Lawrence wrestling
By: John E. Powers
Chris Lynne, the Lawrence High School wrestling coach, took the Cardinals’ results at last Saturday’s season-opening Garden State Tournament as just that a season-opening tournament.
The defending Mercer County and Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division champs, third in the tournament a year ago, were fifth this time around, as senior Matt Friedman won at 130 for his third Garden State Tournament title. He also won the 103-pound title as a sophomore and at 112 as a junior.
Junior Matt Friedeborn (112), senior Chris Floyd (152) and senior Adam Oliszewski (215) placed second. Junior Alex DeHart was third at 119, and senior Neal Amato was fourth at 171. The Cardinals finished with 70 ½ points, behind Roselle Park (76), Rancocas Valley (84 1/2), Cinnaminson (85) and champion Warren Hills, which had 90.
The Cardinals will participate in the Hunterdon Central Christmas Tournament next Wednesday. They open their dual meet season Jan. 5 with a home match against Ewing.
The Cardinals didn’t have their entire lineup at Princeton. Senior Alex Parson (171) and senior 275-pounder Mark Lenarski weren’t in the lineup.
"I told the kids that it wasn’t the best showing we’ve had, but it was an opening meet," Lynne said. "It was a long, long day. Chris Floyd weighed in at like 8:30 (a.m.) and didn’t wrestle until 3:30 (p.m.). There’s too many teams there. You have 16 varsity and 19 junior varsity teams on five mats."
Friedman opened with a second-period fall over Matt Dellelha of Warren Hills, then pinned Andrew Mogel of Cinnaminson before scoring a 9-1 major over No. 2 seed Brian Swick of Roselle Park.
"He got up 5-1 and he told me that he just kept picturing what happened to Friedeborn," Lynne said. "I just thought it was a difference in experience. I thought Friedeborn got too conservative in the final."
Friedeborn took a 5-2 lead in the third period of his final at 112 with Kevin Blatt of Roselle Park. But Blatt rallied with a takedown to win in overtime 6-4.
"He wrestled great to get there," said Lynne, referring to falls Friedeborn recorded in the quarters and semifinals.
DeHart, a fourth seed, lost in the semifinals to eventual winner and top seed Joe Blackford of Roselle Park 14-0, but came back to score a 15-0 technical fall over second-seed Jason Hollenbeck of Warren Hills for third.
"He got pounded in the semis, but came back in the consolations by just tilting the kid again and again and again," Lynne said.
Defending Mercer County Tournament champ Floyd, the top seed, opened with a 13-3 major over junior Andre Cutler of Princeton, then pinned Chuck Dugan in 38 seconds in the semifinals. He lost the final 8-4 to Roselle Park’s Troy MacDermott, the second seed. MacDermott used a five-point move to take a 6-2 lead and never looked back.
"I just think Chris was too sluggish," Lynne said. "He had to wait so long to get out there."
Oliszewski dropped a 1-0 decision in the final to No. 2 seed Dave Sbriscia of Warren Hills. Oliszewski, a Mercer County Tournament champ last year, pinned Cinnaminson’s Justin Embler and beat Lamont Hall of Rancocas Valley 6-3 to advance to the final.
"Adam did most of the shooting, and he took bottom in the third period, but he just couldn’t turn the kid," Lynne said.
Adam Goldberg won a junior varsity title at 112, while Billy Harkins (152) and Bruce Reed (160) were third, and Zack McNair (145) was fourth.

