By Jeff Appelblatt
Manalapan High School has had a contending team on the mats for years and with the return of most of its lineup this season, the squad hopes it can move up the rankings in the incredibly tough Shore Conference.
“We have a pretty good squad; a lot of guys with a lot of experience. And they’re all guys who compete year-round,” Manalapan assistant coach Jim Somma said. “It’s finally starting to come together. We’re off to a great start.”
As strong as the Braves looked when they breezed through their first six dual meets, Somma and the team knows it will have to keep climbing to compete with the teams at the top, starting with Colts Neck High School and Howell High School.
Manalapan began the season by winning the Nottingham Invitational Dec. 17. It proceeded to dominate Neptune High School, Holmdel High School, Nottingham High School, Allentown High School, Freehold Township High School and Jackson Liberty High School to get to 6-0.
“We had two tough losses — Colts Neck and Howell,” Somma said about the Jan. 7 and 9 losses. “They’re good teams, but I think we’re right there in the mix.”
Somma is quite familiar with the team from Colts Neck — a squad coming off to its best season in the program’s short history. He wrestled for the high school and graduated in 2008.
“I was coaching over at Colts Neck, and then I started teaching there,” the social studies teacher said. “A position opened up here [at Manalapan] — a more permanent, long-term position — and I started teaching here. Then I started coaching here.”
He has quickly adapted in his switch from green and silver to scarlet red and navy blue.
“I’m pretty new coaching here,” the assistant coach said. “But I know we have a pretty storied program.”
For Manalapan’s story to continue on a positive note, there needs to be something worth reading. Somma believes his current wrestlers — with head coach Scott Pressman and him leading the way — will leave another strong season to be remembered.
“Some of our seniors are go-to guys,” Somma said, naming Ronny Ghaida, Jake Staklinski and Justin Obermeyer. “But we have some underclassmen that could wrestle and are doing pretty well.”
One of those younger wrestlers Somma has enjoyed watching has been sophomore Alex Baran.
“Alex Baran, at 132 [pounds], has been in a lot of [matches] this year,” the assistant coach said. “He’s continuing and will continue to grow throughout this season.”
Somma has also been keeping his eye on junior A.J. Sortino.
“At 113 [pounds], A.J. Sortino is progressing real nice,” Somma said. “He was a big part of the team last year. He’s a bigger part of the team this year.”
Sortino (6-3) finished second at the Nottingham Invitational and third at the Walter Woods Tournament. Baran (7-2), meanwhile, was a first-place winner at Walter Woods, and he placed second at the Nottingham Invitational.
It was Ghaida, Staklinski and Paul Santomarco that shined most for Manalapan in its win at the Nottingham Invitational. The three shared first-place rankings en route to the Manalapan victory.
Ghaida (7-2) also won the 152-pound weight class at the Walter Woods Tournament, while Santomarco (8-2) won at 106 and Baran won at 132.
Manalapan’s wrestlers will be on a bus Jan. 18 headed to Marlboro High School. The Braves (9-2) and the Mustangs (0-5) have a 6 p.m. meet.