His impressive run to the title at 152 pounds in the opening bout of the finals helped set the tone as teammates Eddie Ventresca (120) and JoJo Aragona (138) also won their first gold medals in the 86th State Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall.
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| Robbie Garcia celebrates his win. (Anthony Spaulding/PJ) |
In all, the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area went 5-for-5, as Voorhees senior Lewis Fernandes (285) and Hunterdon Central sophomore Brett Ungar (106) also won titles. Fernandes repeated as the heavyweight champion, becoming the first two-time winner for his school and giving Hunterdon County two in the same year for the first time since 1993, while the five champs overall are the most in the HWS area since crowning five in 1990. The area also collected a total of 16 medals, as Pope John junior Kaya Sement (132) finished fifth, while sophomore Shane Percelay (106) finished seventh. The three champs and five medals are program single-season records for the Lions.
Aragona joined those two unbeaten champions by capping a perfect season with a 7-1 victory over Paulsboro junior Jacob Perez-Eli. It was the fourth medal for Aragona (42-0), who finished third twice and second as sophomore in 2017.
"It feels amazing," said Aragona, who will join Phillipsburg senior Cody Harrison (third at 152) at Rutgers University next fall. "It's so surreal right now. This means a lot to me. We had the most champs of any school here. That speaks for itself."
Ventresca (40-1), a three-time placewinner, left no doubt as to who was the top guy at his weight class -- racking up a pair of takedowns for a 7-3 victory over Delbarton junior Anthony Clark, who was seeking a third straight title.
"It wasn't an upset," said Ventresca, the No. 2 seed, who finished sixth and third in two previous appearances at 113 pounds. "I knew I was the best wrestler at my weight class. I knew in my mind that I was going to come out on top. Once I got the first takedown, in my mind I was winning the match. He wasn't touching my legs and feet. I moved him all over the place and got to my shots."
In the zone
Garcia (23-1) recorded four straight pins to reach his first state final and put himself in great shape early by hitting a headlock for five points and a 7-1 lead over O'Connell. Garcia got another turn off a tilt and took a seven-point lead into the second period, getting three more backs for a commanding 12-3 lead through four minutes.
"I knew he had a good low-single and I worked on [defending] that with my coaches," said Garcia, who like the other five area champs converted an early first-period takedown.
Garcia, an Oregon State recruit, ended Pope John's long title drought by becoming the Sparta-based school's first champion since Brian Unkert (145 in 1990) and Sussex County's 115th overall. The only other champions for the Lions are the legendary Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72), their only multiple winner, and Jim Frick ('83).
"Life's beautiful for everybody," Garcia said. "If I didn't take first, I'd be just as thankful for the opportunity."
Golden career
Aragona, who finishes 158-6 overall, secured his place among the Sussex County greats by capturing that once elusive state title after becoming its all-time wins leader in the semifinals on Saturday -- passing former three-time state champion Nick Francavilla of High Point (156-12 from 2007-11). Ryan Callahan of Wallkill Valley (154-12 from 2006-10) and Kevin Churchill of Newton (151-18 from 2006-10) are the only others win 150 or more victories.
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| JoJo Aragona atop the podium at 138. |
"[Francavilla] is my [club] coach and I'm proud to share a moment like that with him," said Aragona, who ran over to hug his mother, Christine, following his finals victory. "He helped me along the way, everybody helped me. It's not only my hard work that got me here."
Hard to believe, but Aragona held true to the statement he made following his fourth region title the previous weekend that he considered himself just another wrestler in the bracket in AC.
"One hundred percent," he said. "I was just another wrestler no matter what. I won, 6-4, in the quarterfinals [against Dylan Weaver of Lyndhurst-North Arlington]. It doesn't matter at all being No. 1 in the country. This is my first state title ever -- throughout my career. I believed in myself more this year."
CHAMPIONSHIPS
152 -- Robert Garcia (Pope John) md. Nicholas O'Connell (Southern Regional), 13-5.
160 -- Robert Kanniard (Wall) d. Connor O'Neill (DePaul) , 9-4.
170 -- Brandon Green (Paulsboro) d. Shane Reitsma (Howell), 13-9.
182 -- Christopher Foca (Bergen Catholic) d. John Poznanski (Colonia), 7-4.
195 -- Jacob Cardenas (Bergen Catholic) d. Kyle Jacob (Paramus), 6-3.
220 -- Zach DelVecchio (South Plainfield) d. Michael Filieri (Garfield), 8-4.
285 -- Lewis Fernandes (Voorhees) p. Bardhyl Gashi (West Essex), :46.
106 -- Brett Ungar (Hunterdon Central) d. Tyler Klinsky (Middletown North), 13-6.
113 -- Dean Peterson (St. John Vianney) d. Nick Babin (Emerson/Park Ridge), 3-2
120 -- Eddie Ventresca (Pope John) d. Anthony Clark ( Delbarton), 7-3.
126 -- Sammy Alvarez (St. Joe-Montvale) d. Robert Howard ( Bergen Catholic), 4-3 SV.
