Those who waited for the wave of supreme talent to leave High Point's wrestling program may be sadly disappointed to see this season's all-new version. The juggernaut that included four state champions is gone, but their winning legacy still lives on.
A young and hungry group of Wildcats put on quite a show Friday, dismantling a game Newton squad, 60-11, in a Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference clash in Wantage.
High Point (3-0) captured 11 of 14 bouts in its home opener, as every one of its former state champions were on hand to see the program extended its conference win streak -- including SCIL matches -- to 56 straight.
"So far we're doing good and we have a lot of confidence," said junior 113-pounder Collin Grimm, who registered one of the team's six pins. "We need to keep striving to improve on the things we need to work on."
Grimm (3-2), one of those wrestlers who has waited in the wings for his turn, built a 5-0 first-period lead against sophomore Anthony Brown before earning the fall in 2:36.
"I think it's going to be a big advantage, getting those varsity matches," Grimm said of getting 13 varsity bouts the past two seasons. "We want to keep up the High Point tradition."
Veteran coach John Gardner is pleased with how his team is shaping up early in the season, a 14-man squad that on Friday had a collective total of 77 varsity wins.
"The kids who have been around [the program] know what the expectations are," said Gardner, whose teams are 101-9 over the last five seasons. "We're back in dual meets now and we're going to have struggles as we go. It isn't going to be easy and we'll do the best we can."
Freshman Mike Derin (120), sophomore Chris Auer (126), senior Alec Alvino (138), along with sophomores Antonio Porraspita (160) and Robert McDonnell (285) also had pins in the victory.
Newton (0-2), which is battling injuries in the early going, sent only 11 wrestlers to the mat. The Braves would have been up against it even at full strength, as they saw their losing streak in the series reach nine straight since a 31-27 win in 2003.
Seniors Steven Churchill (132) and Jake Connelly (195), along with junior Josh Sibblies (152) were the lone winners for Newton.
Churchill, a state qualifier last season, earned an 8-2 decision over freshman Jason Gaccione in one of the night's best bouts. Gaccione, whose brother, Joe, was a three-time district and region champ for the 'Cats, fell behind, 5-0, in the first period, but hung in there the rest of the way.
After forfeiting the opening bout at 182, Connelly, fourth in Region 1 at 145 last season, got Newton on the board with a workmanlike 11-2 major of sophomore Drew Bye. The Braves forfeited again at 220 before McDonnell helped set an early tone by decking Brandon Grant at 285.
Freshman Dom Gallo also took the wind out of the Braves' sails with a thrilling 5-3 decision -- his first varsity win -- over senior Ashley Iliff, who was fourth in District 3 last season.
Iliff got the opening takedown for a 2-0 lead after one period and it stood until Gallo broke through late in the third for his own takedown and a stalling point to take the lead. Iliff escaped with nine seconds left, but Gallo converted the winning takedown -- again off a duck under -- with two ticks left on the clock.
Grimm started a run of three straight pins that stretched High Point's lead to 39-4 through eight bouts. The 'Cats clinched the match despite the loss at 132.
High Point 60, Newton 11
182 -- So. Kyle Stoll (3-0), HP, forfeit.
195 -- Sr. Jake Connelly (5-0), N, md. So. Drew Bye (2-4), 11-2.
220 -- So. Gunther Wassong (2-2), HP, forfeit.
285 -- So. Robert McDonnell (3-0), HP, p. Sr. Brandon Grant (2-2), 5:38.
106 -- Fr. Dom Gallo (1-2), HP, d. Sr. Ashley Iliff (1-3), 5-3.
113 -- Jr. Collin Grimm (3-2), HP, p. So. Anthony Brown (0-1), 2:36.
120 -- Fr. Mike Derin (3-0), HP, p. Sr. Connor Huber (0-3), :35.
126 -- So. Chris Auer (5-2), HP, p. Jr. Jason VanDerGroef (0-2), 5:36.
132 -- Sr. Steven Churchill (5-0), N, d. Fr. Jason Gaccione (2-1), 8-2.
138 -- Sr. Alec Alvino (4-3), HP, p. So. Niko Grello (3-3), 1:29.
145 -- Jr. Eric Snure (1-0), HP, d. Sr. Logan Morales (0-4), 6-2.
152 -- Jr. Josh Sibblies (5-1), N, md. So. Thomas Hooker (1-5), 15-4.
160 -- So. Antonio Porraspita (3-2), HP, p. Fr. Ben Sibblies (0-1), 4:47.
170 -- Sr. Kevin Pettenger (1-4), HP, forfeit.
Records: Newton 0-2; High Point 3-0.
Official: Tim Vanderhoof.
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