Giaccio, Brady Defeated in AC

Cranford senior Joe Brady and junior Joe Giaccio were bounced from this year's State Wrestling Tournament Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

After losing Friday night's competition, Giaccio (112 lbs.) and Brady (285 lbs.) were allowed to continue in the wrestle-backs and given a chance to fight for third in the state. Both wrestlers lost in their first matches Saturday morning and were eliminated from the tournament.

"Giaccio wrestled great for us this season," said Cranford head coach Darren Torsone. "He scored a tremendous amount of points for us in dual meets this year. I think he knows he can wrestle with anyone in the state in his weight class now."

Giaccio is only a junior, so the experience he gained at states will be valuable going into his senior year.

"Next year, if he stays focused, he can have a great season and come down here and do better," said Torsone.

Giaccio's elimination came at the hands of junior Jeff Rottingen from Ramsey, who came into the tournament with a 37-3 record. Rottingen pinned Giaccio 3:40 into the match.

"He had the kid locked up in a cradle, but it was reversed and he got pinned… he had been down by one point and put the kid to his back," said Cranford assistant coach Pat Gorman.

Brady fell to junior Ryan Moskwa (32-4) of Perth Amboy, but the match was a close one. After the first period Brady and Moskwa were scoreless. Going into the third period, Moskwa held a 3-1 lead, but in the third period, with a half minute left in the match, Brady tied the score at 3-3. With 11 seconds left, Moskwa retook the lead and won, 5-3.

"I've been down here twice, it is an awesome place to wrestle and it was a good place to go out… I should have taken him down, but it didn't work out this time," said Brady.

Had Brady won, it would have been his 100th career win. Since he is a senior and the state tournament was his last chance to reach that milestone, his win count will forever stand at 99.

"I could have had 100 wins… but it's only a sport," said Brady. "As a freshman, I wrestled one of the best guys in the state, and he beat me by more than 15 points, so I've progressively gotten better… I would tell the younger guys that if they work hard, they can get here."

Brady hopes to either wrestle or play rugby in college.