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MONTGOMERY: Cougars’ Reynolds places second in Region V wrestling

Senior makes return trip to AC

By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
   Tom Reynolds is returning to Atlantic City to wrestle at the Meet of Champions, but that’s only half of his goal.
   ”It was important that I get to Atlantic City,” said the Montgomery High School senior. “I wanted to win the regions, but I have a fresh start at the states now. I’m planning to place top eight at least.”
   Reynolds finished second at 119 pounds after falling to Edison’s Mike FrancoBandier, 6-3, in the Region V final on Saturday. FrancoBandier defended his 119 title and improved to 38-0 with the championship win.
   ”I knew I’d go against him in the finals,” said Reynolds, the lone area wrestler to reach a finals, consolation or championship. It is his second straight trip to the MOC. No one else qualified for the MOC, which will have the top three finishers at each weight from each region.
   None of the five Montgomery wrestlers who started in Friday’s quarterfinals wrestled in the semifinals. At 103 pounds, the Cougars’ David Bergida lost to Franklin’s Andrew Hewitt in the quarterfinals and was eliminated with a 6-4 overtime loss to Hopewell Valley’s Steve Palder. MHS’ Erik Biago forfeited his quarterfinal and consolation matches. Cougar 152-pounder Nick Cassar lost, 1-0, to Hillsborough’s Will Goddiess in the quarterfinals and 4-2 in an overtime tiebreaker to Ewing’s Mike Cruse. Alex Sottile and John Moyle had lost in preliminary action last Tuesday.
   ”Alex Sottile, losing in the last couple seconds was heartbreaking,” said MHS coach Kevin Jacoutot of the senior. “It was his last match ever. We were more depressed we won’t be able to coach him anymore. He’s a great kid. He has all-around character. That kid’s going to be all right in life. He’s got his act together.
   ”The level of competition is good. They all did the best they could do. Nick battled, and it’s the same thing. We’re depressed weren’t not going to see him again.”
   At 125 pounds, Montgomery’s Tyler Bobal lost to Sam Emburgia of Monroe in the quarterfinals while Princeton High School’s Damian Freeman lost to Delaware Valley’s Bobby Stevely, 8-2. It set them up for a consolation match, won 6-4 by Bobal. Bobal was eliminated with a loss to Jeff Peterson of Edison in the consolation semifinals.
   ”Tyler Bobal and David Bergida set themselves up well for next year,” Jacoutot said. “They’re laying the groundwork for next year. They won some matches in regions and it looks good for the future.”
   Reynolds ensured that his future included this coming weekend when he beat Korey Inglin of Delaware Valley, 7-2, in the quarterfinals to start his region tournament, then beat Derek Delacruz of Bishop Ahr, 2-1, in the semifinals. It was Reynolds’ second narrow win of the season over him.
   ”Winning the semis, it took a lot of pressure off,” Reynolds said. “You already know you’re going to states. I still wanted to win the whole thing, but it took a whole lot of pressure off. The third and fourth bracket, one goes and one doesn’t.”
   There was no letting up for Reynolds against Delacruz. Reynolds scored a reverse, but couldn’t let up.
   ”It was another close one,” Reynolds said. “I didn’t really give him as many shots as last time. He got in twice and couldn’t finish any of the shots. It kept it to one point for him for an escape.
   ”Even though I had the lead, I still had to wrestle,” he added. “You can’t lay off when it’s 2-1. He gets a takedown, and he’s got the lead.”
   In the final, FrancoBandier took a 2-0 lead in the first period and extended the lead to 3-0 in the second period. Reynolds escaped in the third period, but as the match wore on, he was forced to take more risks with his shots. FrancoBandier caught him for another two points on one move, but Reynolds reversed right back before falling by the final count.
   ”In the finals, he had one of the best kids in the state at the weight and it was a match,” Jacoutot said. “The kid had a timely takedown at the end of the match, and that was the difference. Another minute or so, who knows what happens?”
   Reynolds enters the MOC with a sparkling 32-4 record. As a second-place finisher, he will compete against a third-place finisher from another region in his first match Friday. Last year, Reynolds reached the MOC as a third-place finisher.
   ”Having experience from last year helps a whole lot,” he said. “You know what’s going on. You’re used to the big scene, the eight mats. The whole stands around you with filled seats, you’ll be used to that. You’ll be used to how it goes. The experience of going should help.”
   Reynolds expects some of his MHS teammates to make the trip down to cheer for him. He is ready to represent the Cougars well.
   ”I’m confident I can do it,” he said. “The season is going good. I only have one loss at 119 and three at 125.”
   At the Meet of Champions, Tom Reynolds could get a chance to avenge his one loss at 119 pounds. Doing so should help him toward his top-eight goal in his return to Atlantic City.