BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
JEFFGRANIT staff Howell’s Cody Fobes is congratulated by head coach John Gagliano after beating Raritan’s T.J. MItchell in the 125-pound semifinals of the state tournament in Atlantic City on March 3. Below, Freehold Township’s Gene Accardi squares off against Camden Catholic’s Mike Tully. Howell remained on top of Freehold Regional District wrestling in 2006-07.
John Gagliano’s Rebels were ranked in the top 10, repeated as the Shore Conference A North Division champions, and repeated their victories in Delaware in the Battle at the Beach and Roselle Park Invitational. Victories over state powers like Phillipsburg and Hunterdon Central confirmed Howell’s elite status in the state and were proof that they were wrestling at a higher level than ever before.
The Rebels were 21-2, matching last year’s record, thus tying the school record for wins in a season. They were ranked No. 7 in the state, the highest ranking for any Howell team.
Cody Fobes put the exclamation point on the season by finishing second at the state championships at 125. The junior made himself a serious contender for a state title by his strong performance in Atlantic City. His 37 wins (37-3) were a new single-season record, eclipsing the old mark held by four-time state place-winner Zac Cunliffe.
Howell was again second to state No. 1 Jackson at the NJSIAA District 21 championships, with Fobes, Justin Morello (130) and Tom Tuminelli (145) picking up gold.
While the Rebels remained at the top of the ladder, Freehold Borough and Freehold Township are nipping at their heels.
Scott Pressman continues to take the Colonials upward. They qualified again for the states and repeated as Holmdel Tournament champions. Nick Triozzi gave the program a lift by becoming its first 100-career-match winner. He lost the NJSIAA District 21 final to Fobes. Ben Ostner (171) and Miguel Arroyo (140) did win titles for the Blue and Gold.
Jack Withstandly got Freehold Township back in the state playoffs, along with Howell and Freehold Borough. The Pats relied on a balanced lineup that was led by District champion Gene Accardi, who went on to be a state place-winner (103), and 119 winner Mitch Berger.
Colts Neck continues to move forward and had a District champion in Jimmy Somma (135).
Manalapan’s tradition was kept alive by heavyweight Billy Dokouslis and Anthony Zaharakis (215).
Led by Fobes, the News Transcript’s 2007 All-Freehold Regional District Wrestling reflects the growing balance, with all six schools represented on the first or second team.
Along with Fobes, the other Rebels on the First Team are Joey Langel (112), Morello, Tuminelli and Jason Ecklof (152). Accardi, Berger and Dustin Craven (160) are the Patriots on the team. Arroyo, Ostner and Anthony Panzarino (189) are Freehold Borough’s representatives, with Manalapan’s Dokouslis and Zaharaskis, and Colts Neck’s Somma rounding out the team.
Those on the Second Team are: Charlie Frankel, Marlboro (103); Niko Brown, Colts Neck (112); Blaise Supczynski, Howell (119); Nick Triozzi, Freehold Borough (125); Ryan McGilvray, Manalapan (130); Jimmy Bohn, Howell (135); Brandon Cohen, Marlboro (140); Frank O’Shea, Freehold Borough (145); Justin Telzer, Manalapan (152); Joe Sulkowski, Howell (160); Jarrod Burdge, Colts Neck (171); Jon Steinbronn, Freehold Township (189); Harry Turner, Howell (215); and Ahmed Fayed, Marlboro (heavyweight).
Accardi backed up an outstanding regular season, in which the sophomore won the Matawan Ice Breaker and Middletown South championships, with an outstanding run in the state tournament. He became the first Patriot to medal at the state championships since Anthony Vitola (171) back in 1992. He ran into Jackson’s own state place-winner, Derrick Russell, in the District and Region 6 finals, losing both to the Jaguar. That didn’t stop him from placing sixth in the state. District 21’s three place-winners all went on to place in the state, with Russell, Accardi, and Marlboro’s Charlie Frankel.
Accardi was 33-6.
Like his teammate, Berger was rock solid during the regular season (he won the Ice Breaker) and backed it up come tournament time with his win at District 21. He stunned returning champion Rob Swan of Jackson, 8-6, in the final. He took third in the Regional and qualified for Atlantic City. The senior went 34-5.
