The hold that the Jackson Memorial and Howell high school wrestling teams have had on the NJSIAA District 21 tournament should continue this weekend at Manalapan High School.
The two state powers battled it out for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV team championship on Feb. 11, with the Jaguars winning their second straight sectional title, and sixth overall, 36-21, over the Rebels.
Jackson Memorial went on to win the overall Group IV state team title on Feb. 13.
There will, however, be a lot of changes on the top ring of the medal podium this weekend at Manalapan. There are only four returning district champions from 2010, and Jackson Memorial has three: Doug Hamann (152), Dallas Winston (160) and Joe Nolan (heavyweight).
Jackson Liberty High School’s Chris Zak (135) is the other returning champion.
Some of the new district champions will be young wrestlers with multiple wins in their future, while for some seniors this will be their last chance to become a district champion and leave a mark at their school.
Perhaps more important than that, District 21 is all about survival. The road to the NJSIAA individual state tournament in Atlantic City begins at the district level. The top three finishers in each weight class at the district tournament will advance to next week’s Region VI tournament in Toms River, on Feb. 22, 25 and 26.
Jackson Memorial will roll into Manalapan having won 12 of the last 13 District 21 team titles. Howell interrupted the Jaguars’ run in 2009.
Last year, coach Doug Withstandley’s Jaguars were dominating, advancing 12 wrestlers to the regionals, including five champions, three of whom are back — Hamann, Winston and Nolan, although Hamann is injured and questionable for this weekend.
The Jaguars have been tested against the best teams in the state all year and have a slew of wrestlers who are serious contenders for district championships this weekend. Hamann, Winston and Nolan will all be favored to repeat as champions.
In addition to the three returning champions, the Jaguars haveAlec Huxford (103), Brian Hamann (119), Mike Shupin (119/125), Spencer Young (125), Brad Royle (125/130), Joe Bartolini (135), Randy Royle (140), Rob Hennings (160) and Dylan Harrington (171), all of whom are ranked in the top 10 in Region VI.
Howell lost six District 21 medal winners from 2010, yet the Rebels won a sixth consecutive Shore Conference A North Division crown and reached the Central Jersey Group IV championship match this season. It speaks volumes about coach John Gagliano’s program that the Rebels are able to replace such quality talent each year.
Mike Shaughnessy (140) recently won his 100th career match and is one of Howell’s top candidates to win a district title. Shaughnessy, who was a runner-up to Jackson Memorial’s B.J. Young in last year’s tournament, is 28-1.
Howell’s list of contenders is a long one, including Jimmy Slendorn (103), Ben Esposito (112), Matt Lindemann (119), Cole Cameron (135), Ashanti Maurice (145), Zach Bohm (152), Cody Kirk (160), Frank Lino (171), John Hlava (189) and Bryan Sherlotti (heavyweight).
It is not only Howell and Jackson Memorial that make District 21 one of the most competitive district tournaments in the state, it is the overall quality and depth of the other teams.
Matawan (13-7) and St. John Vianney (22-5) competed in the recent state team tournament. Marlboro was one of 16 teams selected to compete in the Shore Conference Tournament.
Coach Jack Withstandley’s Freehold Township Patriots had a big bounce-back season, going from 9-20 to 10-7 in dual meets this year. Freehold Township was a very young team a year ago, and while the wrestlers took their lumps then, they have come back strong this winter.
Rocco Hernandez (140) has been the Patriots’ top wrestler all season. Nick Buttita (112), John Baumann (152) and Eric Kakauridze (heavyweight) all have a chance to advance to the Region VI Tournament.
Colts Neck is led by the Ottaviano brothers, Peter and Nick. Peter Ottaviano, a junior, wrestles at 112 pounds and has 22 wins, while Nick Ottaviano, a freshman, has 20 wins at 103 pounds. Brandon Russo (171) and Frank Lefkowitz (189) are the Cougars’ other medal contenders.
Jackson Liberty has the Zak brothers, Chris and Nick. Chris Zak (22-1), a senior, has surpassed 100 career wins and is a returning district champion. Nick, a sophomore who wrestles at 160 pounds, is 23-2. Brian Kosheff also has a good chance of advancing to the Region VI Tournament. The Lions’ junior is 20-3.
Freehold High School has been making some waves in the district tournament in the last couple of years, and although the Colonials may not have a champion such as twotime winner Josh Davis (215) in the lineup this year, the Colonials are more balanced. Freehold is led by the Nulty brothers, Tom (125) and Brian (119), who are both enjoying successful seasons. Tom Nulty is 18-5 and Brian Nulty is 17-7.
Steven Bravo (130) and Zach Mostowski (135) made the middle of the lineup the Colonials’ strength this season.
Host Manalapan, which last won the District 21 team title in 1997, is looking to Eddie Chandler (135), Reggie Hodge-Grant (145), MikeAronson (130) and John Appice (heavyweight) to become the program’s first district champion since 2008.
Action at the District 21 Tournament at Manalapan High School, Church Lane, Manalapan, will begin with the preliminary round at 5 p.m. Feb. 18, followed by the quarterfinals. The district semifinals will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 19, followed by the third-place consolation bouts at 1 p.m., and the finals at 2:30 p.m.