User: munderwood Time: 02-09-2012

22:03

Product: VINBrd PubDate: 02-10-2012 Zone: Daily

Edition: 1 Page: Sports-J

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C10

Friday, February 10, 2012

T H E D A I LY J O U R N A L

High school wrestling news and notes blogs.thedailyjournal. com/matpack

Match limits change records, but not a problem

hen Joe Melchiore finished his high school wrestling career at Highland Regional in 1984, the three-time state champion owned a 125-3 record and was crowned South Jerseys all-time wins leader. Since then, 68 wrestlers have racked up more victories. None have had fewer losses. The explanation is simple math todays wrestlers have more matches. The match limit in New Jersey is 30 before the team championship tournament begins. Wrestlers are allowed up to five more matches this week, then can wrestle four times at both district and region tournaments, and up to seven more times at the state individual tournament. The maximum total would be 50 bouts in one season, but very few ever get close to reaching that number. With all of those matches, wrestlers who simply make a varsity lineup for four years can eclipse the 100-win mark much easier than in the past. Through the 1998 season, South Jerseys 100-win honor roll boasted 64 wrestlers. Going into this year, the list bloated to 295. While Melchiores record has long since fallen, he isnt bitter. I think the record was made to be broken, it doesnt really bother me, Melchiore said. In fact, Melchiore, along with many other coaches, feel the match limit is the right number. There has to be a

SOUTH JERSEY

THE
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NEWS & NOTES
South Plainfields Troy Heilmann, a state-runner-up last year at 119, was pinned by Nutleys Robert Trombetta in in 2:17 Wednesdays Group III North II semifinal bout. Going into the week, Heilmann was ranked No. 11 in the nation and was the favorite to win a state title at 120 pounds. At the South Jersey Wrestling Coaches and Officials Associations annual Coachs Choice/Senior Scholar-Athlete luncheon on Thursday, guest speaker Adam Derengowski spoke about the value of hard work and dedication to the sport. The former Paul VI standout was winless as a freshman and make varsity until he was a junior. Then, as a No. 2 seed at districts, he lost on Friday night and cost Paul VI the team title. Derengowski returned to win a state title at 108 pounds as a senior. He wrestled at Rider, was an All-American and placed third in the nation. He later became a member of the U.S. National team in 1994. Some around the state dont agree with the powerranking system, but looking at the sectional finalists, the rankings held up well. Across the state, only two No. 3, one No. 4 and one No. 5 seeds advanced to tonights sectional finals.

MEAN15

ty maxed out, Iles said. Comparing eras in any sport is difficult, but wrestlings gold standard 100 wins has taken a hit with the increased limit. One-hundred wins used to be a pretty big milestone, Iles said. Its still significant, but it doesnt have quite the prestige that it once did. Even though milestones may lose a bit of their meaning, wrestling more often is good for the sport. When I wrestled, if I wrestled 20 matches, that was a lot, Homiak, St. Augustines Tyler Sentman, left, wrestles Hammontons a 1970 state champion Phil Bakuckas on Jan. 21. Sentman has 31 matches this year for the Fighting Clan, and was right at the limit of 30 before this past week. said. Today, theyre wrestling twice as PHOTO/SEAN M. FITZGERALD many. It definitely cretheir out-of-state oppo- ates better competition. nents are 15-20 matches The more you wrestle, into a 50- to 60-match the better you get. And the real issue season. In Virginia, Mary- isnt exactly the number land, in Pennsylvania, of matches, according to kids wrestle 50 matches, Stay. PATRICK Its making weight, it doesnt appear theres BUGANSKI a problem with that, Vi- he said. Practices are neland coach Dave Ho- probably harder than matches anyway. limit, and 30 is a good miak said. The only place where But the limited span number, Millville coach Scott Stay said, of New Jerseys season New Jerseys match limit could be a detriment is referencing the old dictates the limit. I know there are in college recruiting. number, which was changed only a few states that have more, Its difficult to not favor years ago. Twenty-five Delsea athletic director a wrestler who won 200 (which was the old lim- Steve Iles said. But you matches in their career it), that wasnt enough. can get up to 45 (match- over one that won 140. College coaches look Most coaches agree es) in a season (with the number is fine for playoffs and the state at that, sure, Melchiore said. Especially if (a the length of the season, tournament). I remember when it wrestler) is aspiring to but many believe the a gentlemans go Division I. season could be longer. was Fans would love to Other states begin two agreement, you have 16 see more matches, kids or three weeks before matches. Without lengthening would love to wrestle New Jersey. Early season tournaments such as the season, its just not a more often. But for now, the Beast of the East in viable option to wrestle well just have to enjoy Delaware are often the more and have more the matches we do have, especially since, this first bouts a grappler weigh-ins. You look at our season, there arent from New Jersey gets to wrestle while many of schedule and were pret- many left.

