Profaci hopes schedule pays off at GMC wrestling tourney

By: Ken Weingartner
   The Monroe High wrestling team has gradually upgraded its dual match schedule with an eye toward facing better competition in preparation for the year-end tournaments.
   This weekend, the Falcons will get an indication of how the plan has worked.
   Monroe travels to Piscataway for the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, a venue that hasn’t been kind to the Falcons in recent years.
   Last season, Matt Klein was the top-placing Falcon — coming in fourth at 145 pounds. Klein graduated last spring, and no other MHS wrestler advanced beyond the opening round at the GMCT in 2002. However, 11 Monroe matmen lost to wrestlers who placed in the top eight of their respective weight classes.
   Strong showings in a losing effort might not carry as much weight this year. Monroe has gone 7-7 in duals, and faced top county squads including South Plainfield, J.P. Stevens, and Woodbridge. In addition, the Falcons moved from the GMC Blue Division up to the White.
   "I really wanted to upgrade the schedule, to have the kids face tougher competition," coach Sal Profaci said. "That should help us in the tournaments. The kids have seen this level of competition, there’s a lot less of the unexpected. We’ve hung tough in our dual matches. It’s been a good learning experience."
   Monroe opened the year by winning the Ewing Tournament, and had a strong showing a couple weeks later at the Holmdel Tournament. The team is without two key wrestlers ‘ Jared Axelrod and Frank Steinhauser ‘ because of injuries, but there’s still plenty of talent.
   Among those who could advance in the GMCT are sophomores Justin Bauman (112), Anthony Mancini (119), and Mike Goff (215). Last year, Bauman lost to sixth-place finisher Justin Kitchen of Woodbridge at 103, Mancini lost to seventh-place finisher Tom Trasmontero of Edison at 112, and Goff lost to fifth-place finisher Jared Maltese of John F. Kennedy at 215.
   Senior heavyweight Chet Urbanowicz, who was an individual champ at Ewing, also could have a strong showing in the GMCT. Last season, he lost to fifth-place finisher Ben Henry of South Brunswick.
   In addition, juniors Matt Horsch (160), Craig Mazor (135), and John Jensen (140) plus seniors Bryan Georges (171), Jeff DeCruz (145), Kevin Rogers (130), and Greg Dennen (152) could fare well. Newcomer Mike Tuhy (125) has impressed Profaci with his toughness.
   Last year, Jensen lost to fifth-place finisher Jack Barrett of Metuchen at 125, Mazor lost to fourth-place finisher Danny DeAndrea of South Plainfield at 119, and Georges lost to fourth-place finisher Fabian Thompson of Piscataway at 171.
   "We could’ve done a little better last year, but I think we might have been a little intimidated, especially the younger guys," Profaci said. "I think this year we’re better prepared to hold our own. It will be interesting to see if that’s the case. The guys just have to go out and wrestle aggressively. We’ve got nothing to lose. This is our chance to show how far we’ve come."
   As usual, the GMCT will feature some of the top wrestlers in New Jersey. Among those considered in the state’s top eight of their respective weight classes are Jim Conroy of South Plainfield and John Pagnotto of Old Bridge, both 103; Jeff Zannetti of J.P. Stevens and Mike Mazur of Old Bridge, both 112; Joe Bubenheimer of Woodbridge, 119; Kyle Poulsen of Piscataway, 135; Kody Hamrah of Bishop Ahr and Vin Iodaci of Old Bridge, both 145; and Brian Butler of Piscataway, heavyweight.
   South Plainfield has won five straight GMCT team titles. The Tigers will face competition from traditional rival Old Bridge, plus upstarts J.P. Stevens, Edison, Piscataway, and East Brunswick.