Jackson wrestlers moving on to Region 6 tournament

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Correspondent

 New Egypt High School’s Sean Pryzbylkowski tries to flip Hamilton’s Jacob Kouroume during their 128-pound match at the NJSIAA District 25 Wrestling Tournament held at Steinert High School. Pryzbylkowski won this match and went on to finish second.  R. D. BEALES New Egypt High School’s Sean Pryzbylkowski tries to flip Hamilton’s Jacob Kouroume during their 128-pound match at the NJSIAA District 25 Wrestling Tournament held at Steinert High School. Pryzbylkowski won this match and went on to finish second. R. D. BEALES Thirteen Jackson wrestlers, including five repeat District 21 champions, held true to form in advancing to the Region 6 tournament at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River beginning Feb. 27 and continuing on March 1-2. Two of the wrestlers are unbeaten.

Two state place winners from 2012 — Jackson Memorial High School’s Brian Hamann, who was fourth in the state for the second time in three years, and Jackson Liberty High School’s unbeaten Nick Zak, who placed sixth in the state last year, led the charge of repeat district champions at 138 pounds and 182 pounds, respectively.

Hamann won a 23-6 decision over Manalapan High School’s Ed Chandler to raise his record to 29-3. Zak, who won 40 bouts and district and region titles last year, got his 32nd victory of the year after a tough 3-0 decision over Matawan Regional High School football standout Glenn Cross in the district finals.

 Howell High School’s Kyle Cocozza (l) and Holmdel High School’s Brandon Gross have each other locked up as they look for an opening during their 220-pound match at the NJSIAA District 21 Wrestling Tournament held on Feb. 23 at Manalapan High School. Cocozza won this match and went on to win his weight class championship, helping the Rebels win their second straight district team title.  ERIC SUCAR staff Howell High School’s Kyle Cocozza (l) and Holmdel High School’s Brandon Gross have each other locked up as they look for an opening during their 220-pound match at the NJSIAA District 21 Wrestling Tournament held on Feb. 23 at Manalapan High School. Cocozza won this match and went on to win his weight class championship, helping the Rebels win their second straight district team title. ERIC SUCAR staff His 123 career victories surpass the 118 attained by his older brother, Chris, and led Jackson Liberty to a 17-6 dualmeet record, one win shy of a year ago, as well as its first Shore Conference B South Division championship.

“Nick is tough to score on, so wrestlers need exceptional offense to get past him,” Jackson Liberty coach Mike Eddy said.

The advancement of six wrestlers to regions is the most in Jackson Liberty history and one more than a year ago.

Jackson Memorial advanced seven of its wrestlers.

Jackson Liberty’s Russo brothers — sophomore twins Mike, who is unbeaten at 106 pounds, and Matt at 120 pounds — launched their bids to return to the state championships. Mike repeated at 106 pounds impressively with a technical fall for his 32nd victory. He was 40-4 last season and finished second in Region 6. Matt dropped a tough 2-1 decision to Colts Neck High School’s Pete Ottaviano in the finals at 120 pounds, only his sixth loss in 32 bouts. He was second in the district and third in the region last year.

“Mike is a state ranked wrestler who beat some very good wrestlers early in the season,” Eddy said. “His brother, Matt, will have to do what he did last year when he lost in the district finals and had a great region tournament. That’s the challenge, for him to do that again. He needs to be better at the end of his matches. We, as coaches, have to work on that with him.”

Seven wrestlers from both schools claimed district titles, including Jackson Memorial senior Alec Huxford (7-2 at 126 pounds) with a major decision, sophomore Connor Bohringer (19-11 at 170 pounds) with a pin, and junior Ken Bradley (28-4 at 195 pounds) with a 12-4 decision.

Spencer Young, a senior, advanced to the regions with a 25-7 record after finishing second in the district at 145 pounds, where he dropped a tough 8-6 decision. Young was third in the district last year. Jackson Memorial sophomore Fred Terranova (23-9) at 106 pounds and junior Zack Baker (19-13) at 113 pounds also advanced to the regions with third-place consolation victories.

As for Jackson Liberty, Zak and the Russo brothers are joined in the regions by junior T.J. Liquori, who repeated as district champion with a 9-0 decision to raise his record to 31-1. His only loss came to a state place winner, as he looks to make up for last year, when he struggled in the regions.

“He’s one of those guys who has a shot to advance to the state championship,” Eddy said.

Junior Mike McKenzie was losing close and got caught in a move that got him pinned with five seconds left in the 220- pound finals. McKenzie is 20-12.

Senior Chris Cruz, who is 18-11, also advanced for Jackson Liberty as a consolation winner after dropping a tough semifinals decision to Bohringer.

Two other Jackson Liberty wrestlers lost in the consolation finals. Anthony Souza was pinned at 126 pounds to finish 16-14. Jared DiZanzo moved up in weight and lost in the heavyweight consolation finals in a 10-1 decision. He ended his season at 7-11.