Brick Memorial Wins Shore Conference Tournament And Class A South; State Tournament Up Next

Photo above: Mustang head coach Mike Denver and Alec Donovan

BRICK TOWNSHIP – The Brick Memorial Mustangs captured their conference-best 15th Shore Conference Tournament championship - their first since 2013 and third SCT title in the last four seasons - and won their first outright A South title since 2001; going undefeated in division play (7-0) in the process.

“Our team goals coming into the season where to win the A South, SCT, sectional and group titles and be No.1 in the state,” second year head coach Mike Denver said. “They don’t change, they don’t diminish and every year that’s what we strive to be and to do.”

The Mustangs were Class A South co-champions in 2008 and 2013 and have 12 Class A South titles in program history to go along with an additional four Class B South titles. But winning the division this year is special given the fact that the Shore Conference A South is one, if not the toughest divisions in the state with four teams in the top 20 and Brick Township at 21.

“To be able to come in and win a division as strong as the A South is huge,” Denver said. It goes to show that the kids believe in their coaches, they believe in themselves and have tremendous support.”

Entering the SCT seeded No.2 behind No.1 seed Howell Township; the Mustangs (16-1, 7-0) defeated No.6 seed Toms River South 46-20 in the semifinals to set up a rematch in the finals with division foe and fourth seeded Jackson Memorial (16-4, 5-2). The Jaguars upset No.1 seed and previously undefeated Howell Township 27-22 in the semifinals to advance.

Brick Memorial defeated Jackson Memorial 27-26 on January 21 in one of the most talked about wrestling matches of the season in which there were five overtime bouts.

In the SCT final, the Mustangs won eight of 14 bouts including bonus-point producing victories from seniors Cliff Ruggiero, Rob Ruggiero, Jose Bocalman and Alec Donovan, sophomore Gianni Ghione and junior Luke Vescovi to beat the Jaguars 33-24.

Senior Connor Owen added a one-point win in double overtime at 220 pounds, and senior backup Ricky Davis did not allow bonus points at 138 - he normally wrestles at 132 - as the Mustangs shifted up their lineup a weight class to help pave their way to the win.

Jackson Memorial held a 24-23 lead after the Davis bout with three matches left before the Mustangs swept the final three bouts. Anthony Mitchell won by a 4-2 decision at 145 pounds and Donovan at 152 pounds and Rob Ruggiero at 160 pounds both won by major decisions to hand the Mustangs the nine point victory.

The NJSIAA sectional and group tournaments are up next for the Mustangs where they are no strangers to state titles. They’ve won 14 sectional titles and seven group titles in program history the most recent being in2013 when they captured both sectional and group championships.

The Mustangs got a first round bye in the South Jersey Group V sectional tournament as the No.1 seed. They will face No.4 seed Egg Harbor (16-8) - who beat No.5 seed Cherokee (11-7) in the quarterfinals - on Wednesday February 11 in semifinal action @ Brick Memorial. The No.2 seed in the grouping is Howell Township (20-1, 7-0) so you can expect to see those two in the finals. The Mustangs are currently ranked third in the state, while the Rebels are ranked sixth.

“We’re striving to be champs,” Denver said. “It’s not going to be easy and nothing is going to be handed to us. You only get what you deserve and you only deserve what you earn. I think the kids know that and I know they’re prepared.”

Following the state playoffs there’s still the districts, regions and state championships left in the season.

The Mustangs have had six state champions in their existence with the most recent being Mike Morales at 130 pounds in 2009. They’ve boasted 53 region champions including Gianni Ghione (106), Nick Costa (182) and Tyler Poling (220) in 2014. As a team they’ve won 28 district team titles including the last five in a row.

This year’s team includes three players with 20-plus wins and ten double digit winners forging the way for the Mustangs.

Senior Alec Donovan at 145 pounds and sophomore Gianni Ghione at 113 pounds have compiled identical records going 23-1 so far this season. Senior Cliff Ruggiero at 160 pounds has recorded 22 wins with only three losses. Sophomore Hwt. Nick Rivera (19-1) is a sure bet to break into the 20-win column and senior Rob Ruggiero at 152 pounds and junior Anthony Mitchel at 138 pounds are right behind him with 17 wins against six and four losses respectively.

Seniors Jose Bocalman (15-7) at 126 pounds and Luis Bocalman (14-10) at 120 pounds, junior Luke Vescovi (14-5) at 132 pounds and senior Connor Owen (10-11) at 220 pounds are double-digit winners up to this point in the season as well.

“This team is family,” Denver said. “It’s a group of brothers that prepare to go to war together. If you go through the timeline of the season there’s been a different kid coming up big for us night in and night out; it wasn’t just one or two kids. That’s what a family is. You see a brother go down, you stand up and you go out there and do what you’re supposed to do. The chemistry on this team is absolutely fantastic.”

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