Wrestling: LaRue's return sparks 3-peat for 'Cats

WANTAGE TWP. -- If it indeed was the final bout that High Point senior Brandon LaRue wrestles this season, he sure made it count.

LaRue, who had been sidelined by a fractured right elbow, made a stunning return, and his win at 145 pounds sparked the Wildcats to a 35-25 win over Newton and their 27th sectional title on Friday night in the North 1, Group 2 final before a packed house at High Point Regional High School.

High Point celebrates its Sussex County-record 27th sectional title.

"I didn't think I was going to be back this season," said LaRue, a returning state placewinner and Duke University recruit who beat Michael Freda, 7-4, in his first action since a 4-0 loss to Pope John junior Kaya Sement on Jan. 24. "It was important we win our last high school match of the season here, especially as seniors. It was good to go out with a win."

High Point (15-2) is heading back to Toms River in search of a second straight state title and will next face West Deptford, while Hanover Park takes on South Plainfield in the Group 2 semifinals at 9 a.m. on Sunday. The championship match is set for 5 p.m.

"Our older kids have really done a good job of getting other people ready," said 'Cats coach John Gardner, whose program has won three straight sectional titles and 15 overall under his watch. "Program-wise, they set expectations. Brandon gave us a big boost."

Newton (14-7), which was competing in its first sectional final since winning the second of back-to-back North 1, Group 1 titles in 2010, again won six bouts, and closed the team-score gap by two points after a sustaining a 39-27 loss here in the NJAC Freedom Division title match on Jan. 22.

The Braves were in good shape early after winning three of the first four bouts to open the match, including sophomore Nathan Fitt's 7-6 win over freshman Clayton Utter in a matchup between two of the top 106-pounders in Region 1. But High Point sophomore Nick Douma got a reversal and three back points in the final 12 seconds for a 5-1 win over Nick Costa that all but ended thoughts of an upset.

"We fell a little short, but it was a good dual all-around," said veteran coach Eric Bollette, who said he was stunned to see LaRue take the mat after forfeiting to junior Billy Talmadge at 138 to make it an eight-point spread (23-15) with five bouts left. "Give [Douma] credit for getting two and backs at the end. We needed to pull out 120 and 145, but I thought we wrestled well."

The circumstances of LaRue's return are even more remarkable when you consider he didn't even decide he was wrestling until classmate Devin Flannery scored an impressive 10-2 major decision over Region 1 qualifier JoJo Lotruglio at 126. High Point had a 17-12 lead through seven bouts.

"We were in the back room talking and he said, 'I might need your singlet,'" said Flannery, who was actually able to enjoy competing in this one after having to watch last year's title run when he sustained a season-ending left elbow (UCL) injury.

"I said, 'Sure, whatever you need.' It was really great [to see LaRue out there] and beat a good kid."

LaRue (14-2) gave up a first-period takedown to Freda and got one of his own in the second before giving up two-and-two with a reversal and backs to take a 5-4 lead into the third. His takedown off a scramble with 27 seconds left sealed it.

"The team score didn't look like it was going to go our way and I needed to do something to try and get us going," said LaRue, who weighed in at 139.7 after competing at 126 and 132 all season. "I didn't feel too good out there since I haven't been able to do much wrestling. I just tried to score points and protect myself."

Sophomore Alex Buchwald really put High Point in good shape with a 6-1 win at 152, and after Newton state placewinner Wyatt McCarthy's major at 160 made it 29-19, 'Cats freshman Brian Soldano decked Nick Brigante in 2:53 to ice it in the next-to-last bout at 170.

Soldano (30-2), who is expected to make some noise in Atlantic City later this month, was nearly pinned in the first period as he attempted a cement mixer and gave up four points. Down, 6-3, after one period, Soldano got a takedown and used a claw ride to turn Brigante for the fall -- setting off a wild celebration on the bench and in the stands.

"It hurt a lot last year [to watch]. I just tried to take in every moment," said Flannery, who racked up four takedowns, including one at the buzzer for the major against Lotruglio. "This feels good. In my high school run it's our third [sectional title]. That's pretty good."

HIGH POINT 35, NEWTON 25

195 -- Sr. Ryan Kaiser (15-16), N, d. So. Sean Van Wingerden (5-12), 9-5 SV.
220 -- Sr. Luke Fischer (30-0), N, p. So. Shawn VonHollen (0-4), 2:26.
285 -- So. Justin Klass (6-6), HP, p. Jr. Isaiah Wilkins (3-5), 3:34.
106 -- So. Nathan Fitt (26-2), N, d. Fr. Clayton Utter (25-6), 7-6.
113 -- Jr. Devon Liebl (23-7), HP, md. So. Danny Cleary (13-17), 10-2.
120 -- So. Nick Douma (3-0), HP, d. So. Nick Costa (7-14), 5-1.
126 -- Sr. Devin Flannery (25-6), HP, md. So. JoJo Lotruglio (21-10), 10-2.
132 -- Sr. Matthew Rosa (20-7), N, d. So. Josh Gervey (21-5), 6-3.
138 -- Jr. Billy Talmadge (29-3), HP, forfeit.
145 -- Sr. Brandon LaRue (14-2), HP, d. Sr. Michael Freda (19-11), 7-4.
152 -- So. Alex Buchwald (15-12), HP, d. Jr. Trevor Aughenbaugh (13-16), 6-1.
160 -- Sr. Wyatt McCarthy (28-2), N, md. Jr. PJ Soldano (13-15), 17-4.
170 -- Fr. Brian Soldano (30-2), HP, p. Sr. Nick Brigante (22-8), 2:53.
182 -- Sr. Matt Somers (11-17), N, p. Fr. Troy Tiger (3-2), 1:12.
Records -- Newton 14-7; High Point 15-2.
Officials -- Pete Christokos and Anthony DeFlumeri.