Tournaments that were held during the holiday break provided local high school wrestlers with their final tuneups before the 2011-12 dual meet season swings into high gear starting this week.
On Dec. 27, Manalapan’s wrestlers traveled to the Lenape Valley Tournament. The Braves produced three champions and finished second in the team standings.
Mike Aronson (132), Jason Cocklin (195) and John Appice (HWT) were Manalapan’s champions.
Nick Macchio (126), Ed Chandler (138) and Anthony Benedetti (170) were finalists in their weight classes.
Chris Obermeyer (152), Ben Aquilina (160) and Geoff Kelman (182) all won their consolation bouts and finished third.
Freehold’s Thomas Nulty was the only area wrestler to win a title at the Walter Woods Tournament hosted by Middletown South High School on Dec. 28. Nulty, a senior who could reach the 100-career win milestone this season, won the crown at 132 pounds with an 8-4 decision over Matt Coppola ofWatchung Hills.
Colts Neck traveled to Haddon Township for a tournament on Dec. 28. The Cougars crowned five champions and Pete Ottaviano won the Outstanding Wrestler award. Ottaviano, a junior, won the gold medal at 113 pounds. Ottaviano’s brother, freshman Nick Ottaviano, won the title at 106 pounds. Ryan Carol (120), Frank Lefkowitz (195) and Brandon Russo (HWT) were Colts Neck’s other champions. Niko Zampelle (138) placed third and the Cougars finished third in the team standings.
At the Dec. 28 Hawk Classic at Manchester High School, Marlboro freshman Dan Saraiva won the 120-pound title, the first tournament crown of his budding career. Saraiva, who was the No. 7 seed in his weight class, had to go to overtime to defeat New Egypt’s Ryan Molokie, 6-4.
The Mustang Classic held at Brick Memorial High School on Dec. 28 attracted a field that included state powers Brick Memorial, Howell and Ocean Township. There was no team scoring at the Mustang Classic.
Nathan Litowsky was the only Howell wrestler to reach a championship bout at the Mustang Classic. Litowsky lost to David Brearley’s Jeff Velez, 3-1, in the 182-pound final.
The Rebels’ Zach Bohm won his third place bout at 160 with a 1-0 decision over Brick Memorial’s Tyler Richardson, and Matt Sulkowski (195) finished fourth in his weight class for the Rebels.