After winning two early bouts in the early rounds of the Shore Conference Wrestling Tournament, the Barnegat Bengals ultimately fell to Howell, and the Rebels have advanced to the semifinals.
After a dominant win over Barnegat in the Round of 16, Howell used a six-bout win streak to top sixth-seeded Brick, 40-12, in the quarterfinals, Thursday night. Howell will take on second-seeded Ocean Township on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Long Branch High School.
Brick won the opening bout, but the fourth-seeded Rebels used their skilled lightweights to their advantage, winning each bout from 220 pounds to 120 pounds, taking a convincing 18-3 lead over the Dragons, and never looked back.
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Howell's Jimmy Slendorn and Anthony Piazza each won thrilling bouts in the early lightweights, giving the Rebels momentum. Slendorn earned two near-fall points as time expired in the 106-pound bout, topping Brick's Connor Mulligan, 4-2. Piazza earned a bout-clinching takedown with 25 seconds remaining at 113, beating Kyle Wojtaszek, 5-4.
William Scott ended Howell's six-bout win streak with a pin of the Rebels' Jack Rada late in the third period of the 126-pound bout, but the Rebels answered back, winning the 132, 138 and 145-pound bouts -- arguably Howell's strongest set of wrestlers.
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Cody Kirk pinned Brick's Ray Fattaruso in the final match at 170 pounds, earning the Rebels' only pin of the match.
The Dragons' Dan Watson opened the match by beating Nate Litowsky, 5-1, at 182 pounds before Howell went on its run.
In the Round of 16:
Howell 51, Barnegat 10: The Bengals won two consecutive bouts early, but Howell won 10 of the final 11 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Howell got pins from Cody Kirk (170), Jimmy Slendorn (106), Cole Cameron (138) and Zach Bohm (160), to cruise through the 14-seeded Bengals.
Barnegat got wins from Greg Morgan (182) and Matt Schofield at 195, and Joe Mandara won by major decision at 126 pounds.
Brick 41, Matawan 18: Brick rallied after trailing in the first couple of bouts to beat the 11th-seeded Huskies.
The Dragons won eight of the final nine matches for the pull-away victory after trailing 12-6 through five matches. Matawan's Matt Mornez beat Brick's Mike Nasen, 3-2, in triple overtime of their heavyweight bout, giving the Huskies a six-point lead.
Brick's lightweights responded, however. Connor Mulligan pinned Mike Sansone iat 106 and the Dragons never looked back.
The Dragons got pins from Dean Sherry (120), Steve Cimmino (145) and and Matawan got a pin from Chris Hartigan in the 152-pound bout.
