High Point rolls to third straight sectional title

Taking that next step is getting to be mighty familiar territory -- even for a young High Point wrestling team.

The Wildcats displayed veteran form on Friday by winning 10 bouts -- including five pins -- en route to a 46-18 waxing of West Essex in the North 1, Group 2 sectional final in Wantage.

High Point (16-5) claimed the program's third straight sectional title and 22nd overall to advance to Sunday's Group 2 semifinals in Toms River. The 'Cats won the previous two titles in North 1, Group 3 and captured their only other North 1, Group 2 crown in 1984.

Coach John Gardner's team will meet Central Jersey champion Raritan at 12:30 p.m., while Delsea opposes Brearley-Dayton in the other semifinal. The winners meet for the Group 2 title at 6 p.m.

High Point suffered two-point losses to both Raritan and defending Group 2 champion Brearley-Dayton on Jan. 28. The 'Cats were originally the No. 3 seed according to power points, but trade places with Brearley-Dayton, previously the No. 4 seed, in the brackets because of the head-to-head loss.

"This is real special," said Gardner, whose 2010-11 squad won the Group 3 title and was named the No. 1 team in New Jersey. "The new kids have stepped in and done a heckuva job. We have a lot of young kids and we're excited about what we have. We've got to keep working. To be able to compete in the Group championships ... it's great."

Seniors John Torppey and Alec Alvino were two of the veterans leading the way to another championship.

Torppey (17-9), a District 3 champ last year, decked Zach Gutowski in 2:35 to give High Point a 9-6 lead three bouts in that it would not relinquish. That win came on the heels of a big 6-2 victory for tough freshman Dom Gallo at 106.

Torppey, whose father, Wade, and uncle, Scott, were standout wrestlers for High Point, is happy about making a third straight trip to Toms River.

"It's just another step and it's what we've worked for all year," Torppey said. "It's an especially good feeling after everyone counted us out this season. We wanted to prove we're still up there."

Freshman Mike Derin, whose having an outstanding season, added another pin at 120 -- in 49 seconds with a cradle -- to stretch the lead to 15-6.

West Essex (10-7), the Group 2 runner-up in 2011, was also gunning for its third straight title in this section, but the Essex County school was simply overmatched in this one. After Mike Marotti's technical fall win at 126 drew the Knights within four, 'Cats freshman Jason Gaccione all but ended the visitors' hopes of an upset with a 3-0 win over Region 4 runner-up Carlo Zazzara at 132.

Alvino (19-10) stretched the lead to 24-11 with a pin of West Essex reserve Mark Wells at 138. West Essex bumped Anthony Pompei and James Avraamides up a weight to 145 and 152, winning both to make it 24-18.

But Benjamin Mendiburu's wild 12-8 win at 160 triggered a run of five straight High Point wins to close out the proceedings. Mendiburu (7-3) led 12-4 with time winding down, but Joseph Velardi (14-8), who bumped up from 152, hit a four-point move in the final seconds to erase the major.

Kyle Stoll and Gunther Wassong, a pair of freshmen, had pins down the stretch at 182 and 220, respectively.

Now, High Point goes for its second straight Group title and its third in five years after winning Group 3 championships in 2008 and '11.

"We've tried to keep things in perspective all season long," said Gardner, who has guided his alma mater to 10 sectional titles in his 14 seasons at the helm. "It's a special day [at Toms River]. It's not a bad thing to go down there and get some experience. The kids are looking forward to competing."
HIGH POINT 46, WEST ESSEX 18

285 -- Sr. Dominic Valeriani (14-1), WE, p. Sr. Chris Epperly (8-14), 3:22.
106 -- Fr. Dom Gallo (15-9), HP, d. Fr. Mike Panzarino (18-9), 6-2.
113 -- Sr. John Torppey (17-9), HP, p. So. Zach Gutowski (7-16), 2:35.
120 -- Fr. Mike Derin (25-2), HP, p. Jr. Mike Drumm (10-13), :49. 
126 -- Jr. Mike Marotti (22-6), WE, tf. So. Chris Auer (12-9), 19-3, 4:57.
132 -- Fr. Jason Gaccione (21-4), HP, d. Jr. Carlo Zazzara (20-7), 3-0.
138 -- Sr. Alec Alvino (19-10), HP, p. Sr. Mark Wells (0-1), 2:23.
145 -- Sr. Anthony Pompei (25-3), WE, md. So. Tommy Hooker (10-17), 15-3.  
152 -- Sr. James Avraamides (18-8), WE, d. So. Antonio Porraspita (11-16), 5-3.
160 -- Sr. Benjamin Mendiburu (7-3), HP, d. Jr. Joseph Velardi (14-8), 12-8.
170 -- Sr. Kevin Pettenger (15-10), HP, md. Fr. Marc McDonald (10-11), 9-1. 
182 -- So. Kyle Stoll (22-5), HP, p. Fr. Niko Duronakis (0-3), :50.
195 -- So. Drew Bye (12-12), HP, d. Fr. Roberto LoCascio (7-14), 7-3.
220 -- So. Gunther Wassong (13-9), HP, p. Sr. Donald Hamker (10-7), 1:35.
Records -- West Essex 10-7; High Point 16-5.