The Old Bridge Wrestling Festival got under way this past weekend, with some of the top young wrestlers from throughout the state participating in a number of different competitions.
A total of 112 wrestled on Saturday at the Old Bridge Wrestling Festival, bringing the 29-year total to 23,153
The first group was the Junior High School Scholastic Division. Among the local grapplers to reach the finals were: 103-pounder Travis Torchia, Middletown, who beat Julian Meany, Toms River, 5-2;
A number of local wrestlers fared well in the High School Scholastic I Division, reaching the finals. In the final round, (107) Jimmy Bohn, Howell, won by fall over Sean Koch, Shrewsbury, 4:46; (129) David Shubick, Bound Brook, major decisioned Nick Barry, Manalapan, 11-2; (140) Scott Beckerman, Manalapan, WBF over Ben Conklin, Bridgewater, 3:15; (199) Jack Sullivan, Huntington, N.Y., decisioned Ed Allegra, Locust (CBA), 14-9; (214) Andy Bowsher, Maplewood, WBF over Elliot Simon, Marlboro, 0:53; and (heavyweight) Tom Boyce, Manalapan, WBF over Frank Lillis, Old Bridge, 1:05.
A total of 93 wrestled on Sunday at the Old Bridge Wrestling Festival, bringing the 29 year total to 23,246.
In the High School Freestyle Division finals, (143) James Mancini (Montreal, Canada) decisioned Oscar Orellana (Lakewood), 8-6; while (heavyweight) Ed Allegra (Locust) decisioned Tori Gibbs (Cliffwood), 8-4.
In the Junior High School Freestyle Division finals, (90) Steve Fallon (Old Bridge) tech falled Ryan Putman (Hazlet), 10-0, 1:00; and (103) Julian Meaney (Toms River) pinned Cody Oliverio (Brick), 1:17.
In the Elementary School Scholastic Division finals, (70) Maurice Martia (Middletown) pinned Colin Barber (Westfield), 1:47.
The festival continued this week with the Central Jersey Summer Duals, in which 20 high school teams, including Long Branch, competed in dual meets on Monday through Thursday nights. All the matches take at the Old Bridge Sports Arena.
Tomorrow, the festival will continue with the High School Scholastic II, Junior High Scholastic II and Open Collegiate divisions, concluding on Sunday with the High School Scholastic III, Elementary Scholastic II and Masters Collegiate divisions.
The entry fee for all the tournaments is $18 per entrant (payable at scale only). All tournaments are held at the Old Bridge Sports Arena on eight mats and are modified double elimination. The Madison System is in effect, meaning that weight classes will be made up after weigh-ins with a maximum of 16-man brackets. Weigh-ins are from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Recreation Center. Wrestling begins at 11:18 a.m.