Three Hillsborough Wrestlers Headed to Atlantic City

will send three wrestlers to Atlantic City for the state championship after two reached the final and another finished third at the Region 5 championship Saturday at Hunterdon Central.

Hillsborough's Joey DiCarlo lost a 10-1 decision to Delaware Valley's Mike Pongracz in the 119-pound final. DiCarlo had beaten Old Bridge's Frank Butta (8-5), Mike Nicolaro, of East Brunswick, (technical fall, 18-2) and  Somerville's Nick Wahba (11-10).  

TJ Guidice also lost his championship-round bout at 140 pounds. Guidice lost 10-2 decision to Ronnie Honickel, of Voorhees. Guidice reached the final by beating Nisam Ponery, of Highland Park (fall at 1:02) and Christian Kalwa, of Hopewell Valley (fall in 1:21).  

"It was a very tough loss for both boys," Hillsborough assistant coach Toni DiMillio said. "But at least they are making the trip [to Atlantic City]."

Mackey Price lost in the semifinals of the 130-pound division, but earned a trip to Atlantic City by finishing third with a Ryan Farley, of Islen Kennedy, 13-2.

"Since I lost in the semis, I was on a mission to prove myself," Price said. "I needed to show I was better than that."

Rhys Weinberger missed on his bid for a state tournament berth with a 7-5 loss to Delaware Valley's Derek Zenbauer in the wrestlebacks.

"These kids are wrestling to get the prize," Hillsborough's coach Steve Molinaro said. "It takes a lot of work to get here."