MANVILLE: Rec grapplers settle for draw in Branchburg

   The Manville Recreation wrestling team traveled to Branchburg Dec. 20. In a match that came down to the final few bouts, Manville settled for a draw.
   Manville Rec started off in an 0-12 hole before Shane Demeter took to the mats at 57 pounds and wasted no time taking his man down and putting in his cradle for a 38-second pin. Paul Basta then went out at 60 pounds and got the takedown in the first period for a 2-0 lead. After some tough wrestling, Basta earned that 2-0 victory for another three Manville points.
   At 73 pounds, Brian Kuhlman had a quick takedown and put in a cradle to take a 5-0 lead into the second period. Starting from the bottom in the second, Kuhlman stood up and spun for the reversal for another two points. He then was able to use a turk to put his man on his back switching to a half before stacking him up with a cradle to get his pin. That brought Manville back to within 12 at 27-15.
   TJ Caswell took a forfeit at 77 pounds 27-21. Later, with the score at 36-21, Matt Rogalski took a forfeit at 90 pounds to make it 36-27.
   After 105-pounder Troy Oset took a forfeit, the score going into heavyweight was 36-33. Jake Tokarzewski took the mats and going into the third period the score was 0-0. As Tokarzewski got up and was going for the escape his opponent was called for locking hands and the Manville wrestler was awarded the one point, which gave him the win and Manville the tie.
   In the other matches, RJ Thompson went into the second period down 2-1. Starting from the bottom, Thompson escaped got the takedown and after his opponent escaped he was able to get another takedown and put his man to his back for a 10-3 lead. In the third period, Thompson reversed his man to a half-Nelson to score three more back points to come away with a 15-3 win.
   Joe Lamonica went out to get a couple of takedowns and a 4-1 lead in the first period. Lamonica pancaked in the second period for three more back points. He finished out his 10-2 win by again putting his man in danger to come away with a very nice win. Shawn O’Brien came out on fire and with the takedown and multiple back points got off to a 10-2 lead in the first period. He then finished his man off with a second period pin.
   Gavin Kassick came out to wrestle as he took his opponent down for an early 2-0 lead. Starting from the down position, Kassick got his reversal and put in a nice half to take a 10-2 lead into the third. He got a couple of more back points to finish his shutout at 12-0.
   Dylan Whitenight was down 3-2 going into the second period. He broke his man down and turned him over for three back points and a 5-3 lead. With a reversal and then a takedown, Whitenight won this match 9-5.
   Manville’s next recreation team match is Jan. 10 in Franklin at 9 a.m.