Cranford Grapplers Can't Seal the Deal at GL

Cranford wrestling head coach Darren Torsone knew that it was going to be a tough go when his Cougars traveled to Berkeley Heights to take on Governor Livingston on Wednesday night.

The Cranford-GL matches have never been one-sided affairs, especially last year when the Cougars nipped the Highlanders by three points (39-36).

This week, Cranford clung to a lead only to lose it in the end. Cranford dropped a 36-31 decision and saw their record drop to 6-4.

"Both teams are very good and we always expect a tough match from them," said Torsone.

It was a difficult match to swallow with a run for a state tournament bid on the line. The Cougars were in eighth place at 24.88 points in Group 2 North 2 state sectional while Governor Livingston was in fifth place at 26.00 with the most recent state power points. The top six teams qualify for the state team tournament.

"It would have been huge," said Torsone in reference to the state power points if Cranford would have beaten GL. "It was even harder because they are in our state section. It was a tough setback."

Despite the loss, Torsone felt good about the match.

"We got all the matchups that we were looking for," he said.

With Cranford ahead 31-27 heading into the last two bouts, the Cougars wrestlers had a tall hill to climb as they faced two of their better wrestlers, Zach Heissler and Frank Colder. Cranford's Chris Keim and Errol Petgrave could not get that win to put the Cougars over the top.

But the match might have been decided at 140 points.

Cranford junior Eric Knight came from a 4-0 deficit midway in the second period of the 140 match and plucked away at Highlanders' Victor Orozco. Knight made a big move with just seconds left in the match and took down Orozco to tie the bout at four with 2.5 seconds left in regulation.

The bout was sent into overtime. Though it appeared Knight had the momentum, Orozco scored a pair of points with 10 seconds left in the first overtime to ruin Knight's comeback attempt.

Within a minute the game was a swing of six points. Instead of Cranford ahead in the match 28-18, the Cougars were holding onto a precarious 25-21 lead.

"Knight did everything he could to fight back and it just did not work out in overtime," said Torsone.

Cranford fell behind for the first time as Cougars' Jimmy Dwyer was pinned by Highlanders' Pat Eichner at 2:56 as Governor Livingston went ahead 27-25.

But Cranford senior Connor Londregan regained the Cougars' lead as the senior held on against Highlanders Shane Hadaad with a 6-5 victory at 152 pounds. Cranford led the match 28-27.

Cranford sophomore J.P. Christiano added to the lead with a dominating 6-1 victory over Steve Schaumberg at 160 pounds. The team led 31-27.

Then the Cougars lost the lead in the last two bouts.

Cranford started the match in fine fashion as both senior Julian Campo and senior Joe Brady pulled off pins at 215 and heavyweight to give the Cougars a 12-0 lead. Brady remained undefeated on the season at 12-0.

Governor Livingston came back with a couple pins of their own to tie the match at 12. Cranford junior Joe Giacco dominated Governor Livingston's Ryne Morrison, 12-0, while Cougars' Brian Buonotempo gained a forfeit at 125 to give Cranford a 22-12 lead.

After the Highlanders gained a pin at 130, junior Matt DiGiovanni nipped Governor Livingston's Joe Hoy, 3-2, at 135 for a 25-18 Cranford lead before the overtime bout.

Torsone hopes to face New Brunswick on Saturday in an independent matchthat might be cancelled. The Cougars will have a crucial match next Tuesday against Rahway, one of Cranford's top rivals.