Wrestling: 'It's all good': Soldano 3-time champ, OW

High Point senior Brian Soldano has never been a fan of those over-the-top displays of emotion following his numerous and sometimes historic victories. But you couldn't really blame the best to sport a Wildcats singlet if he was just a tad upset that he couldn't register a coveted 100th career pin.

In the end, even that really didn't matter much as the Rutgers recruit put the final stamp on a marvelous career with his 11-3 major decision against North Bergen junior Joshua Palacio at 190 pounds to secure a third consecutive title and the Outstanding Wrestler Award in the 89th State Championships on Saturday afternoon at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

"It's all good," Soldano said, when asked about not getting one last pin. "When I realized that it wasn't going to happen, I just kept going for more points to show dominance. I'm very happy with [my tournament performance]."  

Brian Soldano is the area's first OW since 1988.

Soldano (38-0) certainly went out in style as he joined Nick Francavilla (2009-11) as the only High Point wrestlers to win three state championships and is part of the first male-female duo to win titles for the 'Cats in the same year as senior Noelle Gaffney became the first Sussex girl to win a championship (at 165 pounds) two weekends ago. Soldano is also just the 34th in New Jersey history to win at least that many and the seventh from Sussex County. Pope John legend Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72), along with Newton's Robert McKeeby (1941-43), Harry Lanzi (1946-48), William Dolan (1947-49) and Don Frey (1947-49) are the only others from the county to win three.

In addition, Soldano became the 21st wrestler from HWS to receive the Donald Ringler Award as the OW and first since Delaware Valley legend Jamie Wicks captured his second title in 1988 at Princeton's Jadwin Gym. There are now 11 wrestlers from Sussex County to be named the OW, including former High Point head coach and Vernon state champion Jan Michaels, who was the county's previous recipient after his title victory at 148 pounds in 1979.

"That's insane," Soldano said when told he was the first area OW in 34 years. "I'm in very good company. [Michaels] has always been a big supporter of me. It's very special to have my name up there with some of the greatest wrestlers."

As Soldano left the mat for the final time in high school following his 75th straight victory, there were plenty of emotions. He embraced head coach John Gardner and assistant coach Billy Smith, both state champions for the 'Cats, and hugged his father, Pete, and mother, Cheryl, as they exited the arena floor.

"There's nothing better than having my coaches in the corner and then being in my dad's arms," said Soldano, the ultimate team-first wrestler. "It's special. Very special [to have two former champs in the corner]." 

Palacio (35-3) is the only opponent this season to last the full six minutes with Soldano, who logged 33 falls (27 in the first period and 16 under a minute) and one technical fall while picking up three forfeits in addition to the major. 

Soldano on the podium for a third time.

"Brian is a three-time state champ. That's pretty good," said Gardner, a winner at 189 pounds in 1990 who has coached both of High Point's three-timers. "For him, wearing our singlet mattered. Nothing changed today [by not getting another pin]. It was a wrestling match, that's all it was. [Rutgers] is getting a good one."

Soldano, who ranks 10th on the school's all-time wins list with a career mark of 127-5, went for the home run early, with an underhook and attempt for a standing cement job. He didn't get any points with the move, but it seemed to zap all the energy from Palacio, who was never in the bout. In fact, action was halted three times due to blood as Palacio seemed a bit woozy for most of the match. 

"I just wanted to keep it going," Soldano said of the breaks in action. "Being on the center mat, not much can throw you off."

Soldano converted a first-period takedown and rode with the legs in for a 2-0 lead. After an escape to start the second period, he went for a gator roll and was unsuccessful as the bout was stopped for a second time. He finished off another takedown -- single to a double -- for a 5-0 advantage as Palacio chose neutral to start the the third period. Soldano hit a sweet duck-under for his third takedown and added two more after allowing two more escapes.

How dominant was his performance this season and over the last three years? Soldano went 13-0 with all pins in winning four region titles -- joining Gardner and Francavilla as High Point's only four-time winners -- spending a total time of 1:35 on the mat in his fourth championship. Soldano also won his final 14 bouts in the state tournament, logging four pins in a total time of 3:14 in this last appearance. 

"He won by [almost] 10 points," Gardner said. "I don't think pinning people is the most important thing."

But the realization that it's over wasn't lost on Soldano, though he'll be ramping it up again shortly in preparation for the Junior National Freestyle trials in Nevada at the end of April.

"Going into [the state final] there was a lot of emotion," Soldano said. "After the final whistle it hit me hard. Not having this group with me after four years and seeing them is going to hurt a lot."

Spoken like an ultimate champion and teammate. Rutgers is getting a good one.