HoVal wrestlers win hard-fought meet

Wrestling

By: Mike Molaro
   Although it hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for the Hopewell Valley Central High School wrestling team, the Bulldogs have focused on giving their best effort every time they step onto the mats.
   That attribute of the Bulldogs was never more evident than in their home match against Spotswood on Saturday.
   Hopewell Valley lost its first three bouts via pin and trailed 18-0 before winning eight of the next 11 bouts. The Bulldogs came back to earn their second win of the year, a gutsy 42-33 decision over Spotswood.
   "The guys wrestled tough, coming back from 18-0," Crognale said. "We thought we could hold our own against Spotswood. We had a lot of young guys in the lineup, and they came through for us.
   "(Freshman) Anthony Lebbad was winning 6-3 at 103 pounds but was bleeding from the nose. We had to take a five-minute timeout and packed his nose with cotton.
   "We had about 18 seconds left or we would’ve had to forfeit the match. Anthony went out and held on for an 8-6 win. If we had to forfeit, Spotswood would’ve picked up six points. Anthony’s win was huge for us."
   After the Bulldogs (2-12 overall, 1-9 in the Colonial Valley Conference) dropped the first three bouts, sophomore Mike Yaros pinned in 2:44 at 160, starting the comeback. Hopewell Valley forfeited at 171 but captured the next seven weight classes to clinch the victory.
   Senior Aaron Vergason pinned in 1:11 at 189, senior Greg Roman pinned in 1:55 at 215, senior Mike Williams won via forfeit at 275, Lebbad followed with his victory, freshman Roger Tower at 112 pinned in 1:53, sophomore Pete Feldstein earned a 7-3 decision at 119 and freshman Nick Kilstein won via forfeit at 125.
   "This was the first time Aaron (Vergason) made weight at 189," added Crognale. "He was losing 4-0 before he pinned. Everyone wrestled well. (Sophomore) Brett Williams at 140 and (junior) Eric Brathole at 152 wrestled tough before being pinned. We moved (freshman) Jim Felix up to 140, and he did a nice job before he was pinned."
   The Bulldogs also fell to Haddonfield 66-11 Saturday, as Roman (11-3) won via forfeit at 215, and Williams (21-0) earned a 22-5 technical fall at 275.
   "Haddonfield is a buzzsaw," Crognale said. "They are very tough."
   Wrestling without sophomore 145-pounder Frank Dvorak (injured rib cage suffered two weeks ago against Trenton) and senior Cory Agin, Hopewell Valley lost to Hamilton 70-9 Feb. 12 and dropped a 66-12 decision to Notre Dame on Friday.
   Against the Hornets, Roman pinned in 3:33, and Williams earned an 8-4 decision. Brathole pinned against the Fighting Irish, while Williams and Roman won via decision, 13-7 and 11-2, respectively.
   "Losing Frank really hurts because he was wrestling very well," Crognale said. "We don’t have a lot of depth, and this makes us real thin."
   In addition to county champion Williams, one of the brightest spots for the Bulldogs has been Roman.
   Inserted into the starting lineup about a third of the way into the season because of senior Chuck Sista’s back injury, Roman has stepped up and provided Hopewell Valley with a solid 1-2 duo at the bottom of its lineup.
   "Greg (Roman) came into our program with a lot of experience," Crognale said. "He started at Pennsbury, and that’s a very good wrestling program. He attended Hun last year and joined us this season. He works out with Mike (Williams), so he has a very good partner.
   "He has been wrestling real tough. Greg is very capable of placing among the top three in District 17. The one loss that will hurt him in the district seedings is Adam Oliszewski of Lawrence. Greg was winning that match but got high on a ride, got caught and was pinned.
   "(Hunterdon Central’s) Mark Eberstein is ranked No. 1 in the state at 215. Greg will have a tough bracket in the districts, but he is definitely capable of making a fine showing. Now it’s crunch time."
   Notes: The Bulldogs visit Princeton on Wednesday and then travel to Nottingham on Friday for a match postponed earlier this year. Crognale is taking about seven freshman and junior varsity wrestlers to the Bridgewater Tournament on Saturday.
   "It’s a great opportunity to give the younger guys some matches," Crognale said.
   The District 17 seeding meeting will be held Feb. 26, with action beginning on Feb. 28.