By: Ken Weingartner
As the Monroe High wrestling team prepares to enter the 2004-05 season, there are a great many numbers that point toward a solid campaign.
The Falcons return two District 20 Tournament champions in heavyweight Mike Goff, who reached the state tourney last season, and Anthony Mancini. Monroe also welcomes back two district runners-up, Al Rotundo and Justin Lupo. The four were among the school-record five wrestlers from MHS to qualify for the Region 5 tourney based on their top-three finishes at districts.
That quartet compiled an 86-36 record, led by Goff’s 28-6 mark. Rotundo was 23-7, Lupo 19-12 and Mancini went 16-11.
Scott Betancourt, who was fourth in District 20 and missed qualifying for the regional by three points, also returns. So does Mike Tuhy, who also placed fourth at districts and finished 15-10, and Grant Herring, looking to improve on last season’s 12-14 record. Justin Bauman, who was 16-12 two years ago, is returning from a campaign plagued by injury.
Another impressive figure for the Falcons is the number of wrestlers out for the squad 40. Of that group, 19 are freshmen and five are sophomores, meaning MHS should have the basis for constructing a program capable of reloading rather than rebuilding.
All of which has fifth-year head coach Sal Profaci looking at another significant number 10. Profaci believes Monroe has the depth and talent to be a Top 10 team in Middlesex County.
"We have a very solid lineup," Profaci said. "I don’t think being a Top 10 team is out of the question; we have to set our goals higher. We have been improving every season, and I hope to see us continue improving this year. We’ve improved our schedule every year, and even though our record might not indicate it, we’re a much better team."
Monroe went 10-11 last season, but placed fourth in the District 20 Tournament behind traditional county powers Old Bridge, East Brunswick and South Brunswick. The Falcons defeated South Brunswick in dual-meet competition.
This season, Profaci has kept to his pledge to continually upgrade Monroe’s schedule in preparation for the year-end tournaments. Among those on the Falcons’ slate are Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, East Brunswick, South Plainfield and South Brunswick.
"We aren’t worried about our record, and you can’t be if you want to improve," Profaci said. "The only way to get better is to face better wrestlers. We’re at the point now where we have to compete at that level. Winning is only part of the equation, learning is the other part."
As for the Falcons’ lineup, freshmen Brendan Hodel, Mike Spisak and Brian Mackewicz will see action at either 103 pounds or 112. Rotundo, a junior, will be at 119, where freshman Justin Mazor and junior Kevin Ng also could see time.
Betancourt or Bauman, both seniors, will probably be at 125. Mancini, also a senior, is expected to be sidelined for a month with an injury, so Bauman could step up to fill that spot. Others at those two weight classes are freshman Jared Thaxton, sophomores Colin Fitzgerald, Matt Barrow and Wally Seeman, and juniors Dillon Fernando and James Terrell.
Tuhy will hold down 135 while senior Frank Carpio and freshman Justin Barrett are at 140. Junior Dan Urbanowicz and freshman Brett Rutzler are at 145 while sophomore Nick Garabaldi and freshman Alex Sosa are at 152.
Junior Kevin Urbanowicz and sophomore Chris Boem will be at 160. Herring, a junior, will hold down the spot at 171, backed up by freshman Ryan Worden. Senior Frank Steinhauser is at 189, along with freshman Jake Nale.
Lupo, a junior whose wins last season included a pin of Greater Middlesex Conference champ Matt Clancy of South Brunswick, is at 215 while Goff anchors the heavyweight slot. Also wrestling at those weight classes are senior James McKay and freshmen Manuel Santiago, Cory Widom, Devon Hyman, Christian Hawley, Daniel Santalla, Josh Lefkowicz, Frank Olexson, Joe Williams and Steve Bravo.
One other number of note for the Falcons is three, because that’s how many head coaches, essentially, will be working with the wrestlers. In addition to Profaci, Monroe’s staff includes former MHS head coach Jim Kushner (who retired after two decades at the helm, paving the way for Profaci’s entrance, before returning as an assistant two years ago) and former Bensalem High head coach Allen Rushing, a newcomer to the program.
"I’m really looking forward to the season," Profaci said. "We made history last year, and I think we can continue to make history here. I know what I think the kids are capable of, the rest is up to them. If everything comes together, it could be a very interesting year."

