Hopatcong Star to Wrestle Last Match Tuesday

It's not over yet for Joey Cruz.

The Hopatcong senior grappler will compete in the 32nd annual Easton Lions Club All-Star Wrestling Classic at Eason Area High School at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Cruz, who finished the season 31-5, will face Geuesseppe Rea of Stroudsburg, Pa., at 120 pounds.

Cruz reached the state tournament in Atlantic City after District 2 and Region 1 tournament wins. But the Chief was bounced after a pair of quick losses.

"Joey is the ideal kid," head coach Eric Fajerman said. "He works hard in practice. He never gets in trouble in school. He gets good grades. He's just an all-around good kid."

Hopatcong wrestlers Danny Haines and Miguel Burgos each wrestled in the exhibition in 2011.

"It's nice," Fajerman said of the event. "For most kids, most of them have lost their last high school match. That's the way most of the guys go out. He'll get a shot to wrestle one more time and, hopefully, he can get a win for his last night high school match."

Cruz also became a member of Hopatcong's this season.

Got some encouraging words for Cruz as he enters his last match? Tell us in the comments.