Redbirds, Ravens advance 13 to regions
By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
The Allentown High and Robbinsville High wrestling teams proved that regular season success and tournament success don’t necessarily go hand in hand.
The Redbirds were 8-14 during the dual match season, while the Ravens were 13-9. But last weekend at the District 25 tournament, the two programs showed just how deep their talent pool goes as they combined to advance 13 wrestlers to the Region 7 tournament that was scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
”We had the most in the finals in the district this weekend,” Allentown coach Matt Merritt said. “Everyone stepped up. (Zach) Turner and (Jordan) Rugo were huge. (Jason) Bennett stepped up and won a big match. Connor Marks stepped up and won big matches. (Sebastian) Rizzo we knew would make the finals and when he got there he pulled a guy who might be a state champ. We had Liam McDermott win a big match in the semis to get to the finals and he just got caught in the final. It was a simple learning mistake.”
Allentown finished second at the District 25 tournament, trailing only Northern Burlington. Robbinsville finished fourth as a team.
”We have seven going so the regions so hopefully we can advance some guys to the states,” Robbinsville coach Rich Gildner said. “Last year we sent seven as well. I think it is always a goal to have at least half of your wrestlers in regions and then three or four advance to states. It’s nice. You can’t do it every year but when you do it feels real good.”
The two teams combined to produce five district champions. Robbinsville’s Logan Fox won the title at 106 pounds, while Dylan James won at 138 and Chris Steward won at 160. Allentown had Rugo win the title at 152 and Turner at 182.
The Ravens also advanced four other wrestlers to the region tournament, with Brent Grocott finishing third at 112, Elijah McNeil finish third at 152, and Sean Tonry finish third at 182. Zach Bilgrav was fourth at 126 but advanced to regions when another wrestler could not go on in the tournament. The Redbirds had Rizzo finish second at 113, Marks finish second at 132, McDermott finish second at 170, and Bennett finish second at 195.
”They are doing great things,” Merritt said of his Allentown team. “Our mentality this week is for six guys to walk in and when we get to Friday and Saturday do whatever they can to stay alive. We anticipate taking more than two to Atlantic City.
”We lost the district by 5.5 points and it came down to one match. We lost five close ones at the end of the season. We’re an under .500 team but we’re a good tournament team.”
Turner has come a long way since last year, when he finished second at the district. He has been motivated since the end of last season and that motivation has translated into success on the mat.
”All of it is hard work,” Turner said. “Some of it is a little luck but hard work is the main component and also the drive. A lot of the hard work is the preparation. Having six of us going is really cool and a little surprising. When we started the season out we did not have a lot of experienced wrestlers. The way we pulled it together at the end of the season was great.
”I think it came down to us doing better with individual pressure at tournaments than the dual meets.”
Turner has 33 wins this season, with 29 of those coming by pin. He won all three of his district matches by pin.
”Zach is 33-3 and of his 33 wins, 29 of them are by pin,” Merritt said. “He pinned to win the final in 1:57. He is focused, works hard and listens to the coaches. He makes adjustments and always gives 110 percent. He has stepped up and been very good this year.”
Turner is hoping the district crown and whatever success follows at regions are just further steps forward in his progress as a wrestler.
”That is the goal for this season, to get to states,” Turner said. “And if we work hard enough to get to states and then next year get back and place at states. And I will work hard to achieve that. I am a big fan of setting goals for myself and taking the steps to achieve those goals.”
Robbinsville’s Steward is another wrestler who has made big strides forward during his career and now, as a senior, has a district title to show for it.
”It probably started for him last year,” Gildner said. “He came in as freshman and sophomore and didn’t really maximize his talents. I think last year he started believing and said why not me? He can place in this tournament. It is all a learning process. This year he was in a close match in the district final and found a way to win. Hopefully that experience carries over. We try to wrestle a formidable schedule where our guys are wrestling region caliber kids. So that helps.”
Steward entered the district tournament feeling like he had a shot at a title and he came through.
”It has been a goal of mine since last year ended,” Steward said. “As soon as I was done last year I was lifting and wrestling in the offseason and going to tournaments.
”I was pretty excited. It is a cool thing to do to win a tournament. It feels great to know you have your name up on wall for winning. I wasn’t really stressed or nervous going into the final because I had beaten him in the past. It was a mostly neutral match but I felt like I was in control for most of it.
”I feel like everything is coming together this year. I have to leave it all on the mat because you never know what can be your last match. I got knocked out on Wednesday at regions last year but this year I know what expect. I have some good training partners that help me with the workouts.”
Fox and James also came away with district titles for the Ravens.
”Logan is a sophomore and was third last year,” Gildner said. “To come back and win speaks for the amount of work he put in. Dylan won last year and won again this year. It didn’t go way the way wanted at regions last year. But he’s refocused and ready to get after it this year.”