Bound Brook Wrestling

The critics said the Bound Brook Wrestling team had one year of glory and then would disappear, those critics were very wrong! No doubt the Crusaders lost an outstanding Senior class in 1999, but there is no doubt that 2000 was another great season which climaxed with Bound Brook’s first multiple state place winners since 1968. The talk started before the season, the Brook is cooked! Well despite St. Peters Prep and North Bergen bragging, Bound Brook rolled out of the Ridgefield Tournament with their 5th title in a row, as six underclassman made the finals and Andrew Uhrlass was voted the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Unfortunately, the Crusaders did not wrestle up to their potential in the Somerset County Tournament and took 2nd place behind Somerville. Next up for Bound Brook was a trip back to defend their Zephyr Duals Crown. The Crusaders had a difficult time with the tough Pennsylvania competition and had to settle for a 4th place finish in the 16 team tournament. Then the injury/flu bug hit and one starter was lost for the season and what transpired were unanticipated losses against Rahway and Jefferson. The Brook needed to get healthy fast as they fell to 6-4 and their toughest schedule stretch lay ahead. In what was one of the greatest runs in Bound Brook history, the team accumulated 13 victories in a row. Among their victims, Somerville, the Somerset County Champs, and undefeated Roselle Park team for the MVC Championship. Then a third consecutive Central Jersey Group I Championship over South River, leaving the table set for a return to the Group I State Championships at Paulsboro. Bound Brook knew their first match against Belvidere the Skyland Conference Champions, was going to be tough, but Brian Patullo’s innovative pinning technique catapulted the Crusaders to the final against undefeated number one ranked Paulsboro. After taking the first three matches the Crusaders took a turn for the worse and walked out of Paulsboro the 2nd best group I team in New Jersey. With a satisfying dual meet season behind them Bound Brook set out to defend their District 18 title. Unfortunately, the Crusaders seemed emotionally tired and again fell to Somerville for a second place finish. However, they did crown the most District Champs with Galeta, Uhrlass, Salamon, Jannuzzi and Knapp earning titles. Also Uhrlass was crowned the Outstanding Wrestler and Coach Koup was voted District 18 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year. In Region 5 competition Uhrlass captured a title, Knapp took 2nd, Galeta a 3rd and Salamon a 4th. Jannuzzi fell victim to a lateral drop in the quarter-finals, or could have gone far. Finally, Chris Knapp and Andrew Uhrlass traveled to the Meadowlands for the State Tournament and each impressed the big crowds with their performances. Uhrlass, who two college coaches called the most technically superior wrestler in the tournament, took a third place, while eighth seed Chris Knapp shocked the crowd by pinning the number one and five seeds to proceed to the finals and a second place finish. At the end of the weekend, Bound Brook showed itself as one of the better wrestling programs in New Jersey, and with eleven starters returning for next season, the Crusaders don’t seem to be planning on losing that status anytime soon. Great job Guys! STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Record: 19-5 Final Ranking in Region 5: 5th Central Jersey Group I Champions (Second in Group I) Ridgefield Holiday Tournament Champions 4th Zephyr Duals 2nd Somerset County Mountain Valley Conference Champions 2nd District 18 Three State Qualifiers , two State place winners