1. Timber Creek 2. Delsea 3. Camden Catholic 4. Paulsboro 5. Clearview 6. St. Augustine 7. Buena 8. Pennsville 9. Clayton 10. West Deptford 11. Haddonfield 12. Shawnee 13. Cherokee 14. Egg Harbor Township 15. Hammonton

*Records through Wednesday.

THE DAILY JOURNALS REGION 7 & 8 RANKINGS

1. John Gentile, Paulsboro 2. Tyler McBride, Camden Catholic 3. Patrick DArcy, Holy Spirit 4. Joey Rocks, Egg Harbor Township 5. John Amato, Timber Creek 1. Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine 2. Anthony Racobaldo, Williamstown 3. Sam Morina, Paulsboro 4. Ronray Harris, Middle Township 5. Tyler Kaminski, West Deptford 1. Billy Ward, Buena 2. Ricky Carter, Timber Creek 3. Juan Rivera, Paulsboro 4. Newt Richardson, Schalick 5. Evan Zuzulock, West Deptford 24-1 26-3 29-1 24-1 7-3 28-3 26-1 26-5 15-2 26-5 27-3 24-8 27-4 27-1 25-2 29-0 24-1 27-4 31-0 22-3 28-3 23-0 29-2 24-4 14-1 26-4 28-3 21-0 26-3 23-8 28-1 27-1 26-1 19-6 29-1 23-0 29-3 30-1 25-8 23-0 29-0 25-1 23-1 24-3 26-5 28-0 29-3 29-0 26-4 27-1 28-1 27-3 24-4 23-5 23-4 29-0 25-1 25-3 27-2 23-5 28-3 26-1 26-2 26-2 26-2 23-2 27-0 28-1 8-0 24-3

LOCAL RECORDS
Zach Goranson, Millville Joshua Pineda, Vineland Steven Bergamo, St. Augustine Sal Marandino, Buena Luis Rivera, Buena Tom Carney, Delsea Hector Marrero, Cumberland

106

126

1. Kevin Devoy, Burlington Township 2. John VanBrill, Clearview 3. Ron Gentile, Paulsboro 4. Robert McNeill, Winslow Township 5. William Elliott, Cumberland

113

23-7 22-5 20-10 21-8 11-9 15-10 8-8 28-3 25-4 20-6 21-6 19-10 27-1 28-3 14-5 13-11 22-3 19-8 19-12 12-12 24-4 21-10 18-11 17-9 14-7 16-10 9-6 28-3 27-3 19-9 27-1 18-10 14-6 19-10 12-11 30-1 25-5 25-5 23-6 10-7 24-3 26-5 12-10 11-8 22-4 24-7 12-4 12-6 8-7 19-12 24-1 23-4 22-4 13-5 26-2 24-5 18-9 18-8 24-4 12-9

132

1. Brandon Keller, Timber Creek 2. Maaziah Bethea, Trenton Central 3. Joe Lemerise, Cherokee 4. John Hennelly, Delsea 5. Aaron Lambert, Burlington Township

Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine John Gallo, Schalick Zach Nealis, Vineland Connor Palmieri, Buena Chad Kahn, Millville

120

138

Newt Richardson, Schalick Billy Ward, Buena Danny DeTetta, Vineland John Borelli, Delsea Will Elliott, Cumberland Elias Garcia, Millville Ed Donahue, St. Augustine John Pierson, Delsea

1. Chad Walsh, Camden Catholic 2. Joe Esposito, St. Augustine 3. Ed Lenkowski, Clearview 4. Dillan Berghof, Buena 5. Nick Knauer, Paulsboro

126

145

132

THE INSIDE STUFF

Cumberland junior Rian Lamanteer had a stress fracture in his left leg that forced him to sit out until Jan. 11. Since returning he is 9-6. However, the Colts lost standouts Cruz Flores and Jesse Swope, since Lamanteer came back. He recently spoke with The Daily Journal about his season, the team, and a couple off-the-mat issues. Question: When you first came back, you went 3-5, but youve gone 5-1 since then. What has been the differennce? Answer: My conditioning. That was a key problem, because I could not run at all. So that really affected me during the matches. Q: You guys are struggling as a team, with just three wins. Whats it like to go through a season like that? A: Its not good, its not good at all. We came in with six (standouts) and now its just me and Will (Elloitt) so that brings me down a little bit because I only have Will to practice with instead of five other guys. Q: Will is one of the best wrestlers in South Jersey, how does having him as a workout partner help you? A: He knows a lot more than me because he goes to Orchard (wrestling club). I went to Orchard a few times, but I havent been going since I hurt myself. He helps me out with my moves and scrambles a lot because hes a really good scrambler. Q: Do you think youd be where you are today without

Q&A
Cumberland 132 :: Junior

RIAN LAMANTEER

FANTASY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

THIS WEEKS MATCHUP
Bobby Hanson of Buena takes on Dave Sterling of Absegami at the 1995 Regional nals.

