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NUMBER 2 JACKSON MEMORIAL BEATS BOUND BROOK (STAR LEDGER 1/5/12):

Posted by Martin Gleason at Jan 15, 2012 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Jackson (33) at Bound Brook (22) - Wrestling

Star-Ledger, January 05, 2012 10:58 p.m.

By Bob Behre

For Jackson, No. 3 in the Star-Ledger Top 20, it was another victory on the way to bigger and better things this season. For unranked Bound Brook, the 33-22 loss last night in its home gym meant something very different.

It was a beginning.

Bound Brook (2-1) split the 14 bouts with a top flight team with a lineup that did not include a single senior. Seven freshman, four sophomores and three juniors didn't put a scare into Jackson. The meet was clinched after Jackson heavyweight Mike Lopez scored a major decision to give his team a 33-12 lead with three bouts remaining.

But Bound Brook didn't back down and that's what it takes to built a program's confidence as it attempts to join the elite programs in the state.

"That's a very well-coached team," said Jackson's first-year coach Aaron Gottesman. "They're very young. I think it's all about match-ups this year. I don't think any team has 14 extremely good wrestlers, so it's going to be one of those seasons in New Jersey."

Bound Brook was missing its talented 145-pounder Emmanual Soto, out with an illness, and Mike Johnson's it's strong 220-pounder, who has a dislocated elbow. So, the home team has further reason for optimism as its season continues. Jackson's Dylan McLaughlin won a 10-1 decision over Nick Accetta at 145.

Ronald Picado had to bump up from 195 to 220 to fill the spot vacated by teammate Johnson. Picado edged Corey Johnson, 5-0.

"We were right there," said Bound Brook coach Kyle Franey. We put out that young lineup against the No. 3 team in New Jersey and lost by 11 points."

Bound Brook had success in big spots against Jackson, the defending Group 4 state champion.

Sophomore Jeison Arias rallied from a 6-2 deficit through two period before defeating Jackson's Brad Royle, 9-7 at 132 pounds, with a takedown in overtime. Freshman Craig Delacruz defeated Jackson's Alec Huxford, 9-4, at 106 pounds.

"I know we have a good kid at 106, but I was surprised by that one," said Franey. "Craig was pretty dominant. I didn't expect that. Jeison had a good win and I thought Josh Ugalde might have done better at 152. We are talking about two freshmen and a sophomore, though." Ugalde dropped a 7-1 decision to Randy Royle, Brad Royle's twin.

Jackson exhibited its usual firepower in spots. Brian Hamann rolled to an 11-2 major decision over Zach Vatalare at 126 pounds, Dallas Winston decked Brandon Neyra in :54 and Lopez did his job, bumping up from 220 to secure a major decision at heavyweight.

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CAMP PINS DOWN FOURTH STATE TITLE (STAR LEDGER 3/6/11):

Posted by Martin Gleason at Jan 15, 2012 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

State Wrestling: Andrew Campolattano of Bound Brook wins 215-pound state championship

BOB BEHRE, March 06, 2011 9:06 p.m.

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Andrew Campolattano of Bound Brook celebrates after winning the 215-pound state championship in Atlantic City. - (Andrew Mills/The Star-Ledger)

As Andrew Campolattano of Bound Brook paced back and forth on the mat, awaiting the conclusion of the medal presentation for the 171-pounders Sunday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, one could sense that something was different.

This was not good news for Cherokee's Mike Zeuli.

Zeuli (28-1), an All-State football player bound for Princeton, was certainly no sacrificial lamb, yet few in the crowd envied him at that moment.

Campolattano already had three state tournament championships in the bank, all at 189 pounds, and was seeking to win this time at 215 pounds in his senior year and become just the second wrestler in state history to win four NJSIAA state titles.

"Camp" was not in a playful mood.

"It was like I wasn't in my body out there," Campolattano said. "I fed off the energy of the crowd. I knew the kid had a big gas tank, so I had to come out on fire. I had to be as aggressive as possible."

Andrew Campolattano, Bound Brook, pins Mike Zeuli, Cherokee, in 47 seconds for 215-pound state championship
Andrew Campolattano of Bound Brook pins to win fourth state championship
Interview with Bound Brook's Andrew Campolattano after he won his fourth state championship
Interview with Andrew Campolattano after his record tying fourth state championship
Campolattano nearly beat the opening whistle, he shot so fast at Zeuli, who avoided what would have been a low double-leg. But Zeuli, who attempted to fend off Campolattano's advance with hand fighting, simply could not avoid the coming storm.

