B.J. Young will lead a contingent of six wrestlers from Jackson Memorial High School into this weekend’s NJSIAA individual state wrestling championships in Atlantic City.
Jackson Memorial High School wrestler Brian Hamann (top), seen in action against Hunterdon Central’s Grady Orr during the Group IV state team tournament in February, is one of the Jaguars’ wrestlers competing in this week’s individual state tournament. JEFF GRANIT staff Young (130), Devin Biscaha (145) and Doug Hamann (152) each won Region VI titles on Feb. 27 at the Ritacco Center in Toms River.
The top three wrestlers in each weight class qualified for the state individual championships, to be held March 5-7 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City
Young, who won his third straight District 21 championship on Feb. 20, captured his first Region VI title. He found a familiar opponent waiting for him in the regional final — Howell High School’s Mike Shaughnessy. Just as he did in the district finals, Young pinned Shaughnessy.
Biscaha and Hamann were also District 21 champions and, like Young, will be going to Atlantic City with momentum.
Biscaha needed overtime to beat Matawan Regional High School’s Jordan Long, 3-1, to claim the Region VI crown.
Hamann won by an identical 3-1 decision, but in regulation. He beat Long Branch High School’s Doug Cornell to claim the region championships.
This was also the first region championship for Hamann and Biscaha.
Mike Shupin reached the 112-pound final, where he lost to Southern Regional High School’s Kyle Casaletto by a pin.
Shupin had a tough road to the final. As a district runner-up, he was required to wrestle an extra match in the preliminary region round (Feb. 23), a round in which the loser’s season is over.
Third-place consolation round winners for Jackson Memorial at the Region VI tournament were Brian Hamann (103) and Dallas Winston (160).
Hamann pinned Marlboro’s James Stewart to punch his ticket to the state tournament in Atlantic City. He is a freshman and will no doubt gain valuable experience at the state championships.
Winston is another underclassman who will be benefiting from an early trip to Atlantic City. The Jaguars’ sophomore won his consolation match, 3-2, over Ken Dougherty of Toms River North.