HHS freshman wins six bouts in Atlantic City
By: Rudy Brandl
Most people agree it’s more physically and emotionally demanding to finish third than first at the state individual wrestling tournament. The wrestler who fights back to place third must regroup after a defeat and navigate his way through the consolation bracket.
It’s certainly not an easy chore, but Hillsborough High freshman John Mangini completed that rigorous journey at last weekend’s NJSIAA Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City. Mangini had to win six bouts in three days to capture third place in the state at 112 pounds.
"I’m pretty drained right now," Mangini said after returning home Sunday evening. "It was exciting. I’m pretty happy."
Mangini (36-2) wasn’t completely satisfied, however. The HHS star had been shooting for a state title but ran into another man on a mission in Saturday morning’s quarterfinals. Delbarton sophomore Mike Grey, who won the 103-pound state title last winter and maintained his two-year perfect record by taking the 112-pound crown Sunday, posted a 4-0 decision to send Mangini to the consolation bracket.
Grey, the top-seeded tournament favorite, scored two points on a takedown in the first period and didn’t allow Mangini to escape. He rode Mangini for two minutes in the second but received one stalling warning. Grey made it 4-0 with a reversal in the third period and rode out the match.
"He’s a real lanky kid and he put in a tight waist and rode me," Mangini said. "I came close to getting out a few times. He’s just a tough kid."
Mangini didn’t sit around and sulk after his loss and elimination from the winner’s bracket. Those who feel sorry for themselves usually get sent home later in the day. Mangini decided to hang around a while.
"My goal was to be state champ this year and of course I wanted to beat Mike Grey, but it didn’t happen," Mangini said. "I had to regroup and set my goals on taking third. Lots of kids get down on themselves and don’t come back. Then they regret it for the rest of their lives."
Mangini started his surge back to state placement with a sweet revenge victory over Pingry freshman Max Shanaman, who had upset the Raider standout in the Region 5 finals. Mangini defeated Shanaman for the District 18 crown, so the two Somerset County stars faced each other in a rubber match.
It was another thriller, but Mangini was determined to come out on top this time. He rallied to force overtime with a late takedown and wound up winning his first of three double overtime bouts within a span of less than 24 hours. Mangini rode Shanaman for 30 seconds in the second overtime period to notch a thrilling 6-5 decision.
"It was all the more sweet because I knocked out Shanaman," Mangini said. "Losing in the regions really bummed me out. It would have been nice to have an almost-perfect season and win a region title. I guess I won when it counted. I think it’s better to take third in the state."
Mangini’s victory over Shanaman also clinched a place in the state’s top eight, but he wanted to continue moving up the ladder. He continued his journey through the consolation bracket by pinning Ocean’s Dan Lopes at 3:53. Mangini broke a scoreless tie with a reversal in the second period and turned Lopes to his back for the fall with the clock ticking down.
Saturday’s work still wasn’t complete. Mangini had to wrestle one more match, his fourth of the day. He also had to go to double overtime for the second time to register a 2-1 victory over Belleville’s Nick Mattia.
Mattia and Mangini exchanged escapes and were tied at 1-1 after regulation. Like Shanaman, Mattia had the choice in the second overtime because he scored first. Mattia also chose the bottom position, expecting to escape and advance to the consolation finals.
"I was more worried about Mattia because he’s real explosive off the bottom," Mangini said. "I thought it would be tough to ride him out. I was working a lot on riding legs."
Mangini survived and moved into Sunday’s consolation finals vs. Cherokee’s Voris Tejada. This was another barnburner that required more than seven minutes of tough wrestling.
After a scoreless first period that included a double-stall call, Tejada scored first when Mangini received a second warning while riding on top. Mangini rode out the second period but trailed 1-0 before tying the match with an escape early in the third. Neither wrestler could post a takedown, so the bout progressed to the second overtime.
Tejada had the choice but opted for the top position, which is somewhat unusual. Mangini wasn’t shocked by the strategy but he was pleasantly surprised when the official called Tejada for a stall that ended the match with eight seconds remaining. Mangini gutted out another one-point win in double overtime despite not having the choice of position in any of the three.
"I rode him for two minutes so he decided to take top," Mangini said. "I’ve never really seen stalling called in a double-OT match. It was definitely stalling, but I’m surprised the official called it."
Mangini opened the weekend with two Friday night victories, a 4-3 decision over Jefferson’s John Barnett and 11-2 major over Winslow’s Jordan Borroughs. He gave eventual champ Grey his toughest match of the weekend and finished with four solid victories.
"He has extraordinary composure, especially for a freshman," HHS head coach Steve Molinaro said. "No matter who the opponent is, John can’t wait to get after it. He’s always prepared, always ready to go."
Mangini’s performance highlighted a fine performance by the Raiders, who sent a school-record four wrestlers into Boardwalk Hall. Senior teammates Mike Detsis (140), Pat Jastrzebski (160) and Phil Lavoie (189) ended their scholastic careers in Atlantic City.
Detsis joined Mangini in Saturday morning’s quarterfinals with two Friday night wins. Detsis opened with an impressive 9-3 decision over Kingsway’s Steve Gray and moved into the quarters with an exciting 3-2 victory over Eastern’s Andrew Coles.
"Mike did a nice job winning a close one to move on," Molinaro said. "That’s a high level of wrestling and he won a couple matches."
Detsis (29-5) posted two wins on the Atlantic City mats for the second straight year. He needed one more to gain state placement but fell short when he was pinned twice Saturday. Molinaro said that a sore ankle hurt Detsis in Saturday’s session, when he was decked by Raritan’s Matt Pendle in 4:56 and Willingboro’s Tom Scotton in 1:47.
Jastrzebski (27-8) won his first Friday night bout with an impressive pin over favored and highly-touted Nick Parisi of Marlboro. Jastrzebski decked Parisi with time running out in the first period, notching the fall at 1:56.
"He pinned a very good wrestler," Molinaro said. "He realized what he did after the match when he saw the kid’s record. That was his first time there and he won a match. Pat did a great job."
Jastrzebski moved to the consolation bracket when eventual place-winner Frank Dugan of Passaic Valley cradled him at 2:46. The HHS senior’s fine season and career ended Saturday morning when Ben Davidson of St. Joseph’s posted an 11-3 major.
Lavoie (28-5), the only Region champ among the Raiders, ran into some tough guys in his first trip to Atlantic City. Pemberton’s Ian McCleaf sent Lavoie to the consolation bracket with a 14-6 major on Friday night. Lavoie was disqualified with 10 seconds remaining in his Saturday morning bout vs. Delbarton’s Bill Colgan.
"Frustration got the bet of him," Molinaro said. "That was Phil’s first time there and it’s a whole different level of wrestling. You have to learn how to deal with adversity."
Mangini, the youngest HHS wrestler to compete in the states, demonstrated an uncanny ability to do just that. Mangini didn’t stop fighting until he had secured a state placement and medal.