CR’S DALY, O’HARA, CHAPMAN, ACINAPURA WIN TITLES

Prepared by DAVID B. CORBIN

Several tight bouts had to be won and most of them happened in favor of the Cranford High School wrestling team that managed to capture the District 16 Championship at Watchung Hills High School on February 17. The Cougars claimed four champions, two second places and four thirds to send 10 matmen to the Region 4 Tournament in Union. In the District 13 Tournament at Millburn, the Westfield Blue Devils advanced four to the Region 4 Tournament.

With the District 16 crown in hand, the Cougars made it a Trifecta this season having won the Union County Tournament and the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 crowns. The Cougars totaled 199.5 points, just edging out the Governor Livingston (GL) Highlanders at 196, followed by Watchung Hills (WH) at 183, Immaculata (Im) at 157.5 and Bayonne (B) at 96.5.

Mike Daly won the 106-lb title when he claimed a 9-0, majority decision over Jake Richardson (WH). Daly pinned Matt Amador (Newark East Side -NES) in the quarterfinals and Lucas Loffredo (Im) in the semifinal. Eoghan O’Hara won the 144-lb title with a 1:40 pin over Nick Valenti (WH). Earlier O’Hara grabbed a 180, tech fall then pinned his NES opponent in the semifinal.

Cougar Jordan Chapman spent little time on the mats before claiming the 165-lb title. First he recorded a 10second pin then he recorded a 1:25 pin in the semis to advance to the finals where he won by 22-7, technical fall over Cristian Gioia (GL). Joey Acinapura had a nice run to the 190lb title with a pair of quick pins before defeating Jaquyri Williams (Elizabeth), 12-7.

Cougar Luke Scholz placed second at 132-lb when he dropped a very close 3-2 decision to Nate Keller (Im). Scholz claimed an 18-2, technical fall over Tom DiNorscio (GL) in the semifinal. At 285-lbs, Louis Kruk placed second when he lost his title bout with Justin Perry (B). Earlier, Kruk won by fall then beat Justin Abad (Elizabeth), 3-1, in the semi.

Cougar Joey Tona took third at 113-lbs when he pinned Chris Sabatino (GL) in 5:58. Tona lost to eventual champion Anthony DiAndrea (WH) in the semifinal after he pinned Max Griffin (Roselle Park) in the quarterfinal. Ryder Connors placed third at 126-lbs after topping Mike Samayoa (WH), 5-2. Connors recorded a pin in the quarterfinal then lost to Mason Tettambel (Im) in the semifinal. Tettambel went on the claim the title.

Alex Muller placed third at 138-lbs when he beat Pete Sadek (B), 5-2. Muller won by pin in his first bout then lost, 10-5, to Vince Capone (GL) in the semifinal. Capone lost to Jordan Bash (WH) for the title. After losing to Jake Kreisberg (GL) in the 157-lb semifinal, Dylan Jones beat Varson Siryon (Elizabeth), 5-4, to place third. Jones won by 15-2, majority decision in his first bout.

At the District 13 Tournament, Paramus Catholic (PC) took the team title with a total of 259, followed by Ridge (R) at 189. The ALJ Crusaders claimed two individual champions, a second and a third, and placed third with a total 101.5, followed by Brearley-Dayton (BD) at 83, Union (U) at 71, Westfield at 69 and Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders at 68.

Blue Devil senior Max Rotter, seeded second at 120-lbs, won his first bout, 8-1, then nipped Crusader Keegan Parkhill, 4-3, in the semifinal to advance to the finals where he was pinned in 1:06 by Gavin Turnbull (BD). Parkhill took third when he pinned Macain Romain (U).

Blue Devil sophomore Jake Zemsky pinned his Union opponent in 2:30 at 190-lbs then edged secondseeded Kevin Taylor (R), 3-2, in the semifinal to advance to the finals where he ran into a buzz saw with Dan Rella (PC), who grabbed the crown with a 22-7, 3:32 technical fall. Blue Devil Luke Sluberski recorded a 1:27 pin in his 126-lb quarterfinal then pinned SPF Raider Tristan Sirmans in 3:38 to advance to the title bout that he lost, 7-0, to Nick Barone (PC). Sirmans lost in the consolation bout.

Seeded third at 106-lbs, Blue Devil Dan Berardi pinned Jeremy Rivas (U) in 5:40 before losing by 13-3, majority decision to Tanner Connelly (R) in the semifinal. Berardi took third when he pinned Raider Justin Ellazar, who lost his semifinal bout to Crusader Matty Ortega. In the title bout, Ortega dropped a 6-3 decision to Connelly.

Top-seeded Crusader Joey Ortega began his journey to the 144-lb crown by pinning John Cipriano (BD) in 1:00. He followed with a 16-1, technical fall over Aidan Cross (U) then defeatedAbe Zaretsky (PC), 3-0. Topseeded Crusader Zach Belverio began his quest for the 113-lb crown by pinning Blue Devil Josh Semler in 4:33. After pinning Carter Stein (BD) in 1:30, Belverio seized an 18-6, majority decision over Owen O’Leary (R) for the title.

At 150-lbs, Raider Mike Cantwell pinned his Millburn opponent in 1:27 then pinned Gavin Schnall (Summit) in 4:59 to reach the title bout where he lost by 11-2, majority decision to John Zero (PC). At 215-lbs, Raider John Boyle pinned his Millburn opponent in :44 then reached the finals with a 2:58 fall over Nate Engdahl (R). In his title bout, Boyle was pinned in :43 by Zavier Williams (PC).