With several key athletes back from a team that went 16-3 and won the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) White Division championship, Sayreville War Memorial High School wrestling coach Marcus Ivy is confident his team will have another solid season.
The Bombers’ lineup will once again feature heavyweight Anthony Porcaro, who is coming off his third straight championship at the annual Neptune Classic. The senior turned in a 37-3 record a year ago, while also winning the GMC, District 20 and Region V crowns for the second year in a row.
“Anthony’s clearly our leader, and he’s focused on having an even better season,” Ivy said. “He’s a phenomenal wrestler.” Frank Roman, at 113 pounds, has also emerged as a leader. After going 22-15 a year ago, Ivy noted that the senior began running in addition to lifting weights. Roman is in top shape and is poised for a strong season after grabbing second place in his weight class at Neptune.
Another senior, 182-pound Tyler Lewis, is coming off an 18-12 showing. At 145 pounds, Ivy is expecting Dylan Tailefer to add to the 12 wins he picked up last winter. Junior Kyle Wavro moves up to 170 pounds after holding his own at 160 pounds as a sophomore, and sophomore Brandon Alicea moves to 126 pounds after gaining valuable experience at 103 pounds, where he was 10-13.
“We’re counting on our returnees to put up good numbers because we have a lot of young wrestlers this year,” Ivy said. “Even when they lose, I want them to lose well. Every point counts.”
A welcome addition to the lineup is 152- pound junior Sam Thomas, who sat out the last two seasons after doing well in middle school. Josh Garrett, who missed last year with a shoulder injury, has nailed down the 160-pound spot.
The Blue and Gray will prominently feature several freshmen, including Trevor Mastorio and Alec Coelho, both of whom finished at 2-2 in the Neptune Classic. Mastorio is competing at 120 pounds, while Coelho takes to the mats as a 132-pounder. Fellow freshman Scott Mish hits the mat at 103 pounds, and Vito Dorio is the 138- pounder.
“We’re still filling out a few of our lineup spots,” Ivy said. “We’re going to be much younger this year, but these new wrestlers are all very talented and polished. It’s hard to believe some of them are freshmen.
“That being said, they still have to adjust to varsity competition and not be afraid to win. They’re going to be wrestling against guys who are a lot better than them — on paper. They can’t let that get in the way. They have to go out and wrestle to win. It’s all part of the adjustment.”
Sayreville was slated to open its dualmeet schedule against Hamilton High School West Dec. 23. The Bombers will compete in a tournament in Roselle Park Dec. 28 and have a quad match at South Brunswick High School Jan. 2 that also includes Seton Hall Preparatory School and West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.