Borgia and Long Valley Wrestling Shine at State Championships

Long before competing in this week's NCAA's, most of the nation's best wrestlers competed in their scholastic state championships -- where a pack of Long Valley youth excelled this weekend in Trenton.

Tommy Borgia won a Novice state title at 145, leading an impressive group of Long Valley Wrestling Program wrestlers at the state tournament. Only a fourth grader, it's Borgia's third time on the state podium, and first title.

Based on NJWrestlers.com records, Borgia is the first Long Valley student to reach the top of the podium since Ryan Karoly in 2013, when Shane Metzler -- now wrestling for Rutgers -- placed second. Karoly went on to become a National Prep champion. In 2011, Trey Zgombic -- a Delbarton senior who just placed top-12 in the State -- and Karoly won. In 2010, Thomas Stoll was state champ; he became a WMCHS wrestling captain.

Saturday, Michael Hare (75 lbs.) took second place and Michael Campanaro (91 lbs) took sixth place. They are both seventh graders in the grueling Intermediate division, usually dominated by eighth graders. Both are repeat medalists.

Deacon Frayne (75 lbs.), a second grader, placed fourth in the Bantam division, and sixth grader Sam Rizzuto (80 lbs.) finished sixth in the Juniors.

Fifth grader Mark Montuore finished top-16, and second grader Jonathan Cabarle top-24 in New Jersey.

This is all good news for the future of the West Morris Central High School team.

Even next year, with the likelihood of the team’s lightweights continuing to grow, and big shoes to fill at Mike Caso’s 113 and Jonathan Vazquez’ 132, the team will get some promising reinforcements from the Long Valley Youth Wrestling Program. Current eighth graders Michael Ferrante and (Eli Shepard's brother) Malachi Shepard both won North New Jersey Youth Wrestling League Championships, and could slot in at lightweight positions. Herschelle Burmrah also projects to join the team.