Wrestlers at East, West Aiming for Playoffs

The high school wrestling teams at Cherry Hill East and West each posted a winning record last season, but neither was able to garner enough power points to compete in the team playoffs. And while wrestling is very much an individual sport, it is the goal of tasting the postseason that carries each squad into the 2012-13 wrestling season.

“We definitely want to have a winning season,” West head coach Zach Semar said. “We have never made it to team playoffs in school history, so that is one of our goals.

“We want to put ourselves in position to get into the playoffs.”

West is coming off of a 15-11 year and has a nice blend of experience and youth. Semar was pleased to see 50 wrestlers come out for this year's squad, including 20 freshman among the competitors. Many of those wrestlers won’t see time on varsity this season, but it sets the program up for long-term success.

“If we continue doing this for four years, they are going to be pretty good,” said Semar.

This year’s team will be anchored by the trio of Tyler Brake, Mark Papaneri and Mike Marini. All three reached the Region 7 wrestling tournament last year.

“The past couple of years we have really relied on a core group of kids in the lineup and it’s the same this year, where in order for us to win, those guys have to go out and get a W for us,” Semar said.  

Marini said he expects big things of himself and his teammates this season.

“We have a bunch of returning kids, but even the kids who aren’t returning, we have a good incoming class of freshman,” Marini said “We are working real hard and I think we can break the top 15 of South Jersey. We are not ranked there now, but we've got the talent.”

Cherry Hill East is coming off of a 13-11 season that saw the team hits its stride down the stretch. The Cougars are hoping to carry that momentum over and have another winning season, but does have several big holes to fill. The team will have to overcome the graduation of Carmen Ditore, Kevin Swenson and Marc Rothman, each of whom won at least 20 matches for the Cougars last season.

Much of the pressure will be put on senior Daishi Goto’s shoulders, who returns after a 25-11 season. Any increased attention shouldn’t be a problem for Goto, as he is coming off a fall football season where he surpassed everyone’s expectations on his way to setting a Cherry Hill East single-season rushing record.

Other wrestlers coming off of double-digit wins last season include Patrick Swenson, Max Caldas, Dan Bendik, Jerry Peralta, Andrew Foy and Aaron Gomez.

East does have some inexperience at the lighter weights, where none of the expected starters in the lower three weights won more than five matches last season. The good news is that the club has enough depth to fill out its roster each match, which could make a big difference in close matches.

The Lions and Cougars each have their hands full competing in a loaded Olympic Conference, but look for both squads to stay in contention for a playoff spot.