By: Kyle Moylan Sports Editor
The Bordentown High School wrestling team placed seventh in the District 26 Tournament this past weekend.
Bordentown advanced three wrestlers into the Region 7 Tournament, which is being held at Robbinsville High School this week. The district champions get an automatic bye into the quarterfinals on Friday. The second- and third-place finishers needed a win on Tuesday to extend their season and reach the quarterfinals.
“I think that our kids had an okay weekend,” Bordentown Coach Joe Sprague said about the districts. “Our district is extremely competitive and a lot of our kids that could have advanced did not because of the competition level of the district.”
Bordentown had three wrestlers in the championship matches of their weight class.
“We had three kids take second and they all last to returning state place winners,” Sprague noted. “Khalid (Shakir) lost to Anthony Baldasaro, who is a returning state champ. Brett (Pedersen) lost to Codie Spatz, who finished seventh in the state. Matt (Bauer) lost to Jared Holiday, who placed eighth in the state last year.”
Eastern High’s Anthony Baldasaro defeated Khalid Shakir, 9-1, in the 145-pound title match.
Burlington Township’s Cody Spatz defeated Brett Pedersen, 7-2, in the 152-pound title match.
Burlington Township’s Jared Holliday edged Matt Bauer, 3-1, in the 189-pound title match.
Chris Nitschmann (119) and Shawn Gavin (140) just missed qualifying as both wrestlers placed fourth in their weight class.
Nitschmann was edged, 1-0, by Moorestown’s Tim Mahaney in the match for third place. Gavin was defeated by Eastern’s Kristopher Castagnola, 8-4, in the match for third place.
“Shawn Gavin and Chris Nitschmann took fourth place and wrestled tough consolation matches,” Sprague said. “It was a valuable experience for them and something that they can use to build on for next year.”
One highlight of District 26 for Bordentown was the fact Sprague was named the tournament’s Coach of the Year.
“Being named Coach of the Year was a little bit of a surprise to me this year,” said Sprague. “I felt that we performed as a team pretty well throughout the year considering the youth of our line-up. Our kids really earned the award for me. Ever since I told them early in the year that we have a lot of work to do each day, they have bought into it and have put the work in that we need.”
Bordentown’s three remaining wrestlers will now see how far they can extend the season. It will take a top-
three finish in each weight class at Region 7 to advance into the state finals in Atlantic City.
“I look forward to coaching through regionals and hopefully getting all three wrestlers to Atlantic City to compete in the state tournament,” Sprague said.
NOTES: Andrew Cary (103), Ted Rigas (112), Brandon Mazur (125), Drew Pedersen (135), James DiPierro (140), Kevin Nabinger (160), Patrick Mallard (171), Grant Corretjer (215) and Donald Taylor (285) also competed in the tournament for Bordentown.
BOYS HOOPS
The Bordentown High School boys basketball team was defeated by Westampton Tech, 76-52, on Friday.
Mike Ansong scored 17 points for Bordentown in the loss.
Bordentown was defeated by Burlington City, 72-49, on Thursday.
Mike Ansong (14 points) and Kartavin Youngblood (13 points) both scored in double figures for Bordentown.
Bordentown lost to New Egypt, 59-49, on Monday.
Sean Eleuteri (17 points) and Mike Ansong (13 points) scored in double figures for Bordentown.
Bordentown was scheduled to play Northern Burlington on Wednesday.
GIRLS HOOPS
The Bordentown High School girls basketball team will carry a lot of momentum into the state playoffs as it won all four of its games this past week.
Bordentown defeated Holy Cross, 43-26, on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Bordentown took a 10-5 lead after the first quarter, but Holy Cross cut the deficit to 25-21 by the half. Bordentown finally put the game away with a 12-2 run in the fourth quarter.
Allicia Pickett (13 points), She’reva Mendenhall (10 points) and Alicia Carthan (10 points) all scored in double figures. Emily Lawson (six points) and Breanna Hudik (four points) also scored for Bordentown.
Bordentown defeated Northern Burlington, 41-34, on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Breanna Hudik (11 points), Emily Lawson (10 points) and Alicia Carthan (10 points) all scored in double figures for Bordentown. Allicia Pickett (six points) and She’reva Mendenhall (four points) also scored for Bordentown.
Bordentown defeated Delran. 37-32, on Friday.
A 16-8 Bordentown advantage in the third quarter proved to be the difference in the game.
Emily Lawson (17 points), Allicia Pickett (13 points), Alicia Carthan (five points) and Breanna Hudik (two points) did the scoring for Bordentown.
Bordentown defeated New Egypt, 48-28, on Monday.
Allicia Pickett (17 points), She’reva Mendenhall (11 points) and Alicia Carthan (10 points) all scored in double figures for Bordentown.
Bordentown will open play in the Central Jersey Group II playoffs with a game against Snyder on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
