It was a tough day at Region IV for the Bloomfield High School wrestling team. The Bengals came up empty in their quest to have a qualifier for this weekend’s New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Wrestling Tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Bloomfield had senior 112-pounder Chris Rosetti, junior 125-pounder Michael John Costantino, junior 145-pounder Ian Chauncey, senior 152-pounder Cavan Penberthy and senior 189-pounder Joe Finkler all had a chance to extend their season another week. The Bengals needed a third place or better to make it, but fell short.
Finkler and Penberthy both advanced to the semifinals where they were beaten by eventual champs James Fox (St. Peter Prep) and Frank Marotti (West Essex). Finkler was pinned by Montclair junior Donte Bellamy in 5:23 of a wrestleback semifinal. Penberthy beat Verona senior Craig Cundan 17-9, but then lost 5-3 in the consolation final to Becton-Wallington senior Tyler Mealy.
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Penberthy finished the season with a 22-11 record, while Finkler, who experienced an abbreviated season because of injury, finished 11-3.
Rosetti, a second place region finisher at 103 last year, lost 11-6 to West Essex sophomore Carlo Zazzara in the semifinals. Rosetti then pinned Newark Academy freshman Patrick Gerish, but lost to Nutley sophomore Robert Trombetta in the consolation final in a bout that pitted the top seed (Trombetta) and the second seed (Rosetti). Rosetti finished the season 33-6.
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Finkler knew the unbeaten Fox’ style, had drilled with him during the summer, but still couldn’t find a way to pull the upset. Fox won 8-0.
“He’s just a strong kid, very technical and I couldn’t get a clean shot; he was just a monster on top,’’ said Finkler, who added that he’d like to wrestle in college. “I’m a very confident and cocky kid and I thought I could beat him. But I knew I’d have to wrestle my best match of the year to do it.’’
Finkler trailed Bellamy 3-2 as the third period started, but Bellamy hit a headlock and pinned Finkler. Bellamy went on to place third.
Chauncey was beaten 7-2 by West Orange senior Zach White in a wrestleback quarterfinal. Costantino, who finished the season at 29-11, was pinned by Passaic Tech junior Mohammad Abdelaziz in the same round.
