"Coming up short in the Blood Round [last season at 113 pounds] really motivated me to push those extra seconds, especially late in the third period, and never stop" said Stewart, who scored a 5-1 win over Montville sophomore Aaron Kurzer to advance in the pre-quarterfinal round of the 87th State Championships at Boardwalk Hall on Thursday night. "That's what's been keeping me going."
Joining Stewart in the Round of 8, which gets underway at 11 a.m. on Friday, is his younger brother, Spencer Stewart, a junior and returning eighth-place finisher, who scored a 6-1 decision over Ridge senior Devon Capato at 132 pounds. In all, 10 wrestlers from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex moved on to the quarterfinals, while 27 fell into the wrestlebacks. The area got off to a great start by going a combined 24-13 in the preliminary round.Cooper Stewart (38-3), a District 4 champion and Region 1 runner-up who will next face Toms River North's Ryan Rosenthal (38-1) in the quarters, is one win away from earning a potential rubber match against Don Bosco Prep junior Kelly Dunnigan, the No. 1 seed at 113 and a returning placewinner. Stewart scored a 3-2 victory in the district finals against Dunnigan, who avenged that loss, 5-0, in their region title bout last weekend.
"I think the difference was my mentality," Stewart said of the lopsided second meeting. "I was the underdog going into the first match. Second match, he kind of had the underdog advantage. I'm looking to hopefully take him out in the semis."
Stewart took a 3-0 lead into the third period against Kurzer, a Region 2 runner-up, on the strength of a first-period takedown. Stewart iced it with his second takedown right before the third-period buzzer after having gotten in deep on a double earlier in the period.
"I knew I was going to win, even though it was 3-1 in the third period," said Stewart, who's now 122-20 overall. "I knew he wasn't taking me down so I just kept moving and kept my mind focused to come out on top."
Spencer Stewart (42-1), a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament champion, fell in the preliminary round last season before fighting his way through the wrestlebacks for a medal. He will oppose St. Joseph-Montvale senior Justin Bierdumpfel, a Region 1 champion and two-time state medal winner, in the quarters. Garrett Stewart (40-3), the Spartans' all-time wins leader and Cooper's twin, dropped into the wrestlebacks after losing a 15-8 decision to St. Joseph-Montvale junior and No. 2 seed Michael Cetta at 138.
Sussex steps up
It was a rough first two rounds for the Hunterdon-Warren schools, but Sussex County, which entered the tournament with 19 wrestlers, carried the area flag on Thursday.
Pope John, which had an area-best seven qualifiers, sent seniors Eddie Ventresca (126), Kaya Sement (145) and Matthew Garcia (152) into the quarterfinals, while High Point senior Billy Talmadge (138) and sophomore Brian Soldano (160) also advanced, along with Newton junior Nathan Fitt (120) and Kittatinny junior Jackson Crawn (220). The only other area wrestler in the quarters is Hunterdon Central junior Colton Washleski (145).
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| Nathan Fitt |
Fitt (35-6), who pinned Tandurella in the Region 1 semifinals en route to a runner-up finish, got a reversal and two turns for five points in the second period to erase a 5-3 deficit and seize control of the rematch. Fitt, a tough mat wrestler, added another reversal and three backs in the final period.
"I knew I was better than him on my feet. He looks for big moves," said Fitt, who said he wrestled a little "sloppy" in a 6-4 win in sudden-victory overtime against Southern senior Jayson Scerbo in the preliminary round. "I just have to stay out of that stuff.
"Just keep controlling the next point, keep the match where I wanted it -- on my feet -- and score points. Just keep working."
Fitt, who will square off with Bergen Catholic senior Nick Kayal, a three-time state placewinner, in the quarters, has his goals set high for this season and 2020-21. With a state record 82 champions, Newton has not won a gold medal since Andy Iliff won back-to-back titles in 1986-87. The Braves' last finalist was current assistant coach Ted Sibblies, a runner-up in '89.
"We have 82 right now, and I'm looking to be the 83rd," Fitt said. "It's a very tough weight class.-- deep."