Campolattano suddenly scooped Zeuli clean off the mat to his back and locked him up in a tight embrace as he sank the Cherokee wrestler's shoulder blades to the mat.

Referee Mark Sherman's usual flying mat slap signaled the end for Zeuli in just 47 seconds as the crowd -- 10,288 attended the championship round --  erupted.

Campolattano raced around the mat and jumped into assistant coach Marty Gleason's arms. He then charged into the stands to embrace his mother, Angela. Campolattano, who says he has a game plan for every bout, did not have one for his celebration.

"It wasn't planned," he said. "It just happened. It was just emotion."

The victory improved Campolattano's record to 44-0 on the season and 175-1 for his career. The victory total is a state record. The pin was Campolattano's 116th, also a New Jersey record.

And he joined Delbarton's Mike Grey (2003 through '06) as the state's only four-time NJSIAA state champions.

Campolattano was unamiously selected as the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler award winner. The loss left Zeuli with a 28-1 record this winter.

"I told Andrew the only thing he could do to upstage me was to pin in the first period in the district, region and state tournament," Bound Brook assistant coach Andrew Flanagan, who won state championships in 2004 and '05, said. "That's what he did. You just need to put something in front of him and he attacks it. All Andrew needs is a challenge."

Campolattano's only loss came in December 2009 to Mike Evans of Blair Academy when Bound Brook wrestled in the Bethlehem (Pa.) Holiday Classic. Campolattano improved to 100-0 that day before falling the very next match, 7-2, to Evans in the final.

Through it all, Campolattano said he tries to wrestle every match the same. This one, though, may have been his best yet.

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CRUSADERS WIN COUNTIES (COURIER NEWS 1/16/12):

Posted by Martin Gleason at Jan 15, 2012 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Consolation Finals Was The Difference For County Champs

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Harry Frezza

HILLSBOROUGH — Third place finishes delivered Bound Brook its fourth Somerset County Tournament title Saturday and its first since 2000.

The Crusaders went 4-for-4 in consolation finals, but just 2-5 in finals. The Crusaders had done enough before the championship round to unseat defending champ Franklin 202-182 for the 36th county crown. Watchung Hills was third with 157 1/2 points.

Watchung Hills and Somerville had three champs apiece.

Watchung Hills’ sophomore Mike Magaldo (120) and senior Mike Divito (145) repeated as champs after winning at 112 at 140 last year and junior 160-pounder Mike Carroccia opened the finals with his first title after placing second at 125 two years ago.

Somerville senior Paulie Kirchner became a three-time county champ by winning the 138-pound title with seniors Anthony Paun (170) and Dan Naples (285) winning their first for the Pioneers.

Hillsborough senior and top-seeded 132-pounder Mackey Price also became a three-time champ and was rewarded with the outstanding wrestler award after beating Bound Brook sophomore and third seed Jeison Arias. Price and Kirchner became the 32nd and 33rd to win three county titles. Kirchner joins brother Jim, who’s also a member of the list.

Franklin and Bound Brook had seven finalists apiece, but the Warriors had just one in the wrestleback final — and Hillsborough’s Deric Winston pinned Brett Smith for third at 113.

Junior Zach Vatalare (126), freshman Nick Accetta (138), junior Emmanuel Soto (152) and freshman Aaron Saavedra (195) took thirds for Bound Brook.

Second-seeded sophomore Ronald Picado (15-4) then pretty much sealed the Crusaders’ title with 9-7 comeback final win over Franklin’s top-seeded sophomore Ralph Normandia (18-3). Freshman 106 – pounder Craig De La Cruz (17-2) was the other Bound Brook champ. Juniors Rob Murray (113) and Tyler Awtry (120), Arias, freshman Joshua Ugalde (145) and sophomore Isaiah Soto (160) were second.

“It was a team effort,’’ said Bound Brook coach Kyle Franey, whose team won the season-opening Battle of the Beach in Delaware and the Zephyr Duals title in Whitehall (Pa.) last weekend. “Most of our guys wrestled up (in weight). Saavedra (weighed in at 171) and (Andrew) Gombas (weighed in at 160 and wrestled 170). But we’ve had to adjust because Johnson (220-pounder Mike Johnson) has been out (elbow injury).

“I was very proud of the way Ronald fought through being tgired and winning a big match,’’ Franey added. “”He expends a serious amount of energy in his matches. I’m very proud of the big guy we like to call “robot.’’

