Wrestling: Ventresca, Soldano repeat R1 winners

WEST MILFORD -- High Point sophomore Brian Soldano is making it look awfully easy as he pursues the ultimate goal of winning a state title.

Brian Soldano (top left) eyes his first state medal in AC.

Soldano showed championship form once again on Saturday afternoon, as he cruised to his second title at 160 pounds in the Region 1 Tournament at West Milford High School. Soldano (33-1) pinned his way to the championship as he threw in the legs and horsed over Fair Lawn's AJ Puerto for the fall in 1:45. With three pins here, he now has five in six postseason bouts, as the other was a victory by injury default in winning his second District 1 title last weekend, and 27 on the season.

"Feels good," said Soldano, who is the first High Point wrestler to claim region titles in his first two seasons since four-time winner Nick Francavilla (2008-11). "I'm happy [to win two]. We train in the [practice] room to get here."

In all, 18 wrestlers from Sussex County, including Pope John senior and three-time winner Eddie Ventresca, qualified for the upcoming 87th State Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Pope John junior Shane Percelay (120) and senior Kaya Sement (145) were the only other locals to win titles as the Lions advanced an area-best seven wrestlers to AC, one behind tournament leader St. Joseph-Montvale, which crowned the most champs with five.

Soldano, a strong contender for a state title after falling a round shy of a medal as a freshman, is already being mentioned with the High Point greats, including Francavilla, who told Open Mike during the finals that Soldano is better at this stage of their careers. But Soldano knows he has unfinished business in AC to take care of first.

"Hopefully, I can start that this year," said Soldano, who trains with Francavilla at his Iron Horse Club in Sparta. He's taught me a lot with my scrambling and being able to move on the mat. I'm very appreciative of him."

Steady Eddie

Ventresca (35-3), who has already made a name for himself on the state level with three medals, including the gold last season at 120 pounds, made school history with his 3-2 win over St. Joseph-Montvale sophomore Alex Almeyda -- following a 1-0 win when they met earlier this season in a dual meet -- in their 126-pound final. Ventresca became just the third for Pope John to win at least three titles, as he joined four-timers Mike Frick (1969-72) and JoJo Aragona (2016-19).

"If I score first, it's going to be pretty hard to come back," said Ventresca, who recorded the only takedown of the bout against Almeyda, a Region 2 champion while at Fort Lee in 2019, with 46 seconds left in the first period. "It's going to be hard to beat me when I'm on my offense."

Congrats to Sr. Eddie Ventresca on capturing his 3rd Region 1 title, making him only the 3rd PJ wrestler to win 3 or more Region titles! #WeArePopeJohn #PJWrestling #ThePride #brotherhood pic.twitter.com/ekGzbsUzBP

— Pope John Lions Wrestling (@PJ_Wrestling) February 29, 2020

In addition, Ventresca, now 152-15 overall, became the fifth in Sussex County to reach 150 career wins -- joining record holder and former teammate Aragona (158-6 from 2015-18), along with Francavilla (156-12), Wallkill Valley state champion Ryan Callahan (154-12 from 2006-10) and Newton state placewinner Kevin Churchill (151-18 from 2006-10).

"It's definitely cool," Ventresca said. "I grew up watching Nick, and being a year apart from JoJo and going to the same high school. It's pretty cool to join him."

Back points

Percelay won his first Region 1 title after a runner-up finish at 106 pounds last season, with a 3-0 win over Newton junior Nathan Fitt. Percelay (34-5), a seventh-place finisher in the state as a junior, is now 6-0 all-time against Fitt dating to last season, including victories in the finals of the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament (4-2) and District 2 (5-2).

Sement, who also placed second here and earned a fifth-place medal in AC in 2019, claimed his second title as he converted a takedown with 34 seconds left in sudden-victory overtime for a 6-4 win over St. Joseph-Montvale freshman Michael Dellagatta, who dropped a 4-2 decision to Sement (31-4) in a dual meet.

Sparta is sending three on to the state tournament as the Stewart brothers -- Cooper (113), Spencer (132) and Garrett (138) -- all earned medals for the second straight season. Cooper (36-3) was the lone finalist among the trip as he lost a 5-0 decision to Don Bosco Prep's Kelly Dunnigan, who avenged a 3-2 loss in their District 4 finals matchup last Saturday, while Spencer, a returning state medalist, and Garrett punched their tickets to AC with third-place medals.

Kittatinny had a tough championship round as sophomore Brycen Mafaro (182) and junior Jackson Crawn (220), who was third in 2019, were both pinned in their title matches. The Cougars were seeking their first champion since Austin Scrivani (138 pounds in 2016) and first since the realignment broke up old Region 1 at Wallkill Valley.

High Point, which produced five state qualifiers, also had two other finalists in Josh Gervey (132) and Billy Talmadge (138), along with third-place finishers Clayton Utter (113) and Devon Liebl (126), who will make their second straight appearances in AC.

Pope John senior Matthew Garcia (152) also was a runner-up, while sophomore Jack Stoll (182) and senior Cole Zydel (220) finished third, and sophomore Peter Delaportas (195) fourth, to move on.