By Wayne Witkowski
Tom Anderson of Middletown High School North’s and Nick Schutzenhofer of Christian Brothers Academy’s (CBA) wrestling teams were state place-winners in the NJSIAA championships held March 5 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
Anderson became only the second wrestler in Middletown North history to reach 40 wins in a season when he decisioned Mike Iodice (38-7) of Hunterdon Central Regional High School, 7-3, for fifth place. Brandon Vorrius won 41 bouts in 2010 when he finished seventh in the state at 189 pounds, and Anthony Vetrano was the next state place-winner since then when he was third last year at 182.
Anderson is the 17th state place-winner at the school.
Anderson, who had only six losses on the season and will head to The College of New Jersey in the fall, came back from a 3-0 deficit early in the second period with seven unanswered points against Iodice, including an escape early in the third period and then a takedown and back points later.
“He wrestled excellent, was good on his feet throughout the tournament, did not give up any points and got some pins,” coach Matt Sirchio said.
Anderson got two pins early in the wrestlebacks and then two dramatic decisions before suffering an 8-1 loss in the wrestleback semifinals to Queen of Peace High School’s Dominick Maniero. He had earlier pulled out a 3-2 decision over Mahwah High School’s David Surich (38-5) in the fourth round of the wrestlebacks and a 3-1 sudden victory over Rancocas Valley Regional High School’s Seon Bowker (35-6) on a takedown late in the overtime.
CBA’s Schutzenhofer had an injury forfeit in his bout for fifth place against Hunter Gutierrez (42-2) of Lacey Township High School as he finished sixth at 106 pounds.
The senior, who was 40-5, advanced to the fifth-place consolation match by winning a 3-2 decision over Justin Bierdumpfel of Don Bosco Preparatory High School. Schutzenhofer started off strongly in the opening action March 3, scoring a 7-0 decision over Westfield High School’s C.J. Composto and pinning Dylan Cedeno of Fair Lawn High School in 37 seconds before losing a 5-0 decision to Samuel Eddie Alvarez of Saint Joseph Regional High School of Montvale.
Schutzenhofer, one of three CBA wrestlers competing in the state finals, is the 24th state place-winner at the school. It’s the fourth year in a row the Colts have had a state place-winner.
CBA’s Rich Koehler at 113 pounds got all the way to the fourth round of wrestlebacks March 5 when his season was ended in a 10-6 decision to Mitchell Paolito (36-1) of East Brunswick High School. He had won decisions in his previous wrestleback bouts by a 7-6 score over High Point High School’s Devin Flannery (28-7) and 12-3 over Dominic DiFrancescantonio (34-12) of Hanover Park High School. Carmen DiGiorgio dropped his first two bouts at 195 pound to finish 26-10. Both are juniors.
Aside from Anderson, junior Nick Cofone made the farthest advance of the five Middletown North wrestlers in the state championships, going 3-2 on the weekend and getting to the fourth round of wrestlebacks. His season ended at 34-7 in a 2-1 tiebreaker loss to Paulsboro High School’s Santino Moraine (39-6). He won a 12-4 major decision in the third round over Michael Fernandez (41-3) of Voorhees High School and a 6-0 decision over Justin Hayward (30-10) of Watchung Hills Regional High School in his wrestlebacks. On opening night, Cofone had decisioned Woodbridge High School’s Marquain Payne, 13-5, before losing, 5-2,to Piscataway Township High School’s Michael Pettite.
Freshmen Tyler Klinsky (37-7) at 106 pounds and junior Stanley Wojdyak (39-5) at 145 pounds went 1-2, dropping their wrestleback openers in close decisions after each split two bouts on opening night. Freshman Fred Luchs also lost a close decision at 113 pounds in his wrestleback opener to end his season at 35-10 after getting pinned in his opening bout.
“We have a lot of young guys who will be back,” said Sirchio, who loses four seniors with 20 or more victories off the record-setting 28-4 season and Shore Conference B North Division championship. “The ones who went to Atlantic City developed camaraderie rooting for each other, and all of them coming back will be motivated for next season after seeing this.”
Two other area wrestlers got to the fourth round of wrestlebacks before their seasons were ended. Russell Benson, a junior at Raritan High School, lost, 3-1 in sudden victory to Cranford High School’s Chris Scorese (37-2) at 132 pounds to end his season at 38-3.
On opening night, Benson won two close decisions before getting pinned.
Nicholas Caracappa of Saint John Vianney High School won two wrestleback decisions comfortably at 170 pounds before dropping a 3-2 decision to Delbarton School’s Cole Kreshpan (27-9). Caracappa, a junior and one of four Lancers to qualify for the state championships, ended his season 35-6. Steve Giannios, a junior, had his season ended at 220 pounds in the second round of wrestlebacks when he lost a 7-4 decision to Michael Mascioli of St. Joseph High School of Hammonton. Giannios finished 34-7. Tyler Pepe,who finished 37-5 at 106 pounds, and Jack Lafferty, who ended 28-12 at 138 pounds, had early exits.
Matawan Regional High School standout Derrick Wiley (35-4) suffered a tough 6-5 loss in the second round of wrestlebacks to Manalapan High School’s Jake Staklinsky (35-7). Wiley had split two decisions on opening night.