The annual Old Bridge Wrestling Festival got off to a fast start over the weekend with a slew of local grapplers competing in the first of 14 tournaments scheduled for the event.
A total of 168 wrestlers wrestled on Saturday at the Old Bridge Wrestling Festival, bringing the 28 year total to 21,973. The day’s competitions included the Elementary School Scholastic Division, the Open Freestyle, High School Freestyle and Junior High School Freestyle divisions.
The festival continued on Sunday with the High School Scholastic I, Junior High Scholastic I, Open Greco-Roman, and High School Greco-Roman divisions. The following local wrestlers had solid performances in the finals of the aforementioned divisions.
Elementary School Scholastic Division: 43 pounds— Drew Blasco (Middletown) WBF Dakota Pauls (South Plainfield), 1:28; 65 lbs.— Carl Blackman (Plainfield) Dec. Phil Sandford (Old Bridge), 2-0; and HWT—David Amrhein (South Brunswick) Dec. Harry Turner (Howell), 4-0.
Open Freestyle: 158 lbs.—Andrey Stashunak (Brooklyn) TF Tom Milazzo (North Brunswick), 10-0; 169 lbs.—Ken Rodriguez (Bound Brook) WBF Paul Megna (Manalapan), 1:11; 184 lbs.—Derek Michalowski (Bound Brook) Dec. Scott McAdoov (North Brunswick), 8-0; and HWT—Carlos Wallace (Brockport, NY) Dec. Dan Gardner (Old Bridge), 5-0.
High School Freestyle Division: 106 lbs.—Travis Blasco (Old Bridge) WBF Scott Maslow (Bridgewater), 1:20; 114 lbs.—Jeff Zannetti (Edison) Dec. Garrett Nasdeo (South Brunswick), 7-0; 121 lbs.—Chris Gambino (Glenside, PA) TF Jeremy Wernikoff (Monroe), 5:11; 145 lbs.—Vin Iodaci (Old Bridge) WBF Andrew Flanagan (Bound Brook), 3:14; and 205 lbs.—Robert Cummins (Hillsdale) TF Jean-Paul George (Lakewood), 2:43
Junior High School Freestyle Division: 79 lbs.—StephenCompetition fierce at Old Bridge Wrestling Festival
East Brunswick
unbeaten in Central Jersey Duals
By doug mckenzie
Staff Writer Fallon (Old Bridge) Dec. Matt Oliver (Toms River), 11-5.
A total of 144 wrestled on Sunday, bringing the 28 year total to 22,117. The festival continued Monday, with the Central Jersey Summer Duals, in which 22 high school teams are competing in dual meets through Thursday night. All the matches take place at the Old Bridge Sports Arena.
The following local wrestlers had solid performances during Sunday’s action:
High School Scholastic Division: 80 lbs.—Steve Fallon (Old Bridge) WBF Anthony Priore (Franklin), 1:18; 108 lbs. —Nick Triozzi (Marlboro) Dec. Wayne Hampton (Bridgewater), 5-0; 135 lbs.—Keith Crowther (Old Bridge) WBF Harry Turner (Howell), 1:38; and HWT—Ryan Fallon (Old Bridge) Dec. Craig Yoder (Lewistown, PA), 6-2.
Open Greco-Roman Division: HWT Michael Derevicher (Brooklyn, NY) WBF Adam Aquilina (Howell), 1:29.
High School Greco-Roman Division: 188 lbs.—Pat Cross (Middletown) TF Andre Alves (Matawan), 10-0 (6:00)
High School Scholastic I Division: 116 lbs.—Brian Sims (Keyport) Dec. Ricky Pabon (Willowstree, PA), 10-7; 138 lbs.—Oscar Orellera (Lakewood) WBF Anthony Abatelli (Old Beth Page), 2:06; 150 lbs.—Nate Clark (Springfield) WBF Mark Pampaloni (Sayreville), 4:32; 165 lbs.—Alex Sanchez (Perth Amboy) WBF Brady Shelcusky (South Brunswick), 1:19; 174 lbs.—Jim Kardos (Lancaster, PA) WBF Mike Walsh (Old Bridge), 2:30; 182 lbs.—Pat Cross (Middletown) WBF Doug McWilliams (Old Bridge), 2:41; 204 lbs.—Paul DiLiberto (Collingswood) MD Jean-Paul George (Lakewood); and 220 lbs.—Peter Hochhauser (Howell) WBF Elliot Simon (Marlboro), 4:11.
The Central Jersey Duals will wrap up tonight, leaving just Saturday and Sunday’s action. On Saturday High Scholastic II, Junior High Scholastic II and Open Collegiate divisions will be featured, while Sunday’s action will include the High School Scholastic III, Elementary Scholastic II and Masters Collegiate divisions.
All tournaments are held at the Old Bridge Sports Arena on eight mats and are modified double elimination. Weight classes are made up after weigh-in with a maximum of 16-man brackets. Wrestling begins at 11:14 a.m.
Thus far in the Duals competition, East Brunswick has been the surprise of the 22-team tournament, knocking off Old Bridge, John F. Kennedy and Rahway to take control of the American Division. With a win over North Plainfield last night, the Bears would have earned a place in tonight’s semifinal round.
South Brunswick is also 3-0, after knocking off Bridgewater, Westfield and Edison, and is in control of the Clonial Division. The Vikings were to face Piscataway and Ocean last night for a trip to the semis.