Craven, the third Patriot on the All-District Team, also had a big regular season, going 29-2 and winning both the Ice Breaker and Middletown South tourneys. He was the runner-up to Jackson’s Ken Carney in the District 21 final.
Langel and Fobes, both juniors, have been mainstays in the lineup since they were freshmen. They have made Howell dangerous at the lower weights for three years now.
Langel took first at the Battle at the Beach and was his dependable self during the regular season. He lost the 112 final to Jackson’s Kyle Kinchen (he beat Kinchen in last year’s final), but gained a measure of revenge, beating him in the Region, where he finished second. In A.C. he was one win away from medaling. He was 33-6 this year and will get to 100 wins next year (he’s at 85).
Fobes will be the next 100-career-win Rebel. He lost only once during the regular season and won the Battle at the Beach and Roselle Park tournaments. His four-overtime win over Ocean’s Zac Coulas was one of the great matches of the year and got the ball rolling for a come-from-behind Howell win. He became match-tough in February and March, winning his second straight District championship and then placing third in the Region. In Atlantic City, he rose to the occasion. Peaking at the right time, he battled through a tough draw all the way to the final, where he lost to returning champion Joe Trause of Bergen Catholic. He’ll begin next year with 90 career wins and as a legitimate state championship contender.
Morello and Tuminelli, senior co-captains, and Ecklof had a lot to do with Howell’s success the past two years that includes a 41-4 dual meet record and back-to-back division titles. They gave Gagliano the luxury of moving up in the lineup to get a better match-up for the team. Each scored many a critical win during the dual meet season.
Morello, who won at the Battle of the Beach, won his first District title when he decisioned top-seed Cory Biscaha of Jackson, 9-5, in the final. He went 27-4 on the season.
Tuminelli, who also won Delaware and Roselle Park titles, regained the District 21 title he had won as a sophomore and lost last year. Like Morello, he took down a No. 1 seed from Jackson, Sean Byrnes, in the final, 4-3. He was 28-3 and joined the school’s 100-career-win club. His 100th win was, fittingly, in the District final.
Getting through Howell’s middle weights was a tough assignment. Besides Morello and Tuminelli, opponents had Ecklof, a junior, to get through. He was only a returning District champion. He won both the Delaware and Roselle Park tournaments during the season. It was his “luck” to be in the same class as Jackson’s Scott Winston, perhaps the finest wrestler in the state, and as a result, he was second in the District behind the Jaguar, who ended the season 101-0 for his career. Ecklof will be one of Howell’s most important wrestlers next year. He went 27-7.
With Langel, Fobes and Ecklof among the returning starters, look for Howell to remain the team to beat next year.
Arroyo, Ostner and Panzarino are all seniors who are a testament to where Preston has taken the Colonial program. Arroyo had never wrestled before entering Freehold, and with patience and determination, became a District champion this year (28-7 overall). Ostner had been knocking on the door since his sophomore year and kicked it in this year with a dominating 14-0 win over Robert Sousa of Matawan in the District final. He was fourth in the Region and went 29-4. He won the Holmdel Tournament
Panzarino was a force from his very first match as a freshman. He had another big season in ’07, going 30-4. He won the Holmdel title and was runner-up in the District.
Zaharakis, a junior, had a solid year for the Braves, going 23-5 during the regular season. He beat Howell’s higher-seeded Harry Turner in his semifinal match before
falling to Jackson’s Dan Hopkins in the final. He’ll be one of the wrestlers to watch next year.
Dokouslis, better known for his football prowess (he’s off to Lehigh on a scholarship) displayed a lot of potential for the sport. He relied on his heart early in the season and kept improving his wrestling technique as the season progressed. He made it to the District final out of the No. 4 seed, losing 8-7 in the final to Jackson’s Ryan Byrnes. He went 20-11.
Somma made a statement for the ever-improving Cougar program when he dismantled top-seed Jimmy Bohn of Howell in the District 21 final, 7-2. The junior won 31 matches (31-4). In addition to his District win, he won the Ice Breaker and Walter Woods tournaments during the season. Just a junior, his goal is now to become the Cougars’ first two-time District winner.
Those earning honorable mention this year are: Vincent Signoriello, Manalapan (103); Mike Tabasco, Freehold Township (112); Chris Fraley, Colts Neck (125); Carmin Roth, Manalapan (135); Tim Holleran, Howell (140); and Mike Bonfig, Howell (heavyweight).