Hopatcong's Cruz Earns 100th Wrestling Win

Joey Cruz held his mother close as she whispered in his ear.

"You left a legacy," Maria Cruz said.

Cruz became the latest entrant to Hopatcong's 100-win club, beating Wallkill Valley's Steven Siek with a 17-2 technical fall at 126 pounds Tuesday night at home. The milestone highlighted the Chiefs' second victory of the season, a 45-27 forfeit-filled win.

Hopatcong has seen its share of 100-win wrestlers, many in recent years. Last year, Cruz's cousin, Giancarlo Cruz, finished his career with 101 victories.

A banner hangs in Hopatcong's gym for each member of the 100-win club. Soon one will bear Cruz's name.

Cruz (16-2) was near speechless when asked how he felt after the match. But his actions before his bout spoke volumes to teammate AJ Bongiovanni, who said Cruz was energized before the match, mentioning his soon-to-be-realized dream as the team huddled on the mat.

"[Cruz] was like, 'It's my 100th win, let's beat this team,'" said Bongiovanni, who collected one of the Chiefs' four forfeit victories. The Rangers also benefitted from four forfeits.

Cruz wasn't more nervous than usual before his bout, he said, though he spent almost the whole match pacing, stretching or warming up behind his bench while his teammates wrestled. It was just another match, he said.

"You're always nervous before a match," Cruz said. "Every wrestler is nervous before a match. But it wasn't nerves from being scared of losing. It nerves from messing up. I knew it wasn't going to happen, though."

Cruz was right.

The senior took it early to Siek, whom he had never faced, pressuring his taller opponent. Cruz was never in trouble, jumping ahead to a early 8-0 lead before ending it in the third period.

And while Cruz was satisfied with the win, it didn't exactly come on his terms, he said.

"I wanted to pin him," Cruz said. "I couldn't do it. He was long. He knew what I was looking for. But at 8-0 I thought I might as well just get the tech and end it. "

Chiefs head coach Eric Fajerman said Cruz wrestled his match.

"Tall kids, people think of wrestlers as being short and stocky," Fajerman said. "But tall kids are the hardest ones to wrestle. Length beats strength any day. The kid was hard to pin. Give him credit."

Fajerman had plenty of credit for Cruz, though. The grappler has been one of the area's best lightweights since his sophomore year when he finished fourth in Region 3 at 103 pounds. Cruz also advanced to the regional tournament last year, but took a tough defeat.

Fajerman said Cruz has kept the loss in mind and has his thoughts set on the state tournament, where Cruz said he will compete at 120 pounds.

"Obviously he's chomping at the bit for [the state tournament]," Fajerman said. "I think he's in a nice place. But you never know. Last year he was in a nice place, also."

Cruz, who suffered his two losses within the first four days of the season, said the milestone win would help relax his mind. Earning 100 wins was on his goals list since his freshman year, he said, and the number had been a target all winter.

"It's definitely a weight off my shoulders," he said. "Now I get out there and wrestle and do my best."

And, perhaps, further his legacy.

Hopatcong 45, Wallkill Valley 27

160: Aric Webster (H) Dec Andrew Reed 14-9

170: Troy Bongiovanni (H) Fall Tylar Creeden 2:22

182: Tommy Donnelly (H) Dec Dimitrios Kochka 8-7

195: Nicholas James (W) Forfeit

220: Dan Tomzick (W) Forfeit

285: Victor Burgos (H) Forfeit

106: Joey Ioffredo (H) Forfeit

113: Joey Spaziani (H) Forfeit

120: Sean Siek (W) Dec Santiago Henao 3-2

126: Victor Cotto (H) MD Pat Endrikat 19-7

132: Joe Cruz (H) TF Steven Siek 17-2

138: Jim Lodema (W) Forfeit

145: Joe Hocking (W) Forfeit

152: Tommy Rieg (H) Forfeit

Records: Hopatcong 2-10