Double Elimination: Wrestlers Falter in Finals

A week ago, in the Robbinsville High School gymnasium, three Collingswood wrestlers earned the chance to compete for a state title.

A week later, three of them arrived at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, although only two of them planned on performing.

On Tuesday, 140-pounder Eric Hamrick, the reigning Region 7 champion, was diagnosed with a ruptured appendix and no longer physically able to complete his ongoing journey for a state crown.

Nonetheless, Hamrick was there to will on his teammates, 103-pound junior Tony Giancola and 171-pound senior Taylor Venanzi, as they attempted to do what Hamrick could not: become a state champion.

Venanzi looked long and hard at the inside of his headgear before taking the mat for his first bout of the night against Will VanDoren of Delaware Valley.

“I actually wrote Eric’s initials and weight class on the inside of my headgear,” said Venanzi. “I want to try to win something for him. I want to win him a medal. He worked so hard to get here. For me to be here, I’m just thankful that I’ve been given to opportunity to represent him and our school.”

Venanzi was on the right track. He defeated VanDoren and did it convincingly, winning by way of a 13-3 decision. The victory was Collingswood’s second of the night, as Giancola also advanced to the second round after beating Bergen Catholic’s Tyler Casamenti in his opening match.

“I just wanted to not get nervous,” said Giancola. “I want to go out and wrestle like I do in practice. I just want to wrestle as tough as I can while I’m here. I want to leave everything I have out there.”

Both Giancola and Venanzi did leave everything they had on the mat, however, unfortunately for Collingswood, both lost in the second round. Giancola fell to Anthony D’Anton of Monsignor Donovan after a 5-2 decision, and Venanzi lost 4-2 after facing the No. 1 seed in his bracket, Ethan Orr of High Point. The win was Orr’s 38th consecutive, and he remains undefeated on the season.

“I’m happy with today,” Collingswood head coach Dechlin Moody said. “I’m really happy with Taylor. He lost to the No. 1 seed by only two points. I’m happy with Tony, too. He had chances to win his last match, and he probably could have won, but both have an opportunity to place tomorrow. It just depends on who wants to show up in the morning.”

In the morning, both Giancola and Venanzi will have the opportunity to rejoin the conversation for top three placement in the tournament as they enter the consolation bracket.

“A lot of kids are probably going to bag it tomorrow,” said Moody. “Tony’s got a lot to fight for. He’s only a junior. The more matches he wins, the better off he’ll be for his senior year.

“Venanzi, though, this is his last shot. I want him to go out with a bang.”