By: Ken Weingartner
After dropping a 38-36 decision Tuesday night to Monroe, senior Brady Shelcusky said the South Brunswick High wrestling team needed to get stronger, but not in way that can be accomplished with weights.
Where the Vikings needed to get stronger was in their heads.
"We have to get more mental toughness and believe in ourselves as wrestlers," Shelcusky said. "We know we have the best technique in the county. We have a great coach (Joe Dougherty) and he knows all the moves and he teaches them to us well. The younger kids are progressing better than in the beginning of the season. It’s on themselves right now to believe in their moves and that they’ll work in a live match."
South Brunswick (3-12) is preparing for this weekend’s Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament at Piscataway High School. Shelcusky, who improved to 15-3 with a forfeit win Tuesday, will be among the favorites in the 171-pound weight class. He is one of the few Vikings with GMCT experience, and said it was up to the veterans to instill confidence in the less experienced members of the team.
"I think all the upperclassmen put in encouraging words to help the younger kids," Shelcusky said. "I guess some of the younger kids look up to me because I have a good record and I have a lot of experience. I’ve been trying to help out with their confidence.
"The next couple days in the practice room will be the biggest practices of the year. We need to all get together, not only as a team, but also individually. If we build everyone’s confidence back up, I think we’ll be fine. I think we’ll do better (at GMCs) than most people think we’ll do."
Shelcusky expected to be the third seed at 171 in the GMCT. If he is to advance to the finals, he will need to avenge an overtime loss to Piscataway’s Robert Damon in the semifinals.
"I think I can definitely beat him," said Shelcusky, who was third in last year’s GMCT and later claimed the title in the District 20 Tournament. "I didn’t wrestle too good the first time I faced him. I think I should be able to advance to the finals and win there."
Winning the county and district titles were goals for Shelcusky coming into this season. He also would like to finish among the top three in Region 5 and advance to the state tournament.
"For the most part, the season has gone the way I expected," Shelcusky said. "I didn’t expect to lose the three matches I did; I just didn’t wrestle well those three days."
Shelcusky said he has worked to improve on wrestling on his feet, and believes that has been a key to his success this season.
"I think that’s why I’ve done better this year," said Shelcusky, who was 21-11 last season. "It’s helped me win a lot more matches. Being able to wrestle well in ‘neutral’ is a big part of it in big matches; knowing you’re able to take the kid down from neutral."
Shelcusky said improving his conditioning would be a focus for this week, and in the days ahead.
"Being strong for the third period and if you go into (overtime), that’s big," he said. "That’s how you get far at this time of year, by being in good shape. I’m just going to be running and working hard in the practice room. I’m very confident. It would have been good to get a match (Tuesday) but if I work hard in the practice room, I should be fine."
Working hard in practice and remaining focused throughout the long regular season are important factors in preparing for the end-of-year tournaments.
