BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer
JACKSON — Winning the Ocean County Intermediate Athletic League wrestling championship is a familiar process for the Goetz Middle School wrestling team.
For the past six years, Goetz has captured the Blue Division title. Goetz won the crown again this season by posting a 9-4 overall record and an undefeated 4-0 mark in the division.
It is a streak Goetz coach Ken Sims is proud of.
"This program has been lucky to have always had a group of kids that are willing to work hard to get results," Sims said. "This season was no exception. We have a lot of kids who are dedicated to this sport. I think that if many of them continue to work and polish their skills, they are going to have successful high school careers."
In addition to hard work done at team practices, Sims cites the help of the Jackson Wrestling Club for helping develop many of his wrestlers’ skills.
"They do a great job there teaching the kids," Sims said. "That organization has definitely played a role in us having great success the last number of years."
Leading Goetz this season was Sean Byrnes. The eight-grader recorded a 21-0 record at 116 pounds. In addition to winning the Tri-County Championship, Byrnes captured tournament titles at the Red Tournament and the Toms River Christmas Tournament.
"Last year Sean finished second at the Red Tournament," Sims said. "His goal this season was to win that event. Once he did that his season took off. He went onto to win a couple of more titles. He proved to be dominant in most of his matches."
Sims feels Byrnes is one of those wrestlers who will excel at the high school level.
"We’ve had a few wrestlers who have left middle school only to go to the high school and make the varsity right away," Sims said. "I think that Sean is capable of doing the same thing. His work ethic and ability are outstanding."
Both seventh-grader Zach Huxford and sixth-grader B.J. Young registered identical 19-2 overall records.
"This team was very solid at the lighter weights this season," Sims said. "In fact that’s where the strength of team was. They delivered in just about every big match."
Huxford captured titles at the both the Red and Toms River Christmas tournaments at 90 pounds.
"He is much improved from last season," Sims said. "He is a good team leader. He led by example and when we needed him to win a match for us he came through."
Young, meanwhile, made a huge impression by winning titles at the Ocean County Championship, the Red Tournament and the Toms River Christmas Tournament.
"He is going to be a star of the future," Sims said. "He is a year-round wrestler. He is a solid technician for being such a young kid."
Derik Russell went 17-3 at 85 pounds. He won the Toms River Christmas Tournament while placing runner-up at the Red Tournament.
"No question he is probably the hardest worker on the team," Sims said. "He is another kid who led by example and the younger kids looked up to him."
Sixth-grader Devin Biscaha was 18-2 overall in the 80-pound weight division. Biscaha won the Toms River Christmas Tournament and placed second at the Red Tournament.
"We expect a lot from him in the future," Sims said. "He is the kind of kid who battles to the end."
At 129 pounds, eighth-grader Nick Tetro finished second at the Red Tournament. Sixth-grader Billy Kuhn was 5-2 overall at 70 pounds and also finished second at the Red Tournament.
"He [Kuhn] had trouble making the lineup at first," Sims said. "But his hard work and good attitude got him into the starting role eventually."
Dan Doyle, an eight-grader wrestling at 110 pounds, had a pair of third-place finishes at the Red and Toms River Christmas tournaments.
Tyler Wilton was fourth at the Red Tournament at 100 pounds.
Sims cited outstanding efforts of teammates eight-graders Don Murphy (135 pounds), Travis Lapi (185) and Kyle Bartsch (170) and seventh-grader Shane Carce (122).
"It was a great year," Sims said. "We accomplished a lot of things. We have a number of experienced wrestlers returning next season. I expect that we are going to be in good shape to challenge for another league title."