BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer
When Brick Memorial’s wrestling team wrestled at Brick Township yesterday, the match was expected to once again have the intensity typical of a cross-town rivalry.
But there is one unique element. Unlike most seasons, the Mustangs needed a victory to stay in the running for a Shore Conference Tournament berth. In fact, the Mustangs needed to win yesterday’s meet plus their next one to qualify. For the second-straight year, the Mustangs are struggling in dual meets in a 2-5 season. Brick Township is 1-5.
"It’s a lot of pressure. I’m just trying to live up to the expectations with Tony," said new coach Dean Albanese. He replaced Tony Caravella, who was with the program since its 1980 inaugural season. "With a couple of breaks, we could be No. 2 or No. 3 in the Shore."
Instead, the Mustangs have faced the top five teams in the Shore, including a 37-13 loss to unbeaten Jackson that was much closer than the score would indicate, with six weight classes lost by one or two points, three of them in overtime.
Dave Kiley suffered his first loss of the season at 145 pounds in a 3-1 overtime loss. He is 12-1. Mike Elshamy went to 7-4 by winning a 4-1 decision at 189, although all four losses came competing at 215 pounds. John Barrett improved to 9-4 at 140, and Chris Newlund, the only senior on the young team, went to 8-5 at 135.
"They match up pretty well with us," said Albanese of his 1-5 opponent. "It’ll be a dogfight, right down to the wire."
But Brick Memorial has had a liability from the outset by forfeiting at heavyweight since Chris Guthrie broke his ankle in the season opener. Albanese said he could not find a replacement who could weather the challenge, match in and match out.
"We lose six points off the top," said Albanese.
And standout 215-pounder Brian Karatz, who did not wrestle last year, blew out his knee recently and awaits results from an MRI.
"That hurt us a lot," Albanese said.
"Our record’s not good, but we’ve wrestled the best in the Shore," said Albanese. "We’re right there. I think our maturity level is not there yet but it’s getting closer. And our luck has been zero. We’ve had some tough breaks. We lost three meets by a point, three in overtime."
The team had a 31-26 loss to Southern and, in another match, tied Middletown North, 29-29, two Saturdays ago but lost on the criterion of scoring more first points in bouts, 13-12.
Brick Township, which comes off a 42-28 loss to Southern, relies on Kyle and Steve Watson for leadership.