The Cranford High School wrestling team began it regular-season with a 48-15 victory over the AL Johnson Crusaders at Cranford on December 20. The Cougars were victorious in nine of the 13 contested bouts, while the Crusaders won three bouts by decision and one by fall.
In the opening bout of the evening, Crusader Nick Cilento edged Brandon DiPaulo, 6-4, at 132-lbs. Cougar Alex Mueller beat Matt Marczydlo, 5-3, at 138-lbs. Eogan O’Hara received a forfeit at 144-lbs. After Crusader Joey Ortega pinned Lucas Gutierrez in 3:41 at 150-lbs, the Cougars reeled off five straight victories beginning with Dylan Jones pinning Matt Pimenta in 4:10 at 157-lbs.
Jordan Chapman recorded a 27 second fall over Raphael DaRocha at 165-lbs and Marcus Nock (175-lbs) pinned John Brown in 1:38. Joey Acinapura (190-lbs) and Jake Ulicki (215-lbs) received forfeits then Crusader Matty Ortega nipped Mike Daly, 3-2, at 106-lbs and Crusader Zach Belverio topped Joey Tona, 5-0, at 113-lbs. Cougar Jim Delfino beat Keegan Parkhill, 9-5, at 120-lbs and Ryder Connors received a forfeit at 126-lbs.
The Crusaders dropped their season opener to a tough St. Thomas Aquinas squad, 54-24, on December 14. The Trojans won 10 of the 14 weight classes, seven by pin, two by decision and one by forfeit. The Crusaders won all four of their bouts by fall beginning with DeRocha pinning Dylan Castleton in :39 at 165-lbs. Mike LaRocca (215-lbs) pinned Riley Hornby in 1:48, Parkhill (120-lbs) pinned Tristan Pearson in 1:45 and Joey Ortega (150-lbs) pinned Nehemiah Pina in 5:36.
At 157-lbs, Trojan Phil Palmer pinned Pimenta in 1:39. John Howarth (175-lbs) pinned Brown in 1:37. Anthony Pasquale (190-lbs) pinned Joe Minoque in 1:41. At 106-lbs, Nick Rivas decisioned Matty Ortega, 4-1, and at 113-lbs, Ben DiCocco beat Belverio, 11-4. Attila Meszaros won by forfeit at 126-lbs. Jahir Aquilar pinned Cilento in 5:09 at 132-lbs. Reed Kerstetter pinned Marczydlo in 3:39 at 138-lbs and Liam Zeh pinned Ihor Parashchak in :54 at 144-lbs.