Franklin led 64-60 1/2 before the semifinal round began — the two schools had 10 wrestlers in the semifinals. Bound Brook came out of the semis and wrestleback semis with a 181-168 lead, then built it to 193-168 as the finals began.

Franklin senior Jake Balestrieri and junior Anthony Messner became part of a very exclusive Warrior club. They became the third and fourth in program history to win two county titles. John McArdle (1983-84 at heavyweight) and Colin Hewitt (2011-2010 at 171 and 152) were the others. Balestrieri won at 126 after winning at 125 last year. Balestrieri beat Somerville junior Nick Wahba 5-1 for the title. Wahba won at 119 last year. Messner won at 220 after taking first at 160 a year ago.

Team standings: 1. Bound Brook 202; 2.Franklin182; 3. Watchung Hills 157 ½; 4.Somerville151; 5. Hillsbrough 132; 6.Montgomery120 ½; 7. Bridgewater-Raritan 62; 8.North Plainfield59; 9. Bernards 32; 10. Pingry 30; 11. Ridge 22; 12. Manville 16; 13. RutgersPrep 0.

Championship finals106 – Craig De La Cruz (Bound Brook) md. Gianni Calo (Bridgewater-Raritan) 9-1; 113 – Matt Noble (Bridgewater-Raritan) d. Rob Murray (Bound Brook) 2-1; 120 – Mike Magaldo (Watchung Hills) p. Tyler Awtry (Bound Brook) :47; 126 – Jake Balestrieri (Franklin) d. Nick Wahba (Somerville) 5-1; 132 – Mackey Price (Hillsborough) d. Jeison Arias (Bound Brook) 6-5; 138 – Paulie Kirchner (Somerville) d. Rhys Weinberger (Hillsborough) 5-3; 145 – Mike Divito (Watchung Hills) d. Joshua Ugalde (Bound Brook) 8-2; 152 – David Bergida (Montgomery) p. Cory Goshkagarian (Franklin) 1:39; 160 – Mike Carroccia (Watchung Hills) d. Isaiah Soto (Bound Brook) 5-1; 170 – Anthony Paun (Somerville) d. Kurtis Hewitt (Franklin) 2-0; 182 – Ronald Picado (Bound Brook) d. Ralph Normandia (Franklin) 9-7; 195 – Keith Lewis (Franklin) d. Matt Bruskin (Somerville) 7-2; 220 – Anthony Messner (Franklin) p. Andrew Roessner (Hillsborough) 1:19; 285 – Dan Naples (Somerville) p. Jamel Jones (Franklin) 2:10

Consolation finals

106 - Adam La Bracio (Hillsborough) d. Alex Pollera (Watchung Hills) 3-0; 112 – Deric Winston (Hillsborough) p. Brett Smith (Franklin) 2:21; 120 – Dan Remoli (Somerville) p. Jack Donnadio (Hillsborough) 1:28; 126 – Zachary Vatalare (Bound Brook) d. Lenny Bird (Montgomery) 5-0; 132 – Frankie Lazauskas (Somerville) d. Matt Coppola (Watchung Hills) 3-1 (OT); 138 – Nick Accetta (Bound Brook) d. Lous Colona (Montgomery) 7-6; 145 – Tyler Workman (Hillsborough) d. Tyler Ajamian (Montgomery) 3-2; 152 – Emmanuel Soto (Bound Brook) d. Kyle Murray (Watchung Hills) 6-0; 160 – Antohny Cassar (Montgomery) d. Kolton Nelder (Ridge) 2-0; 170 – Kevin Kolb (Montgomery) md. Ryan Dunhamn (North Plainfield) 11-1; 182 – Nick Fornelos (Watchung Hills) p. Johnny Pflieger (Pingry) 2:14; 195 – Aaron Saavedra (Bound Brook) d. J.T. Valley (North Plainfield) 12-10; 220 – Michael Boyer (Montgomery) p. Jeremy Rokosky (Bernards) 4:25; 285 – Anthony Rizzilo (Watchung Hills) p. Ellis Flannery (Pingry) 2:13

Semifinals

106 – Craig De La Cruz (Bound Brook) md. Alex Pollera (Watchung Hills) 8-0; Gianni Calo (Bridgewater-Raritan) d. Adam LaBracio (Hillsborough) 5-4

112 – Robert Murray (BB) p. Brett Smith (Franklin) 3:22; Matt Noble (Bridgewater-Raritan) d. Deric Winston (Hillsborough) 5-2

