LeMay Bursts Onto National Scene, Pack of 11 Named All-Conference

It was a busy first “off season” week for West Morris Central wrestling. Captain Justin LeMay placed 7th at the National High School Coaches Association Junior Nationals in Virginia Beach Sunday. Back in New Jersey, he and 10 teammates were voted All-Conference by the National Division coaches.

Mike Caso (113), Eli Shepard (126), Jonathan Vazquez (132), Marco Gaita (170), Luke Stefanelli (182), Robert Rosen (195) and LeMay (152) were named first team National Division All-Conference. State qualifiers Robby Bohr (106) and John DeVito (160), along with Colin Loughney (120) were named second team, and A.J. Hill (145) was named Honorable Mention as WMC dominated the voting.

All-American LeMay

The NHSCA Nationals -- the “crown jewel of high school wrestling” -- featured 4,430 wrestlers from 49 states and Germany competing, according to the official site. Past Champions include Olympic Gold Medalists Cael Sanderson, Jordan Burroughs, Jake Varner and 2018 NCAA finalists Zain Retherford, Bryce Meredith and Jared Haught.

LeMay bursts onto the national wrestling scene with the impressive showing, becoming a high school All-American by reaching the podium. Shane Metzler was the last WMC wrestler to place nationally, taking sixth at Super 32 in 2014.

“I told myself from now on I always wrestle on Sunday,” said LeMay, referring to the day when only medalists remain standing at the biggest tournaments.

Known for his conditioning, LeMay used a duck under with nine seconds left in overtime to top New Hampshire three-time state champion Tristen Cabinta for seventh. A duck under – ducking one’s head under the opponent’s arm and getting behind them for the takedown -- is “a great move when your opponent is tired,” according to Kinetic Brands’ Coach T.

LeMay went 6-2, losing only to nationally-ranked eventual champion, Florida State Champ Brevin Balmeceda (ranked #8 in the USA), and the eventual fifth placer, Idaho State Champion Kekana Fouret. Along the way he also topped North Carolina State Champ Nathan Hull, Nevada State Champ Desmond Bowers, Oklahoma Greco and Freestyle champ Kyle Knowles, Texas State runner up Eric Twolance, and Kentucky State fourth-placer Wyatt Andreoni.

LeMay’s 152 pound bracket contained 100 wrestlers, including Bergen Catholic’s Anthony Asatrian, who was recently ranked #1 in New Jersey. He went 4-2 but did not place.

According to NHSCA, the Junior Nationals had 1,297 entries from 47 states and Germany, including 358 State Champions and 670 State Placewinners.

The wrestlers LeMay beat owned seven state championships between them.

Just 11 out of 76 wrestlers from New Jersey placed, including 170 lb. State finalist Chris Foca (1st at 160), state champion Jacob Cardenas (1st at 195) and state champion Lewis Fernandez (3rd at 220), with LeMay the only placer at 152.

WMC junior DeVito and sophomore Shepard also competed at the prestigious event.

DeVito is preparing for a potential podium run next season after going 31-12 this year, medaling in every tournament this year, up to becoming a State qualifier. Shepard was 21-15 as a sophomore and has a legitimate chance to qualify for States.

National Division All-Conference

WMC and Roxbury dominated the National Division Coaches 2017-18 All-Conference voting. Gaels Franco Mazza (106), Scott Jarosz (138), Dominick LaRussa (145), Evan Vazquez (152), Michael Roumes (160) and Jose Diaz (220) were also first-team.

WMC’s Caso was 32-11, reaching the NJSIAA State Championships in Atlantic City, where he saw his hand raised for the final time in high school. He ranked #20 in New Jersey (RankWrestlers.com), medaled in five tournaments, and was a Morris County and District 11 finalist.

Shepard was a Regional qualifier, finishing #72 in New Jersey. He was a John Goles and District 11 finalist, and placed fourth in Morris County.

In his senior season, Vazquez qualified for Regions by taking bronze at District 11. He also won Goles bronze, and placed sixth in the County with a 21-13 record. He ranked #59 in NJ.

LeMay finished just shy of the State podium this season, going 32-8 while taking District gold, Goles silver, and XCalibur and Cali bronze.

Gaita’s historic senior year culminated with a fifth place State Championships finish. He was 38-4, and won championships at Goles, Counties, Districts and Regions, while taking XCalibur bronze.

Stefanelli nearly qualified for States, but was injured in Regions. The junior District champion was 25-8, ranking #44 in the State. He also medaled at XCalibur and Goles, and placed third in the County.

Rosen also finished a controversial takedown shy of States his senior year, going 24-7, winning the District 11 championship, taking XCalibur bronze, Goles silver, and placing at Sam Cali.

Next Season

In addition to Shepard, Stefanelli and LeMay, All-Conference honorees Bohr, DeVito, Loughney and Hill all return next season.

Wrestling Full Circle ranks LeMay directly behind the eight NJ State medalists this season. Seven of them graduate.

“Next season I will be a State champ,” says the determined LeMay. After his top-12 showing at States and breakthrough performance in Virginia Beach, it’s hard to doubt him.

Credits

Photos by Mollissa LeMay, Margaret Stefanelli, JoAnn Vazquez and Mike LeMay.