By: Ken Weingartner
When David Amrhein first started practicing with the South Brunswick High varsity wrestling team, he had some reservations about how well he might do for the Vikings.
It’s not that Amrhein doubted his abilities. After all, he was the Middlesex County heavyweight champ at Crossroads Middle School a year ago. But as a freshman facing juniors and seniors, he found the competition in the South Brunswick weight room to be tough.
Of course, Amrhein was often facing Greater Middlesex Conference 215-pound champ Matt Clancy, who this season is ranked among the state’s top five at 189, and returning district champ Derek Shelcusky.
"At the beginning of the year, I didn’t think I’d be doing as good as I am," said Amrhein, who had posted a 10-4 record through Tuesday. "I didn’t realize how good those guys were compared to everyone else. When I realized it, it helped me to be more confident."
Amrhein credited coach Joe Dougherty for his success this year. The freshman has wrestled at 189, 215 and heavyweight, and said Dougherty usually finds the match up that best suits Amrhein.
"I thought I would be maybe .500 this year; I certainly didn’t think I’d be 10-4 at this point," Amrhein said. "I think things are going pretty good. Some of the wins, Coach has helped me get. He could have put me out there against a harder kid, but he let one of the other guys wrestle them. He’s helping me by getting me in the right spot in the lineup to help the team."
Amrhein’s talent, versatility and willingness to wrestle anywhere have given Dougherty the flexibility to juggle the lineup. Amrhein’s natural weight is around 190, and he works to stay in that range so he can be available wherever needed.
It’s not easy, though. Keeping weight on can be as big a problem for a wrestler as taking off weight. Practices are demanding, and Amrhein said he could lose three to five pounds in every workout.
"All the other years, I’ve had to drop a few pounds, but this is pretty hard, too," Amrhein said. "One day I might be over and the next day I might be under. But I think my role is important because we really haven’t had kids consistently winning matches wherever Coach has had to put them. Even if I don’t win, I don’t usually get pinned, so I don’t give up bonus points or anything."
Amrhein started wrestling in the second grade. He was looking for a sport in which to participate in the winter, and basketball didn’t appeal to him.
"Wrestling was the only other option," Amrhein said. "It was fun and it helped me get better for football. And I found out I was pretty good at it."
In the fall, Amrhein played varsity football, so he wasn’t unfamiliar with facing older, more experienced and stronger foes. At 5-foot-11, Amrhein probably still has some growing to do. And he knows he needs to improve his strength to win on a regular basis against wrestlers in the heavyweight division.
"I’m not really strong, but my technique is pretty good," he said. "Seniors are more physically mature, so it’s a little more difficult. With the heavyweights, I have to use my quickness to be successful. I have to get a quick shot and hope they don’t land on me.
"I usually don’t get tired at the end of matches. But sometimes against the bigger kids, my muscles can’t take it. That’s why I hope to get stronger in offseason. Some of those kids are 260 or 270. I have to wrestle them differently. They’re slower, so I can use my speed more. I have to be smart and not get stuck or let them roll me over to my back. I have to be more cautious, but when I do attack, I have to attack fast."
Being somewhat undersized might serve as a minor advantage for Amrhein from the standpoint that opponents could take him lightly.
"Some of the times when I’ve won, I know my opponent is mad at himself because he’s lost to someone who is so small and so young," Amrhein said. "It makes me feel like I’m getting better and better."
Amrhein said his primary goal for this season is to "keep winning and helping the team out." He would like to win a few matches in the district tournament in February, but knows it will be tough.
"I know the heavyweight division is loaded," Amrhein said. "I don’t know how good I’ll do. I just hope they aren’t as good as everyone says they are. If I could qualify for regionals, that would be a benefit from an experience standpoint. I hope when I’m a senior I can place at states, or at least get to states."
BACKPOINTS: Amrhein had one of South Brunswick’s wins in a 45-18 setback to Old Bridge last week, pulling out a 3-1 decision in overtime at 189. Matt Clancy (215) got a pin while Justin DelPiano (145), Kyle Wadiak (160) and Derek Shelcusky (heavyweight) won decisions … the Vikings rebounded from the Old Bridge loss to win 43-27 over J.P. Stevens and improved to 5-3. Darren White (112), DelPiano (145), Wadiak (160) and Evan Nathanson (171) got pins while Rodney Dixon (135) won by technical fall and Amrhein (heavyweight) and Bobby Ayala (140) won major decisions. Robert Kline won by forfeit at 189.

