Wrestling
By: Mike Molaro
Bob Crognale knew he’d probably be surrendering key points via forfeit when his Hopewell Valley Central High School wrestling squad opened its dual-meet season Saturday at home against Hightstown.
So the veteran Bulldog coach wasn’t too upset with the 61-15 setback to the Rams and felt that his guys performed admirably.
"I’m pleased with what we did," Crognale said after HoVal lost six bouts and 36 points via forfeit, but won two of the head-to-head matches and took another via forfeit. "The guys wrestled tough."
Sophomore Frank Dvorak picked up a 10-9 decision at 152 pounds, and senior 215-pounder Chuck Sista recorded a pin in 45 seconds. Senior Mike Williams earned a forfeit victory when Hightstown didn’t send anybody out for the 275-pound bout.
"Frank (Dvorak) wrestled an incredible match," Crognale said. "He was supposed to wrestle in the junior varsity match, but about 10 minutes before the varsity match began, our trainer told me that (junior) Eric Brathole had a concussion and couldn’t wrestle. Frank came through for us, big-time. He took the kid down with 29 seconds remaining for the win.
"Chuck (Sista) wrestled very well. (Freshman) Anthony Lebbad at 103 lost 8-3, but he was tied 3-3 going into the third period. He lost the bout in the last 20 seconds. He only weights 96 pounds, so he was giving away some weight."
For the Bulldogs, it was a case of not matching up well with the Rams.
"Where we were tough, they were tough," Crognale said. "Hightstown isn’t strong at 171 and 189, but we had to forfeit those weights. Where we didn’t have anybody, they weren’t tough. Overall, I was pleased with our effort.
"(Senior) Cory Agin at 145 was tied in his bout, 6-6, with a minute left. He got sloppy on his feet. The kid caught him and pinned him with 20 seconds remaining. (Sophomore) Brian Yaros at 160 wrestled the defending Mercer County champ at that weight."
Despite those six forfeits, Crognale and assistant coach Bob Bonnette are riding out the storm. They realize there are going to be more times this season when the Bulldogs won’t be sending anyone to the mats for specific weight classes.
"It’s hard to overcome 36 points from forfeits," Crognale said. "We are sticking with out philosophy of not putting kids out there just to fill out the lineup. We will pick and choose where to place kids.
"Wrestling is a very demanding sport, both physically and mentally. We have to put 14 guys out there. Even though we have 17 or 18 guys on the team, we need to fill 14 slots. We don’t have a lot of depth, and that’s where we get hurt. When we wrestle teams in head-to-head bouts, we do extremely well."
Notes: Crognale was impressed with freshmen Roger Tower (112) and Jim Felix (135) during last Saturday’s junior varsity match.
"Both (Tower abd Felix) wrestled extremely well," Crognale said.
HoVal visited Steinert on Wednesday.
"Steinert is always tough," Crognale said. "We will wrestle the way we did against Hightstown and let the pieces fall where they may."
Due to a quirk in the schedule, the Bulldogs are off until Jan. 15, when they travel to Lawrence.
"We tried to schedule a match for Saturday (Jan. 11), but nothing was available," Crognale said.

