CYANMAGENTAYELLOWBLACK

B6 – Saturday, February 27, 2010 SPORTS www.thedailyjournal.com/sports The Daily Journal

SOUTH JERSEY
Collegiate wrestling a different beast
MEAN 15
1. Paulsboro (24-1)
Some high school grapplers
don’t anticipate its difficulty
2. Washington Twp. (23-3) Most high school athletes dream of one day
competing at the next level, and wrestlers are
3. Absegami (23-4) no different.
4. Haddonfield (26-6) But collegiate wrestling differs in many
5. Camden Catholic (21-4) ways from other sports, from the recruiting
6. Eastern (14-7) process to the overall competitiveness and lev-
7. Timber Creek (21-4) el of talent.
8. West Deptford (18-3) St. Augustine Prep coach Joe Melchiore
9. Delran (20-2) said colleges aren’t just looking for whoever
wins the most matches.
10. St. Augustine (18-8) “They see potential in being able to make a
11. Delsea (11-7) good wrestler,” Melchiore said. “The major col-
12. Pennsville (18-4) leges are looking for a good
13. Cinnaminson (15-6) work ethic. If they’re
14. Collingswood (22-6) teachable and have a good
15. No. Burlington (19-7) work ethic, that’s what a
*Records through Thursday (college) will look for.”
Melchiore also said
LOCAL RECORDS* grades are one of the first Submitted photo
things a college will Gannon University senior heavyweight Frank McGrath (top) locks up an opponent during a match earlier this
103 ask about because it season. McGrath, a St. Augustine Prep graduate, has thrived as a collegiate wrestler.
Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine 29-4 doesn’t want to risk Kelley said there’s a marked difference said. “I know when I was a senior (in high
Billy Ward, Buena 26-4 investing some of the
John Hennelly, Delsea 23-4
patrick between the two levels in terms of talent, but school), all I wanted to do was go wrestle Divi-
little scholarship both are strictly business. At Bloomsburg, it sion I and be a national champion, and even I
Dominic Pizzo, Cumberland 13-11
money it receives in
BUGANSKI
Jor-EL Cartagena, Vineland 14-14 was especially competitive. fell out of it. It’s a bigger commitment than
112
someone who might “It’s just a thousand times harder (than (most wrestlers) probably think.”
Curt Delia, Delsea 29-3 struggle to stay academically eligible. He also high school),” Kelley said. “You’ll wake up and Kelley did say his GPA was higher last
Wil Garner, Schalick 19-7 said that upper weight wrestlers usually have 5:30 a.m. and carry people up bleachers, then year, when he was wrestling, citing the aca-
Connor Palmieri, Buena 11-9 a better chance at earning an athletic scholar- go to class then practice again at 3:30.” demic support athletes receive and the regi-
Jake Derella, Millville 12-12 ship because many bigger athletes play foot- There’s also the realization of no longer mented schedule.
119 ball. being the big shot on the mats. “Generally, you have enough time to get
Joe Esposito, St. Augustine 23-8 But wrestling in college simply isn’t for “Everyone is as good as you or better,” Kel- your work done,” Kelley said. “It’s just that
Christian Trainor, Vineland 21-6 everyone. ley said. “You’re just another kid. Every prac- wrestling takes away from your social life.”
Will Elliott, Cumberland 18-6 “I think it’s hell, to be honest,” said Rich
Justin Pierotti, Buena 19-11
tice you have to prove yourself. You have to Stories of wrestlers getting burnt out early
Sparks, a former Schalick standout who wres- prove to (the coaches) that they made the right in their college careers abound in high school
Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea 18-10
tled for Wilkes College, a Division III pro- choice to recruit you. And everyone’s trying to gymnasiums, but for every wrestler who
Jesus Cosme, Millville 13-9
125 gram. “It’s so competitive. You try to bond as a do the same thing.” hangs up their headgear, there’s certainly one
Rob Jillard, Delsea 29-4 group, but there’s so much competitiveness. Kelley chose not to wrestle for this, his that excels on the collegiate mats.
Zach Burgin, St. Augustine 17-11 Every match matters.” sophomore year, but said he wants to compete
Jonathon Rodriguez, Vineland17-9 Scott Kelley, a former Sacred Heart grap- in something again, and could start wrestling
130 pler, found out first hand what Division I again. Patrick Buganski covers high school wrestling
Dillan Berghof, Buena 26-7 wrestling was like at Bloomsburg University, for The Daily Journal. Contact him at (856) 563-
“If you’re not sure if you want to wrestle in 5255 or [email protected].
Matt Hennelly, Delsea 24-6 then transferred to The College of New Jersey college, then don’t wrestle in college,” Kelley
Ricky Azeglio, Vineland 22-5 and got a taste of a Division III program.
Joe Devone, St. Augustine 17-11
135
Mike Gleisberg, Vineland
Mark Patterson, St. Aug.
25-2
21-10
THE INSIDE STUFF
By PATRICK BUGANSKI

