Gewain, Van Cleef, Molloy going for second straight titles
By: Rudy Brandl
There are many good reasons for the Hillsborough High wrestling team to be considered a huge favorite at this weekend’s District 18 Championships.
The tournament is being held in Hillsborough’s home field house, the same place the Raiders clinched their first Somerset County team title before the final round back in December. Hillsborough is coming off its finest season, one that also included the school’s first trip to the state team playoffs. Three of the tournament’s seven returning champions are from Hillsborough, which rolled to the district team title last February.
"We have to make sure we stay healthy and we can’t go in overconfident," Raider head coach Steve Molinaro warned. "We have to keep doing what we’ve been doing. The kids are always pumped up for this, just like they were for the counties."
Hillsborough has dominated every county opponent it has faced in dual-meet action this season. The team’s only losses have come against teams from Hunterdon, Warren and Middlesex counties ranked in the state’s top 20. That type of competition has prepared the Raiders to make another strong post-season showing.
"We’re pretty pumped up about it," said HHS senior co-captain Jared Wagner, one of the favorites in the 135-pound draw. "There’s pride from being the best Hillsborough wrestling team ever and we have a lot of confidence. We should have a lot of finalists and champions."
Wagner won the county title at 135 back in December and is poised to capture his first district title. He fell one point short of winning it last year when Bound Brook’s Brad Galeta posted a 5-4 decision in the 125-pound final.
The tournament begins with preliminaries and quarterfinals Friday at 5:30 p.m. Saturday’s session begins with the semifinals at 1 p.m. Then, after a short break, the semifinal losers come back to battle for third place in the consolation finals at 5:30. The finals will begin around 7 p.m. Saturday.
Hillsborough leads a small nine-school field that includes Bridgewater-Raritan, Somerville, Franklin, Bound Brook, Manville, Ridge, Bernards and Pingry. The absence of county foes Watchung Hills and North Plainfield makes it easier for individuals to place at the district level.
Since a few of the smaller district schools don’t fill all the weight classes, there probably won’t be many preliminary bouts. Expect the top seeds to receive byes into the semifinals in some weight classes.
Here’s a breakdown of the 14 weight classes and the contenders for the individual titles. The top three finishers advance to the Region 5 Tournament, which begins Feb. 26 at the Hunterdon Central Field House in Flemington.
103 Returning champ Andrew Gewain (22-2) will be the top seed. The county champion, who’s a few points away from a perfect record, hasn’t faced much resistance in this area. Bridgewater’s Dan Boemio (15-8), Bound Brook’s Kevin Shivers and Somerville’s Chris Ferranti will battle for the other places.
112 County champ Ryan Friedman (13-5) of Bridgewater, who lost to Gewain in last year’s 103-pound final, will be one of the favorites. Somerville’s Kyle Sutphen (17-6) is another strong contender in this competitive class. Hillsborough’s Tye Wagner (15-9), Bernards’ Kevin McCrea and Bound Brook’s Dave Shubick (16-10) also will be in the hunt.
119 Somerville’s Kyle Ferris (22-2) won the county title and will be favored here. Others to watch at 119 include Ridge’s Kyle Sevits (21-5), Hillsborough’s Kevin Herlihy (10-15) and Bound Brook’s John Perez.
125 Randy Van Cleef won the district title at 112 last year and went on to capture the Region 5 crown but has struggled to a 14-8 record after jumping two weight classes. Van Cleef, who took second in the county, still will be considered a district favorite. This class is loaded, though, with Franklin’s Rusty Hunt (14-3), Somerville’s Steve Kraska (16-5) and Manville’s Jason Lebedz (16-5) all capable of advancing.
130 This top-heavy class features Bound Brook freshman phenom Andrew Flanagan (24-3), Somerville standout Mark Moyer (18-6) and Hillsborough sophomore sensation Mike Detsis (19-7). Flanagan upset Moyer for the county title so he shapes up as the district favorite. It will be difficult for any other wrestlers to advance.
135 Wagner (20-3) defeated Bridgewater’s Jose Morin (15-6) for the county crown and beat him again in a dual meet to earn top billing. However, Galeta (13-1) is back in form and could make things tough for Wagner. Others to consider at 135 include Pingry’s Doug Penrose (17-7), Somerville’s Dan Caulfield and Ridge’s Corey Condon.
140 Pingry’s Zach Shanaman (24-0) should remain undefeated after winning his first district title. The state place-winner defeated Manville’s Eddie Mathewson (13-4) for the county title and could meet him again in the district finals. Others battling for survival here include Hillsborough’s Chris Damiano (9-10), Franklin’s Eric Brown and Ridge’s Matt Peres (14-11).
145 This classification is wide open with several wrestlers entertaining hopes of advancing. Ridge’s Tyler Zaborsky (21-4), the county runner-up, probably will get the top seed. Hillsborough’s Pat Jastrzebski (17-7) is a solid newcomer, while Somerville’s Nick Sutphen (13-3) could be dangerous. Bound Brook’s John Jannuzzi (16-11) and Pingry’s Nick DeAngelis will look to squeeze into the top three.
152 Somerville’s Allen Van Ness (21-2), who won the district title at 140 last year, will be the top seed and favorite. Van Ness won the county title in December and has been impressive all season. Franklin’s Arthur Walcott-Cessay (19-3) and Bridgewater’s Rob Chartowich (16-4) will try for the upset.
160 Hillsborough’s Kristian Molloy (13-5), the district winner at 145 pounds last winter, is looking for the first individual title of his senior year. Molloy placed second in the county but won’t have to deal with Watchung’s Carl Riccio. Molloy will have to get past Bound Brook’s Jason Huzniec (15-6) and Ridge’s Mike Schwartz (21-3).
171 County champ Dan Miller (18-6) took second at 160 in last year’s district tourney. The HHS senior is poised to win it this time. Miller will be pushed by Franklin’s Roy Rogers and Ridge’s Steve Kammerer.
189 Bridgewater’s John Dolida (20-3) will be the favorite. The defending district and county champ will have to get past Ridge’s Tom Wahlgren, Bound Brook’s Michael Roberts (16-11) and Manville’s Joe Zuza (12-10).
215 Bernards’ Sean McMahon (21-1), the county champ who finished second in the district last year, will be tough to beat. Hillsborough’s Mark Amerman (11-11), Bridgewater’s Chester Lau (16-8) and Ridge’s Tom Grimm will try to upset the top seed.
Hwt This class is deeper, more balanced and more wide open than in recent years. There are no potential state champs here, but plenty of solid individuals. The list of contenders includes Ridge’s Charlie Howlett (20-5), Bernards’ Jeff Hansen (16-5), Hillsborough’s Antonio D’Amelio (16-8), Franklin’s Jason Aquaye (19-5) and Manville’s Kile Galasso (11-11).
The Raiders dominated last year’s district tourney with four champs and seven place-winners. While Gewain, Van Cleef and Molloy will look to repeat, Jared Wagner and Miller hope to break through on the district level after winning county titles earlier in their senior season.
Now that the six state team champions have been crowned, it’s time for the individual wrestlers to take center mat. The Raiders expect to play a big part in the individual post-season tournaments.