By Wayne Witkowski
All four wrestlers from Jackson Township’s high schools — Matt McGowan and Mike Spino of Jackson Memorial High School and Tyler Kalmowitz and Nick Pellegrino from Jackson Liberty High School — exited earlier than they hoped from the state championships March 5 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall without a medal.
McGowan, a junior who ended a three-year drought of Region 6 champions for Jackson Memorial, had the strongest shot as the lone region titlist.
Seeded No. 7 at 126 pounds, McGowan had a bye into the pre-quarterfinals, where he lost a 5-0 decision to No. 2-seed Garrett O’Shea of Butler High School.
In the wrestlebacks, McGowan decisioned Camden Catholic High School’s James Ziegler, 4-2, and then was pinned by Monroe Township High School’s Nicholas Lombard at 4:24. McGowan finished his season 27-5.
Spino, a senior wrestling at 120 pounds who was a consolation winner in the region, lost a 4-2 decision in his state championships preliminary opener to Cedar Grove High School’s Anthony Clarizio, the No. 4 seed.
In the wrestlebacks, Spino dropped a 6-2 decision to East Brunswick High School’s Mark Schleifer to finish his season 25-6.
It marked the second time in three years the Jaguars fell short of winning a state medal.
“Both [wrestlers] trailed early and had to come back. I don’t think they wrestled to the best of their ability, but everyone is good when you get to this point,” Jackson Memorial coach Aaron Gottesman said. “It wasn’t due to lack of effort but more a case of nerves, weight cutting.”
As for Jackson Liberty’s two senior state qualifiers, they also were eliminated short of a medal.
Kalmowitz, a region runner-up at 160 pounds, lost a 7-0 decision in his opener to 40-bout winner and eventual state champion Kyle Cochran of Paramus High School.
In the wrestlebacks, he won by injury default over Caleb Isemann of West Morris Central High School after Kalmowitz built a 7-2 lead. Kalmowitz then had his season ended in an 8-0 loss to Cherry Hill High School West’s Connor Rogovich, who went on to finish seventh in the state.
Kalmowitz ended his season 38-7.
At 113 pounds, Pellegrino was pinned by top-seed and Region 1 runner-up Kyle Markus of Phillipsburg High School at 4:28 in his opening bout. Pellegrino then was eliminated in a 4-0 decision to Region 1 champion, DePaul Catholic High School’s Dan Perceley, who went on to finish seventh in the state. Pellegrino finished 31-12.
“Coming into the tournament, both wrestlers had tough draws. But they did a good job because everyone who gets there is good,” Jackson Liberty coach Mike Eddy said. “Both guys wrestled better in their second matches.”
For next season, Jackson Memorial loses eight seniors from its NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV championship team that finished 15-6 overall and 6-1 in the Shore Conference A South Division.
Graduating off this team is two-time district champion Tanner Kelly, who finished 18-4 at 182. He and Spino were the district champions from this year’s team. Also graduating is two-time Region 6 qualifier Adante Davis, a District 21 runner-up who ended up 23-9, Mike Christie (14-9 at 138), Jay Epperly (13-14 at 152) and Chris Mondello (17-10 at 220), who all finished fourth in the district, as well as Kyle Johnson (160) and heavyweight Austin Ostrander, who was injured at the end of the season.
“It’s huge when you lose six to eight guys, and that’s when you have to rebuild,” Gottesman said. “We have a great offseason plan for the kids, and it all comes down to their offseason preparation.”
McGowan will lead a small but select group of returnees, including junior Tim Hamann, who was 20-3 at 145 pounds, and freshman Carsten DiGiantomasso, who was 11-13 at 113.
Just like Jackson Memorial, Jackson Liberty graduates eight seniors, including its two state qualifiers off a 16-11 team that won its third Shore Conference B South championship in four years in a 7-0 division run.
The other seniors include region qualifiers Jeremy Bollard, a District 21 runner-up who was 19-6 at 152 pounds, and heavyweight Jared DiZenzo, a district consolation winner who was 27-4. The Lions also lose to graduation Jerald Goodman, who was 27-5 at 195 pounds; Chris Pondish, who was 22-8 at 220; Niles Jackson, who was 18-12 at 132; and Shaine Coluccio at 182.
“We had a good run with those guys. We’ll reload next year,” Eddy said.
Up-and-coming prospects include sophomores Josh Bollard, who was 20-14 at 106 pounds; Marc Palmieri, who was 18-13 at 170; Shaun Plaza, who was 15-19 at 126 pounds; and Chavis Coleman, who was 10-16 at 182. There’s also 145-pounder Kevin Deveney, who missed most of his freshman campaign with an injury.