LeMay leads Pack over Mendham on Pin Cancer Night

West Morris Central outwrestled sister school Mendham, winning nine bouts on Pin Cancer Night 1/9. Raucous fans witnessed Wolfpack junior Justin LeMay defeat fellow State qualifier Alex Winant 10-5 in the marquis bout at Mendham. Sunday, LeMay took third at the inaugural 32-team Sam Cali Tournament, joining Mike Caso (4th) and John DeVito (5th) on the podium, topping wrestlers from six states.

“Justin is training and competing at a high level, gaining the momentum you need to be in the mix at the state tournament,” said Coach Ken Rossi.

“The guys competed really well this weekend against some great schools. Facing six region qualifiers, eight state qualifiers, and two state medalists was incredibly valuable. The best way to achieve a goal is to go out and see what it looks like,” said Rossi.

WMC 35, Mendham 24

Mendham opened the match by jockeying to bump their lineup to the next weight class, with sophomore Eli Shepard prevailing 6-2 for WMC.

Aiming for pins, Mendham pitted returning 20-win Minutemen Alex Schlegel and Peter Tringali against inexperienced varsity wrestlers. In gut-wrenching fashion, Chris Parisi and Matt Borgia fended off pins (and apparent pain) to save points for the ‘Pack.

A.J. Hill’s 12-4 major brought WMC within 9-7, then LeMay gave WMC the lead versus Winant. One fan observed “We’re watching college-level wrestlers.”

Wolfpack wins leader DeVito followed with a 5-1 decision.

Marco Gaita and Luke Stefanelli pinned for the Pack, then sophomore phenom Gage Armijo countered with six for the Minutemen.

WMC’s Robert Rosen topped fellow senior District place winner Giuseppe Canino 3-2. After forfeiting at heavyweight, WMC sent out Robby Bohr who delivered a 12-4 major.

Though denied the opportunity to avenge last season’s epic close losses to Mendham’s state-ranked Dom DiGena, Caso sealed the Wolfpack victory with a workmanlike 6-1 victory.

Last season, Mendham topped WMC twice to win the Sectional Championship.

In the spirit of rival schools fighting cancer together, LeMay (ranked #18 at 152, RankWrestlers.com) and Winant (#21 at 145) are friends and workout partners. But LeMay clarified, “they are still our rivals! We achieved one of our team goals by beating Mendham.”

Cali Tournament

Memorializing Sam Cali of Don Bosco and Rutgers who was tragically killed in an auto accident, thousands of fans from 32 teams raised scholarship money for wrestlers. WMC placed ninth, and third among public schools.

For bronze, LeMay defeated Stanley Wojdylak (#4 in NJ), falling only to champion Connor O’Neil (#14).

Caso (#23 at 113) bested three highly ranked wrestlers for fourth. He lost 3-2 to #12 Tyler Klinsky in the quarterfinals. Caso bounced back, focused on “not giving up and wrestling my heart out” after the first heartbreaking loss, then fell 3-2 again to Klinsky in the bronze bout.

DeVito topped Frank Monte for fifth, losing only to the gold and bronze medalists.

All three Wolfpack wrestlers exceeded seed expectations, led by eight-seed DeVito.

Rosen placed top-eight, calling it “a very competitive and exhilarating tourney. Everyone competed with grit.” Upsetting the #1 seed, Rosen reflected, “I wrestled well against some tough kids and have learned important technical skills I can focus on.”

Bohr, Shepard, Jonathan Vazquez and Gaita (who withdrew) reached the final 12. Loughney, Parisi and Hill contributed victories for WMC.

Pin Cancer

Pin Cancer “is a call to action to help defeat the world’s toughest opponent.” West Morris -- rivals Mendham and WMC working together -- is the nation’s #3 fundraising team with over $2,800. Jack Lyden leads the way with $822.

Every wrestler, coach and parent has stricken loved ones. Among their many dedications, Vazquez named “my Uncle Manuel Ortega who passed away from stomach cancer.” Rosen memorialized “my Grandma Wendy.” LeMay echoed the sentiments of many, dedicating the match to Long Valley teenager “Sarah Crowley, who passed away a little over a year ago.”

Prior, the team was “Bagging for a Cure” at Shop Rite of Chester, contributing to the total raised.

“It is a great growth experience,” reflected Rossi, saying this week enhanced the team’s “understanding of how important it is to contribute to causes greater than their own personal needs.” Donations can be made at https://getinvolved.pincancer.org/team/148700.

Next Up

WMC visits Randolph 1/17, then Kittatiny 1/20 (also facing Delaware Valley and Westfield). WMC hosts the West Morris Central JV Tournament Sunday 1/21, then Morris Knolls 1/23. The Morris County Tournament is 1/26-27 at Mt. Olive.

Credits

Photos by Susan Hill, Mollissa LeMay and JoAnn Vazquez.