Big night for Hillsborough boys

Wrestlers McLaughlin, Mangini, hockey team prevail in states

By: Rudy Brandl
   Hillsborough High wrestlers Frankie McLaughlin and John Mangini and the Raider ice hockey team kept alive their championship hopes with victories Friday night.
   At the Aspen Ice Arena in Flemington, the HHS hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to 12 straight games (9-0-3) with a 3-0 victory over Brick Memorial. Sean Burke scored the first goal and Eric Visnovsky posted his second straight shutout in net.
   The Raiders will host a third-round state playoff game Tuesday night at Aspen Ice Arena. A victory will send them to the NJSIAA quarterfinals at the Codey Arena next weekend.
   Down in Atlantic City, McLaughlin and Mangini breezed to major decision victories in the NJSIAA pre-quarterfinals. McLaughlin rolled to a 15-3 win over Mendham’s John Mastrobuono and Mangini dominated Seneca’s Bobby Carroll by a 19-6 margin.
   Both HHS senior wrestlers will compete in the state quarterfinals Saturday morning. If they prevail, they’ll battle again at 5 p.m. in the semifinal round. The 14 state championship bouts are set for Sunday at 2 p.m.
   For complete coverage of all the HHS athletes and teams in the state playoffs, see Thursday’s Hillsborough Beacon.