Redbird wrestlers aim for individual district honors
Allentown team wins
five matches despite shortage of wrestlers
JERRY WOLKOWITZ Freehold Township’s Lisa Lapinski grabs a rebound during Friday night’s game against Toms River East in Freehold. The Lady Pats played well but lost to the Raiders 42-37 in Shore Conference Tournament play.
uality, not quantity, has been the creed of the Allentown High School wrestling team the past few seasons.
The Redbirds were again hurt by a lack of numbers this season. In fact, with only about a dozen wrestlers in the program, coach Ed Dunckley isn’t even able to fill all 14 weight classes. Factor in some injuries and untimely sicknesses, and the team was forced to forfeit several matches a meet throughout the season.
"In most cases I was forfeiting 18 points a meet," Dunckley, completing his third season as coach, pointed out. "I had a serious problem with numbers again this season. We just didn’t get a good turnout and had a lot of openings in the lineup."
And as a result, Allentown finished only 5-10 during the 2001-2002 dual meet season.
"I thought we could have won a couple of more matches, but the cards just didn’t fall right for us," Dunckley said. "I really think we could’ve had six or seven wins, but between kids being hurt and sick, we gave away too many points."
But the good news is the postseason portion of the schedule is about to commence, beginning with the District 25 Tournament this weekend at Steinert High School. Or as Dunckley says, "Now we’re down to the nitty-gritty."
It’s also the time of year where quality is rewarded more than quantity. The Redbirds certainly have their share of quality wrestlers, too, and should make some noise not only Friday night and all day Saturday, but perhaps beyond. The top three finishers in each weight class at the districts advance to the Region 7 tournament next weekend, and the top place winners there move onto the state tournament.
"We can’t compete as far as the team tournament aspect goes," he said. "But the kids I have are doing very well, and we should compete individually in a several weight classes."
If this scenario sounds all too familiar, it’s because Allentown went through a similar situation just about last year at this time. The Redbirds won only three matches during the regular season, but then excelled in the postseason.
At last year’s district tourney, for example, two AHS wrestlers made it to the finals and one of them, senior Tom Painchaud, captured the 145-pound championship.
Meanwhile, Anthony Stover, another senior, finished runner-up at 130 pounds, while a third Redbird, sophomore Nick Painchaud, placed third at 112 and also went to the regionals.
The younger Painchaud, now a junior, is back this season and has been the team’s top wrestler with a perfect 20-0 record.
"He’s gone back and forth between 112 and 119," Dunckley noted. "I always had him go against whoever the other team’s tougher kid was at those weights, but he’ll wrestle at 112 at the districts."
Included in Painchaud’s victories was a first-place finish at the annual Mercer County Tournament Feb. 1-2 at Trenton High School as well as capturing a gold medal at the Ewing High School Christmas Tournament.
"He’s finished first at just about every tournament," Dunckley said.
Three more Allentown wrestlers who have had solid seasons are Frank Cerankowski, Brian Simon and Kenny Keim.
Cerankowski, a junior and a fourth-place finisher at 119 pounds at last year’s districts, is an impressive 17-3 this season at 130 pounds, where he should be one of the top contenders this weekend.
"He’s had a great season for us," Dunckley said, adding that Cerankowski finished third at the Mercer County Tournament and first at the Ewing tourney. "His only losses were all to tough opponents."
Simon, another junior, is only a first-year wrestler, but is 15-8 at 125, including a third-place finish at Ewing and a sixth-place showing at the Mercer County Tournament.
"For a first-year wrestler he’s done very well," Dunckley said. "Where the heck he was the other two years I don’t know. But I expect good things from him, if not this year, then definitely in the future."
Keim, the only senior on the team, is 15-5, taking third at Ewing. Dunckley expects him to do well this weekend.
Two more wrestlers with winning records are sophomore Matt Schottlander, who’s 10-9 at 103 pounds, and junior Ed Zawada, 11-9 at 140.
"Matt started out good, but then had the flu and slumped a little," Dunckley said. "I wanted to sit him out a few matches, but he kept on pushing. I think he’s back on track now, though.
"And Ed is in a packed weight class, but on any given day, he can beat anyone. He took second at the Mercer County Tournament."
Dunckley has also been pleased with the progress this season of junior Jason Bednar (6-10 at 189), sophomores Bruce Allen (6-9 at 135) and Matt Merritt (6-11 at 152), and freshman Nick Pate (6-12 at 119).
Junior Matt Mordas, who’s 2-2 at 145 since coming back Feb. 6 from a broken wrist, and freshman Evan Tiel at 171 round out a lineup which doesn’t have a 215 or 275 pounder.
"We started out with about 20 kids at the beginning of the season, but now we’re down to 12," Dunckley said. "My assistant coaches, Roy Baker and Ryan Longman, and I are trying to start up a youth wrestling program in town during the summer. Maybe then we can get some better numbers out."
And maybe get some quantity to go along with that quality.