132 -- Nicholas Raimo (Hanover Park) d. Luke Mazzeo (Emerson/ Park Ridge), 8-4.
138 -- Joseph Aragona (Pope John) d. Jacob Perez-Eli (Paulsboro), 7-1.
145 -- Lucas Revano (Camden Catholic) p. Ricky Cabanillas (DePaul), 6:35.
Donald Ringler Award (Outstanding Wrestler) -- Sammy Alvarez, St. Joe-Montvale.
Coach of the Year Award -- Mike Barikian, Kingsway.
THIRD-PLACE CONSOLATIONS
106: Joseph Cangro (Bergen Catholic) d. Kelly Dunnigan (Don Bosco), 3-0.
113: Vincent Santaniello (Brick Memorial) d. Nick Kayal (Bergen Catholic), 9-4.
120: Devin Flannery (High Point) p. McKenzie Bell (Kingsway), 1:12.
126: CJ Composto (Westfield) d. Joey Olivieri (Hanover Park), 4-3.
132: Mark Montgomery (Roselle Park) d. Andrew Clark (Collingswood), 9-3.
138: Dylan Weaver (Lyndhurst/No. Arlington) d. Alec Bobchin (Princeton), 8-1.
145: Wade Unger (Bergen Catholic) d. Wyatt McCarthy (Newton), 1-0.
152: Cody Harrison (Phillipsburg) d. Dante Stefanelli (Delbarton), 5-2.
160: Tony Asatrian (Paramus) d. Corey Fischer (West Deptford), 10-5.
170: Martin Cosgrove (Camden Catholic) d. AJ Lonski (Delbarton), 4-3.
182: Santino Morina (Paulsboro) d. Nick Addison (Rumson-Fair Haven), 6-2.
195: Luke Niemeyer (South Plainfield) d. Luke Chakonis (Delbarton), 3-1.
220: Gage Armijo (West Morris Mendham) d. Niccolo Colucci (St. Peter`s Prep), 10-6.
285: Dean Setticase (Saddle Brook) d. Jervey Sistrunk (Bound Brook), 1-0.
FIFTH-PLACE CONSOLATIONS
106: Joe Manno (St. Joe-Montvale) p. Jack Maida (Shore Regional), 1:52.
113: Quinn Melofchik (Belvidere) d. Nicholas Nardone (Delbarton), 5-3.
120: Justin Bierdumpfel (St. Joe-Montvale) d. Dylan Cedeno (Bergen Catholic), 2-1.
126: Nicky Cabanillas (DePaul) d. Eddie Hummel (Roselle Park), 7-6.
132: Kaya Sement (Pope John XXIII) md. Cooper Pontelandolfo (Cherokee), 9-1.
138: Billy Talmadge (High Point) d. Alex Strashinsky (Bergen Catholic), 8-5.
145: Matt Sacco (Bridgewater/Raritan) by forfeit over Joe Sacco (South Plainfield).
152: Brandon Mooney (Camden Catholic) d. Nick Bennett (Delsea), 7-4.
160: Vincent Andreano (Delbarton) d. Matt Benedetti (Manalapan), 4-0.
170: James Cruz (St. Peter`s Prep) d. Ethan Craft (Rancocas Valley), 1-0.
182: Zach Mafaro (Kittatinny) p. Kieran Calvetti (Delbarton), 1:21.
195: Jacob Anderson (Middletown North) d. Drew Bowker (Rancocas Valley), 4-2.
220: P.J. Casale (Delbarton) d. Benny Dahdah (Westwood), 7-1.
285: Jayvon Davidson (Mount Olive) d. Marcus Estevez (Franklin), 3-2.
SEVENTH-PLACE CONSOLATIONS
106: Shane Percelay (Pope John XXIII) d. Louie Gagliardo (Toms River North), 6-3.
113: Alex Almeyda (Fort Lee) d. Brandon Spellman (Pingry), 5-2.
120: Vincent Scollo (Jackson Memorial) d. Spencer Stewart (Sparta), 3-2.
126: Dom DiGena (West Morris Mendham) d. Gianni Manginelli (Dumont), 6-2.
132: Christian Vertedor (Passaic County Tech) d. William Grater (Don Bosco), 4-3.
138: Anthony Croce (Camden Catholic) d. Tim Spatola (Delsea), 3-0.
145: Rhise Royster (Rahway) d. Nick Boggiano (Toms River North), 7-3.
152: Justin LeMay (West Morris Central) d. George Worthy (Paulsboro), 6-5.
160: Michael Wilson (North Hunterdon) d. Colin Morgan (West Orange), 4-2 SV.
170: Garrett Bilgrav (Robbinsville) md. Reid Colella (Wayne Valley), 10-0.
182: Christian Murphy (Howell) d. Mike Misita (St. Augustine Prep), 7-5.
195: Kyle Epperly (Jackson Memorial) md. Anthony Franden (Eastern), 12-4.
220: Luke Fischer (Newton) p. Jajuan Hayes (Bordentown/Florence), 3:56.
285: Paul Liseno (St. John Vianney) p. Deshon Alexander (Overbrook), 1:20.
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