Cougar team places six in finals
By Rudy Brandl, The Packet Group
HILLSBOROUGH — Nick Cassar had been waiting for this chance at redemption ever since losing and hurting his knee at the end of last wrestling season.
The Montgomery High senior enjoyed his moment in front of a packed house at Hillsborough High in Saturday night’s Somerset County Championships.
Cassar won his first county title with an exciting 5-4 triumph over Hillsborough rival Will Goddiess in the 152-pound final. Cassar had previously lost two tight bouts to Goddiess, including one in last year’s District 18 Tournament. Cassar also suffered an injury that kept him from competing in the Region 5 Tournament, so this was his first big opportunity to shine on a tournament stage.
”This means a lot,” Cassar said afterward. “It’s my senior year and I really wanted to win this. I couldn’t wrestle in the regions last year because I hurt my knee, so that was pretty upsetting. I worked my butt off for this.”
Cassar, who couldn’t get much going in his prior bouts vs. Goddiess, was the better man on his feet in this one. He scored a takedown in the first period and added another midway through the second to take command.
”That’s how I usually take control,” Cassar said. “I work the fakes and I’m pretty good at doubles and I’m strong enough to lift them up.”
Goddiess escaped easily after both takedowns but couldn’t put Cassar to the mat. Cassar kept things close to the vest in the final minute and was called twice for stalling. The second violation gave Goddiess a point, which made the score 5-4 with 18 seconds remaining. Cassar held off his rival as the buzzer sounded.
”I was just working not to get taken down,” Cassar said. “If there’s a point where I feel like it’s getting close (to another stall), I’ll shoot. I just didn’t want to make any mistakes.”
Cassar’s championship victory capped an outstanding tournament by the Cougars, who are rising rapidly through the competitive county ranks. Montgomery placed a tournament-high six wrestlers in the SCT finals and boasted three champions. Senior 125-pounder Tom Reynolds and sophomore 130-pounder John Moyle also won county titles.
Reynolds took the mat after teammates Erik Biago (112) and Tyler Bobal (119) lost tight bouts in the final round. Reynolds shook off an early deficit and took charge of the match on his feet en route to an 11-6 decision over North Plainfield’s Mario Herrera.
Trailing 3-2 after one period, Reynolds escaped and added two takedowns for a 6-5 lead in the second. He scored two more takedowns in the third to clinch the crown.
”It was 5-4 last year, but this year I felt like I took it to him from the first period,” Reynolds said. “I’ve been practicing hard all year.”
Moyle had to hold off a late rally by Manville upstart Nick Janner, a seventh seed who shocked a few wrestlers on his way to the 130-pound final. Moyle started with a flurry, scoring seven points on a takedown and two sets of back points in the first period. He didn’t score another point but held on for a 7-4 decision.
Janner rode Moyle in the second and took him down in the third but couldn’t put the Cougar sophomore to his back. Moyle wrestled conservatively and smart to preserve the lead and win his county title.
With a couple of breaks, the Cougars could have had as many as five champs. Biago lost a classic 112-pound duel to Hillsborough freshman Mackey Price in a 2-1 triple overtime thriller. Senior 160-pounder Alex Sottile, who had a great tournament that included an upset win over Hillsborough standout Jared Leon in the semifinals, gave Somerville favorite Dan Soffer quite a tussle before dropping a 4-1 decision in triple overtime.
Biago and Price traded escapes in regulation but Biago couldn’t get out in the second overtime. Price escaped for the lead and Biago shot for the go-ahead takedown at the edge of the mat. Biago had position but the officials ruled the action out of bounds.
Sottile chose bottom for the second overtime after a scoreless neutral period. Soffer turned him for two back points and added an escape in the next overtime for his margin of victory.
The Cougars also received a third-place finish from freshman 103-pounder David Bergida and fourths by junior 145-pounder Matthais Cassar and junior 189-pounder Kevin Azimi. Watchung Hills (180.5) edged Hillsborough (178.5) for the team title and Montgomery (163) was a close third.
”We had six finalists and three champs,” Cassar said. “Erik was a tough loss to take and Bobal wrestled great but just got tied up by TJ. Sottile had a great match. Our team had a great tournament.”
Added Reynolds: “We have all been training Hard. Last year we really did good, so now we have to train to keep up with it. Our program is moving along the way it should be.”