Veterans Middle School team chases perfect season

The Veterans Memorial Middle School wrestling team of Brick has rolled past 13 opponents this season, but a familiar foe could be the spoiler in its regular season finale — cross-town rival Lake Riviera, which is a top contender in the Jersey Shore Middle School League.

Both teams squared off yesterday afternoon at Veterans.

After that, it’s on to the league tournament on Saturday afternoon at Lake Riviera, where Veterans Middle School has won the last two titles and eight of the last 10. Lake Riviera last beat Veterans Middle School three years ago.

"This team is high up there with my best ones," said Donovan Brown, who has coached the team the last 18 years. "These kids are really hard workers. They’ve really turned it on. They want to win."

The four captains include Steve Turner at 185 pounds and Karon Reid at 122, both unbeaten, and Cody Oliverio at 116 and Rob Brown at 129.

Also among the unbeatens are Mike Morales at 80, Steve Santos at 110, Mike Kiley at 135, Tom Murray at 170 and heavyweights Jason Moore and Mark Stranieri.

Many other wrestlers are solid throughout the well-balanced 19-weight lineup.

"We’re pretty well even all the way through," said Brown. "The thing is, I don’t have kids cut weight. Kids wrestle their weight and do the best they can. I try to make it as much fun as I can."

Once they step to the mat, it’s all business, like the recent 49-38 victory at Phillipsburg. The team’s closest victory was a comeback 51-49 championship victory in Veterans Middle School’s own Christmas Tournament. Moore got the pin at heavyweight to win it. There also was a fairly close 20-point victory over Southern Regional. Most of the others were more convincing.

The rest of the power-packed lineup includes Anthony Guzzi (70), Jake Vescovi (75) Chris Douglas (85), Cody Heilbroun (85), Brian McCrossan (90), Brian Decker (95), Chris Giannios (100), Cory Menafra (105), Kevin Docherty (141), David Moore (148) and Dan Burke (158)