Wrestlers from 33 New Jersey towns gathered at Metuchen High School last Sunday for the 22nd Annual Metuchen Grapplers Wrestling Club Novice Tournament.
For recreational wrestling clubs, this tournament marks the end of the season. There were 278 wrestlers competing to win the last medals of the year. Metuchen entered 15 novice wrestlers in the tournament and earned 12 awards. In the 40-pound Pee Wee division championship match, Matthew Dalfonsi lost a squeaker in overtime and took home a silver medal. David Parnell, also a Pee Wee division wrestler, earned a third-place award in the 51-pound weight class. Three Bantam division wrestlers gained awards, Richard Canton (at 92 pounds) took home a second-place medal, while brothers Robert and John Yunckes earned third- and fourth-place prizes in the 57-pound and 53-pound classes. Robert Parnell, an 87-pound Midget division wrestler, placed second, while Alex Kish (at 80 pounds) placed fourth. In the Junior division, 125-pound Ryan Helly gained a second-place medal. Matthew Scapardine, 115 pounds, and Mike Hansen, 125 pounds, both placed third. Tim Sullivan, a 123-pound Intermediate, earned a second-place medal.