J. BOYLE UCT CROWN, 2ND DIST.; CANTWELL 2ND DIST.
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School wrestling team showed some improvement from last year’s squad that finished with 15 wins and had no Region 4 qualifiers. This season, the Raiders finished with a 17-9 record, claimed one Union County Tournament (UCT) champion and a third place, and also had two wrestlers qualify for the Region 4 Tournament in Union.
The Raiders opened their season with a win over the Plainfield Cardinals then after taking a shellacking from the 19-3 Cranford Cougars (UCT, Sectional, District 16 Champions), they reeled off seven straight victories beginning with a close shave win over the Union Farmers, 39-38.
The next five wins were out of county teams – Garfield (52-20), Orange (64-6) JP Stevens (66-10), Newark East Side (45-30), Newark Academy (36-6). The final victory in that run was over the Roselle Rams, 84-0. A few tougher opponents followed and the Raiders took a bow to the AL Johnson Crusaders, 42-34, and the tough Governor Livingston Highlanders, 56-15.
After defeating Parsippany, 57-18, the Raiders lost to the Rahway Indians, 60-18, and the Somerville Pioneers, 34-33. A 42-30 victory over the New Pioneers was followed with a 44-33 setback to the Westfield Blue Devils. Four straight wins – Belvidere (51-24), Roselle Park Panthers (5112), Summit Hilltoppers (42-36), Rutgers Prep (66-12) – elevated the Raiders’ record to 14-6.
The Iselin Kennedy Mustangs got the best of the Raiders, 45-36, then the North Hunterdon Lions ousted them, 61-18, in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Tournament. The Raiders defeated Hoboken, 48-21, Elizabeth, 49-24, and North Plainfield, 45-27, before dropping their final match to the Brearley Bears, 42-33.
The Raiders entered only a handful of wrestlers at the UCT but their best success came from junior John Boyle, who battled his way from the sixth seed at 190-lbs to the championship bout where he claimed a 14-4, majority decision over Jaquyri Williams (Elizabeth). Boyle began his journey with a 6-1 decision over third-seeded James Daoulabani (Governor Livingston) then he knocked off second- seeded Andrew Avent (Rahway) via 5:04 fall. Boyle bumped up to 215-lbs and placed second in the District 13 Tournament but lost in the preliminary round of the Region 4 Tournament to Terrence Avent (Rahway).
Competing at 150-lbs, junior Mike Cantwell placed third in the UCT when he beat Joe Squillaro (Brearley), 5-2. Earlier, Cantwell topped Hodari Morgan (Union), 5-0, then lost to Joe Dasti (Governor Livingston) in the semi. Cantwell then beat Gavin Schnall (Summit) to wrestle for third place. Cantwell also placed second in the district but dropped his first bout to Will Corbett (Ridge).
Junior Tristan Sirmans competed in the UCT at 126-lbs. He was cast into the wrestlebacks after losing to Henrique Ribeiro (Governor Livingston – won title). Sirmans pinned Dayyan Beverley (Plainfield) then lost to Gavin Turnbull (Brearley). Junior Aadi Kenwar (157-lbs) won his first UCT bout then lost to Jake Kreisberg (Governor Livingston won title). Kenwar then lost to Ryder Vorndran (Brearley).
Wrestling in the UCT at 285-lbs, sophomore Paul Boyle pinned Darren Ikinhagbon (Hillside), lost to UCT eventual champ Sam Henry (Summit) by fall then lost to Chris Almedia (Elizabeth). Junior Anthony Aponte (132-lbs) lost in the opening round of the UCT to Adrian Harris (Rahway).
The other primary varsity starters were junior Justin Ellazar (106), sophomore Dan McArdle (113), junior Sam Lindell (120), junior Ryan Ricci (138), senior Mike Estevez (144), sophomore Ryan Gilligan (165) and junior Jaden Redd (175).
The Raiders look to return all but one of their starting varsity wrestlers next year so a bounce up in the ladder could be expected.
