WRESTLING
By: Mike Molaro
It’s been said that one chapter’s ending is another chapter’s beginning.
Such is the case with Hopewell Valley Central High School’s George Saliba.
The Bulldog junior 189-pounder saw his outstanding season end at last weekend’s NJSIAA Region V Wrestling Championships at Hunterdon Central High. While he looks back on a record-setting campaign, he can also set his sights on a final year at HoVal that has the potential to be one of the best in school history.
Saliba went 1-2 at Region V to finish with a record of 32-6. He set school records for most victories in a season (32) and most pins in a season (18). He placed third in the Mercer County Tournament and finished second in District 17 action, being one of just 12 Mercer County wrestlers to advance to Region V.
"George had a tremendous season and should be very proud of what he accomplished," Bulldog head coach Mario Harpel said. "His desire to compete, practice, and get better was one of the key reasons for his success. He pushed himself during the off season and did a lot of work on his own. We’re very happy he’s coming back next year."
In the Region V preliminary round on Feb. 20, Saliba recorded a 7-3 decision over Rich Bonhomme of JFK-Islen, who finished third in District 19. He dropped a heartbreaking 4-3, triple-overtime decision to Joe Everingham of West Windsor-Plainsboro-South in the Region V quarterfinals last Friday evening and lost to Notre Dame’s Sheamus O’Connor, 4-3, in last Saturday’s Region V consolation quarterfinals.
Everingham, who placed third in District 20, defeated Saliba, 3-1 in double overtime, in the MCT semifinals while Saliba downed Everingham, 3-2, on Jan. 27. O’Connor, who finished third in District 17, won the county tournament while Saliba beat O’Connor, 9-4 via injury default during the regular season, and 5-4 in the District 17 semifinals.
"George made great strides this year," added Harpel. "O’Connor pinned him last year in a minute and this year George beat him twice. That alone shows how far George improved."
At Region V, the difference between victory and defeat often is the slightest of miscalculations. The level of talentand intensityis raised and the pressure is heated with each tick of the clock.
"You have to wrestle solid at this level," Harpel said. "George scored three takedowns in the final period to get the win over Bonhomme. It was great for George to get a regional win."He had great battles in the regions against Everingham and O’Connor. You can’t get much closer than three overtimes. It’s heartbreaking to lose like that. You have to go through it and learn about the competition at this level. George was one of only two non-seniors in the 189-pound weight class at Region V. He proved he belonged and he’s going to work hard to make sure he gets back there next year."
Saliba echoed his coach’s thoughts about the competition at Region V.
"You know everyone at the region level is good," said the HoVal junior. "The seedings really don’t matter because everyone is good and the competition is raised. The one main thing I learned is that you always have to be ready. I’ll be real ready for next year."
The ink on the Bulldog wrestling books may be dry for awhile before the 189-pounder grasps what his numbers represent.
"What I’ve done hasn’t really sunk in," he added. "I did have a good year, but I’m not really satisfied. I beat myself in the district finals. I feel I could’ve done more. I’m a very competitive person and very hard on myself. I had a good year but there could’ve been more."
As Harpel pointed out, Saliba worked hard during the summer to improve his skills and put him in the right frame of mind to be one of HoVal’s leaders this season.
"I wrestled a lot in the off season," he said. "I attended a two-week camp during the summer where I wrestled some of the best in the state. It was a very draining camp, both physically and mentally, but after that camp I knew I could compete with anybody. That raised my desire to compete. Next year will be better. I plan to work twice as hard this summer."
George Saliba, who will wrestle at 189 as a senior, cemented his legacy into the Bulldog wrestling program with that 32-6 mark and those two school records. Knowing his work ethic and determination, the best may be yet to come.
"My goal is to place in the top five in the state next year," he added. "My ultimate goal is to be a state champion."
The future begins now.

