By: Ken Weingartner
Ryan Smith might have been up against more than just his opponents at the NJSIAA Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City last weekend.
He was also facing the aura of Boardwalk Hall.
Smith, a junior at South Brunswick High, was making his first trip to the state tourney, contested in front of large crowds at Boardwalk Hall. He pinned River Dell’s Tony Cariddi in the opening round of the 140-pound weight class before losing his next two matches and exiting the event.
"It’s hard to wrestle down there," Vikings coach Joe Dougherty said. "It being his first time there, with the aura and the atmosphere, I think his nerves caught up with him a little bit. It can drain you and sap you of your energy."
Smith was winning his second bout, 5-2, over Camden Catholic’s Dakota Moore in the third period of the pre-quarterfinal round, but came up on the short end of an 8-6 decision in overtime. He fell 7-2 to Ramsey’s Dan Clarke in the wrestlebacks.
"Ryan works really hard and never has a problem going six minutes, but he had a problem down there," Dougherty said. "Because of that emotional and physical drain, he had a hard time recovering from (his pre-quarterfinal) match. He performed admirably in his third match, but he wasn’t his normal self."
Nonetheless, it was a great season for Smith, who won the District 20 title the second of his career and placed third at regions. He ended the campaign 36-5 and is 69-10 the past two seasons. In addition, he was voted a Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division all-star by the league’s coaches.
"Overall, it was a very good experience for him," Dougherty said. "The lessons he learned will prepare him for next season. He can use the experience to improve upon his performance."

