Wrestling: Cruz Wins No. 100, Hopatcong Sends Four to Regional Semis

Hopatcong will send all four of its wrestlers into the Region 1 semifinals after a strong quarterfinals Friday night at Wallkill Valley Regional High School.

"It’s nice to get everyone to the semis, but they’ve got to win another one. You got to win next round to assure themselves. We can definitely do it if we come out to wrestle,” Hopatcong head coach Eric Fajerman said.

Joe Cruz, Giancarlo Cruz, Dan Haines and Miguel Burgos each advanced for the Chiefs, who hope to send the wrestlers to next weekend's state tournament in Atlantic City.

At the 103-pound weight class, No. 2 Joe Cruz breezed by No. 7 John Torppey of High Point with a 9-3 win. Fajerman wasn’t thrilled with the match, but liked getting the "W."

“[Cruz] wrestled tough. He did what he needed to do,” Fajerman said. “We knew the kid was long, we knew he was a cradler. That’s what he was watching out for.  He was a little bit flat. He’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”

Cruz moved to the Saturday semifinals to take on No. 6 Nick Lizza of Montville.

At the 112-pound weight class, Giancarlo Cruz won his match via forfeit. It was his 100^th career win. Cruz will take on No. 5 Ryan Nicotra of Hackettstown in the semis on Saturday.

At the 125-pound weight class, No. 2 Haines pinned No. 7 Ryan Higgins of Jefferson at the 4:59 mark.  Even with the pinfall, Fajerman thought Haines sat back too much.

“I think Danny overlooked the kid a little bit," Fajerman said. "He’s got a stud tomorrow and if he beats him, he’s got a stud in the finals. He looked a little tired. I think it was in is head. Danny’s in shape. He’ll be ready too.”

Haines will move to the semis on Saturday to take on No. 3 seeded Dylan Thorsen of Belvidere.

At the 160-pound weight class, No. 3 Burgos controlled the tempo against No. 6 Greg Buonpastore of Wayne Valley to the tune of a 9-4 win. 

“He looked good tonight. He was ready to go.  He’s got a tough one tomorrow,” Fajerman said.

Burgos notched two takedowns in the first period to hold a 4-1 lead. An escape from Buonpastore in the second closed the gap to 4-2. But in the third period, Burgos turned an escape into a full set of backpoints en route to the convincing win. 

Burgos will take on Belvidere’s second-seeded Nathan Dow on Saturday in the semis.

While Fajerman wanted his wrestlers to get to states, he wants them to do it in a convincing fashion.

“All four of our guys … that’s what they’re looking to do, they want to win the tournament, not just qualify. We’ll see what happens [Saturday] morning,” Fajerman said.

Semifinals start at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the same location.