WRESTLING: The Viking junior won his second straight Regional title, this time in the 135-pound weight class.
By: Ken Weingartner
RARITAN Kyle Nasdeo understood why he was seeded third in the 135-pound weight class at the Region 5 wrestling tournament. That didn’t mean he had to like it.
Seeded upon criteria, the South Brunswick High junior was rated third because of a loss to Jason Kraska of Somerville the only blemish on his record. Kraska, who was seeded second, had a loss to top-seeded Andrew Cosgrove of North Hunterdon.
In the end, it all didn’t matter. Nasdeo did what he has been doing all season march to a title.
Nasdeo (31-1) won a second straight NJSIAA Region 5 wrestling championship Saturday, defeating Cosgrove, 13-5, in the finals at 135 pounds. Nasdeo won the crown at 130 last year.
"That’s the way it should be," Nasdeo said about the seeding. "But I wanted to win so bad. I knew that if I wrestled my best, I would win."
With the victory, Nasdeo advanced to the "super regionals," which were re-scheduled for Wednesday night because of the winter weather Tuesday.
Nasdeo, as a region champ, received a bye into the state tourney’s pre-quarterfinal round. With a win, he would reach the quarterfinals for a second consecutive year. With a loss, he would drop into the wrestlebacks.
Winner of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament and District 20 titles, Nasdeo advanced through the regional tourney by beating William Diaz of Perth Amboy, 10-4, in Friday’s quarterfinals, then knocked off Kraska, 6-1.
Neither Kraska nor Cosgrove in the finals scored a takedown against Nasdeo.
"I was a little sluggish in the beginning," Nasdeo said about his bout with Kraska. "He caught me last time, so I was a little tentative with him. But I thought if I could be Kraska, I should win it (all)."
Nasdeo said he learned from last year’s trip to the state tournament "not to get too fired up before my matches."
"I just have to go out and wrestle my best," he said.
Nasdeo added he was happy to have a first-round bye at the super regional, giving him time to study his future opponent. However, he said he doesn’t look for weaknesses to exploit.
"I just do whatever I’m good at," the junior said. "Most of the time, it works."
It certainly does.