WrestlingMike Savino didn’t accomplish his goal of becoming the first-ever Mercer County state champion, but he did return from the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford as the winningest public school wrestler in Mercer County history.
By: Mike Molaro
When the third-seeded Cardinal senior defeated Union’s Jeff Bubnowski, 9-7, in the second round of the 152-pound wrestlebacks at the NJSIAA Championships last Saturday, he recorded his 104th career triumph, surpassing Jeremy Romano of Hopewell Valley for the most career wins by a Mercer County public school grappler.
Savino’s hopes of winning a state title were dashed with a 5-1 loss to third-seeded Chris Ressa of Lenape Valley, who finished second in the state, in the 152-pound quarterfinals earlier that day.
In the third round of the wrestlebacks last Sunday, Savino picked up his 105th career victory by defeating seventh-seeded Paul Vaccaro of Absegami, 9-7. He suffered his first pin of the season in the fourth round of the wrestlebacks when Evan Galipeau of Parsippany Hills got the three count in 55 seconds.
Savino closed out his magnificent career by placing sixth in the state when he dropped an 11-9 overtime decision to Toms River East’s Vinnie Salek in the fifth-place consolation match.
He finished tied for seventh last year.
Savino advanced to the state championships at The Meadowlands by defeating Matt Campbell of Hillsborough, 4-2, in the Super Regions on March 7 at Red Bank Regional High. That victory tied him with Romano at 103 career triumphs. Savino beat Campbell, 6-4 in the Region V semifinals a week earlier.
"It’s hard to look back now at what I’ve accomplished," Savino said. "I guess someday when I do, I’ll be pleased. I’ve done a lot and accomplished a lot. I have to give credit to my coaches. Things didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to, but I have a lot to be thankful for."
Savino goes into the Mercer County record book with a career mark of 105-15, including 34-4 this season.
He won three county titles at three different weights (140, 145, and 152), two District 17 championships (145, 152), and a Region V title (152), and became the first Cardinal in history to have 100 career victories.
In addition, he was a four-time county finalist and once was named "Most Outstanding Wrestler." Savino was a four-time District place winner and twice named "Most Outstanding Wrestler," a two-time Regional finalist, and a two-time state place winner.
"I told Mike after the loss to Salek to be proud of what he did this year and in his career," said Cardinal head coach Chris Lynne. "There were about 30-to-40 people who were there to root Mike on. We are all proud of him and I am especially proud of him. He had an incredible career. He put Lawrence wrestling on the map.
"Mike arguably is the best wrestler to come out of Mercer County. Other wrestlers may have finished higher in the states, but nobody had a career like his. Some wrestlers put together two great years, but Mike had four. He is definitely one of the most dominant wrestlers ever in Mercer County history."
Of his victory over Campbell, Savino said, "I knew what he had and he knew what I had. When you’re at this level, it’s about one slight move. At this level, everybody is tough."
Added Lynne, "Mike wrestled Campbell the same way he did in the Regions. He was conservative and a little better."
"Mike wasn’t his aggressive self against Ressa," Lynne said. "I think he regrets that. He knows he could’ve won that match. Mike wasn’t wrestling successfully on his feet. He was crushed after that loss because his dream ended.
"It took a lot to get him going again. I told him that his dream ended but his career was not over. He wanted to be on the stand (top six finishers) at the end of the championships."
With a renewed vigor, Savino built up a big lead and held on for his record-setting triumph over Bubnowski.
"Mike had Bubnowski pinned three times but none of three were called," added Lynne. "The final score (9-7) was not indicative of the match. Mike was in total control of the match from start to finish."
With a good night’s sleep behind him, Savino racked up what would be his final Cardinal victory against Vaccaro.
"Mike came out like a ball of fire," Lynne said. "In this match and the match against Bubnowski, he looked like the old Mike."
In one of the tournament’s most stunning matches, Galipeau turned what looked like a Savino pin into a pin of his own.
"Galipeau reversed Mike’s pinning move and pinned him," added Lynne. "Taking nothing away from Galipeau, I think that was an absolute fluke. It was bizarre."
Salek was down by six points before tying the score right before the buzzer and scored the winning points in overtime.
"Mike just got beat," Lynne said. "I don’t know if Mike sat on a lead (9-3) or hit a wall. He was wrestling his third match of the day. Mike wanted to out with a win, but finishing sixth in the state is quite an accomplishment and quite an honor."
It’ll be quite some timeif everbefore Mercer County sees a wrestler put together a career like the one Mike Savino had with the Cardinals.
As Lynne said, it was incredible.