Freshman Fuels Wolfpack Wrestling in Pinning Defending State Champs

High Point, NJ -- Down 24-9 to defending two-time State Champion High Point, WMC climbed back, taking six of the next seven bouts to win 35-30. Wolfpack freshman Matt Liberato, now 17-9, bumped up a weight class to deliver the night’s decisive match, dominating the 8-4 Aric Wingle before winning by injury forfeit.

After Wednesday night’s win, Coach Ken Rossi’s team is 12-3 on the season.

Missing two of his middle-weight wrestlers, Rossi forfeited to High Point’s 18-0 Jared Kobis at 152, and then forfeited again at 195. Pins from 8-8 District place winner Ryan Cullen at 160 and 14-8 Kevin Lewis at 220 gave the Wildcats 24 points in the first six bouts.

The Wolfpack’s first nine points came from Caleb Isemann (20-6), winning 6-3 at 170, and Kevin Sears (20-5) delivering a pin -- each picking up his 20th victory of the season.

But after Lewis’ pin, Alex Kaltenhauser (7-14) delivered a tooth-and-nail 4-3 win for the Pack at heavyweight – and turned the match in WMC’s direction.

Shane Metzler (22-1) won by tech fall, Kade Loughney (19-6) stormed from behind to win 5-4, Dylan Luciano (22-2) decked his opponent, and Marco Gaita (11-11) delivered a critical 4-1 victory to give the Wolfpack a 29-24 lead.

With three bouts to go, the Wildcats knew they had two state qualifiers ready to take the mat.

Regional finalist Dominic Gallo (12-3) was unable to deliver bonus points against WMC senior Mike Oros (16-9), cutting to 132 for the first time this season. Gallo brought High Point within two, 29-27.

Then Liberato clinched the Wolfpack victory with a dominant performance. Both the home and visiting crowds applauded Wringle as he got up from a tough fall and shook Liberato’s hand.

David Migliaccio’s (21-4) gutty 7-3 loss to NJ 5th-ranked state medalist Jason Gaccione (22-1) would have been the difference in the match, had Liberato simply maintained his lead at the time of the injury forfeit. Nearly half of Gaccione’s wins this season are by fall.

WMC won eight of the 12 bouts wrestled.

Notes

Luciano’s win was the 99th of his career, and the fall added to his all-time WMC pins record. Migliaccio has 96 wins, with up to five matches coming up this week. Michael Brown (160) made his varsity debut for the Wolfpack, returning from injury. Noah Yaskulka and Christian Trimarchi were sidelined.

Next Up

WMC hosts Hopatcong and Belvidere Saturday. Sectional playoffs are 1/9 through 1/11.

Scores and records from www.trackwrestling.com.

Photo by Jose Vazquez