Over Two Dozen Local Wrestlers Win District Titles

By Rich Chrampanis

The road to Atlantic City is underway in high school wrestling. The top four finishers from each district advance to this weekend’s regions. A top four finish this weekend earns a wrestler the chance to compete for a state championship in two weeks at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Christian Brothers Academy had 10 district champions with Saint John Vianney wrestlers earning eight district titles. Congratulations to all the winners. See next week’s edition for the results of regions and who will be going to AC for states.

Region 5

District 17, Hunterdon Central

106 lb.: (1) Matthew Gould (Saint John Vianney) md.

(3) Ryan Sherlock (Hunterdon Central), 9-1
120 lb.: (1) Anthony Knox (SJV) tf.
(2) Zach Iannucci (Hillsborough), 3:00 (25-10)

126 lb.: (1) Jake Zaltsman (SJV) p. (2)

Johan Aguilar (Franklin), 0:50
132 lb.: (1) Patrick O’Keefe (SJV) d.

(2) Blase Mele (Princeton), 5-3 SV

150 lb.: (1) Cole Stangle (SJV) d.

(2) Henry Wilkinson (Hunterdon Central), 3-0

157 lb.: (1) Kevin McBride (SJV) d.
(2) Lucas Velando (Manville), 9-3
165 lb.: (1) Jasiah Queen (SJV) tf.

(2) Jack Miller (Hillsborough), 28-13

215 lb.: (1) Michael Foley (SJV) d.

(3) Matt Jones (Hillsborough), 5-0

District 18, Manalapan

150 lb.: (1) AJ Todisco (Holmdel) d.
(2) Michael Kurilla (South Brunswick), 7-1

175 lb.: (1) Alex Reyes (Holmdel) p.
(5) Sergey Zavalnik (Manalapan) 0:56

District 19, Saint Joseph-Metuchen

106 lb.: (1) Eamon Fr y (Rumson-Fair Haven) d.

(3) Julian Arango (Saint Joseph-Metuchen), 6-0
215 lb.: (1) Hudson Skove (Rumson-Fair Haven) p.

(2) Richard Boateng Baah (Piscataway), 1:48

District 20, Middletown North

106 lb.: (1) Brady Klinsky (Middletown North) tf.

(2) Nick Sheldrick (Raritan), 5:20 (20-5)
126 lb.: (1) Jack Zaleski (Middletown South) p.

(2) Ryan Mansueto (Raritan), 0:39

157 lb.: (1) David Hussey (Middletown South) d.

(2) Matthew Castelli (Middletown North), 10-3

165 lb.: (1) Frank Romeo (Red Bank Catholic) p.

(2) Robert Mulligan (Raritan), 5:19

175 lb.: (1) Sabino Portella (Red Bank Catholic) p. 

(2) Tyler Palumbo (Red Bank Regional), 0:30
115 lb.: (1) Lucas Ainbinder (Middletown North) p. 

(2) Evan Eckerstrom (Red Bank Regional), 2:20

285 lb.: (1) Lorenzo Portella (Red Bank Catholic) p. 

(2) Tommy Whyte (Middletown South), 0:58

Region 6

District 21 21, Point Pleasant Boro

113 lb.: (1) Bobby Duf fy (Christian Brothers Academy) d.

(2) Anthony Urso (Jackson Liberty), 4-2

120 lb.: (2) Tyler Venet (CBA) d.

(1)Tucker Pazinko (Jackson Liberty), 7-2

126 lb.: (1) AJ Falcone (CBA) md.

(2) Michael O’Connor (Manasquan), 9-1

138 lb.: (1) Alex Nini (CBA) md.
(2) Nate Fletcher (Point Boro), 13-2
144 lb.: (1) Julian George (CBA) d.

(2) James Farina (Ocean), 3-1

150 lb.: (1) Tyler Barrett (CBA) d.
(2) Ryan Acquisto (Point Boro), 6-3
157 lb.: (1) Zander Silva (CBA) p.
(3) Max Bandelt (Jackson Liberty), 1:40

165 lb.: (1) Anthony Lawrence (CBA) p.

(1) Michael Poniros (Ocean), 1:37

175 lb.: (1) Nick Stump (CBA) md.
(2) Dontae Bryan (Hamilton West), 14-2

215 lb.: (1) Robert Canterino (CBA) p.

(2) Louis Bilardo (Steinert), 3:09

District 22, Wall

165 lb.: (2) Joe Layton (Colts Neck) p.

(1) Joe Berryman (Freehold). 0:41

The article originally appeared in the February 23 – March 1, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.