Bengals Roundup: Wrestlers Repeat as Buc Classic Champs

Three wrestlers took home titles and three others placed third as the Barnegat wrestling team won the Buc Classic at Red Bank Regional for the second straight year, edging Middle Township 156-145.5.

Chris Stoma took the 152-pound title for the Bengals by pinning Anthony Sandi at 4:52; Ryan Kirk earned an 11-7 decision over Shore Regional’s Chris Graham at 160, and Matt Schofield won at 195 with a 3-2 decision over Frank Lefkowitz of Colts Neck. Nick Fogarty (106), Ed Santiago (145) and Greg Moran (182) all placed third for Barnegat.

The Bengals have had good results in their dual meets thus far, with victories over Lakewood, Manasquan, Pinelands and Neptune in December and a solid victory over Manchester last week. Barnegat placed second at the Matawan Icebreaker tournament to open the season and was eighth at the Hawk Classic.

In boys basketball, Aaron McGugan had 16 points and brother Anthony had 13 as the Bengals beat Brick, 66-49, their second victory over the Dragons in two weeks. Barnegat beat Brick in the consolation round of the WOBM Christmas Classic, 63-49, after falling to Toms River South by a basket, 42-40, in the first round and then to Point Boro by nine points, 60-51.

In girls basketball, Barnegat recovered from a rough trip through the WOBM Christmas Classic with a 52-34 victory over Brick in Brick last week. Samantha DeCapua had 16 points and Lauren Barrett 10 for the Bengals. Barnegat drew the most difficult task, opening against top-ranked Manasquan, where the Bengals lost, 65-22, then tangled with Toms River North in the consolations, falling 63-36. They finished off the trip through the tournament with a victory over Southern, 34-27.