Daily Record 2/18/03

By Joe Hofmann

Madison rebounds after disappointing MCT

Note: The following article is a reprint from the Daily Record. Writer Joe Hofmann comments on the Madison and Morristown HS programs.

The Morris County Tournament came and went and the Madison wrestling team placed a dismal 18th. The finish did not sit well with coach Kevin Carroll, who challenged the Dodgers to pick it up against quality opponents, not fade away.

“We were a little disappointed at out showing and we needed to step it up against better competition,” Carroll said. “We did not wrestle as well as we could have or should have,” 189-pound Evan Conley added.

That all changed this past weekend, when Madison posted victories over formidable foes Parsippany (38-30) and Parsippany Hills (39-36).

“We certainly wrestled more effectively than in the MCT,” Carroll said. As is usually the case, Madison (12-1) saw several wrestlers come up with huge efforts during the victories.

Ryan Pincus (130) scored an impressive 21-6 (4:00) technical fall victory over Dustin Mitschele to help key the Parsippany win. Anthony Espositio (135) decisioned Renel Gomez, 10-4, in what appeared to be a toss-up bout. Conley pinned Tom Goldberg in 3:30 and Nico Somers (215) followed with a fall in 4:15 over Mike Adams.

In the Par Hills win, Frankie Davis (119) pinned Jerry Harrsch in 1:24 and teammate Alex Guerriero followed with a fall over Paul Galipeau in 1:21 before Pincus beat Joe Opromollo, 4-3. Later in the match, Peter Mazzocchi (145) pinned Nathan Diesem in 3:23, Colin McAuliff (160) beat Andrew Sancho in double overtime, 4-3, and A.J. Rooney beat Dan DeVincenzo, 6-5.

“We certainly wrestled more effectively than we did in the MCT,” Carroll said. “We seem to have different kids step up every night. When it’s a close match, someone different has done the job for us. We’re very thrilled with what's going on.”

“It's pretty exciting going into the match not knowing who the hero could be and it could possibly be anybody,” Conley said. “We have confidence in everybody.” Madison took second in the NHC-Suburban behind Pequannock with several clutch efforts this season. Guerriero stepped up with a pin in a victory over Caldwell, Jim Browning (189) won in double OT to help beat Montville, David Bone (140) won to help topple Lakeland.

“I hoped we'd wrestle this well,” Conley said.

“I was pleasantly surprised by our team’s success the whole season. Last year, we made the sectionals but lost (to Dover 34-31). What we wanted to do was build off that and advance further in the sectional and do better. We also wanted to do better in the conference and we did (Madison was third last year).” “Frankie Davis (16-6) is a freshman who has won a lot of key matches for us,” Carroll said. “We're wrestling pretty well right now and we've got to continue that.” Madison is in for a tight one against Suburban rival Caldwell in the Section 2, Group II quarterfinals in Pequannock Thursday (the NJSIAA has pushed ahead quarterfinal and semifinals matches to Thursday). The Dodgers won a close one the first time the two schools met, but the Chiefs have added Ryan Martell (130) and Jeff Krone (140) to the mix. The two were injured the first time Madison wrestled Caldwell last month. “We certainly think they’ll be stronger than the first time,” Carroll said. “But we’re thrilled to be in the position we’re in and we’re going to go after it.”

Bright Future Morristown (2-13) has had a tough time but the Colonials have a strong crop of underclassmen who are coming along, namely freshmen:

-- Mohammed Abdel Hady (12-10 at 103), who is “looking pretty good,” according to Morristown coach Terry Hurley. “He is out of the midget program. He was raw, strong and tough and now is learning how to wrestle. He is a pinner and he has eight pins.”
-- Justin Ryan (10-6 at 112), who has shown marked improvement since the beginning of this season. Ryan was pinned by Dover’s Ronnie Rojas earlier in the season but lost by just an 8-4 margin in the first round of the MCT last week. “He was manhandled the first time but he’s gotten a lot better,” Hurley said.
-- Mike Trippler (5-1 at 125) lost in the first round of the MCT but has shown promise in his first season of wrestling.
-- Walter Lemus (130-135) won his varsity debut against Morris Hills last week.
-- Jeremy Richardson (160), who transferred from Seton Hall Prep and has loads of potential.

In addition, Matt Flynn (15-9 at 171), Mike Flynn (11-13 at 140-145) and Dan Wightman (at 12-12 Hwt.) have also been solid contributors this year. Hurley is optimistic because of the work of the Frelinghuysen Middle School team under former Morristown High wrestlers Brian Manahan (a former MCT champ and two-state qualifier for Hurley), Matt Manahan, Greg Gervasio (second at Region 3 in the mid-90s) and Dan Corcoran. “We're getting 3-4 more kids next year who can probably get into the lineup,” Hurley said.

Riding in style If you see a limousine heading north on Route 15 on March 7, chances are Jefferson coach Ken Rossi and some of his assistants and wrestlers might be aboard and headed to Region 1 at Wallkill Valley. Rossi heard of a coach in Pennsylvania who had his wrestlers brought to the districts in style and decided to give it a try. “We’re always soaking everything from each other, so I figured I might as well give it a try,” Rossi said.

Sectionals postponed Due to the snow, the NJSIAA has rescheduled the sectional tournament. The quarterfinals and semifinals will begin competing on Thursday, with the finals on Friday and the all-group championships in Trenton on Saturday.

Joe Hofmann can be reached at jhofmann@gannett.com or (973) 428-6674.