Area wrestlers capture state medals

No champs for Somerset County

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   ATLANTIC CITY – Somerset County was shut out and Region 5 had just one winner in Sunday’s NJSIAA Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
   The event continued to soar in popularity, setting attendance record for the weekend (43,049) and final round (11,470), but those fans witnessed a dominant display by the Shore Conference, which crowned five state champs.
   One of those champs, Jackson Memorial’s Scott Winston, ran his career record to 101-0 with a 7-3 decision over Hillsborough senior Frankie McLaughlin. Jackson teammate Ken Carney (160), Toms River North’s Matt Oliver (119), Southern Regional’s Frank Molinaro (140) and Ocean’s Nick Menditto (145) also won for the Shore.
   McLaughlin (37-2) and Bound Brook senior Nick Murray represented Somerset County in Sunday afternoon’s final round. Delbarton star Trevor Melde posted an 11-2 major to defeat Murray (40-2).
   Winston, who was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler, scored two takedowns to take a 4-1 lead in the first period. McLaughlin escaped to start the second but Winston added another takedown to make it 6-2 heading into the third. Winston escaped leaving McLaughlin down by five and needing a big move to get back in the match. McLaughlin couldn’t get in deep on Winston, who was called twice for stalling resulting in McLaughlin’s third point.
   "My game plan was to go out of the first period 0-0," said McLaughlin, who finished his career at 104-25. "That didn’t work. I lost the match in the first period."
   Murray was taken down early and put to his back for a five-point move by Melde, who won his first state title after finishing second last year. Murray finished his career at 147-12.
   Two other county wrestlers entered the weekend ranked first in their weight class but fell victim to upsets in Saturday’s semifinals. Hillsborough’s John Mangini (160) and Bridgewater-Raritan’s Roy Dragon (215) saw their state title dreams derailed in very tough overtime losses in the semifinals. Dragon fought back to finish third, but Mangini couldn’t recover from his loss and various injuries and placed sixth.
   Delaware Valley’s Dan Kelly became the only Region 5 wrestler to win a state title. Kelly edged South Plainfield’s Patrick Hunter in a very tight 3-2 decision.
   Region 5 was also represented in the finals by Hunterdon Central 119-pounder Pat Strizki, who dropped a 5-3 decision to Oliver.
   Overall, Somerset County had six state place-winners: Murray (140) and McLaughlin (152) were second, Dragon (215) and Watchung Hills sophomore Brendan Ard (160) took third and B-R’s Tyler Riccio (145) and Mangini (160) finished sixth.