MHS wrestlers show heart at Bound Brook

More competitive match this time

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   Even in defeat, the Manville High wrestling team can see improvement.
   Last week’s 54-27 loss at Bound Brook wasn’t simply encouraging because the Mustangs won five bouts. MHS head coach Brett Stibitz liked the spirit and intensity his wrestlers showed before, during and after the match.
   "They came into the locker room and apologized to me for not getting 30 points," Stibitz said. "That was our goal going into the match."
   The Crusaders and Mustangs have tangled in some memorable matches over the years. Recently, Bound Brook has dominated and won many dual meets by embarrassing margins. Although Bound Brook doubled up Manville last week, the match was the closest one between the schools since Stibitz took over and began the rebuilding process.
   "We wrestled a great match," Stibitz said. "We’re taking baby steps to get to the next level."
   Bound Brook, with standout wrestlers like state champ Andrew Flanagan and county champs Nick Murray and Jesse Harrington, is still a few notches away on the ladder. The Mustangs showed last week that they’re on the way back.
   MHS started the match with a pin and a forfeit for a 12-0 lead. Tuan Anh Lee decked Jesse Villada in 27 seconds and Adam Wolcott won by forfeit to give the Mustangs a great start.
   Manville retained its 12-point margin by trading pins at 119 and 125. Bound Brook got on the board when Jorge Rentas decked J.J. Artfitch in 1:27 but Roland Yakobchuck answered by packing Fernando Martinez in 1:05.
   Bound Brook took command in the middle weights, winning five consecutive bouts for the maximum 30 points to take a 36-18 lead. Pins by Murray (130), Reggie Perry (135), Chris Dobryzanski (145) and Flanagan (152) and a forfeit to Harrington (140) gave the Crusaders a big lead. All the pins came in the first period.
   Manville senior 160-pounder Mike Zala ended the surge with an entertaining 12-9 decision over Chris Konysz and classmate Nate Bott kept the match alive by flattening John Paiz in 1:07.
   Bound Brook closed the match with three consecutive falls, including a surprising pin by Steve Lawrence over county runner-up Armand Fodorean at 215 pounds. A victory by Fodorean, which Stibitz expected, would have given the Mustangs at least 30 points.
   "We’re 2-2, but we have a young team," Stibitz said after the Mustangs defeated New Brunswick to even their season record. "We still need to work on technique and discipline."
   Manville went into the rowdy confines of Bound Brook and battled hard against a very good team and the final score was respectable. If the Mustangs wrestle with the same intensity against the lesser teams on their schedule, they’ll definitely win more matches this year.