History Made As WMC Wrestling Duo Earns State Title Shot

Go Shane Metzler, it’s your birthday!

Metzler became the first junior and sixth wrestler in West Morris Central history to reach 100 career wins, the first repeat Region champion in 43 years, and a State Championship qualifier for the second year in a row.

Not a bad weekend. And, it actually was his birthday.

Caleb Isemann, team co-captain with Metzler, had a powerful run in the consolation rounds to qualify for the NJSIAA Championships in fabled Boardwalk Hall this weekend.

“I’ve never felt anything like it,” said Isemann. “My dad hammered into my head all day ‘don’t live your whole life regretting this, leave everything you have on the mat.’” He sure did, as did his four teammates competing at Wallkill High School Saturday, including Metzler, Kade Loughney, Marco Gaita and Alex Kaltenhauser.

Metzler mowed down the competition to win his second straight Region 1 championship, including a dominant 14-3 performance besting fellow two-time state qualifier Jack Rotunda in the finals.

Instead of a driving test on his 17th birthday, Metzler took a gut test Friday. He was extremely sick, and Phillipsburg’s District finalist Tom Kosar stood between him and the semifinals.

“After beating him, I realized no matter how sick I feel I can always take mental toughness to a new level,” said Metzler. “For me, that was the highlight moment of the week.”

Cross-town District re-match

Isemann knew that to qualify for States he would have to avenge one of his losses, either to NJ #2 ranked Craig Roumes, or Mendham’s District 1 champ Troy Navarino.

After two wins for Isemann, Roxbury’s Roumes topped the WMC senior for the third time this season.

“I knew I had to beat Navarino,” Isemann said.

In a rematch of the District 1 championship won by the Mendham senior, Isemann faced Navarino in WB2 (the second round of wrestle-backs).

This time Isemann was the dramatic one-point victor, advancing to consolation finals, 3-2.

“That was the most thrilling part of the ride for me,” he reflected.

Isemann pinned Newton senior Lance Fischer at 5:19, winning bronze and punching his ticket to Atlantic City with an exclamation point.

Strong WMC showing

Coach Ken Rossi’s five Region qualifiers had a strong showing.

Loughney finished fourth, following last week’s District championship with an impressive Regions. He upset #3 seed Alex Zangrilli 4-2 in WB2, to get within one win of States.

But nemesis Jayson Parisi topped Loughney 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Like a bad dream, the Morris Knolls senior appeared again in consolation finals, qualifying for States with a 3-1 win – his fourth this season over the WMC junior.

Loughney finishes the season at 27-10, and is poised for a big senior year. He’s already in the top-15 winners all-time for WMC, and is on pace to join classmate Metzler in the elite Century Club with 100 wins.

Gaita had WMC’s biggest upset of the tournament, topping #3 seed Anthony Duardo of North Warren 4-0 to reach the semis. Duardo (34-3) had beaten Gaita 9-4 last month. Ironically, Duardo took bronze, qualifying for States despite his only Regions loss coming to Gaita.

Gaita ends his impressive season at 28-10 and will start junior year with two Region WB2 finishes under his belt.

Kaltenhauser went further than his goal of qualifying for Regions by advancing to the quarter-finals with a win over Hackettstown’s Joe Andes. Big Kalt’s high school wrestling career ended with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Shane Beston of Morris Knolls in a HWT bracket that dripped with drama.

Big Kalt finishes his breakout senior year with a 21-15 record and the prestigious distinction of a Region qualifier.

Co-captain kudos

“I’m extremely proud of all the wrestlers this year,” said Metzler, “Caleb set a goal of reaching States and reached it. That’s what wrestling teaches you. Set a goal and work until you reach it – a great philosophy for everything in life.”

“There’s not much I can say about Metzler that hasn’t been said,” countered Isemann. “The kid is a legend and his poise and attitude can’t be matched.

“I couldn’t be more proud and honored to walk on those Atlantic City mats with Metzler.”

Isemann’s parents John and Joan have been with WMC wrestling for eight straight years. John Isemann III (class of 2012) was 38-33 in his injury-shortened career, and is regularly mat-side cheering on his brother. Unless their daughter surprises them, it’s the Isemann’s last year on the team, and their first qualification for States.

“Caleb has a job [at Ort Farms] and many volunteer calls on his time,” explained the proud dad and Mendham Hills Community Church Pastor. “But he told us that no one in NJ would outwork him in the wrestling room, that he would lead the team that way, and would walk off the mat with no regrets.”

Metzler’s 35-0 season has not gone unnoticed by the ranking sites, as he joins FloWrestling’s national rankings at #16, just above Wyoming Seminary’s Jack Davis, whom Metzler beat in December.

Davis won the National Prep Championship on Saturday, as did former Wolfpack wrestler Ryan Karoly.

The Region 1 championship marks Metzler’s third win over Rotunda (ranked #7 in NJ by Full Circle) this year. Metzler, now ranked #4, joins other top-ranked wrestlers as Region champs, including #1 Nick Raimo, #2 Brandon Cray, #3 Gianni Ghione, and #5 Gerard Angelo. Expect all five on the Boardwalk podium.

Locally, of 19 Regional qualifiers from Hackettstown (6), Mendham (6), WMC (5) and Mt. Olive (2), only Hackettstown’s Anthony Carida joins Metzler and Isemann in Boardwalk Hall.

“I’m so proud to be joined (going to Atlantic City) by Caleb, my coaches and my parents,” said Metzler. “If it weren’t for all of their support, I wouldn’t get there. I am very thankful.”

Oh, and Metzler’s driving test is Monday.

Photos by Joann Vazquez and Jeff Metzler.