Sophomore Goldsmith has high hopes for districts
By: Bob Nuse
George Goldsmith has learned his lessons well as a wrestler.
"I’m more experienced now as a wrestler and that has helped me," the West Windsor-Plainsboro High North sophomore said. "I’ve also wrestled some of these guys last year, so I know what to expect. I’m not the strongest guy in my weight class, but I try to use my speed and moves to win matches."
Goldsmith has been doing a lot of winning for the Knights this season. After going 10-9 at 112 pounds last year, he bumped up to 119 this year and will take a 16-6 record into this weekends District 20 tournament, which begins today at South Brunswick.
WW-P North will be joined in District 20 by WW-P South, while Princeton will travel to Hunterdon Central to compete in the District 17 tournament. Both events are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. tonight and continue through Saturday.
Goldsmith didn’t last long at last year’s District 20 tournament, but this time around he hopes to leave his mark on the event.
"He’s really found the things that work for him," said North coach Bill Mealy, whose team finished the regular season with a 4-11 record. "He’s tried a couple different things on top and he has a couple of nice takedown moves. He has a talent for picking guys up.
"I’m not sure where the kid from South Brunswick (Garrett Nasdeo) will be this year. He hasn’t been at 119 most of the year. If he’s there, it will probably come down to George and the kid from Monroe for a spot in the top three."
Goldsmith wound up with the fifth seed in District 20 and will open against fourth-seeded Tom Danielson of Sayreville. With a win, he would advance to the semifinals against top-seeded Justin Obrunsniak of Old Bridge. Nasdeo is the second seed at 119.
Wrestlers who finish in the top three move on to the Region 5 tournament next week. That’s a place where Goldsmith would like to be. Mealy also feels like Knight wrestlers Alex Ragucci, Steve Wolf and Omar Hatab have a shot to advance as well.
"My goal is to get out of the districts," said Goldsmith, who has recorded 10 of his 16 wins by major decision or better. "I didn’t come close last year. I got beat by the kid who came in second in the first round. But this year I have more experience and I feel like I have a better idea of what to do."
Considering Goldsmith didn’t even start wrestling until he was in the eighth grade, he’s made great strides in three years.
"I just decided that year to do it," said Goldsmith, who also plays baseball at North. "I like sports that are aggressive, so I thought I would try it. I try to learn as much as I can. I feel like I have a lot more experience this year than I did last year. The coaches have taught me a lot and I just try to learn from my experiences."
He remembers what happened to him last year at the District 20 meet and will be looking to improve on that performance this weekend.
"There will be a lot of new kids there," said Goldsmith, who finished third at the Mercer County Tournament earlier this month. "The only one I might know is the one who beat me last year, if he’s at 119 it will be tougher."
But even with Nasdeo at 119, he and the other wrestlers will be seeing an improved George Goldsmith. One who has shown he can wrestle with anyone.
Hatab earned the highest seed of any North wrestler in District 20 with his No. 3 seed at 189. Wolf is seeded fourth at 152 and Ragucci is the fifth seed at 145. WW-P South received No. 1 seeds from Tim Woodhull at 189 and Randy Donatien at 215. J.T. Hutchinson is third at 145 and Vince Avery is third at 160, while Nick Avery is fourth at 140 and Josh Wagner is fourth at 171.
In District 17, Princeton’s highest seeds are the No. 4 seeds received by Humberto Gunn at 145 and Andrew Meyer at 171.

