Young’s young Rams
finding ways to win
BY RICHARD JEROME
Staff Writer
Even though the South River High School wrestling team is forfeiting at three weight slots, the Rams are 7-7 under first-year coach Bobby Young.
The Rams were able to even their record with a 48-31 win over Spotswood on Monday.
"We find a way to win," Young said. "We have a young team that’s getting better and better with every match. The future looks great — we have only one senior on the team."
The Rams start off with a forfeit at 103 pounds, but at 112, junior Kevin Pereira, who just came to South River last year, has but two losses.
"He’s our most improved wrestler," said Young.
Soph Dan Fiumecaldo, at 119, also has only two defeats and is known for his gung-ho enthusiasm. Young calls senior Lou Bongiovi "one of our core wrestlers," at 125, while sophomore Justin McCutcheon is steadily progressing at 130.
The Rams’ other two forfeits are at 135 and 140, but at 145, sophomore Alex Renner is improving by the match, and junior Tome Lefever, at 152, is one of the team’s leaders. So is junior 160-pounder John Aroneo.
Adam Malgeri, a sophomore at 171, "loves wrestling," according to his coach, while at 189, sophomore Charlie Heiser is showing progress in his first year on the mats. Young, an assistant football coach, recruited Heiser from the gridiron squad.
Another 10th-grader, Eric Gerstein, is getting better each week as the 215-pound entry, and at heavyweight, Tom Scanlon holds a special place.
"He’s ‘the’ team leader," Young says. "He’s dedicated to this team and he loves wrestling. He dies for wrestling."
Scanlon was among the Rams’ winners in the match against Spotswood when he went out at heavyweight. He pinned the Chargers’ Dominick Calogero at 2:57.
Young is assisted by Ron Bussey, his brother Joe Young, Chad Powell and Ryan Pafh. South River’s next match is Saturday against New Providence.