E.B. wrestlers hope to improve after tough start
Young squad faces
quality opponents
at Jackson Duals
VERONICA YANKOWSKI Jay Koonts of Jackson and Jaime Guido of East Brunswick sneak a peek at the clock during their 119-pound bout on Saturday in Jackson.
The East Brunswick High School wrestling team probably couldn’t have asked for a tougher way to kick off the 2001-2002 season.
The Bears took part in the eight-team Jackson Duals last weekend at Jackson High School, and came away with an 0-3 start, losing to host Jackson 54-6, High Point 43-24, and Northern Burlington 44-12. Ouch!
"It was a tough way to start, especially for a young team like ours," head coach Glen Pazinko admitted. "Of the other seven teams there, four of them are already ranked in the top 20 in the state and a fifth team will probably be ranked this week.
"It’s not an easy way to open, but I think it will help our kids down the road."
VERONICA YANKOWSKI East Brunswick’s Tim Ackerman tries to work on Jackson’s Bryan Pecelli during their 130-pound bout at the Jackson Duals on Saturday.
Wrestling tough competition always does, but don’t be fooled by the rough start. Even though the three losses were almost half as many as all of last season when the Bears went 8-7, this team will get better and could put together another winning season.
"We certainly have the potential to get back to where we were last year," Pazinko, now in his 11th season, said. "It’s just a matter of getting out there and performing.
"Our upper weights were mainly senior dominated last year," he added, "but a few of the sophomores wrestled last year. Everyone just has to step up and develop."
One of those sophomores, Carmen Carona, finished third in the district last season as a 103-pound freshman.
He’s moved up to the 125-pound weight class this season and went 1-2 at Jackson last weekend.
Two more East Brunswick wrestlers, both juniors, also came in third at the districts last season. Brian Ackerman, a bronze winner at 130, has moved up to 135 and won two of his three matches last weekend, while John Clay, a third-place finisher at 171, is up to 189 and beat his High Point opponent at the Duals.
Five more wrestlers with varsity experience are also back. Junior Jamie Guido has moved up from 112 to 119 and went 1-2 at Jackson, beating his Northern Burlington foe. Senior Tim Ackerman, the Bears’ 119-pounder last season, is up to 130 and also went 1-2 at the Duals with a win against Jackson.
Sophomore Matt Merrigan, a starter at 145 a year ago, is at 152 and recorded a win over High Point last week, while junior Nate Mull, who wrestled at 140, is up to 160. Senior Jay Silitsky, who saw action at 145 last season, is also at 160.
The rest of the lineup is made up of varsity newcomers.
Sophomore Nick Marrone at 145 and junior Dimitry Kuzinets at 171 are both up from the JV ranks.
Sophomore Padraic Bean, another JV wrestler last season, is currently sidelined with a foot injury, but is expected to battle junior Brian MacClaren for the 140-pound spot.
Senior Keven Hendricks, another backup last year, and junior Brian Campbell, who was injured last season, will divide the duties at 215 and 275 pounds.
At the other end of the lineup will be a pair of freshmen. John Parke, who posted a victory against Northern Burlington, is at 112 pounds, while fellow frosh Corey Ritchings is at 103 and won two of his three matches in his varsity debut.
"The only match he lost was 2-0 to a wrestler from Jackson who was third in the region last year," Pazinko pointed out. "He’s only a freshman, but he should be good."
And the Bears as a team should be good by the time the end of the season rolls around.
"We just have to get the confidence wrestling varsity matches and the confidence to win," Pazinko said. "That’s one of the things that came through last week. We just need to get experience and improve on what we’re doing.
"We knew it would be tough going into the season, but there’s great potential on this team," he concluded. "They’re working hard and they have the right attitude. They’ll keep improving and you’ll see a big difference in this team from right now to the end of the year. That’s really what we’re striving for."
East Brunswick returned to the mats yesterday when they hosted an improved Sayreville squad. On Saturday, they will take part in a tri-meet with Howell and Holmdel. Howell is one of the Shore Conference’s top teams, and should provide the Bears with yet another early-season test.
From there, the Bears will turn their attention to the Hunterdon Central Holiday Tournament, starting on Dec. 28.