Howell High School continues to prove why it is the defending Group 5 state wrestling tournament champion.
The Rebels secured their 20th victory in an undefeated season when they served as the host to Jackson Memorial High School on Jan 19.
And Howell dominated its rival by winning 12 matches en route to the 49-7 victory.
The Howell wrestlers registered three pins, two major decisions, six decisions and one technical fall. The pins were picked up by juniors Xavier Kelly at 160 pounds, Christian Murphy at 182 and Darby Diedrich at 126. Senior Jesse Liptzin won his 106-pound match by a technical fall.
Sophomore Brad Galassi won his match at 195 pounds by major decision, while senior Logan Reese was victorious at 220 by decision to produce the two victories by Jackson Memorial.
Howell’s coach, John Gagliano, said he wanted the team to stay focused and wrestle tough.
“After coming off a big night (defeating South Planfield High School, 41-14, on Jan. 18), we just wanted the kids to stay focused and realize that we can not look past anybody, that Jackson is a strong team like always and [we need to] just wrestle tough,” Gagliano said.
Despite only giving up two matches to the Jaguars, Gagliano, the 2016-17 National Wrestling Coaches Association Head Coach of the Year for New Jersey, believed that his Rebels could have done a little more.
“I think we were a little flat,” he said. “I think that Jackson has a lot of good kids, and they are tough. We just got to keep improving.”
Gagliano noted that he believes the team is on the right track.
“All the kids in the room, everybody is working hard,” he said.
Diedrich said Howell had to quickly reset and refocus after its big win the night before against South Plainfield, a perennial power in New Jersey.
“After a big match, there is a lot of hype between,” he said. “Now, we just have to reset, refocus and get back at it.”
Diedrich added that the team just has to keep pushing forward after the victory over Jackson Memorial.
“It is another match, another win in the books,” he said. “[We need to] just keep going for state championship No. 2.”
The Rebels captured the program’s first NJSIAA group wrestling championship last season when it defeated Hunterdon Central Regional High School, 28-27, in the Group 5 state final. In a 30-1 campaign, Howell also won District 22; South Jersey, Group 5; the Shore Conference Tournament; and the Shore Conference A North Division.
Sophomore Shane Reitsma, who won his 170-pound match against Jackson Memorial by major decision, pointed out that the Rebels did not want to look past the Jaguars or any opponent and took it one match at a time.
Reitsma won his match, 13-5, but admitted he was feeling tired following a match the day before in Howell against South Plainfield, which he won by technical fall.
“I feel like it was not my best performance,” Reitsma said about his match against Brock Winston of Jackson Memorial. “I was a little tired from yesterday but just kept grinding it out and got that win.”
Kelly, who scored a pin over Leo Shimonovich of Jackson Memorial, and echoed his teammate about his mindset heading into the match. Kelly, who won by technical fall during Howell’s meet against South Plainfield, mentioned staying focused, not looking past the Jaguars and taking it one match at a time.
Kelly said he felt pretty good about his match, but he still has to improve.
“[There are] things I got to work on still and get better: keep improving, keeping the tilt tighter, getting the bar, keep the bar tight too, stuff like that,” Kelly said.
The junior admitted that he felt 100 percent in getting the pin.
The Rebels remained undefeated when they beat Pascack Valley High School, 57-15, and Piscataway Township High School, 52-13, during a tri-meet at home on Jan. 20. Those victories improved Howell’s record to 22-0.
The Rebels, who are 5-0 against division opponents, remain on pace for their 13th straight A North Division title as they pursue back-to-back group state championships.
They can add another victory to their A North mark when they visit Freehold High School on Jan. 24.