K. Bachmann, D. Bachmann, Ferro, Vahabi win their weight classes
By: Kyle Moylan
ÿ8AHSÿEvery team dreams about having a breakout season. The Allentown High School wrestling team is one that has worked hard and progressively earned it.
"We can be the team that Hightstown was last year," Allentown Coach Bob Mussari said. "Hightstown started with a core group of guys and kept adding on and improving. That’s where we are now."
Coming into the season, Allentown appeared to be good. After the first weekend of action, it has something more concrete. Allentown defeated Westampton Tech, 68-12, this past Friday. The following day Allentown placed second at the Ewing Tournament.
"The kids are back," Mussari stressed. "We started this with only 11 kids. Now we have 36 and they really push each other at practice. We have all the weight spots covered and we also have kids that can fill in."
Because of Westampton Tech’s scheduling problem, Allentown graciously agreed to hold the match on Friday. It was then not so gracious as it won 12 of the 14 weight classes.
Pat Pape (119), Mike Ferro (125), Kris Bachmann (130), P.J. Oliver (135), Kyle Bachmann (145), Derek Bachmann (152), John Butera (160), Jose Barcena (215) and C.J. Nafus (275) all won by pin. Matt Vahabi (140) won by a technical fall at 140 and Matt Wilhelm (171) won by a decision to round out the scoring.
"They had some solid kids," Mussari noted of Westampton Tech. "Every weight class was filled and we even had some J.V. matches. It was a good match for us."
Judging from the results the following day, it proved to be a great warm-up for Allentown’s first tournament.
"Every year we’ve been seventh or eighth in that," Mussari said of the Ewing Tournament. "When you jump all the way to second, you can’t complain about that. Second place wasn’t too bad at all."
As Mussari was quick to point out, tournaments are as much about individual success as the team’s. Allentown placed five different wrestlers in the title match at their weight class - and four of them came away with titles.
Mike Ferro went to overtime to win the title at 125 pounds. Ferro defeated New Egypt’s Mike Schwartz, 9-7.
"Mike (Ferro) is a tough kid," Mussari said. "He’s one of those kids that flies under the radar, works hard and gets the job done."
Matt Vahabi defeated Pennsville’s Mike Michalec, 12-4, to win the title at 140 pounds.
"Matt was wrestling with a broken nose," Mussari noted. "He wrestled with a mask on and did a great job."
Kyle Bachmann won at 145 pounds by pinning Point Pleasant Beach’s Rich Wright. Derek Bachmann pinned Ewing’s Maurice Lazarre at 152 pounds.
"The Bachmann’s live in the weight room and it paid off for them," Mussari said. "They’re better because of their work ethic."
The tournament awarded two outstanding wrestler awards. Derek Bachmann got the nod for those from 145 through heavyweight. Kyle Bachmann, who totally dominated his weight class, was a candidate to win among the lower weight classes, but that honor went to New Egypt’s Tom Morton, one of the top wrestlers in the state.
Pape was defeated in the title match, but still came away with second place at 119.
While these five were the stars of this particular tournament for Allentown, Mussari is counting on contributions throughout the lineup. As much as a wrestler that pins his way through a tournament, Mussari appreciates a guy like Butera, who gives away double digits in weight and still is very competitive at 160 pounds. He appreciates a guy like Wilhelm, who worked hard in the off-season "and is the most improved kid for us."
Mussari also pointed to kids like Kyle Stinson (135), Andrew Ferro (130), P.J. Oliver (140) and Drew McGovern (145 or 152).
"We have a lot of guys that can fill in and we’re going to need them," Mussari said.
Allentown was scheduled to wrestle Robbinsville last night. This weekend Allentown will take part in a wrestling tournament at Holy Cross.
"I push our kids," Mussari said. "When they walk on the mat, they know they will be in for some hard work. They know that."
And the teams on Allentown’s schedule will soon learn the harder Mussari is on his wrestlers, the harder they’ll be on everyone else.
NEHS
The New Egypt wrestling team placed fourth out of eight teams in the Ewing Tournament this past Saturday.
Tom Morton recorded a pin in the title match at 112 pounds and ended up being chosen as one of the tournament’s two Outstanding Wrestlers.
Steve Russo won by a decision to take the title at 171 pounds.
New Egypt had two other wrestlers place second in the event. Mike Schwartz, was edged 9-7 in overtime by Allentown’s Mike Ferro at 125 pounds.
Tom Carr lost by a decision in the title match at 130 and placed second in the tournament.
New Egypt was scheduled to hold its first regular season meet last night against Manchester. New Egypt will host Clayton in a meet Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

