By Jeff Appelblatt
Last season was a disappointing one for Freehold High School’s wrestling team. The squad had holes through its lineup and was forced to forfeit numerous matches each outing.
But 11-year coach Matt Shepherd knew the 2016-17 season would be different. The team sent out many seniors this season, including last year’s top standouts, John Downey and Sean Neely, along with incoming freshmen that not only filled the weight classes the Colonials spent last year without, but also freshmen that made an impact since their first days on the mats this year, like Mike Gagliardo and Nico Messina.
As a team this year, Freehold won 16 of its 23 dual meets compared to only three out of 21 a year ago. Shepherd was excited by what his wrestlers showed him this season, even if his team narrowly missed a chance to compete in the state competition.
“We were upset because it’s a goal you set at the beginning of year,” the coach said about aiming to make — but being left out of — the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV competition because of a fraction of a point. “[But] the kids bought into what we were selling. [In turn], we finished with 16 wins. I think we could look back at the year and think of it as a success.”
It was the undefeated freshman Messina (22-0) who capped off Freehold’s final battle as a team on top of the standings. He won the 106-pound weight class Feb. 18, carrying the Colonials to a fifth-place finish in the District 23 championships. Senior Liam Tibbett (18-5) finished second at 195 pounds, while Gagliardo (13-7) and Neely (13-9) finished third at 120 and 132, respectively.
Long Branch High School won the district battle as a team, but Freehold’s coach was happy to see a number of his athletes place along the top.
“There’s no easy district in Jersey, there really isn’t. There’s good wrestling,” Shepherd said. “For us, it’s a product of my senior class and my staff — real simple. They worked hard. Everybody bought into what we were doing.
“I’m proud of the way we competed all year.”
With only the regional and state tournaments left, Shepherd still doesn’t know what his 12 seniors are planning for next year. But he knows that most are still weighing college options. While some coaches think the last impression means a lot to college recruits, Freehold’s coach isn’t too sure about that.
“The chips will fall where they may. There’s no Division I teams calling us,” he said. “But it’ll be good to see some of these guys compete [in college]. They helped us. They helped change the culture of the program. I’m very proud of the effort they put in.”
The seniors will have at least one more chance to wrestle while representing the Colonials. Freehold’s wrestlers will have the Region 6 tournament Feb. 22-25 at Brick Memorial High School with all the schools from Districts 18 to 24.
The winners will move on to the state championships March 3-5 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.