By Rich Chrampanis
RED BANK – Red Bank Catholic head wrestling coach Joe Gallagher had tears in his eyes as his wrestling team posed with the first sectional championship trophy in school history. The Caseys have a lineup of young wrestlers who Gallagher thought would be making history in 2023 but instead, RBC arrived a year early following a 39-30 win at the Eck Center against Holy Spirit to earn the Non-Public “B” South sectional title.
“I thought I’d be prepared,” Gallagher said of the championship moment. “We knew we’d be kind of tough this year. We thought we’d be better next year. We never thought this was going to be a possibility. We always talk about getting the right kids instead of the best kids. This is from top to bottom a group of the right kids.”
It looked like the celebration would be a year away for the Caseys when Holy Spirit took a 30-12 lead through nine matches. Jack Morely scored a dramatic come-from-behind lead at 150 pounds with 11 seconds left in the third period to give the Crusaders a big advantage with five matches to go.
The Caseys were able to rally starting with Vincent Joseph Muscillo making a quick move to get his opponent on his back and score a pinfall with just four seconds remaining in the second period to get RBC a critical 6 points.
Then, Rob Muscio broke a 1-1 tie in the third to score a 3-1 decision at 157 pounds to get the Caseys within 30-21. When RBC elected to move up All-American Sabino Portella from 175 pounds to 190, Holy Spirit forfeited both 175 and 190 to surrender the lead and let the final match of the night settle the title.
RBC’s Davin Brewton, a sophomore who had 18 tackles in the Caseys football state championship win over DePaul Catholic at MetLife Stadium, once again shined on the big stage when he scored a pin in the second period to send the home crowd into a frenzy as the championship celebration spilled from the bleachers to the mat.
“It means so much. This is our first sectional title so it means so much to me,” Brewton said. “Coach Gallagher puts in all his hard work and time for us and I just tried to make the best effort out there.”
RBC nearly continued its historic run two days later at Franklin High School in the team state championship, leading 31-12 before falling 42-31 to Pope John in the Non-Public “B” state final. With a sectional title in the trophy case, the Caseys have a lot of returning pieces that will allow them to have a realistic shot of taking the next step and winning the school’s first wrestling state team title next year.
“The thing that feels best about this is that I know it’s just starting,” Gallagher said. “It took us a long time to get to the point that we could really build. You can just feel it. It’s the foundation right now. This is just the beginning.”
Red Bank Catholic 39, Holy Spirit 30
285 lbs: Lorenzo Portella (RBC) d. Phillip Docteur (HS) 11-6
106 lbs: Noah Michaels (RBC) d. Carter Pack (HS) 3-1 (Ultimate Tie Break)
113 lbs: Max Elton (HS) tech fall vs. Anthony DeGaetano (RBC) 20-5
120 lbs: Bryce Manera (HS) pins Michael Milke (RBC), 1:44
126 lbs: Gavin Paolone (HS) major decision vs. Trevor Learn (RBC), 11-2
132 lbs: Chase Calhoun (HS) d. Isaiah Nash (RBC), 8-1
138 lbs: Marco Conroy (RBC) pins Talon Fischer (HS), 1:49
144 lbs: Ken Sherman (HS) pins Dan Conroy (RBC), 4:18
150 lbs: Jack Morely (HS) pins Christian Ungemah (RBC), 5:49
157 lbs: Vincent Joseph Muscillo (RBC) pins Jaylen Glover (HS), 2:56
165 lbs: Rob Muscio (RBC) d. Colton Calhoun (HS), 3-1
175 lbs: Frankie Romeo (RBC) wins by forfeit
190 lbs: Sabino Portella (RBC) wins by forfeit
215 lbs: Davin Brewton (RBC) pins Robert McDevitt (HS), 2:51
CBA Wins Non-Public “A” South Championship
Billy Ashnault has taken Christian Brothers Academy to the elite of New Jersey high school wrestling in his fourth year as coach. The Colts knocked off two-time sectional champ Saint Augustine Prep 42-26 in Lincroft last Friday on the strength of nine wins and 15 bonus points. While the Colts’ quest for a state championship fell short in a 38-20 defeat by Bergen Catholic at Franklin High School last Sunday, the program has vaulted itself to one of the best in the state.
CBA turns its attention to districts and regions for individual wrestlers. The Colts have four grapplers ranked tops in the Shore Conference. Garret Totten (126), Julian George (138), Tyler Barrett (150), and Zander Silva (157) all look to make the three-week journey to Atlantic City and contend for a state title.
CBA 42, St. Augustine 26
190 lbs: Alex Marshall (SA) tech fall vs. Peter Grippo, 4:43 (18-2)
215 lbs: Rob Canterino (CBA) major decision vs. Asher Jenkins, 15-2
285 lbs: Brady Small (SA) pins Taig Sheehy, 3:42
106 lbs: Tyler Venet (CBA) wins by forfeit
113 lbs: Kaden Naame (SA) d. Vin Principe, 10-4
120 lbs: Alex Nini (CBA) wins by forfeit
126 lbs: Garrett Totten (CBA) pins Jackson Slotnick, 1:10
132 lbs: AJ Falcone (CBA) d. Brandon Borman, 5-0
138 lbs: Julian George (CBA) pins Cooper Lange, 1:39
144 lbs: Richie Grungo (SA) pins Nico Punzi, 3:52
150 lbs: Tyler Barrett (CBA) d. Jake Slotnick, 3-2
157 lbs: Zander Silva (CBA) tech fall vs. Tristan McLeer, 5:06 (16-1)
165 lbs: Nick Stump (CBA) d. Dennis Virelli, 8-7
175 lbs: Trey McLeer (SA) wins by forfeit
The article originally appeared in the February 17 – 23, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