120 – Mike Magaldo (WH) p. Raffi Ihlarhio-Garcia 1:48; Tyler Awtry (BB) d. Dan Remoli 3-1

126 – Jake Balestrieri (F) md. Lenny Bird (Montgomery) 9-0; Nick Wahba (Somerville) d. Zachary Vatalre (Bound Brook) 7-3

132 – Mackey Price (Hillsborough) p. Matt Coppola (Watchung Hills) 3:20; Jeison Arias (Bound Brook) md. Frankie Lazauskas (Somerville) 11-2

138 – Paulie Kirchner (Somerville) tf. Antohny DiRosa (Watchung Hills) 16-0, 4:00; Rhys Weinberger (Hillsborough) d. Mike Fagg-Daves (Franklin) 3-1

145 – Mike DiVito (Watchung Hills) d. Tyler Ajamian (Montgomery) 7-1; Josh Ugalde Bound Brook) d. Tyler Workman (Hillsborough) 5-3 (OT)

152 – David Bergida (Montgomery) d. Emmanuel Soto (Bound Brook) 5-1; Cory Goshkagarian (Franklin) d. Kyle Murray (Watchung Hills) 10-4

160 – Mike Carroccia (Watchung Hills) p. Anthony Cassar (Montgomery) :27; Isaiah Soto (Bound Brook) p. Kolton Nelder (Ridge) 5:55

170 – Kurtis Hewitt (Franklin) p. Jon Diamond (Bernards) :45; Antohny Paun (Somerville) p. Ryan Dunhamn (North Plainfield) 5:55

182 – Ralph Normandia (Franklin) p. Ati-ni Udott (North Plainfield) 2:45; Ronald Picado (Bound Brook) md. Alex Fornelos (Watchung Hills) 12-3

220 – Anthony Messner (Franklin) p. Mike Boyer (Montgomery) 1:15; Andrew Roessner (Hillsborough) p. Jeremy Rokosky (Bernards) 3:51

285 – Dan Naples (Somerville) p. Ronald Guardado (North Plainfield) :52; Jamel Jones (Franklin) p. Ellis Flannery (Pingry) :58

Quarterfinals

106 – Pollera (Watchung Hills) p. Jake Yu (Montgomery) 1:28; De La Cruz (Bound Brook) p. Ben Blaustein (Bernards) 1:08; Calo (Bridgewater-Raritan) p. Deshawn Hazel (Franklin) 2:52; Adam LaBracio (Hillsborough) p. Jihad Walls (North Plainfield) 1:30

113 – Murray (Bound Brook) p. Max Meyers (Watchung Hills) 1:45; Smith (Franklin) p. Quinten Petty (Bernards) :56; Winston (Hillsborough) p. Kevin Murillo (Manville) :43; Noble (Bridgewater-Raritan) p. Ted Caruso Ridge) 1:11

120 – Magaldo (Watchung Hills) p. Austin Oliver (Ridge) :45; Inlarhio-Garcia (F) md. Carlos Aleman (North Plainfield) 14-2; Awtry (Bound Brook) md. Ian DeFalco (Manville) 8-0; Remoli (Somerville) d. Jack Donnadio (Hillsborough) 9-2

126 – Balestrieri (Franklin) p. Brandon Rosado (North Plainfield) 1:29; Bird (Montgomery) md. Sergio Gomez (Pingry) 14-1; Vatalare (Bound Brook) md. Louis White (Hillsborough) 12-2; Wahba (Somerville) p. David Mupo (Watchung Hills) 4:58

132 – Price (Hillsborough) p. Luis Orosco (North Plainfield) :58; Coppola (Watchung Hills) d. Valerio LaMorte (Bridgewater-Raritan) 10-6; Arias (Bound Brook) md. Matt Whitlock (Bernards) 14-5; Lazauskas (Somerville) p. Christian Cruz (Franklin: 1:27

138 – Kirchner (Somerville) tf. Brian Burke (Manville) 16-0; DiRosa (Watchung Hills) d. Louis Colona (Montgomery) 11-5; Fagg-Daves (Franklin) d. Nick Accetta (Bound Brook) 3-2; Weinberger (Hillsborough) p. Yianni Megaloudis (North Plainfield) :47.

