of an edge, and a chip on my shoulder," Endy said. "I believe I can make states this year, it's a goal I've had since freshman year. . . . I've got my last shot to get there. It's nerve-racking, it feels like the pressure is on."

Taking a cue from Galasso, who won state gold at 138 pounds as a junior, Endy started to shake the nerves by keeping things in perspective.

"I keep telling him there's no such thing as pressure," Galasso said. "I said to him, 'Obviously you're looking ahead.' You'll say, 'OK, I'll move on easily with this kid.' I told him to take one match at a time."

He's peaking at the right time," Galasso added. "Regardless, I'm really proud of him."