Northern Burlington set for District 25 Tournament

Wrestlers have the talent to win championships.

By:Sean Moylan
    Let’s face facts. The Northern Burlington County Regional High School boy’s varsity wrestling team is 10 or 11 guys who have the talent to advance out of this weekend’s District 25 Tournament, which will be held at Rancocas Valley.
    In fact, Chris McMullen (103 pounds), Jeff Verity (112), Steve Barton (119), Mike Brewer (130), Al Wonesh (135), Erik George (140), Rich Feig (145), Dan Lobue (171) and Chris Garofalo (189) have the kind of talent to win District titles if they at their best this weekend.
    Nevertheless, this past Saturday Hamilton edged NBC, 33-31. NBC had a 31-21 lead, but it lost its final two matches by pin.
    Still, Garofalo (189 pounds) won a 6-0 decision against Nick Snyder to put the Greyhounds on the scoreboard. At 103, McMullen pinned Hamilton’s Bill Groom at the 2:58 mark of their match. Verity followed with a 94-second pin against Hamilton’s 112-pounder Rob Fink. And, at 125 pounds, it took Barton only 37 seconds to pin Hamilton’s Rich Whitehouse.
    Wonesh won a 2-2 rideout decision against Hamilton’s Chris Prihoda (135). George (140) demolished Hamilton’s Eric Ammirata 14-4 and Feig decisioned Hamilton’s 145-pounder Joe Yenchik, 3-1.
    NBC’s Steve Makuka and Mike Brewer, two of the team’s best grapplers missed the match. If they get back in the lineup in time for the Districts, they both should do well.
    NBC finished the regular season with a 14-6-1 record.
    Hamilton was a great team to warm up for the districts because it has depth and will be one of the squads Northern Burlington will have to face at Rancocas Valley this weekend. The other top teams in the districts are Rancocas Valley and Pemberton.
    The seedings were released this past Tuesday. Northern Burlington’s lower weights gained a lot of respect and will largely determine how it does as a team. Of course, individuals results are also at stake. The top three wrestlers in each weight class will advance on to the Region VII Tournament.
    McMullen earned the top seed at 103 pounds. He figures to get his top competition from New Egypt’s Craig Morton, who placed third in the districts last year. McMullen defeated Morton when the pair wrestled during the regular season.
    Verity earned the third seed at 112 pounds. Rancocas Valley’s Kyle Latimer and Pemberton’s Kyle Stiffler hold the top two spots.
    Barton earned the top seed at 119 pounds. Hightstown’s Brandon Tyers is seeded second and Rancocas Valley’s Donnie Hayes third.
    Mike Brewer earned the third seed at 130 pounds. Hamilton’s Eric Ammirata and Rancocas Valley’s Renee Deville earned the top two spots, but Brewer would advance on if the seeds hold.
    Wonesh is seeded second at 135, behind Allentown’s Cerankowski, who enters the tournament with a 22-1 record. Cerankowski’s lone loss came to Hamilton’s Chris Prihoda, the third seed. Cerankowski dominated the match, however, and accidentally pinned himself while turning Prihoda for back points.
    George, seeded third at 140, is another Northern Burlington kid who will advance if he wrestles as well as he is ranked. Rancocas Valley’s Ryan Pope and Hamilton’s Joe Yenchik have the top two spots.
    Feig is ranked second at 145 pounds. Rancocas Valley’s Justin Pilla has the top spot.
    Northern Burlington only has one wrestlers ranked in the top four slots among the heaviest six weight classes, but he is a good one. Chis Garofalo has the top seed at 189 pounds.