1. T.J. Miller, Camden Catholic 2. Curt Delia, Delsea 3. Antonio Mancella, Oakcrest 4. Dom Ruggiero, Timber Creek 5. Christian Stackhouse, Riverside

152

John Hennelly, Delsea Jarett Pierotti, Buena Jarred Hodges, St. Augustine Jonathon Rodriguez, Vineland Cruz Flores, Cumberland Jarrett Kelly, Buena Rian Lamanteer, Cumberland

Each week we will feature a fantasy matchup between two of the best wrestlers from greater Cumberland County since 1985.

1. Raamiah Bethea, Trenton Central 2. Wayne Stinson, Northern Burlington 3. Mark Patterson, St. Augustine 4. Bryce Shade, Timber Creek 5. George Skibinski, Clearview

138

Joe Esposito, St. Augustine Dillan Berhof, Buena Deon Henry, Schalick

145

160

1. Phil Bakuckas, Hammonton 2. Robert Schlitt, Haddonfield 3. Connor Donahue, Clearview 4. Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea 5. Tyler Sentman, St. Augustine

Curt Delia, Delsea Rico Rivera, Millville Richard Morris, Cumberland Dylan Manno, Schalick Brandon Muessig, Vineland

152

Will? A: Id be a lot worse than I am because, pretty much since my freshman year, me and Will have been wrestling together. Q: What are your thoughts on coach Carmine Davis fashion sense? (Davis wore a three-piece suit to the TriCounty Conference Tournament and is known for his bow ties at districts). A: We always get on him about that all the time, saying hes the best dressed coach and stuff like that. Q: Whats it like having a coach like that? A: It makes it fun, instead of something plain and boring. Its something out of the ordinary. Q: What did you think of Madonnas Super Bowl halftime show? A: Me and my friends, we didnt like it at all, we thought Madonna was too old. Q: Who would you have picked to perform? A: Anyone other than Justin Bieber, thats all. Patrick Buganski

170

1. Steve Nelson, Haddon Township 2. Robert Shade, Timber Creek 3. Nick Elmer, Penns Grove 4. Alex Gong, Absegami 5. Nick Moore, Seneca

Mark Patterson, St. Augustine Justin Pierotti, Buena Ed Shockley, Millville Zach Rahl, Schalick David Gresk, Delsea

160

182

BOBBY HANSON
Class of 1995
RECORD: 134-5
ACCOMPLISHMENTS State: 2nd, 3rd, 3rd; Region: 1st four times; District: 1st four times

MARK SAUL
Class of 1998 RECORD: 113-10
ACCOMPLISHMENTS State: 1st, 1st, 2nd Region: 1st, 2nd District: 1st, 1st

1. Rory Bonner, West Deptford 2. David Williams, Hammonton 3. Thomas Forline, Moorestown 4. Anthony Devito, Pennsville 5. John Bernard, Oakcrest

Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea Tyler Sentman, St. Augustine Derrick DeWoody, Delsea Carl Hitzelberger, Cumberland Steffen Rodriguez, Vineland James Bennett, St. Augustine Marcus Nelson, Vineland Garrett Craig, Delsea Dylan Wargo, Schalick

170

195

1. Carson Stack, Haddonfield 2. Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea 3. Padric Lynch, Haddon Heights 4. Chris Lail, Kingsway 5. Cory Damaina, Lower Cape May

182 195

Cory Pietrzyk, St. Augustine Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea Taiwahn Cosby, Vineland Sean Redden, Delsea Nick Davis, Millville

220

1. Mauro Correnti, Holy Cross 2. Roy Lucas, St. Joseph 3. Nick Pustizzi, Schalick 4. Ryan Thompson, Haddon Heights 5. Grant Corretjer, Bordentown

220

Don Fisch, Delsea 100 Votes (71%)

LAST WEEKS RESULTS

HWT

Nick Pustizzi, Schalick Noah Repko, Buena Eugene Maisonave, Vineland Obie Kali, Millville

HWT

George Chew, Delsea 41 Votes (29%)

Vote for the winner at thedailyjournal.com/matpack. Check back next week for winners and a new matchup.

1. Cody Melton, Northern Burlington 2. Tom Rementer, Clayton 3. Alex Thompson, Haddon Heights 4. Sam Ekwonike, Cinnaminson 5. Curtis Nealer, Pitman *Records through Wednesday.

Tre Porch, Delsea Jacob Paul, Cumberland

*Wrestlers must have at least a .500 record and a minimum of 15 bouts. All the records and rankings are based on information through Wednesday.

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