Barisonek, Codella Pins Lead Pack to Huge Comeback Win Over Randolph

12/24/23

By David Yaskulka

The Wolfpack’s fate was in the hands of sophomore big man AJ Codella Friday night at Randolph Dec. 22. A loss would mean an epic team comeback falls short; a victory with bonus points would seal West Morris Central’s first victory of the year.

“It was a great feeling knowing I had to go out there and win my match for the team,” said Codella. “I knew it would be a tough match.”

Facing Codella was Randolph’s #32 ranked district medalist Dean Mangiacavallo, the strong favorite. He struck first with a takedown, and then confidently cut Codella loose. That proved a fateful error as the Pack’s young heavyweight threw Mangiacavallo to his back in a headlock for the pin, and the dramatic Wolfpack 42-39 victory.

Barisonek Turns the Tide for the Pack

WMC was behind 39-24 when senior Luke Barisonek (175 lbs., 2-5 record, #304 rank) turned the match’s momentum. Bumping up a weight class to 190, he was the first period aggressor. Starting the second period on bottom, Barisonek scored a reversal, and then methodically delivered the epic pinfall for the Pack.

Earlier, freshman Brody Neill (106, 4-2, #24), junior Mark Montuore (120, 5-2, #33) and sophomore Robert Fazzino (150, 5-2, #114) delivered critical pins for the Pack, which along with forfeits to Brandon Dean (157, 9-0, #2) and Tommy Borgia (215, 7-1, #10), provided the Wolfpack scoring.

Freshman Robert Sulpizi (126) and junior Joseph Wagner (165) made their Wolfpack debuts, while solid starter Vincent Caruso (144, #137) made his season debut.

Last season WMC dominated Randolph 50-20, getting big wins from now-graduated Dean Muttart, Michael Campanaro, Henry Frayne and Michael Hare. Jacob Fahmi and Henry DeFrance contributed critical wins in addition to pins from Sam Rizzuto and Dean. WMC’s last loss to Randolph was in 2016.

Hanover Park Escapes Pack on Criteria 36-35 despite Harrison, Caruso

Friday’s dramatic victory over Randolph was followed by a heartbreaking loss to Hanover Park on tie-breaker criteria.

Freshman Jacob Harrison (132, 2-3, #106) drew first blood for the Pack with a 6-1 victory, followed by Caruso’s first pinfall of the young season and Fazzino’s 17-0 tech fall.

Dean pinned #59 ranked Nando Ott before Barisonek and Codella (HWT, 4-4, #182) decked opponents for the second time, and Neill delivered a 4-1 victory. But an impressive major victory by Hanover Park’s top wrestler and NJSIAA bronze medalist Vincenzo LaValle, and tough wrestling by Gabriella and Giovanni Conte gave HP just enough to tie the score and set up the victory on criteria.

Powerhouse Blue Streaks Prevail 51-21 Despite Dean’s Epic Start

Warren Hills jumped to a 36-0 lead and cruised to a 51-21 victory at the Randolph quad, despite Dean’s pin and perfect start to the season. It was his ninth consecutive bout delivering the maximum six team points, including seven pins and two forfeits. This writer cannot recall anyone matching that start, although Jesse Windt delivered 11 consecutive six-point performances in the middle of the 2013-14 season.

Fazzino topped Tyler O’Neill, who was 4-2 going in, by 10-4. The Perth Amboy transfer went 3-0 at the quad. Michael Borgia delivered a pin, and his brother took a forfeit to complete the Wolfpack scoring. Number 23 ranked Augie Szamreta escaped Neill 6-4 in a featured matchup of top young lightweights.

High Point Avenges Last Season's Upset 53-19; Fahmi, Montuore, Rizzuto and Borgia Win

Wednesday 12/20 the Wildcats avenged last season's WMC 36-30 upset when Rizzuto and Henry Frayne pinned HP District medalists. This time High Point prevailed 53-19 despite wins from Jacob Fahmi (126, 1-3, #217), Montuore, and Rizzuto, a Borgia major, and a forfeit to Dean. For the second straight night WMC grabbed a 6-0 lead, with Montuore topping a #55 ranked freshman and Fahmi gutting out a 3-1 decision over a High Point senior. Rizzuto topped a #83 junior.

Pope John Crushes Pack 58-18 in Home Opener. Borgia, Montuore and Dean Win.

Perennial powerhouse Pope John ruined WMC’s first dual with a 58-18 spanking Dec. 19 in front of a crowd of Wolfpack faithful. Tommy Borgia delivered a pinfall to open the night, later equaled by Montuore and Dean to account for all of the Wolfpack’s points. Neill drew first blood vs. #7 ranked Jake Holly before getting derailed by apparent injury or sickness for his first career loss. Rizzuto held NJSIAA fourth place medalist Justin Holly to a minor decision, and Harrison and Brendan McBride stayed tough denying pins to highly ranked opponents, but Pope John prevailed for its fourth straight vs. WMC. Dean starts the season 5-0 with five pins. Borgia starts 4-0.

In 2019 the Wolfpack shocked #6 ranked Pope John with a jolt from Eli Shepard who toppled Kaya Sement, then the #6 ranked wrestler in NJ, with big pins from Robby Bohr, Justin LeMay, John DeVito, AJ Hill and Jack Lyden (who was in attendance Tuesday). Then-coach Ken Rossi exclaimed, “I do not recall ever beating a top ten team before.”

Next Up

WMC will see most of Friday’s opponents again at the upcoming Goles and Morris County tournaments. The historic John Goles Tournament is 12/28 at Warren Hills. A visit to Mount Olive 12/30 closes out the calendar year. WMC hosts powerhouse Delbarton on 1/4/24, returns to Morris Knolls for a quad on 1/6 including Delaware Valley and Kittatinny. WMC visits Morris Hills on 1/10 and then goes to Roxbury for a quad on 1/13 that includes Livingston and Columbia.

Mark your calendar for the home match 1/16/24 for Wolfpack Night vs. Hackettstown, with youth wrestlers competing on an adjacent mat. On 1/20 the squad returns home for a quad that includes Montville, Caldwell, and a team TBA. The Pack visits Sparta on 1/23, its last prep for the Morris County Tournament 1/26-27 at Mount Olive. January concludes with Senior Night vs. Mendham at home 1/31. The D11 championship is 2/17.

Ranking and records based on RankWrestlers.com’s algorithm, which pulls from TrackWrestling.com data.

About David Yaskulka

David began living his sportswriter dream to avoid concession duty when his sons Noah and Ben began wrestling for the Wolfpack in 2012. His day job is Senior Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility for Mid America Pet Food, whose family of brands is led by VICTOR Super Premium Pet Food and Nature’s Logic. He also serves as Board Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, and as Board Director at Greater Good Charities.