BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Howell’s Marty Holleran tries to drive Manalapan’s Anthony Accardi to the mat during their bout on Saturday in Manalapan. As huge as Wednesday’s win over Manalapan was, Marlboro’s two wins on Saturday were probably just as important for the Mustangs’ wrestling program.
“We want to try and keep the train rolling,” coach William Wernst said. “Beating Manalapan was a major hurdle. After that match, they came together as a squad.”
When Marlboro beat Manalapan 36-22 on Wednesday, it was the first time in more than a quarter century that the Mustangs had beaten the Braves on the mat, and it had a carry-over affect on the weekend when the Mustangs topped Freehold Township in an A North match-up, and St. John Vianney in a nondivisional clash that put them at 3-1 for the season.
Had the Mustangs had a setback Saturday, it would have taken the momentum and confidence they gained from their big win against Manalapan away.
Marlboro’s turnaround can be attributed to taking on the best, early. Wernst had his team compete at the Robin Leaf Tournament, hosted by the Shore’s No. 1 team Southern Regional, and the Manchester Hawk Classic last month, all with the idea of giving the wrestlers the best competition.
“I wanted to get them battle-tested, to get them to believe in themselves,” Wernst pointed out.
The Mustangs are now believers and for the first time in years they will be participating in meaningful A North matches in January. Tonight, the Mustangs are hosting Middletown South (0-3) at 6:30 p.m. They are home to Christian Brothers Academy (2-1) Jan. 20 (6:30 p.m.) and will host Howell (1-3) Jan. 22 (3:30 p.m.). They will wrestle defending champion Ocean (3-0) Jan. 26 (6:30 p.m.).
Marlboro’s success this year has been no accident. The team has a solid lineup and behind it all, a commitment that may have been missing in recent years. Nick Parisi (171) and heavyweight Brian Tiscia are two of the biggest reasons for that dedication.
“Brian wrestled in freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments throughout the summer and of course, for Nick Parisi, wrestling is 24-7,” Wernst said. “Nick is an example we use of what it takes to be a champion.
“They [the team] see the work that Brian has put in,” he added. “They [Parisi and Tiscia] are wrestlers you can build a program around.”
Parisi, already a two-time District 21 champion, is undefeated and ranked fifth in the state in his weight division. But Marlboro has been much more than its two standouts. William Jennings has been a key addition to the team at 130. After missing two seasons with injuries, he is back and has filled a big hole in the lineup. He won all three of his matches last week.
Charlie Frankel (103) is another newcomer who has had an impact.
Steve Pellicione (160) and T.J. Martino (135) are having big seasons. Veteran Bill Seman scored the decisive win in the victory over Manalapan at 119. Brian Weintraub (140) also had a big win for the Mustangs.
“Everybody on the team has a job that is required,” Wernst said. “We don’t look ahead, we take it one match at a time.”
The wrestling team is generating an excitement in Marlboro and there is every indication that this year is the start of a new era. Soon the Marlboro Middle School will be fielding a wrestling team, which can serve as a feeder program for the high school. It’s the edge that the Shore’s best teams have enjoyed for years.
Wernst noted that the Marlboro Recreation wrestling program has been very helpful and has already paid dividends.
Marlboro has everything going in the right direction. Marlboro’s win over Manalapan announced a changing of the guard in the area and made Saturday’s Manalapan-Howell showdown, usually with big stakes on the line, one of survival for the rivals.
John Gagliano’s young Rebels have won two tournaments this year (Neptune and Roselle Park), but were winless in three dual meets. They needed a win badly if they were to have any kind of season at all.
Manalapan (2-2), meanwhile, needed to recover from the loss at Marlboro if the Braves, a young and inexperienced team themselves, were to have any designs on staying in the A North hunt.
In this battle for survival Howell prevailed, 39-15, by dominating the upper weights.
Pat Sheehan began a run of five straight Rebel wins with a decision at 171. Josh Barnhard (189) and Mike Bonfig (215) followed with pins and heavyweight Warren Lisa won by a decision. Cody Fobes won by forfeit at 103.