PHS’ Frantzen is district champion
By: Ken Weingarten
SOUTH BRUNSWICK When West Windsor-Plainsboro North wrestler Jeff Rotella was a freshman in 2004, he finished third at the District 20 Tournament and advanced to regionals. He figured he would make the trip on an annual basis.
Last year, however, the closest Rotella got to seeing action in the Region 5 Tournament was practicing with Alex Ragucci, one of North’s two regional qualifiers, prior to the event. Rotella had finished fourth in districts, from which only the top three in each weight class advance.
So, even though Rotella lost Saturday in the District 20 final at 135 pounds to South Brunswick’s Ryan Smith, he was happy to be returning to regionals and continuing on the road to the state tourney.
"Last year, I got a little overconfident, a little cocky," Rotella said. "Maybe overanxious, too. I’ve got a better mental approach this year by far. I’m worrying less about the other guy and just focusing on what I need to do."
Rotella was the only North wrestler to advance to the semifinals at districts. Four wrestlers from West Windsor-Plainsboro South reached the semis, and two of them Misha Esipov at 171 and Joe Everingham at 189 advanced to regionals with second-place finishes.
At the District 17 tournament in Flemington, Princeton’s Tom Frantzen won the title at 171 pounds with a 9-7 win over top-seeded Dan Williams of Lawrence. In the semifinals, Frantzen had defeated Hunterdon Central’s Dave Quinn in overtime.
Two other Princeton wrestlers reached the semifinals, losing that match ands then losing the consolation. Andre Cutler finished fourth at 152 and J-P Hendrichsen was fourth at heavyweight.
Regional action begins tonight at Hunterdon Central High with district second- and third-place finishers meeting. District champs received byes into Friday’s pre-quarterfinal round.
Rotella, who won the Mercer County Tournament title earlier this month and is 22-5, lost for the second time this season to Smith, who is 31-3. He lost 15-9 in their first meeting and 11-7 Saturday.
"I thought I wrestled well," Rotella. "I didn’t notice much difference in the way he wrestled; I was just focused on being more aggressive. It was a better match than the first time we wrestled each other. I was hoping to win and get a bye, but I’ll just go in Tuesday and try to wrestle my best, like I thought I did now."
Esipov won the district championship at 152 last season, but ran into defending 171-pound champ Mike Velardi of Sayreville in Saturday’s final. He lost a 6-4 decision to Velardi, who improved to 28-2 and was named the tourney’s outstanding wrestler.
The 171-pound weight class might have been the toughest in District 20, featuring two other returning regional qualifiers. Esipov beat one of them, Spotswood’s Andre Hage, 4-3, in the semifinals.
"I’m a little disappointed," said Esipov, a senior who is 23-5. "Going up two weight classes wasn’t easy. I’m still looking forward to regionals. I’m looking forward to wrestling (Velardi) again."
Everingham, a junior, had a solid showing at districts by reaching the final at 189, where he was pinned by three-time champ Derek Shelcusky of South Brunswick. Last season, Everingham (21-5) lost in the tourney’s opening round.
"I just got caught with my head down and he put me in a cradle," Everingham said about his loss to Shelcusky. "He’s probably the best guy I’ve faced this year. I definitely don’t think I wrestled as good as I could have, but I’m pretty excited I made it to regions this year. I just hope I make it past Tuesday."
South’s Wil Despeines, hampered by a leg injury that sidelined him for the past several weeks, ended up fourth at 160 while Adrien Schriefer lost a 2-1 double-overtime decision in the third-place bout at275. The Pirates finished eighth in the team standings.
Sayreville won the team tournament, followed by Old Bridge and South Brunswick.
"I think the team did great," WWP-South coach Craig Wilson said. "We only won one match during the season, and this shows we have some individuals on the team who are good wrestlers. Misha had a great tournament and Joe is a tough kid who can beat anybody on any day. He could make waves at regions. Even in the matches we lost, I thought we wrestled well."
Princeton’s Frantzen broke away from a 5-5 tie entering the final period in his win over Williams, who had won the Mercer County Tournament. The two had not wrestled this season and Frantzen owned a win over Williams last year.