145 – DiVito (Watchung Hills) p. Mark Comayagua (North Plainfield) 3:19; Ajamian (Montgomery) p. Pierce Gladfelter (Bridgewater-Raritan) 5:11; Ugalde (Bound Brook) d. Peter Hando (Manville) 4-1; Workman (Hillsborough) d. Ryan Kaplan (Franklin) 5-1

152 – Goshkagarian (Franklin) tf. Tom Cinque (Somerville) 16-0; Kyle Murray (Watchung Hills) d. K.J. O’Sullivan (Bridgewater-Raritan) 2-1; Emmanuel Soto (Manville) md. Matt McLaughlin (Hillsborough) 10-0; Bergida (Montgomery) tf. Brandon Barton (Bernards) 15-1, 4:00

160 – Carroccia (Watchung Hills) tf. Max Torres (North Plainfield) 16-1, 4:00; Cassar (Montgomery) md. Matt McCLoskey (Hillsborough) 15-5; Nelder (Ridge) d. Adam Palmer (Pingry) 8-5; Isaiah Soto (Manville) md. Sandy Anya (Franklin) 12-3

171 – Hewitt (Franklin) p. Charlie Burrows (Watchung Hills) 1:43; Diamond (Bernards) d. Andrew Gombas (Bound Brook) 9-4; Paun (Somerville) p. Kevin Kolb (Montgomery) 3:51; Dunhamn (North Plainfield) p. Christian Lozada (Hilllsborough) :28

182 – Normandia (Franklin) p. Brandon Perera (Montgomery) 1:53; Udott (North Plainfield) p. Travis Hartrum (Somerville) 1:41; Fornelos (Watchung Hills) d. Johnny Pflieger (Pingry) 10-4; Picado (Bound Brook) p. Kyle Puza (Manville) :40

195 – Lewis (Franklin) won by forfeit; J.T. Valley (North Plainfield) p. Brian Faure (Bridgewater-Raritan) 3:52; Saavedra (Bound Brook) p. Paul Lyko (Hillsborough) 1:07; Bruskin (Somerville) p. Ernesto Anazco (Watchung Hills) 2:54

220 – Messner (Franklin) p. Ryan Scherzer (Ridge) :15; Boyer (Montgomery) p. Anthony Carbajal (Watchung Hills) 4:55; Rokowsky (Bernards) p. Jaleen Harrington (Bridgewater-Raritan) 2:24; Roessner (Bernards) p. Ryan Galdamez (Bound Brook) 1:03

285 – Naples (Somerville) won by forfeit; Guardado (North Plainfield) p. Aldo Robles (Bound Brook) 1:01; Jones (Franklin) p. Chris Lee (Montgomery) 3:35; Flannery (Pingry) p. Rizzilo (Watchung Hills) 1:26.

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CAMP ACCEPTS FULL RIDE TO OHIO STATE

Posted by Martin Gleason at Jan 15, 2012 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Andrew Campolattano will wrestle for Ohio State

EVERETT MERRILL, April 25, 2011 6:46 p.m.

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Andrew Campolattano (right, sitting) of Bound Brook signs his national letter of intent to wrestle for Ohio State. The signing took place on Monday at Bound Brook High School. - (Vincent Velasquez/The Star-Ledger)

After an illustrious four-year career at Bound Brook, senior Andrew Campolattano found pinning down his college choice was a lot more difficult than pinning an opponent.

The four-time state tournament champion, who previously had committed to Rutgers for football, finally decided on Ohio State after giving careful consideration to Virginia Tech, Nebraska and Lehigh. Campolattano heads to the Big Ten school as New Jersey’s all-time career leader in victories and pins after compiling a record of 175-1 with 116 pins.

“It’s a great day to be a Buckeye,” Campolattano, who wore a white sleeveless sweater with gray and red trim as he made the announcement on Monday in the library at Bound Brook High School, said. “It was a tough decision. All three were great schools. I took some time these last couple of days to really think about it.

“I chose Ohio State because they are going to give me the tools to reach my goals. My official visit was to see what it’s like to be a student at Ohio State. It’s a large campus, but I think I can handle it.”

The announcement culminated four months of speculation on where Campolattano, just the second four-time NJSIAA champion in New Jersey history along with Mike Grey of Delbarton, would attend college. Grey achieved his feat from 2003 through 2006.

Video: Bound Brook's Andrew Campolattano signs a national letter of intent to wrestle for Ohio State 

Andrew Campolattano announces that he will wrestle for Ohio State

 

In January, Campolattano, whose only loss in his scholastic career came to Blair Academy's Mike Evans in December 2009, reneged on a verbal football commitment he had made to play linebacker at Rutgers. He also played fullback at Bound Brook, where he was a First Team All-Somerset County selection on defense by The Star-Ledger last fall.