Q &A
Will Fauver, Schalick 14-9
Richard Morris, Cumberland 12-9 Staff Writer
140 [email protected]
Paxton Burgin, St. Augustine17-11
145
Rob Elliott, Cumberland 25-3 Vineland’s Christian Trainor trans- Christian Trainor
152Eric Reger, Delsea 27-3 ferred from Lower Cape May in the mid-
Adam Schroeder, St. Aug. 21-8 dle of last season and missed plenty of Vineland Each week, The Daily parts go
Nick Santiago, Vineland 14-8 mat time due NJSIAA transfer rules 119/Senior
Journal will speak with back on the
Gary Mosley, Cumberland 12-11 and a torn labrum. Now, the talented 119- referee Ron Roberts for an mat, the
160 pounder is trying to make the most of his ent, it’s definitely helped me out a lot. inside look at the rules of offensive
Connor Donahue, St. Aug. 23-8 final high school matches and short time
Paul Pierson, Delsea 19-11
Q: What are your thoughts on the mat. Roberts, a 1992 wrestler has
in the red and grey. He recently spoke Vineland for all things aside from Buena graduate, is a 13- until
171
with The Daily Journal about his tour- wrestling? year refereeing veteran and beyond reac-
Steffen Rodriguez, Vineland 15-9
189 nament hopes and coming to Vineland. A: They’re good on their academics, the current vice president tion time to
Eric Hensel, Buena 23-8 they press you a lot, and make sure of the New Jersey Wrestling Roberts unlock his
215 QUESTION: How much did you’re ready and prepared for college. Officials Association. hands.”
Mahalo Camba, Cumberland 25-0 missing most of last year set you Education wise, I think they’re real Where on the body
Chris Johnson, Millville 14-13 back? good. A lot better than I thought they’d This week: Locked hands
HWT “It doesn’t have to just
ANSWER: It set me back a lot, miss- be.
Dom Hinrichsen, Buena 25-5 “It’s locking your hands, be around the waist, it can
ing most of the season, then due to my Q: What are your plans for after
Andrew Baumgardner, St. Aug. 23-9 obviously. Your hands can’t be around the legs if you’re
shoulder operation, I missed six months high school?
Dain Dixon, Millville 14-12 be overlapping.” still in control.”
for that. I had a long break and I had a A: I’m going to go to college and
lot to make up. wrestle at Buena Vista University
When it’s locked hands Locked hands this late in
*Based on reports results, wrestlers “Locked hands is always the season
must have a .500 record and at Q: What do you miss most about (Iowa). It’s Division III. They’re giving
Lower Cape May? me a scholarship on my academics. going to be against the “You have to be 100 per-
least 17 matches.
A: Nothing really. Q: What are you going to study? wrestler who is in control, cent sure that it’s locked
Q: What has the move to A: I’m going to major in biology. the offensive wrestler. At hands, especially this late
Now on the Web Vineland done for you as a Q: What’s your first meal going no time will locked hands in the competition, with
wrestler? to be as soon as the season is over? be called on a defensive or regions here. These kids
A: As a wrestler it’s helped me. (It’s A: Probably an all-you-can-eat buf- neutral wrestler. It’s not are not locking hands. If
a) new experience with different kids. fet. Definitely hoping my season ends in locked hands if the defen- you’re locking hands at
The intensity in the room is just differ- Atlantic City. sive wrestler is standing this level, it’s going to be
up. Once the supporting out in the open.”
NEWS AND NOTES
■ The following are the Outstanding Fitzgerald 5-2 in the 171 final; West
Wrestlers and Coach of the Year hon- Deptford’s John Craig.
BLOG orees from last week’s district tourna- District 30: Washington Township’s
High school wrestling ments: Chalie Huff, beat Timber Creek’s Kevin Do you hope to wrestle in college?
District 25: Rancocas Valley’s Birmingham 13-8 in 130 final; Timber
news and notes I’m going to
blogs.thedailyjournal.
com/matpack
Andrew McCoy, beat Northern
Burlington’s Josh Jones 6-5 in the 140
final; Robbinsville’s Rich Galdner.
District 26: Willingboro’s James
Creek’s Nick Cottone.
District 31: Pennsville’s Zach
Inman, beat Kingsway’s Kurtis Becker
3-2 in the 140 final; Pennsville’s Dan
Yes, at a
lower level
12 votes
start training
for MMA
6 votes
“ I’m going to
try my hardest
to get into a DI
school. It’s tougher
Are you a high school Green, beat Eastern’s Hank Stinson 6-5 LaMont.
wrestling junkie? Can’t wrestling and
in the 140 final; Bordentown’s Joe District 32: Egg Harbor Township’s
get enough of stalling Sprague. Zach Agostino, pinned Absegami’s Ian tougher kids than
Yes, Division I in DII or DII.
chants and cauliflower
ear? Check out “The Mat
District 27: Bishop Eustace’s Tyler
Orfe, pinned Lenape’s Christian
McGovern in 1:36 in the 140 final;
Capella in 5:46 in 171 final; Absegami’s
Gene Barber.
■ Rumors have circulated that Ocean
No
21 votes
33 votes ”
Pack” online blog for
Cherokee’s Bill Roller. City junior Coley O’Brien (119 pounds, Not sure
your daily dose of South District 28: Collingswood’s Brian 25-0) will miss today’s Region 8 tourna-
Jersey grappling info.
Visit
Hairston, beat Haddonfield’s Ray
Schlitt 16-7 in the 152 final; Coach: n/a.
ment with an injury. O’Brien withdrew
from last year’s Region 8 tournament
33 votes
blogs.thedailyjournal.com/ District 29: Paulsboro’s Tyler after he failed to make weight. In 2008, Ricky Azeglio
Vineland, Junior
matpack. Burlingame, beat West Deptford’s Max he was a Region 8 runner-up at 103.

