NEHS junior finishes season at 35-6
By: Kyle Moylan
Every wrestler knows one big mistake can cost them a match.
When the wrestlers get to Atlantic City, however, it doesn’t necessarily take a big mistake to decide a match. Heck, when it comes to the state finals, you can wrestle very well and still lose.
This was the case with New Egypt’s Tom Morton. He struggled through the first period, but then wrestled extremely well in his match last Friday night before losing to South River’s Adam Mongelli, 9-8.
"After the first period, Tom was down 7-2," noted New Egypt Coach Kevin English. "At this level, it’s hard to come back from a 7-2 deficit."
But Morton certainly gave it the old New Egypt High School try.
"Tommy wrestled two great periods," English said. "He was taking him down and letting him up. (Mongelli) didn’t score any points in the last two periods that Tommy didn’t give him. Tommy just fell one takedown short." A win in this match would have put Morton into the final 16 112 pounders in the state. A loss in that grouping would have offered up consolation action and a chance to still finish as high as third. Morton’s loss, however, ended his season.
This is the second year in a row that Morton has wrestled at Atlantic City. Last season Morton won his first match there and ended up finishing his season as a 103-pounder with a 36-3 record.
This season Morton wrestled at 112 pounds. And although he claimed to feel uncomfortable at that weight at the start, he ended up 35-6 and with another trip to Atlantic City.
As a light 112-pounder, Morton could be back in that weight class again for his senior season. And certainly a return trip to Atlantic City could be on the agenda.
"For the entire program, coming here (Atlantic City) is important," English said. "You can come here the first time and be overwhelmed. When Craig Morton (2004) and Lee Hopkins (2005) wrestled here, not many kids from the team came down and watched. Now we have a whole bunch.
"The kids get better by coming down here and watching it. They have never wrestled in a situation like this before. If they do make it in the future, at least they’ll have some idea what it’s like."
And there are certainly wrestlers in the program that can stretch New Egypt’s Atlantic City run to five straight years.
"Down in the low weights, we were very strong this season," English said. "Obviously, Tommy Morton can make it back to Atlantic City next season. Tommy Carr, a Region (VII) qualifier, is someone else that can qualify for the states. Mike Schwarze also has a shot to make it. He’s only a sophomore."
Of course, there can also be a surprise or two. After all, Morton started to make his mark as a freshman and was wrestling in Atlantic City by the time he was a sophomore.
"There are a lot of kids that are questions," English said. "We have things set up for the summer. If they work hard and take it seriously, a couple or more can take that jump."
And know what it’s like to wrestle for so much that the wins and losses get magnified under the eyes of 10,000 people in Atlantic City.
"Obviously, Tommy was upset about the loss," English said. "He wanted to do better, but it didn’t happen. People have to remember that he still won 35 matches. He did very well."

