By Jeff Appelblatt
This is the time of the year that Manalapan High School wrestling coach Scott Pressman sits back and watches his top wrestlers try to build up their own résumés.
As a team, Manalapan had a great season, which included a District 21 championship. But as February came to an end, the team’s coach knew it was all about the individual wrestlers from here on out.
Five of Manalapan’s wrestlers — Jake Staklinski, Kareem Ghaida, Matt Mustillo, Paul Santomarco and Ronny Ghaida — won their respective weights in District 21 Feb. 18.
Meanwhile, Alex Baran and Justin Obermeyer finished in second, and A.J. Sortino, Anthony Coposky, Anthony Jomo and Matt Benedetti came in third.
Pressman was happy he had so many wrestlers do well, but his expectations were even greater than what happened.
“Obviously you always want a little bit more but all-in-all, [it was] a good day. Guys did a real nice job competing,” Manalapan’s coach said before heading to practice at Howell High School.
“Obviously, you want to win the tournament, but you got to advance as many guys as you can. It’s all about the individuals.”
Kareem Ghaida won at 120 pounds at the districts, while Ronny Ghaida won at 152 — the first time at Manalapan brothers achieved that accomplishment.
“It hadn’t happened [before], but it’s not about brothers. It’s about each kid putting themselves in a situation to advance in the region to the state tournament,” Pressman said. “Are they all going to advance? No. We wish they all would. That’s not realistic.
“I’ve said 100 times, the goal is to get on the podium in Atlantic City — wherever it is.”
The Region 6 meet Feb. 25 officially determined who the Braves are sending to wrestle in Atlantic City.
Staklinski and Ronny Ghaida finished second in the 170- and 152-pound weight classes, earning them trips to Boardwalk Hall March 3-5. They will be joined by Baran, who came in third in the 132-pound battles.
Obermeyer won his one match on the day, but an injury kept him off the mats the rest of the way.
While Pressman’s main concerns going forward are for the three competing in Atlantic City, he can’t forget about the great year his team put together overall. The team (27-5) won seven more meets than a year ago, and it won the District 21 championship.
“Capping it off with a district title just kind of validated everything we did this year,” the 10-year coach said. “We came up short in a lot of situations, but to cap it off and have the seniors lead the way — it’s real satisfying.”
Pressman also hopes that the trip to Atlantic City will help his two qualifying seniors prepare for college. Neither Ronny Ghaida nor Staklinski made their choices yet entering into March.
The coach said all along that the offers would come as the wins piled on.
“We’ll start to get a better idea of where we’re going to fall with that,” Pressman said after the district meet. “That process will start [now].”