THE DAILY JOURNAL’S REGION 7 AND 8 RANKINGS

103 5) Sean DiEmma, Paulsboro (33-4) 4) Wayne Stinson, No. Burlington (28-4) 3) Joe Renard, Kingsway (26-3) 2) Jared Holliday, Burlington Twp. (25-3)
1) Chad Walsh, Camden Catholic (25-5) 125 5) John Harvey, Absegami (27-6) 4) Brian Hairston, Collingswood (33-3) 3) James Owens, West Deptford (15-0)
2) Ricky Carter, Washington Twp. (28-3) 1) Joey Duca, Paulsboro (35-0) 140 5) Declan Deveney, Seneca (25-5) 4) Cliff Farrell, Mainland (29-2)
3) Billy Ward, Buena (25-4) 2) T.J. Miller, Camden Catholic (30-3) 1) James Green, Willingboro (29-0) 160 5) Brian Lussier, Cherry Hill East (24-2)
4) John Hennelly, Delsea (23-4) 3) Rob Jillard, Delsea (29-4) 2) Hank Stinson, Eastern (28-3) 1) Preston Keiffer, Eastern (31-1) 215
5) Sal Giacomo, Absegami (25-5) 4) P.J. Schmidt, Moorestown (25-4) 3) Mike Bakuckas, Hammonton (30-0) 2) Nick Palumbo, Seneca (30-1) 1) Zach Greenwald, Paulsboro (34-1)
112 5) Dan Pak, Delran (28-2) 4) Zach Inman, Pennsville (28-5) 3) Robb Loeffler, Deptford (24-3) 2) Mahalo Camba, Cumberland (25-0)
1) Kevin Devoy, Burlington Twp. (28-0) 130 5) Kurtis Becker, Kingsway (25-4) 4) E.J. Goree, Burlington Twp. (23-2) 3) Kyle Lloyd, Kingsway (24-4)
2) Curt Delia, Delsea (29-3) 1) Tyler Scotton, Willingboro (33-0) 145 5) Kenny Emmons, Pennsville (28-4) 4) Dylan Gannon, Lower Cape May (25-2)
3) Kyle Klaus, Haddonfield (29-3) 2) Travis McDowell, Delran (27-1) 1) Taylor Walsh, Camden Catholic (31-3) 171 5) Michael Haines, Cinnaminson (27-3)
4) Brendan Keller, Timber Creek (29-1) 3) Chalie Huff, Washington Twp. (29-3) 2) Anthony Baldosaro, Eastern (26-2) 1) Zach Agostino, Egg Harbor Twp (30-3) Hwt
5) Josh Dickinson, Lower Cape May (23-3) 4) Dymere Rappa, Paulsboro (26-5) 3) Shane Robinson, Absegami (29-4) 2) Daymein Scott, Washington Twp. (21-4) 1) Chaz Lear, Lower Cape May (25-0)
119 5) Kevin Birmingham, Timber Creek (31-3) 4) C.J. Cobb, Williamstown (19-4) 3) Jake Poeppel, Woodstown (33-0) 2) Dom Hinrichsen, Buena (25-5)
1) Robert Deutsch, Eastern (30-2) 135 5) Khalid Shakir, Bordentown (30-3) 4) T.J. Shea, Bishop Eustace (29-2) 3) Bill Bilo, Timber Creek (30-2)
2) Matt Sausman, Camden Cath. (17-0) 1) James Higgins, Washington Twp. (28-3) 152 5) Dylan Bushby, Haddon Heights (32-3) 4) Nick Curl, Paulsboro (31-4)
3) Chuck Zeisloft, Gateway (29-0) 2) Drew Spector, West Deptford (25-2) 1) Ben Fanjoy, Cherokee (30-1) 189 5) Kevin King, Collingswood (31-4)
4) Coley O’Brien, Ocean City (25-0) 3) Eric Hamrick, Collingswood (33-3) 2) Eric Reger, Delsea (26-3) 1) Colin Walsh, Washington Twp. (29-3)