Caldwell’s opponent in the NSIAA state Group I semifinal was going to be a perennial powerhouse – either Kittatinny (eight state titles) or Paulsboro (28 state titles). The Chiefs drew Kittatinny and the results were somewhat expected, but no less disappointing.
Caldwell, which ended the dual meet season with a 13-8 record, won three of 14 bouts Sunday in a 53-12 loss at Poland Spring Arena in Toms River. The Chiefs’ winners were senior 145 pounder Jason Kratsch, senior 215 pounder Windsor Guzman and sophomore 103 pounder Mike Della Riva. All three have won more than 20 bouts this season – Kratsch is 25-5, Guzman is 22-5 and Della Riva improved to 22-7 with a fall. Guzman and Kratsch won by decisions.
The Chiefs, who will next compete in the District 13 Tournament Friday and Saturday at West Essex High, simply didn’t have enough firepower for Kittatinny, 18-2. The Cougars recorded six falls and a technical fall in improving to 17-2. Kittatinny was later beaten by Paulsboro for the state title.
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“Just the experience, the sectional championship we had this year, one of our seniors Frank Rodgers goes down toward the end of the season, but they didn’t fold,’’ said Caldwell coach Gary Garamella.
”We actually forfeited a weight class in the sectional final. We had to fill it in with a sophomore or freshman; you’re throwing these guys into the lineup. And you know what? They're willing to go out every single time and you can’t ask anything more from them," Garamella added. "They can only get better from something like this.’’
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The Chiefs earned the program’s fifth sectional title Friday night, taking a thrilling . It was their first for Garamella in his 12th year on the job. Ten of the Chiefs will be returning next year with four of them freshmen.
“We drew a tough team and those kids don’t get pinned, so they did what they had to do to beat us,’’ said Kratsch, who bumped up from 145 pounds to 152. “They’re going to be a tough team. We have a lot of freshman in our lineup, by their senior season year they will be very good.’’
Added Garamella: “We have a young team and the experience they had with coming down here, they can’t get anywhere else. We’re happy, happy to get down here, not so happy with the results today, but there’s always next year.’’