Lessons learned
Talmadge, who lost in quarterfinals as a junior, needed a late escape and a takedown in sudden-victory overtime to pull out an 8-6 victory over Perth Amboy senior James Rodriguez. Talmadge (41-2), was seemingly in control with a 4-2 lead in the third period, but he gave up a pair of takedowns and trailed, 6-5, before escaping at the buzzer as the officials conferred before awarding the point. Talmadge, a No. 3 seed who finished fifth at this weight last season, knows he will need to be on his game in the quarters against Bergen Catholic senior William Grater, a two-time eighth-place finisher.
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| Billy Talmadge (far right) |
"Just need to get my offense [going] and get my head right," Talmadge said. "Stop looking at the clock and focus. Stay strong. [Against Rodriguez it was a] lack of concentration, looking at the clock when I shouldn't be. Making dumb faces at the coaches. Can't be doing those things.
"I need to stay on the attack and finish," Talmadge said. "I was in on a few shots [against Rodriguez] and didn't finish. Semifinals are a battle getting in. [Quarterfinals] are the first step."
Washleski also needed to rally late as he decked Bound Brook senior Maximus Parra at the third-period buzzer. Washleski (41-4), a Region 5 champion, trailed, 7-3, before taking down Parra to his back and getting the fall at 6:00. Parra, who had stormed out to a 5-1 lead earlier in the bout, dropped a 7-3 decision when they previously met on Jan. 29.
"I gave up a stupid two in the beginning, well four because they gave him backs," Washleski said. "Then, I have to fight back the whole time. I knew he was getting tired, and I was just thinking about my goals and why I was here. My last takedown to his back was all heart."
Back points
For the first time this season, one round of wrestlebacks involving the preliminary round losers was completed on Thursday night. Winners in that round were Belvidere's Hunter Lensi (106), Lenape Valley's Daniel Haws (120), Hunterdon Central's Nick Canonica (126), North Hunterdon's James Holder (170), Kittatinny's Brycen Mafaro (182), Pope John's Cole Zydel (220), Phillipsburg's Gage Horvath (220) and Cody Cruts (285) and Warren Hills' Tyler McCatharn (285). The HWS are went 9-4 in that round as North Hunterdon's Frank DiEsso, Warren Hills' Stephen Malia (152), Pope John's Peter Delaportas (195) and Phillipsburg's Jacob Wicks (195) were eliminated with consolation losses.
Also in the second round of wrestlebacks, which get underway at 9 a.m. on Friday, following losses in the pre-quarterfinals are Phillipsburg's James Day (113) and Nate Zastowny (160), High Point's Clayton Utter (113), Devon Liebl (126) and Josh Gervey (132), North Hunterdon's Connor Quinn (132), Nate Fossett (182) and Liam Akers (285), Hunterdon Central's Tanner Peake (138), Anthony Romaniello (152) and Norman Cella (160) and Pope John's Shane Percelay (120) and Jack Stoll (182).
The girls tournament also got underway with the quarterfinals and the HWS went 4-0, including wins by High Point's Sophia Lombardo (151) and Lacey Hums (180). Also advancing to the semifinals were Warren Hills' Katrina Kling (114) and Kittatinny's Kierra Hubmaster (161).
Phillipsburg's Jewel Gonzalez, a returning state champion and the Outstanding Wrestler in 2019, will face Hubmaster in the semifinals, which begin at 2 p.m. on Friday. All region champions received byes on Thursday, including Hunterdon Central's Stephanie Andrade (128), who became the first HWS girls state champion in 2019. High Point's Randi Miley (107) and Lilly Ahrendt (143), Wallkill Valley's Samantha Larsen (114) and Warren Hills' Courtney Hoff (121) will also compete in the semifinals.
Pre-quarterfinals
106: Nico Calello (Watchung Hills Regional) d. Amajuwan Murray (Rahway), 4-0; Luke Stanich (Roxbury) d. Aiden Wallace (Bergen Catholic), 6-1; John Hildebrandt (Williamstown) d. Tyler Vazquez (Delbarton), 5-2; Evan Mougalian (Kinnelon) d. D`Amani Almodovar (St. Augustine Prep), 3-0; Evan Tallmadge (Brick Twp.) md. Joseph Giordano (St. John Vianney), 12-3; Conor Collins (Southern Regional) d. Taisei Kurachi (River Dell), 6-2; Brett Redner (Butler) p. Dominic Tafuri (Cedar Grove), 2:59; Anthony Santaniello (Brick Memorial) p. Jack Zaleski (Middletown South), 1:47.
113: Kelly Dunnigan (Don Bosco) md. Demetri Poniros (Ocean Twp.), 12-3; Samuel Kotch (Cinnaminson) d. Clayton Utter (High Point), 4-1; Ryan Rosenthal (Toms River North) d. Donovan Chavis (St. Peter`s Prep), 2-0; Cooper Stewart (Sparta) d. Aaron Kurzer (Montville), 5-1; Joseph Cangro (Bergen Catholic) p. David Rubin (Matawan), 1:50; Ty Whalen (Clearview) d. Cross Wasilewski (Delbarton), 3-2; Garrett Totten (Northern Burlington) d. James Day (Phillipsburg), 8-2; Tyler Klinsky (Middletown North) tf. Aiden Shaughnessy (Rumson-Fair Haven), 4:46, 18-3.
120: Dean Peterson (St. John Vianney) md. Patrick Phillips (Brearley/Dayton), 8-0; Georgio Mazzeo (Paulsboro) d. Shane Percelay (Pope John XXIII), 6-5, ultimate tiebreaker; Nick Kayal (Bergen Catholic) md. David Ryerson (Mount Olive), 13-3; Nathan Fitt (Newton) md. Mike Tandurella (Don Bosco), 15-5; Matt DeStefanis (Randolph) d. Jack Bertha (West Morris Mendham), 5-0; Vincent Santaniello (Brick Memorial) d. Joey Lamparelli (Allentown), 2-1; Fred Luchs (Middletown North) d. Jack Maida (Shore Regional), 8-6, tiebreaker; Nick Babin (Emerson/Park Ridge) d. Ethan Fernandez (Westwood), 6-0;
126: Eddie Ventresca (Pope John XXIII) tf. Nieko Malone (Howell), 2:29, 17-1; Luke Hoerle (Westfield) 36-1 by injury default over Logan Mazzeo (Emerson/Park Ridge), time of injury 0:45; Sean Rendeiro (St. Peter`s Prep) d. Kamrin O`Neill (Matawan), 10-3; McKenzie Bell (Kingsway) tf. Devon Liebl (High Point), 3:30, 15-0; Robert Howard (Bergen Catholic) md. Michael Richardson (Brick Memorial), 11-2; Alex Almeyda (St. Joe Regional-Montvale) d. Thomas O`Keefe (Middletown North), 7-0; Andre Ruiz (Bogota/Ridgefield Park) d. Nico Messina (Freehold Boro), 7-6; Nicholas Nardone (Delbarton) d. Brandon Bowles (Scotch Plains-Fanwood), 12-6.
132: Joey Olivieri (Hanover Park) md. Tyler Pepe (Central Regional), 16-5; Michael Conklin (Toms River East) d. Xavier Pena (Bound Brook), 6-0; Spencer Stewart (Sparta) d. Devon Capato (Ridge), 6-1; Justin Bierdumpfel (St. Joe Regional-Montvale) md. Jake Gentile (Kingsway), 9-1; Simon Ruiz (Delbarton) d. Brock Zurawski (St. Augustine Prep), 3-0; Anthony White (South Plainfield) d. Josh Gervey (High Point), 10-5; Jack Nies (Ocean Twp.) d. Austin Jack (Jefferson Twp.), 7-1; Dylan Cedeno (Bergen Catholic) tf. Connor Quinn (North Hunterdon), 4:43, 24-7.
138: Jacob Perez-Eli (Paulsboro) d. Ken Sherman (Holy Spirit), 7-2; Ryan Zimmerman (Long Branch) d. Logan Waller (Colts Neck), 7-0; William Grater (Bergen Catholic) d. Cooper Pontelandolfo (Cherokee), 4-2; Billy Talmadge (High Point) d. James Rodriguez (Perth Amboy), 8-6, sudden victory; Anthony Clark (Delbarton) d. Tanner Peake (Hunterdon Central), 3-0; Hunter Gandy (Woodstown) d. Alex Poniros (Ocean Twp.), 8-2; Al DeSantis (Shore Regional) d. Darren Jones (West Essex), 6-3; Michael Cetta (St. Joe Regional-Montvale) d. Garrett Stewart (Sparta), 15-8.
145: Andrew Clark (Collingswood) d. Tyler Barrett (CBA), 3-0; Max Brignola (Rumson-Fair Haven) d. Eli Shepard (West Morris Central), 10-4; Gabe Onorato (Paulsboro) d. Jason Smith (Boonton), 3-1; Tim Spatola (Delsea) d. Nicholas Franco (Paramus Catholic), 3-2, ultimate tiebreaker; Kaya Sement (Pope John XXIII) d. Connor Doherty (St. Thomas Aquinas), 10-5; Andrew Troczynski (Delbarton) p. Dante Monaco (Camden Catholic), 5:09; Colton Washleski (Hunterdon Central) p. Maximus Parra (Bound Brook), 6:00; Dakota Morris (Kingsway) d. Michael Dellagatta (St. Joe Regional-Montvale), 5-1.
152: Dylan Weaver (Lyndhurst/North Arlington) p. David DiPietro (Kingsway), 0:29; Michael McGhee (Shore Regional) d. Brandon Teresa (Montville), 3-2, ultimate tiebreaker; Stefano Sgambellone (St. Joe Regional-Montvale) d. Jurius Clark (Highland Regional), 4-3; Nick Boggiano (Toms River North) d. Jared Schoppe (Delsea), 6-0; Alex Strashinsky (Bergen Catholic) p. Colin Calvetti (Delbarton), 5:36; Aaron Ayzerov (Paramus) p. Ian McCabe (Monroe), 1:45; Matthew Garcia (Pope John XXIII) md. Nicholas Vargas (Wall), 13-4; Brandon Mooney (Camden Catholic) md. Anthony Romaniello (Hunterdon Central), 10-0.
160: Dante Stefanelli (Delbarton) d. Nate Zastowny (Phillipsburg), 15-10; Blake Bahna (Watchung Hills Regional) md. Costantinos Pavlides (Eastern), 16-7; Robert Woodcock (Southern Regional) md. Elijah Lugo (Wayne Valley), 15-4; Harrison Hinojosa (Camden Catholic) d. Jack Wilt (Seton Hall), 6-4, sudden victory; Brian Soldano (High Point) tf. Alex Marshall (St. Augustine Prep), 2:20, 16-0; Shay Addison (Rumson-Fair Haven) d. Anthony Spera (Mount Olive), 3-0; Nate Camiscioli (Bergen Catholic) d. Norman Cella (Hunterdon Central), 5-4; Matt Benedetti (Manalapan) md. Nicholas Golden (Allentown), 12-2.
170: Shane Reitsma (Howell) d. George Rhodes (Absegami), 8-1; Luke Benedict (Haddonfield) d. Jacob Vega (Carteret), 8-5; Jack Kelly (Rumson-Fair Haven) md. Jack Bernik (Northern Valley-Old Tappan), 13-4; Marcus Petite (Piscataway) p. Nicholas Russo (Parsippany Hills), 4:56; Kieran Calvetti (Delbarton) d. Ki`zuran Casey (Plainfield), 11-4; Noah Fox (Montville) p. Ryan Bennett (Hamilton West), 3:39; Colin Loughney (West Morris Central) d. Hunter Smith (Jackson Memorial), 6-3; Connor O`Neill (DePaul) md. Max Nock (Cranford), 12-1.
182: John Poznanski (Colonia) tf. Cassey Allen (Emerson/Park Ridge), 4:23, 22-7; Blake Clayton (St. John Vianney) p. Brett MacMath (Bridgewater/Raritan), 1:43; Jason Sherlock (Point Pleasant Beach) d. Jack Stoll (Pope John XXIII), 7-4; Joe Colon (Brick Memorial) tf. Zachary Andruchowitz (Bloomfield), 5:12, 20-4; Isaac Dean (Shawnee) d. Nicholas Lodato (Piscataway), 8-6; Jacob Whitworth (Wall) d. Nate Fossett (North Hunterdon), 3-1; Benjamin Liss (Fair Lawn) d. Michael Conrad (Montville), 6-1; Luke Rada (Colts Neck) d. Noah Putney (Clayton/Glassboro), 5-2.
195: Luke Chakonis (Delbarton) p. John Fiore (Bergen Catholic), 1:52; Thomas Renna (South Plainfield) p. Gunnar Nystedt (River Dell), 0:47; Kyle Epperly (Jackson Memorial) tf. Gavin Camoia (Mount Olive), 2:44, 16-0; David Szuba (Brick Memorial) p. John Dusza (Watchung Hills Regional), 0:29; Martin Cosgrove (Camden Catholic) md. Alex Kostantas (Pascack Hills), 9-1; Michael Massa (Seton Hall) d. Mikal Taylor (Absegami), 1-0; Tommy Goodwin (Pequannock) p. Gavin Claro (Manalapan), 3:36; Mike Misita (St. Augustine Prep) d. Kenneth Koenig (Colts Neck), 8-1.
220: Kyle Jacob (Paramus) p. Michael Pavlinetz (Holmdel), 2:16; Robert Damerjian (Moorestown) d. Tom Goetz (Gateway/Woodbury), 5-0; Joshua Darisme (Rahway) d. Cody Thurston (West Deptford), 7-4; Zane Coles (Pitman) d. Michael Nakano (Toms River North), 7-2; Gage Armijo (West Morris Mendham) p. Ameir Pittman (Burlington City), 0:13; Michael Toranzo (St. Joe Regional-Montvale) d. Max Acciardi (Paramus Catholic), 3-1; Jackson Crawn (Kittatinny) p. Remy Brancato (Bergen Catholic), 2:30; P.J. Casale (Delbarton) tf. Tracey Taylor (Long Branch), 4:20, 16-1.
285: Bardhyl Gashi (West Essex) md. Jakob Shapiro (Fair Lawn), 12-3; Justin Wright (Howell) d. John O`Donnell (Toms River North), 3-2; Moses Olowoopejo (Elizabeth) p. Jack Dunn (Washington Twp.), 1:46; Jim Mullen (St. Joe Regional-Montvale) d. Keshon Davila (New Brunswick), 6-0; Hector Lebron (Dwight Morrow) d. Joseph Teresi (Ocean Twp.), 4-2, sudden victory; Griffin Jackstadt (Barnegat) d. Thomas Lidondici (Colts Neck), 4-2; JT Cornelius (Southern Regional) p. Liam Buday (Point Pleasant Beach), 5:31; Marcus Estevez (Franklin) p. Liam Akers (North Hunterdon), 2:56.
Girls quarterfinals
100: Alisa Safforld (Belleville) d. Jasmine Aizley (Allentown), 4-1; Isabella Santos (Elizabeth) p. Mandy Gavares (Old Bridge), 1:18.
107: Johnae Drumright (Trenton Central) d. Ahsia Torres (Perth Amboy), 8-2; Izabella Frezzo (Henry P. Becton Regional) p. Julia Manolas (Manalapan), 4:36.
114: Kira Pipkins (Bloomfield) p. Estefani Cortez (Lakewood), 3:13; Katrina Kling (Warren Hills Regional) d. Danica Haines (Palmyra), 12-7.
121: Noran Elmahroukey (New Providence) p. Jessica Rivera (Lakewood), 1:06; Emily Klein (Paramus) p. Angelina Romero (Notre Dame), 5:55.
128: Kyara Montoya (Morris Hills) p. Karielys Reyes (Trenton Central), 3:08; Amanda Connors (Northern Highlands Regional) p. Jade Gasper (Lenape), 3:27.
135: Gabby Miller (Monroe Township) md. Brooke Tulloch (Saddle Brook), 16-7; Skyelar Smith (Jackson Memorial) p. Natalie Vega (Elmwood Park Memorial), 4:15.
143: Jordyn Katz (Jackson Memorial) p. Qua-Niesha Young-Cruse (Elizabeth), 4:29; Alexis Rosano (Overbrook) md. Angela Valle (Lodi), 16-4.
151: Goodness Okoro (Newark Collegiate Charter) p. Rachel Forsman (Eastern), 5:42; Sophia Lombardo (High Point Regional) d. Abigail Stanberry (Jackson Memorial), 12-7.
161: Kierra Hubmaster (Kittatinny Regional) p. Ana Gonzalez (Lakewood), 3:30; Amanda Pace (North Bergen) p. Madison Pesavage (Jackson Memorial), 5:29.
180: Lacey Hums (High Point Regional) p. Gina Novello (Jackson Memorial), 0:31; Haylee Adorno (Delran) p. Maria Taseva (Elmwood Park Memorial), 1:44.
215: Valery Alcantara (Perth Amboy) p. Kaila Mungo (Rancocas Valley Regional), 2:46; Donna Walker (New Brunswick) p. Naliya Rivera (Kingsway Regional), 3:33.
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