Wrestlers fall short at GL

MUSTANG ROUNDUP

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   The Manville High wrestling team entered the week with a 3-3 record after Saturday’s tough 46-30 loss at Governor Livingston. The road loss halted the team’s two-match win streak.
   GL was solid in the middle, winning eight straight bouts from 112 to 152. The Mustangs dominated the upper weights but most of the points came too late to make a difference.
   The match started with MHS heavyweight Josh Krantz taking a forfeit. Manville 103-pounder Tuan Anh Lee was also uncontested and the visitors were off to a great start.
   Manville didn’t win another bout until 160 pounds, where senior Mike Zala flattened Joe Kline in 51 seconds. Nathan Bott (171) continued the surge by decking Jon Avecillas in 4:49. Irek Kolodziej (189) won by disqualification and Armand Fodorean (215) accepted a forfeit to close the mtach.
   The Mustangs fell short in the light and middleweight bouts. MHS coach Brett Stibitz employed a little strategy and bumped up Jason Pfoutz and Roland Yakobchuck from their usual spots. Manville forfeited to GL standout Rob Coughlin at 119 and went after Steve Reedy and Kevin Moore instead. Reedy responded by pinning Pfoutz and Moore posted a 10-1 major over Yakobchuck.
   The Highlanders fed off that momentum with three consecutive pins at 135, 140 and 145, all in the first period. GL 152-pounder Scott Mack capped the home team scoring with a 12-5 decision over Manville senior Greg Fabiyan.
   Manville (3-3) was scheduled to wrestle at Roselle Catholic, Spotswood and Johnson Regional this week. All three matches should be close ones.
Snow in Sussex
postpones hoops
   
Four inches of snow fell in Sussex County early last week and caused the postponement of both Manville High-Sussex Tech basketball games.
   Sussex Tech had an early dismissal from school and does not compete in sporting events – home or away – on such days.
   The MHS boys, who were eagerly anticipating a great chance to grab their first victory, will have to wait until later in the season. The Mustangs defeated Tech last year and were pointing to this game as an opportunity to create some momentum.
   The Manville girls were slated to play on the road at Tech, but no bus was making that trip into Sussex County on a snowy day. That contest will also be rescheduled for later in the season.
   Manville’s teams face Sussex Tech in the other half of the home-away series Feb. 1, with the girls home and the boys away. The Lady Mustangs (3-4) hope to play both Tech games before the state playoff qualifying deadline.