PRINCETON: Confident Freeman set for Region V tourney

Five from Montgomery remain alive as well

By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
   The longer that Damian Freeman extends his first season of high school wrestling, the closer he gets to his ultimate goal.
   ”I am trying to set a new tone for Princeton wrestling,” said the Princeton High School freshman. “That’s my main goal. I’m trying to get respect for our team, respect the T for Tigers.”
   Freeman has already built quite a bit of respect for himself. He improved to 25-6 with a 6-2 win over Mike Mora of Piscataway on Tuesday in the 125-pound weight class at the Region V first round to move into the quarterfinals slated for today at Hunterdon Central. The finals are Saturday. The top three from each weight class advance to the Meet of Champions in Atlantic City.
   ”I feel really, really confident,” said Freeman who wrestles Delaware Valley’s 28-5 Bobby Stevely in the quarterfinals. “I feel like I’m the best. I have to show it.”
   A trio of Montgomery High School wrestlers also advanced to today’s quarterfinals. David Bergida was a winner by pin at 103 pounds, Erik Biago won by pin at 112 pounds, and Nick Cassar was a 10-3 winner over John F. Kennedy’s Dante LaVecchia . MHS’ John Moyle lost by technical fall at 130 pounds and Alex Sottile lost 6-4 to South Brunswick’s Cody Shelcusky.
   The Cougars’ Tom Reynolds and Tyler Bobal had byes into today’s quarterfinals as district winners. Bobal and Freeman could meet in the semifinals if both win today. West Windsor-Plainsboro South’s Stuart Derman lost his heavyweight match to Notre Dame’s Josh Mooring.
   Freeman made it a little tougher road to Atlantic City when he finished third at districts. He slipped up against Hunterdon Central’s Brian Bistis, but came back to win the consolation match.
   ”It was a bittersweet feeling,” Freeman said. “I was happy I made it out, but it was just like Mercer Counties. I didn’t feel good finishing third. I want to be in the final. I had to keep pushing myself. Being third wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great.”
   He continued to bounce back and wrestled well Tuesday to move on to today’s quarterfinals.
   ”He wrestled a smart match and he was consistent with his takedowns,” said PHS head coach Rashone Johnson. “He took him down three times to none.”
   Johnson isn’t surprised by his freshman’s success. He saw it coming years ago, though doing what Freeman has done isn’t easy. Neither Johnson nor his predecessor, Matt Wilkinson, ever had a freshman advance to the region tournament. Freeman has a special make-up.
   ”I’ve known him for years,” Johnson said. “He’s Andre Cutler’s little brother. I knew he was going to be this good. When you’re a little brother, you’re supposed to be better than your older brother. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
   Freeman credits Cutler for helping him get to this point. His brother gave him his first lumps and his inspiration.
   ”He used to beat me up a little bit,” Freeman said. “I started wrestling because of my brother. He was just a sophomore. I started watching them and it inspired me. I started practicing and I just told myself I wanted to do my best.
   ”I worked a lot with PAWS. Now I have Corey Marsh to work out with every day. Every day, I’m still getting better. And I have Coach Johnson, who’s a great wrestler. And I have our assistant, Coach (Len) Godudo, who went to The College of New Jersey. I get better every day whether it’s conditioning, skill or mentally. I just get better every day.”
   Marsh, a regions qualifier last year who missed by one spot this season, has continued to work with Freeman. Freeman has benefitted from his practice time.
   ”We just kept building him up,” Johnson said. “He has a really good work ethic. He didn’t have time to rest because his workout partner is Corey Marsh. Corey helped him get where he is. And Anastacio Perez is in their threesome too, so it’s pretty tough.”
   Johnson has seen the practice pay off for Freeman in matches. It has helped him advance all the way to the region quarterfinals, and the goal is to keep it going from there.
   ”I wouldn’t be surprised if he made states,” Johnson said. “He wrestled Reynolds from Montgomery, 2-1, over the summer and that kid went to states last year.”
   Freeman is intent on keeping his season going. He had been considering playing lacrosse in the spring, but his winter success has him focusing on excelling on the mats.
   ”This is what I’m most serious about,” he said. “I love lacrosse too. But I decided I want to be good at wrestling.”
   Damian Freeman is off to a good start, which should help him and the PHS wrestling program.