BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
EDISON – Led by four tournament champions, the Bishop Ahr High School wrestling team captured the team title at the Robert Dougherty Tournament at Rutgers Prep over the weekend.
The Trojans’ 140 total points was enough to beat second-place Middlesex and third-place Rutgers Prep with little problem.
For the Trojans it was their third top-three finish in as many tournaments this season.
“The key is that the whole group has been working very hard,” Bishop Ahr head coach Nick Tonzola said. “We have a pretty young team but a pretty balanced team as well. Thirteen of our guys placed this weekend.”
Freshman Derek Delacruz picked up the team’s first title at 112 pounds, followed by Joe McCauley at 140 pounds. Ali Yeganeh (145) and Robert Meade (160) were the other Trojans to take home titles.
The talented youth on this year’s Trojan team was evident in the first-place finishes from Meade and Delacruz and the second-place finishes from Mike Tysniak (103) and Justin Thiele (125).
“The freshmen have had a big impact on the team and on the team’s success,” Tonzola said. “All of them work hard in practice and want to compete for a division title and a sectional title.”
PHOTOS BY SCOTT PILLING staff Above, Bishop Ahr’s Derek Delacruz tries to turn Sayreville’s Dan Bergfeldt during a dual meet between the two teams on Friday in Edison. At left, Bishop Ahr’s Don Gottlick tries to pin Sayreville’s Kevon Lopez during their bout. Providing leadership for the younger grapplers and having fine seasons of their own are seniors Yeganeh, John Meyer (152), Dwayne Quarles (171) and Dan Gottlick (189). Meyer took second after falling to Middlesex’s Mike Dessino 5-2 in the finals. The match was an impressive performance for Meyer, who was pinned by Dessino earlier last week. Quarles also took second while Gottlick finished the tournament in third place.
A number of juniors also took home second-place honors to help solidify the win. Anthony Raspa (130), Jake Edelman (215) and his heavyweight twin James Edelman all finished in second place. Classmate Nick Fornoratto did not place but registered a key pin in one of his bouts to help propel the Trojans to the overall victory.
Sophomore Steve Kaiser took third at 135 pounds while classmate McCauley improved his record to 20-0 with a first-place finish at 140.
“Joe is working a lot harder, and there really is no substitute for hard work,” Tonzola said. “Like John Meyer, Joe came close to placing at the regions last year, so he’s pretty eager to get back.”
The Trojans will look to take some momentum from this weekend’s win at Rutgers Prep into this week in matches against Spotswood and Linden. The Trojans will host Spotswood Jan. 17 before closing the week with Alumni Night at 5 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. Linden. Bishop Ahr heads into the week currently 8-2 on the season.
“Alumni Night has turned into a nice tradition,” Tonzola said. “Last year we had about 50 guys come back and it was great.”