Star Ledger 3/29/03
By Gerry Davidove

Adamcsik Realized Dream

Note: The following article is a reprint from the Star Ledger. Steve Adamcsik is one of three Morris County wretlers to win a New Jersey State Title last March 2003.

Wrestler of the year:

After finishing his freshman season with a less-than-stellar record of 10-15, Mendham's Steve Adamcsik came to a realization.

"One of my teammates, Chris Marold, placed fifth in the state that year,' Adamcsik said. "Watching him and what it took for him to get there, I knew that I had to do the same and then some."

Adamcsik enrolled in the area's Standridge Wrestling Academy, hit the weights hard and wrestled in a tournament every weekend during the summer. He improved gradually over the next two seasons but still didn't manage to qualify for the state tournament either year.

But he had a breakout season as a senior this winter, finishing with a 36-0 record and winning the state tournament championship at 119 pounds. Along the way, Adamcsik won county, District 2 and Region 1 titles.

"Three years ago, a state championship was only a dream," Adamcsik said. "But this year, it was completely a goal of mine. Once I won the county, I thought that I had a good chance to achieve that. It was a huge confidence builder."

Although this was Adamcsik's first trip to the state tournament, his experience competing in the National High School Coaches Association tournament the last two summers helped to settle his nerves.

"I was excited to get to the states, but I was calm because I was used to wrestling in front of big crowds," Adamcsik, who has narrowed his college options to Lycoming and Bloomsburg, said.

Adamcsik was helped along by his coach, Brett Raimondo, who in 1988 became Mendham's first state champion.

"Brett's been through it before and helped to keep me focused," said Adamcsik, who capped his season with a 1-0 decision over Joe Bubenheimer of Woodbridge in the state final. "The final match was my toughest, but I was very comfortable the whole time. I think what I did might help other kids in our program who might want to become a state champion some day, because they can see that working hard pays off."

Coach of the year:

Success has snowballed in recent years for Ted O'Donnell, who led Delbarton to its first county championship this season.

"It all started five years ago when Ricky LaForge placed sixth in the state as a freshman," O'Donnell said. "Then Brandon Kaufman placed seventh/eighth the next year."

Last season, Antonio Mangione became Delbarton's first state champion. This winter, O'Donnell had two state title holders, with Mangione repeating at 140 and freshman Mike Grey winning at 103.

O'Donnell relies heavily on assistant coaches Guy Russo and Francis Dunn, each a state champion while in high school -- Russo at West Essex and Dunn at Boonton -- and Mark Facciani.

"Our practices have become harder than they used to be, but they pay off," O'Donnell said. "We only have 15 kids in the room, but two of them are state champs."

Team of the year:

Roxbury finished 23-2, winning the Iron Hills Conference-Iron Division title and was first in District 2. The club battled to second place in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 tournament and was third at the county tournament.

Coach Todd Milsom's team was able to avenge a 29-28 dual-meet loss to Bloomfield with a 36-24 victory in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 semifinals.

Roxbury was sparked by Steve Palma, who placed sixth in the state tournament at 215 pounds while he won the Region 1 and District 2 titles.

Freshman of the year:

Delbarton's Mike Grey, winner of seven national junior tournaments, burst onto the high school scene with a 38-0 record and the state tournament's 103-pound title.

Best rivalry:

Juniors Matt Kaplan of Randolph and Matt Button of Mendham were among the best 125-pounders in the state. Unfortunately, they compete in the same county, district and region.

Kaplan has taken the last five matches between the two, including a 4-3 overtime decision in the county semifinal, a 6-4 decision in the District 2 final and a 5-2 decision in the Region 1 final.

Biggest strides:

Sophomore Danny Brennan became the first regional qualifier from Mountain Lakes, whose program is in just its second season. Brennan managed a second-place finish at 145 pounds in District 9 despite wrestling with a painful shoulder injury.

Four-peat:

Antonio Mangione (140) of Delbarton won his fourth title at the county, district and region levels. Mangione became just the fourth wrestler to win four Morris County championships. At District 9, Mangione was joined by teammate Eric Marcotulli (125) as the fourth and fifth four-time winners.

Moving on up:

Pequannock senior Brian May made his move up from a year ago during the tournaments this March. A third-place finisher in Region 1 at 135 pounds in 2002, May claimed the championship this winter in the region when he won the 152-pound class.

At the state tournament in Atlantic City, May went on to place seventh at 152 pounds, one year after he had finished in the 7th/8th slot at 135.

Best brother act:

There must have been a big celebration in the Latona house the night that junior Jonathan (160) and brother Chris (189), a senior, won District 9 titles. Jonathan went on to qualify for the state tournament with a third-place finish in Region 3, while Chris was knocked out of contention in the wrestleback semifinals.