“He would have signed in November,” Bound Brook's long-time assistant wrestling coach Marty Gleason said, referring to Campolattano’s initial decision to play football. “He’s a thoughtful kid. This is by far the most intensive process we’ve gone through.”

Once Campolattano had decided that his future was in wrestling, not football, Gleason, head coach Kyle Franey and assistant Bob Doerr put together a list of criteria to help Campolattano with the process.

“We tried to give him a bunch of qualifiers, like academics, coaching staffs and facilities,” Gleason said. “In January, Ohio State wasn’t even in the top five.”

But a meeting with Buckeyes head coach Tom Ryan and his staff and a visit to the Ohio Regional Training Center in Columbus, accredited by USA Wrestling, cinched it for Campolatanno a few weeks ago.

“This is a good fit for me,” said Campolattano, who plans to major in finance. “I want to be my own man, learn how to live alone and handle responsibilities. But of course I will miss my family and friends.”

Campolattano, who won the state title this winter at 215 pounds and at 189 the three previous seasons, should have an immediate impact on an Ohio State team that was just 2-11 this winter and finished 29th in the NCAA tournament. He will be wrestling for Ryan, a two-time All-America and two-time Big Ten champion at Iowa.

“I’m ready to be in the starting lineup,”  said Campolattano, who finished 44-0 as a senior. He capped his brilliant career when he pinned Cherokee's Mike Zeuli in just 47 seconds in the state final at 215 pounds at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. He then received the state tournament's Outstanding Wrestler award, which was an unanimous selection.

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BOUND BROOK WINS COUNTIES (STAR LEDGER 1/14/12):

Posted by Martin Gleason at Jan 15, 2012 4:00PM PST ( 0 Comments )

Crusaders Win Somerset County Tournament

Star-Ledger, January 14, 2012 10:15 p.m.

By Chris Orlando

Led by seven finalists and two individual champions, Bound Brook, No. 11 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, is once again the king of Somerset County.

Freshman Craig De La Cruz (106 pounds) and sophomore Ronald Picado (182) each brought home a championship to help Bound Brook amass 202 points to edge eighth-ranked Franklin, which had 182 points, for the 36th Somerset County Tournament team championship last night in Hillsborough.

"Bound Brook has a lot of history and its great to be able to be a part of it," said Picado, who defeated Franklin's Ralph Normandia, 9-7, in the final. "We've all worked hard so this is a great team achievement."

Bound Brook now owns four SCT crowns, winning in 1976, 1998 and 2000. Franklin, which won its first county title a year ago, boasted seven finalists and three champions in Jake Balestrieri (126 pounds), Keith Lewis (195) and Anthony Messner (220).

"I started the year at 132 pounds and had a lot of losses to begin the year," said Balestrieri, who the county title at 125 pounds before winning at that weight class in Region 5 and District 18 last winter. "But I feel a lot better where I am now and have been doing much better."

Balestrieri, a senior, defeated Nick Wahba of Somerville, last year's 119-pound county champion, 5-1.

Hillsborough, the team champion two years ago, finished fifth behind Watchung Hills and Somerville but boasted the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler in Mackey Price.

Price, a senior, nipped Bound Brook's Jeison Arias, 7-5, in the 132-pound final, giving him three SCT championships.

Price had won at 112 pounds as a freshman and a sophomore before losing to Paul Kirchner of Somerville in the 135-pound county final last winter.

"This was one of my goals, coming here and redeeming myself," said Price, who placed third in Region 5 at 130 last year. "I wanted to push the pace in my match tonight and I was able to do that. It was tough losing last year but it feels good to be back on top."

Watchung Hills sophomore Mike Magaldo also repeated, taking first at 120 pounds after winning at 112 a year ago. Magaldo was 34-6 as a freshman, taking second at the District 12, Region 3 and NJSIAA state tournament - losing each time to South Plainfield's two-time state champion, Anthony Ashnault.

"I feel like a sophomore but feel like I have more maturity because of all the experience of last year," said Magaldo, who pinned Tyler Awtry of Bound Brook in 47 seconds in the final. "Its nice to win this but I also want to get a couple state titles before I'm done."

Somerville's Kirchner also won his second title, defeating Hillsborough's Rhys Weinberger, 5-3. He joined teammates Anthony Paun (170 pounds) and heavyweight Dan Naples as Somerville champions.

 

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