Gaita, Metzler, Loughney and LeMay Boardwalk bound for WMC wrestling

(West Orange, NJ 2/27/17) Marco Gaita won the 170 lb. Region 3 Championship Saturday, advancing alongside Shane Metzler, Kade Loughney and Justin LeMay to the NJ State Championships in Atlantic City -- West Morris Central’s largest contingency since 1965.

State Qualifiers

Gaita said he planned to repeathis District 11 championship performance – and did just that, defeating Warren Hills’ Jarod Ostir 6-3 for his first Region crown. District 11 runner up Jacob Cardenas upset NJ #6 ranked Cole Kreshphane -- then Gaita topped Cardenas again in semifinals, 6-4. Ranked 12th in NJ, Gaita enters States at 39-2 (rankings by Full Circle) – where he’ll face Cardenas again in the first round.

Metzler (35-3 at 126), ranked #2 in NJ and a two-time defending Region champ, settled for silver, falling 5-2 to #1 Nick Raimo. They’re widely predicted to meet again in the State finals. Metzler’s national ranking (Intermat) improved to #16 after his epic battles with USA #6 Raimo.

Metzler hopes to repeat Morris County history, when #1 Pat Glory defeated #2 Gerard Angelo in 2015 Districts and Regions – but Angelo won the State Championship.

Loughney (35-8, 152), the seventh WMC wrestler attaining 100 wins, will conclude his stellar career where every wrestler dreams.

“Every season I set out to make it to States, so finally getting to wrestle in Boardwalk Hall is exciting and I’m ready to finally get my shot,” reflected the senior captain. “Getting to share the experience with three teammates is going to be awesome.”

Loughney topped Nutley’s Joseph DiPasquale in consolation semis to punch his ticket to Atlantic City, then pinned Warren Hills’ Wade Taylor for bronze.

LeMay (30-12, 145), just the second WMC sophomore in memory (after Metzler) to reach States, majored his way to Boardwalk Hall, defeating Whippany’s Matt Karovic 14-1, then North Bergen’s Mike Meijia (32-8) 12-2.

Taking a long view, LeMay said “My goal coming into sophomore season was to be a State qualifier. It’s awesome to make it down early so I know what to expect in the future.”

LeMay tied for 2nd among all 220 wrestlers by exceeding seed (and expectations) by six places. Gaita and Hackettstown’s Joe Andes tied for 4th (exceeding seed by four).

Regional Qualifiers

Christian Trimarchi (26-15, 160) concluded an outstanding high school career with 26 wins as senior captain, finishing top-eight in the Region -- within a takedown of toppling the top seed. He took 7th at X-Calibur, 6th in Morris County, and 2nd in Districts.

Trimarchi, a four-time letterman, accomplished these feats despite not wrestling year-round. He’s a high honor roll student, letterman in cross country and track, Eagle Scout candidate, and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Oh, and he’s senior class president.

Mike Caso (28-12, 113) ends his stellar junior year in a Region 3 bracket so stacked that even the top-seed didn’t place. Caso won the John Goles championship, was 3rd in Morris County and Districts, and took 5th at X-Calibur. He won huge dual meet bouts for the team vs. Roxbury (twice), Randolph, Fair Lawn, DelVal, Southern and more.

Robert Rosen and Eli Shepard completed breakout seasons as Regional qualifiers.

Rosen (21-14, 195) placed 5th in Morris County and won District silver – losing to Regional top-seed Rory DeLuca by two points. Rosen delivered six falls in a nine bout stretch this season, and was undefeated in the Division.

Shepard (14-16, 120) placed 4th at John Goles, and third in Districts. In WMC’s first dual of the season, the team’s fate rested on the freshman’s shoulders, and Shepard delivered a 4-0 victory, lifting the team to a great start.

Regional Facts

Locally, Hackettstown’s Alex Carida and Andes advanced from Region 3, along with Mendham’s Troy Navarino and Alex Winant, and former Wolfpack wrestlers Trey Zgombic and Matt Liberato.

Unofficially, WMC placed sixth of 30 teams behind Delbarton, Queen of Peace, Hanover Park, Phillipsburg and Warren Hills. Hackettstown placed 11th, Mendham 12th(Trackwrestling).

Gaita is WMC’s 13th Region champ. Metzler and Greg Cholish won repeat championships, which Gaita, a junior captain, could accomplish next season.

Last season, Gaita’s cousin Caleb Isemann and Metzler (who placed 5th in NJ) qualified for States. Recent qualifiers were: 2015: Metzler (4th), Dylan Luciano and David Migliaccio; 2014: Jesse Windt; 2013: Nick Matthews (6th), Brandon Carcuffe and Adam Kratch; 2012: Matthews; and 2006: Dylan Landi (4th). No one advanced 1996-2011.

Next Up

Gaita, Metzler, Loughney and LeMay face the best of the best at the NJSIAA State Championship, March 3-5 in Atlantic City’s storied Boardwalk Hall.

Photo Credits

Mollissa LeMay and JoAnn Vazquez.