After finishing agonizingly
short of their goal of winning the section title in a one point loss at South
Plainfield on February 13, the Cranford Wrestling Team bounced back in the
final team competition of the season by rolling to their second consecutive
District 11 wrestling title contested at Westfield on Feb 20-21. With nine of
their 14 wrestlers qualifying for the finals, there was not a great deal of
suspense in the team battle as Cranford scored 203 points to easily outdistance
Scotch Plains Fanwood which finished with 169. The districts begin the
individual portion of the wrestling schedule leading to the state finals in
Atlantic City the first week of March. For Cranford’s six champions, which
broke the school record of five set numerous times, it meant immediate entry
into the region quarterfinals Friday night February 27 at Union, while the
three runner ups plus third place finisher heavyweight Kevin Doran will face a
first round match on Wednesday night February 25.
Two Cranford wrestlers junior Niko Cappello (182) and senior
Gavin Murray (152) won their third career titles while sophomores Tom
DiGiovanni, Chris Scorese and Vince Concina all won their second titles at 120,
126 and 132 pounds, respectively. Sophomore Anthony Capece also won at 106,
while junior Dave Bush (138), sophomore Brian McGovern (145) and Andrew
Tompkins (160) finished second. Starting with DiGiovanni at 120, Cranford
wrestlers competed in seven straight finals, winning four. Capece, Cappello and
Murray all earned top seeds in their weight classes, while Scorese is a second
seed, DiGiovanni is fourth at 120 and Concina is seventh in a loaded 132 class.
Murray won at 138 last year and 132 in 2013. Cappello prevailed
at 160 last season and at 145 in 2013. DiGiovanni, Scorese
and Concina won at 113, 120 and 132, respectively, last season. Concina’s other
title came at District 19 while competing for Bishop Ahr.
Murray,
second in the state last year at 138, spent less than six minutes on the mat in
his two wins, pinning Majid Abdur Rahman Rahway in 2:53. Murray, a virtual unknown in state circles at
this time last year, does not approach the state tournament differently from his
rung as the second ranked wrestler at 152.
“Last year I did not look past the next match and it worked
out. In the regions, the top rated wrestler (Travis Vasquez of Delbarton) was
upset in the previous round and I faced Alex Murray instead,” said Murray, who
did ten wind sprints after his match “to keep in shape”.
“There are very good wrestlers out there who may not be
ranked but are looking for their chance to make a big splash in the state
tournament. Everybody at this level is dangerous and looking ahead too far will
end your season quick,” added Murray, who insists that nobody will outwork him
in practice.
“Coach Bones (Cranford
Assistant Coach Justin Bonitatis, a College All American at TCNJ), pushes me
hard every day in the wrestling room and gives me the challenges I will be
facing in the states.”
Scorese,
who was Outstanding Wrestler in the district last year at 120, was dominant in
defending his title without relinquishing a point. He blanked Jashmar Phillippe
of SPF 10-0 in the finals after pinning in 56 seconds in the semi-finals.
“I am much stronger than I was last
year. I came so close to Atlantic City last year,” said Scorese, who had a big
confidence booster when he recently defeated Atlantic City qualifier Ryan Walsh
of South Plainfield in the state section final.
Concina scored
four takedowns in a dominant 8-2 win over Devin Jefferson of Rahway. After the
match, Concina pumped his fast and high fived his coaches and teammates in a
showing of happiness and relief.
“It feels
good to win again. I had lost a bunch of close matches in a row. I have not had
the season I thought I had but the states are a new chance to finish up
strong,” said Concina, who enjoys the daily competition Cranford’s talented
middleweight wrestlers afford him.
“We have so
many good wrestlers. Every day practice is like a war but it prepares you for
the matches,” added Concina.
Cappello, who has worn off the
rigors of an intense football season, won his 19th straight match
and is now 29-3 for the season. His 9-3 victory over Jaylen Bryant of SPF
exhibited his brute strength and impressive mobility. Several times, Cappello
allowed his opponent a one point escape only to take him down again. Cappello,
who qualified for Atlantic City last year as a third place finisher is hoping
to get there as a region winner.
“I let him
up so I could take him down again. I was able to get my shots in and control
the match. Having gone there once, I am aware of what I have to do at the
regions. I have a good focus and am ready to win,” said Cappello.
DiGiovanni blanked Jack Cannon
of SPF 9-0 in the 120 finals, but now faces an incredibly challenging region
that includes defending 106 pound state champion Ty Agaisse of Delbarton and two other highly ranked
wrestlers; Lou
Ramio of Hanover Park and Phillip Angelo of Summit.
“It is not going to be easy but I
am confident I can get back to AC again this year. Except for Agaisse, it’s the
same group as last year” said DiGiovanni, who lost to eventual region champion Ramio in the semifinals but
bounced back to win his wrestle back semifinal and defeated Angelo 1-0 in the
third place match at 113.
Capece started the final round
by winning by major decision over Sabri Murray of Rahway 12-3. Capece also
scored a flurry of takedowns in his 14-2 semifinal match.
“I am much
strong this year. Last year I was very light for 106. Moving up to 113 was good
practice for me. I am ready for anything,” said Capece.
Just missing the group of ten
was senior Nick Ballas, a region qualifier last year, who completed an
excellent career with a heartbreaking 8-7 loss in the third place match.
“I wish I
could have gone another week, but I will be there cheering everybody on. Coach
Gorman has built a great program and Cranford is here to stay.”
“
No comments:
Post a Comment