MUSTANG ROUNDUP
By: Rudy Brandl
The Manville High wrestling team ran into a pair of tough Union County foes last week and saw its season record drop to 2-6.
Mountain Division schools Johnson Regional of Clark and Rahway dumped the Mustangs, who were officially eliminated from sectional team playoff contention for the third consecutive year.
Manville only won two contested bouts in the match at Clark in a 48-22 loss. The other 12 points came on forfeits.
Junior 215-pounder Joe Zuza produced the only MHS pin of the night, flattening Nick Diaz midway through the first period at 1:21. Senior captain Eddie Mathewson scored a 13-1 major over Ed Hamilton.
Joey Kulscar (125) and Jason Lebedz (130) accepted forfeits for Manville. The Mustangs forfeited bouts at 112 and 171, while there was no match at 103.
Manville dropped two tight bouts that could have made the score more respectable. Freshman 119-pounder Luis Martinez lost a 6-5 decision to Jeff Lim. Junior 189-pounder Jim Noble fell short of Greg Ofelenger in a 6-4 decision.
The Mustangs hosted a rare Friday night match and were defeated by a rugged Rahway squad.
Rahway won 10 of 14 bouts, scoring the maximum point total in all victories for a 60-16 team triumph. The Mustangs, who also forfeited three weight classes, had trouble staying off their backs early. Rahway registered seven falls, five in the first period.
Lebedz posted Manville’s only pin, decking Jeff Page in 2:27 at 125 pounds. Zuza notched a 12-0 major over Mike Podell at 189.
The team’s other points came on two tough decisions. Mathewson (140) edged Alexis Nicasio by a 4-2 count and Ed Zuza (215) outlasted Enrique Huezo in a 9-6 barnburner.
Another poor start
dooms boys’ team
The MHS boys’ basketball team scored more, but still fell behind by too many points early in last week’s home game vs. New Providence.
Manville, which hadn’t cracked the 40-point barrier in its previous four contests, did most of its offensive damage too late a 61-54 decision to the Pioneers. New Providence, which won by 15 points back in December, completed the season sweep.
The Mustangs fell behind by 11 after one quarter and 18 at the half. Only a 23-point fourth period made the final score respectable.
Sophomore swingman Glen Liszczak led the Mustangs with 14 points, while Brian Teryek (13) and Ed Gryzeski (12) also penetrated double figures. Teryek hit the team’s only three, while Gryzeski drained 12 of Manville’s 19 made free throws.
Manville was scheduled to host Newark Central and Oratory Prep in regular season action this week.
Three-game skid
on road for girls
Offensive struggles were the most glaring aspect of Manville’s recent three-game losing streak. The girls simply had too many long stretches without point productivity and it cost them again in last week’s game at New Providence.
The MHS girls struggled early at North Plainfield and couldn’t find the basket late at Bound Brook. Playing their third straight road game, the Lady Mustangs only managed 14 points in the first three quarters and were routed at New Providence by a 44-25 margin.
Manville didn’t have a double-digit scorer for the fifth consecutive game. Heather Mathieu led the way with seven points, while Amy Ortman dumped in five. Rachel Rivera was held to one 3-point field goal.
In addition to regular season games at Newark Central and Oak Knoll next week, the Lady Mustangs will try to avenge their recent overtime loss at Bound Brook. On Saturday afternoon, MHS will travel to Bound Brook for the Somerset County Tournament preliminary round, a game that’s likely to decide whether the girls make the states.