Jerzewski won title
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
The Alexander Batcho Intermediate School wrestling team finished strong, winning three matches in the second half of the season to end with a 3-6 record.
Although ABIS coach Ed Ferraro considered this a rebuilding season, his young squad still produced a few victories and performed well in the tournament at the end of the year. For the second straight season, the Broncos won the team sportsmanship award.
After an 0-3 start, the Broncos got rolling. ABIS defeated Pingry, North Plainfield and Bernards.
”I am very happy with the way the team performed all season,” Ferraro said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t defeat Bound Brook this year but they were a powerhouse taking second in the league.”
Last year’s team sent a bunch of solid wrestlers to the Manville High School program. This year’s ABIS team included only two eighth-graders who will be moving on looking to make an impact on the MHS mat.
Eighth-grade captains Kevin Jerzewski and Brian Burke led this year’s ABIS team. Jerzewski completed an undefeated season at 140 pounds by winning the league tournament title. Jerzewski is the first ABIS wrestler to finish undefeated.
”He worked extremely hard all season and dominated his competition,” Ferraro said. “I am very proud of his commitment to wrestling over the summer and all year.”
Jerzewski faced a stiff challenge in the tournament final against Montgomery’s Tyler Ajamian. Jerzewski, who was seeded first, did not face Ajamian in the regular season so there was some uncertainty about the match.
After receiving a bye in the first round and pinning Somerville’s Dom Biewisch at 2:26 in the semifinals, Jerzewski was not going to be denied the title. He scored the first takedown and built a 4-0 lead on a reversal in the second period. Two stall calls late in the bout allowed Ajamian to close within 4-3 but Jerzewski held on for the victory.
”This kid is going to make a great impact for the high school next year,” Ferraro said. “He has worked his butt off for me and I’m sure he will for the high school, too.”
Burke wrestled extremely well at 112 pounds, the same weight at which his older brother Devin competed for the MHS team. There’s a good chance Brian and Devin Burke will be wrestling back-to-back for the Mustangs next winter.
This year, the younger Burke finished a solid middle school career with another good season.
”This kid is super aggressive and he will rip your head off,” Ferraro said. “I am so proud of the improvement he’s made with his body and wrestling skills this year.”
Everyone else on this year’s ABIS roster will be eligible to return next season, led by tournament place-winners Anthony Zuhone (95 pounds) and Max Miller (75 pounds).
Zuhone entered the tournament undefeated as the No. 2 seed but wound up placing fourth. He dropped a tough semifinal bout vs. Bound Brook’s Robbie Murray and wound up facing the No. 1 seed in the consolation finals. Zuhone was pinned but still finished fourth. Zuhone had a great season with only two losses.
Miller, who finished third in last year’s tournament as a sixth-grader, overcame a No. 3 seed to reach the finals. He scored three takedowns for a 6-2 decision over his second-ranked Somerville foe in the semifinals. Miller got caught by Bridgewater’s Gianni Calo at 29 seconds in the finals.
”He was third last year, second this year and you better believe as an eighth-grader he’s going to take home first place,” Ferraro said. “I’m excited to have him back next year.”
Three of the four ABIS wrestlers who competed in the top division of the league tourney finished in the top four. The Broncos scored 35 team points to place ahead of Middlesex, North Plainfield and Bernards. Jerzewski, Burke, Zuhone and Miller combined to outscore those entire lineups.
Ferraro entered most of his team in the B bracket. ABIS finished third with 66 points, trailing Flemington and Montgomery.
”The majority of our guys are new, so I figured the best competition would be there for them,” Ferraro said.
Two Manville wrestlers advanced to the finals at 150 pounds. Andrew Sutton defeated Thomas Fasano in a second-period pin to take first place.
Three more ABIS boys placed in the top four of the B division. Dimitri Kontos finished second and Tristan Jaime placed third at 75 pounds. Anthony Hernandez took fourth at 95 pounds.
Kyle Puza wrestled great at 119 pounds with three wins but found himself in a huge bracket. Two losses knocked him out of the top four but Puza had a very good season.
Ferraro noted that Chris Hardie, Travis Hardie, Scott Caswell and Brandon Perry also wrestled well in the tournament.
”With only giving two guys to the high school next year, I am confident that we will be very dominant,” Ferraro said. “I am very excited about the continued success of the wrestling programs at Manville. Wait and see, Manville will begin to dominate in the very near future.”

