Green Wave tops Golden Falcons, falls to T.R. South

Green Wave tops Golden Falcons, falls to T.R. South


Chris Kelly Long Branch’s Nick Vaccaro was one of only four Long Branch wrestlers who won both their matches last Saturday, in a tri-match against Monmouth Regional and Toms River South. Above, Vaccaro works the Indians’ Doug Fisher for nearfall points, at 119 pounds. Vaccaro won 10-5, while his team defeated the Golden Falcons, 55-21, but lost to TR South, 51-22.Chris Kelly Long Branch’s Nick Vaccaro was one of only four Long Branch wrestlers who won both their matches last Saturday, in a tri-match against Monmouth Regional and Toms River South. Above, Vaccaro works the Indians’ Doug Fisher for nearfall points, at 119 pounds. Vaccaro won 10-5, while his team defeated the Golden Falcons, 55-21, but lost to TR South, 51-22.

By chris kelly

Staff Writer

A split effort last Saturday in a tri-match improved the Long Branch wrestling team to a 10-6 slate.

Hosting Monmouth Regional and Toms River in a tri-match format, the Green Wave defeated the Golden Falcons, 55-21, before losing to the Indians, 51-22.

Long Branch started the morning off by jumping out to an 18-0 lead over Monmouth. Pat Tedeschi (152 pounds) and Joe Miscia (160 pounds) recorded back-to-back first-period pins, while Dave Barkasi posted a late second-period pinfall at 171 pounds.

Monmouth broke Long Branch’s early streak by winning the 189-pound bout from a 1:46 pinfall — and a 28-second pinfall at 112 pounds.

Manny Navarro decked Mike West in 1:13 of the 215-pound bout before Ron Conover accepted a forfeit at heavyweight.

Following Monmouth’s win at 112 pounds, Long Branch reeled off four straight wins, taking a 55-12 lead.

Senior Nick Vaccaro sparked the quartet streak with a 1:04 pinfall at 119 pounds. Bill Franklin followed with a 1:21 pinfall at 125 pounds, while Joe Leon won 14-6 at 130 pounds, and Mike Stano 6-5 at 135 pounds.

Monmouth ended the match with a pin at 140 pounds, and a pin at 145 pounds.

Against Toms River South, the Green and White didn’t have the same kind of success.

Only five Long Branch wrestlers had their hands raised against the Indians, earning 22 team points.

Tedeschi started his team off again, this time recording a 6-2 decision.

Long Branch dropped the next five bouts before Groeger recorded his team’s only pin. The freshman 103-pounder was en route to a technical fall, leading 12-1, before recording a 4:54 pinfall.

Vaccaro also won his second bout of the morning, giving up only one reversal and three escapes, while scoring four takedowns and two escapes for a 10-5 victory.

Accepting the only forfeit of the match was Leon at 135 pounds.

Long Branch’s last win of the match came at 140 pounds, thanks to Anthony Miscia. Miscia dominated his opponent, scoring seven points in the first period, and five in both the second and third.

The senior 140 pounder gave up only an escape and three nearfall points in the second period, winning the bout 17-4.