Bound Brook Wrestling

BOUND BROOK TOPPLES DON BOSCO

By: Joe Kania for the Star Ledger/NJO

1/24/14

Almost everyone in Bound Brook's gym Saturday was surprised at how handily Bound Brook, No. 4 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, defeated No. 2 Don Bosco Prep -- except for the Bound Brook wrestlers and coaches.

Bound Brook claimed 10 of 14 weight classes in recording a 36-19 victory.

"Yeah, this is how I foresaw it," Bound Brook coach Shaun Cleary said. "It wasn't a surprise for us. We know what we're capable of doing, it's just a matter of going out and doing it. That's it."

Bound Brook received bonus points in half of the team's victories.

Gonazalo Limenza recorded a technical fall at 113 pounds over Robert Aloro in the second bout of the dual to put Bound Brook ahead, 5-4, while Mekhi Lewis (138), Nick Accetta (145), Ryan Doerr (170) and Ronald Picado (220) all picked up major decisions.

Bound Brook was just as impressive in its close victories. At 120 pounds, freshman Stephan Glasgow scored a takedown with four seconds left on the clock to defeat Dominick Mandarino, 7-6. His victory put Bound Brook up, 8-4 -- a lead it wouldn't surrender.

"I was calm late in the third period because I knew I was well-conditioned," Glasgow said. "He looked a little tired so I just tried to push the pace. It felt great. The crowd and everyone, they were really into it and hyped. I just wanted to go out and win and dominate."

At 126 pounds, Craig De La Cruz, the 120-pound state champion from a year ago, met Don Bosco's Kyle Bierdumpfel, a state finalist at 106 last season. De La Cruz, currently the top-ranked wrestler at 126, downed No. 3 Bierdumpfel, 3-1.

"He took second last year, I obviously knew that," De La Cruz said. "He's a great kid and a great wrestler. I just went out there and controlled the match and just did what I wanted to do -- score the first points. I had a couple takedowns that I could have had. I just wanted to dominate."

State-ranked wrestlers also met at 182 pounds, but this time Don Bosco came out on top. Luke Farinaro, ranked No. 2 at 170, met Isiah Soto, ranked No. 6 at 170, at 182 and Farinaro came out with a 3-2 victory. The two were tied, 2-2, heading toward overtime before Soto was penalized one point for an illegal head scissor.

Evan DeLuise (106) picked up a major decision for Don Bosco with an 11-0 victory over Anthony Lopez while Luis Gonzalez, the No. 5-ranked wrestler at 120, pinned George Walton in 1:07 at 132.

Both teams were shorthanded due to injuries.