Pryzbylkowski, Carr are champs
By Ken Weingartner, Special Writer
At the beginning of the season, New Egypt High wrestling coach Kevin English put forth several goals for his Warriors. One was to win the district championship.
Last weekend, New Egypt fulfilled English’s expectations. The Warriors claimed their first District 25 title in the 11-year history of the program by edging Allentown by two points at Steinert High.
”We’re the smallest school in (the tournament) and consistently we put a lot of guys in the finals and score pretty high,” said English, whose team finished second in last year’s tourney. “I don’t know if it validates us; I know we’re a good program and these (other coaches) respect our program. But you always want to win one. You want to win them every year.
”To be close a couple years and not get one, and knowing this team was probably the best team we’ve had in our program’s history from top to bottom, it was definitely a goal we set at the beginning of the season. It wasn’t like we just thought maybe we’ll do well in districts, our goal was to win districts.”
Matt Carr, who was the No. 3 seed at 106 pounds, and Sean Pryzbylkowski at 126 both won titles for the Warriors, who advanced six wrestlers to this week’s Region 7 Tournament at Robbinsville High by virtue of their top three finishes in the district. Ryan Molokie (113), Brad Schwarze (160) and Tyler Miller (182) finished second while Kyle Hendrickson (138) was third.
The top three finishers in each weight class at regions advances to the state tourney in Atlantic City.
”Out of seven semifinalists, we put five in the finals,” English said. “That’s a good number; nobody else had more. Every little point counted. It’s a testament to them to put it all together and wrestle so well and so consistent throughout the weekend.”
Pryzbylkowski’s win at 126 over Steinert’s Tyler Beers all but locked up the team title for New Egypt. It was Pryzbylkowski’s first tournament championship.
”It’s a double win,” said Pryzbylkowski, who finished third in last year’s tourney and improved his record this season to 27-4. “I’ve never done it before, never gotten first in anything, so it feels good. Those were big points. I came off the mat and my coach told me I might have just won us a team title. It was win-win.”
As a district champ, Pryzbylkowski gets a bye into the regional quarterfinals, which will be contested Friday night. District second- and third-place finishers wrestled Wednesday night in pre-quarterfinal action.
”I’m looking forward to a little time off,” Pryzbylkowski said, adding with a laugh, “Maybe hit up some McD’s, yeah.”
Pryzbylkowski, a junior, was 4-3 after his first seven matches this season, but spent a good amount of time wrestling up in weight at 132. He is 14-0 this season when wrestling at 126.
”I had a few tough losses in the beginning, but bounced back,” Pryzbylkowski said. “I got mentally tougher as the season went on, trying to get better and better.
”My only goal is just to get to Atlantic City. It doesn’t matter how, I’ll take anything. I just want to wrestle there one time. It seems like a blast.”
Carr, who is a senior, won his second district title by beating No. 1 seed Chris Tan of Robbinsville at 106. Carr also knocked off Rancocas Valley’s Blake Rogers, who was the second seed. Carr and Rogers had split two earlier meetings this season.
”It feels good to win it again, really good,” said Carr, who is 29-3. “I thought I was just as strong no matter what seed I was at; I just came out and did what I had to do.
”I want to qualify for states. I took fourth last year at regions. It’s a lot of motivation. My season’s been pretty good. I just look to go out and wrestle my best.”

