Montenegro, Ferrante Break Out at Grueling X-Calibur Event

Jorge Montenegro, John DeVito, Justin LeMay, Michael Ferrante, Robert Bohr, Eli Shepard and AJ Hill bring home the hardware for WMC. Photo credit: Susan Hill.

“Anytime you get a better competition level, it's always better for you,” said NFL first overall draft pick Baker Mayfield, “because you want to get the best out of yourself, and you want to compete against the best.” The West Morris Central wrestling Wolfpack did just that, taking fourth out of 24 teams at the X-Calibur Tournament in Wilkes-Barre, PA Saturday and Sunday.

The event was dominated by the #2 and #3 squads in the country, Wyoming Seminary and Bergen Catholic respectively, which captured 11 gold and 34 total medals between them. WMC wrestlers took home seven medals against some of the nation’s very best.

Jorge Montenegro (220) and freshman Michael Ferrante (106) were break out performers, each going 3-3 for eighth place. Montenegro, a junior, just started wrestling late last season.

The Wolfpack was led by fourth-place finishers Robby Bohr, Eli Shepard and John DeVito; fifth placer A.J. