Wrestling: Fenlon, 'Cats make it a cinch to win 26th

WANTAGE -- When High Point's wrestling team needs a championship performance, senior Sawyer Fenlon is only too happy to oblige.

Fenlon's stunning pin at 145 pounds iced the match as High Point won 12 of 13 contested bouts in a 46-9 shellacking of Jefferson in the North 1, Group 2 final on Friday night. The Wildcats won the first 11 bouts and never looked back in capturing the program's 26th sectional title.

Sawyer Fenlon holds the trophy as High Point celebrates a 26th sectional title.

"I thought it would be a lot closer, but we got the [early] momentum and won 11 in a row," said Fenlon, who decked favored Mike Jack in 4:31 to give High Point an insurmountable 37-0 lead through nine bouts.

High Point (22-1), which has not lost against New Jersey competition and has won 13 straight since a 43-17 defeat to Liberty (Pa.) on Jan. 6, advances to face Point Pleasant Boro (19-1) in the Group 2 semifinals at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday at Toms River North High School. The winner will meet either Raritan (26-2) or Hanover Park (17-12) in the state title match at 5 p.m.

"We wrestled well. It's important to get back down there," said veteran coach John Gardner, whose 'Cats suffered a heartbreaking 32-20 loss to Hanover Park in last year's Group 2 semifinals. "These guys have spent a lot of time trying to get better and improve. They've demonstrated that they can perform at a high level this year."

Known more for his prowess on the soccer fields, it was Fenlon's 13-7 upset of Robert Ortense in the opening bout of  last year's final that got the ball rolling in a 43-19 win over Jefferson, which won the last of its seven championships in 2000.

Fenlon (10-12), a surprise district finalist as a freshman, broke his bout with Jack wide open in the second period by converting a double-leg takedown and throwing a half-nelson in on the way down for a five-pointer and a 6-0 lead after two periods. His pin in the third period helped the High Point seniors go 6-0 in their final bouts at home. It wasn't lost on Fenlon, who became emotional when talking about what this win means for both he and his teammates.

"I knew whoever I was wrestling, I was going to give it my all," he said. "This was my last match here ... this is why I came out. Wrestling is a tough sport. I love being around the guys. We're a true family. I'm going to miss it."

Senior Robbie Turro followed with another huge win -- a 6-4 decision over Jefferson junior Robert Ferucci, a returning district champion, at 160. It was doubly sweet for Turro, a region qualifier as a sophomore who had to watch last season't title run from the bench after sustaining a shoulder injury playing football that required surgery and a six-month rehab process, as the Falcons opted to bump Ferucci up from 152 for the matchup.

Turro, who gave up a stall point to tie it at 4 late in the third period, simply had more gas in the tank as he converted the winning takedown with 17 seconds left on the clock. High Point dominated this one from the neutral position -- finishing with a 22-4 overall advantage in takedowns.

"All I thought about last year was getting another chance to wrestle," Turro said. "It was a painful injury. This is an amazing feeling. It feels great. I knew I had a little weight on him. He's a pretty good wrestler. I was just trying to protect myself on my feet and to not put myself in any bad positions. We both started to get a little tired near the end."

Junior Andrew Lewis (220) and senior Thomas Hubmaster (285) triggered that 11-bout run with key victories in the first two matchups. Lewis got a reversal in the second period and a takedown in the third period for a 4-3 win over Justin Randzio, a state qualifier last season, while Hubmaster spun behind Jake Carnevale for a takedown with one second left to earn a 4-2 decision.

Those two victories took the wind out of Jefferson's sails early and silenced its normally boisterous set of fans. Devon Liebl (106) and Brandon LaRue (113) followed with pins and freshman Josh Gervey really whipped the home crowd into a frenzy with his 5-3 win over Austin Jack at 120 to give High Point a commanding 21-0 lead. Gervey was recently inserted into the starting lineup after junior Devin Flannery suffered a season-ending left elbow injury.

Senior Shane Kobis set the stage for Fenlon with a workmanlike 6-2 win over Mason Godfrey, a region runner-up in 2016.

"Once we get rolling as a team, we really feed off each other," said Kobis, who matched his older brother, Jared, who was on the 2013 and '14 title-winning teams, with his second. "This is all we talked about all week, we revolved around it. This is the last time we'll wrestle here. Every senior won today, which is nice. Rob's win was icing on the cake."

HIGH POINT 46, JEFFERSON 9

220 -- Jr. Andrew Lewis (16-10), HP, d. Jr. Justin Randzio (9-8), 4-3.
285 -- Sr. Thomas Hubmaster (23-7), HP, d. Sr. Jake Carnevale (24-9), 4-2.
106 -- So. Devon Liebl (23-4), HP, p. Fr. Luke Ciampa (14-14), :56.
113 -- Jr. Brandon LaRue (29-2), HP, p. Fr. Luke Hughen (2-6), :39.
120 -- Fr. Josh Gervey (7-8), HP, d. Fr. Austin Jack (21-12), 5-3.
126 -- Sr. Maverick Liebl (26-5), HP, d. Fr. Lawrence DiBiase (4-6), 6-1.
132 -- So. Billy Talmadge (28-5), HP, md. Jr. Ryan Tripodi (15-16), 9-1.
138 -- Sr. Shane Kobis (27-4), HP, d. Jr. Mason Godfrey (20-12), 6-2.
145 -- Sr. Sawyer Fenlon (10-12), HP, p. Jr. Mike Jack (24-9), 4:31.
152 -- Sr. Trey Osborn (25-5), HP, d. Fr. Michael Gould (3-6), 7-2.
160 -- Sr. Robbie Turro (21-12), HP, d. Jr. Robert Ferucci (23-10), 6-4.
170 -- Sr. Robert Ortense (27-4), J, d. Jr. Jonathan Morris (8-14), 11-7.
182 -- Sr. Shane Connolly (30-3), J, forfeit.
195 -- Jr. Grayson Sabo (20-9), HP, d. Sr. Jason Boucher (10-10), 8-1.
Records -- Jefferson 19-5, High Point 22-1.
Officials -- Pete Christokos and Larry Abrams.