Hunterdon Central and South Brunswick wrestling poised for a big year on the mat

Hunterdon Central and South Brunswick wrestling poised for a big year on the mat http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2009/12/18/sports/doc4b2b0f89dd873602103249.txt

Friday, December 18, 2009

By RICK FORTENBAUGH
Staff Writer

The Trentonian (trentonian.com), Serving Trenton, NJ

Sports
The “suburbs’’ always feature some of the best wrestling teams in the area, witness the one-two finish by Hunterdon Central and North Hunterdon in last year’s Trentonian Area Rankings.

Look for more of the same by a group of teams that is again headed up by a Hunterdon Central squad that is positively loaded.

Hunterdon Central will enter the year again ranked No. 1 in the area. If things fall right, the Red Devils have a legitimate chance to finish as one of the top teams in the entire state and capture a Group IV Group title.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK

Coach: “Irish’’ Joe Dougherty

Last year: (16-8), No. 12 ranking in the area.

Lineup: 103-Chad Capraro (So.); Anthony Mastandino (Fr.); 112-Justin Lopez (So.; 119-Fran White (So.); 125-James Pagano (Jr.), Frank Caprano (Sr.); 130-Gin Kim (Sr.); 135-Drew Seroka (So.); 140-Tyler Jaramillo (So.); 145-Mike MacMurray (Sr.); Luke Rimmer (So.). Jake Pietrefesa (So.); 152-Jake Conover (Sr.); Zac Sherman (Sr.); 160-Justin DeAndrea (Sr.); Ali Yildiz (Fr.); 171-Brendan Vercammen (Sr.); Fabian Jackson (Jr.); 189-Jeff Goldhagen (Sr.); Lucus DelPiano (Jr.); 215-Keith Lewis (So.), Kevin Moses (Fr).

Outlook: The Vikings always have a competitive team Although the team did take some graduation hits, there’s a fair amount of experience. Vercammen is a defending District 20 champ, Pagano was second at districts, and Jaramillo and Goldhagen took thirds. South Brunswick is in a very tough conference, but will remain one of the better teams in Middlesex County.




DELAWARE VALLEY

Coach: Andy Fitz

Last year: (15-10), Skyland Conference division champion, No. 13 ranking in the area.

Lineup: 103-Cody Barbiche (Jr.); 112-Mike Pongracz (Fr.); 119-Don Angione (Jr.); 125-Bob Stevely (Sr.); 130-Trevor Stiefken (Sr.); 130/135-Kevin Guenther (Jr.); 135-Derek Zehnbauer (So.); 140-Matt Knowles (Sr.); 145-Kyle Mesce (Sr.); 145/152-Alex Janssen (Sr.); 152-Ryan Gellner (Sr.), Mark Drabich (Jr.); 160-Mike Rogers (Jr.); Will VanDoren (So.); 171-Nick Maddalena (Jr.); 189-Don Glorioso (So.); 215-Evan Zeh (Sr.); Hvy-Matt Bloom (Jr.).

Outlook: The Dogs looked much improved. The strength of the team is down below and through the middle. Barbiche was 28-11 and fourth at regions. Stevely was 29-7 and a district champ. His career record is 83-28. Stiefken was 20-7, Guenther was 8-0, Zehnbauer was 10-5, Mesce was 25-12 and Gellner won 24 bouts last year. If the upper weights come along, this team is going to win a lot of matches.

HUNTERDON CENTRAL

Coach: Steve Gibble

Last year: (18-6), District 17 champion, sectional finalist, No. 1 ranking in the area.

Lineup: 103-Grady Orr (Fr.), Tim Higginson (Fr.); 112- Ryan Callahan (So.), Matt Boylan (Jr.); 119-Alex Shaffer (So.), David Volyn (Jr.); 125- Spencer Parcel (Sr.), Nick Scarpa (Jr.); 130-Brian Bistis (Sr.), Tom Scerbo (So.); 135- Bill Vallance (Jr.), Ryan Larkin (So.); 140- Tyler Spies (So.), David Fenton (Fr.); 145- Chris Carey (Jr.), Kyle Holmes (Jr.); 152-Todd Johnson (Sr.); 160-Jerry Somma (Sr.); 171- Cody Lewis (Sr.); 189-Sam Rae (Sr.), Jake Maffucci (Jr.) Shane Fenton (Sr.), Derek Knoop Hvy: Brad Borman (Sr.).

Outlook: To put it simply, Central is stacked. Shaffer exploded on the season as a freshman last year and went 35-3 with a region title. Bistis was 38-8, first at districts, second at regions and eighth at states. Carey was 22-13 and second at districts. Johnson was 23-12, and Somma was 33-9, first at districts, second at regions and seventh in the state. It goes on and on. Lewis was 28-9, a district champ and advanced to states. Borman was 33-8, first at districts and second at regions.

NORTH HUNTERDON

Coach: Tim Flynn

Last year: (18-4), sectional champion, No. 2 ranking in the area.

Lineup: 103-Josh Giordano (Jr.); Matt Montcourdis (Fr.); 112-Pat Boyle (Jr.), Matt Wilson (So.); 119-Mike Haines (Sr.), Mike Brittain (Sr.); 125/130- Owen Boyle (Sr.); 130/135-Pat Levondowski (Sr.), Jason Behrens (Sr.); 135/140-Dave Leonard (Sr.); 140/145-Andrew Reed (Jr.); 145/152-Beau Vrancken (So.); 152/160-Chris Cancelliere (Jr.); 160-Liam Korbul (Fr.); 171-Chris Mack (Jr.), John Williams (Jr.); 171/189-Ryan Pearson (Sr.); 189-Dan Pepe (Fr.); 215-Phil Pogash (Sr.); (Hvy-Jack Delia (Jr.).

Outlook: Long-time assistant Tim Flynn has taken over for Jason Hawk, who is now Flynn’s assistant. Got that? Either way, it looks like another solid year for a team that came within a controversial loss to state champ Brick Memorial from wrestling for a Group IV Group title. Looking at the lightweights, Boyle was 21-14 and third at districts, Levondowski was 28-7 and fourth at regions, and Owen Boyle was 23-12. The middle is anchored by Vranken and Cancelliere. Vranken won 18 bouts, while Cancelliere was 25-9 and and fourth at regions. Delia (30-7) will be one of the top heavyweights around.


URL: http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2009/12/18/sports/doc4b2b0f89dd873602103249.prt

© 2010 trentonian.com, a Journal Register Property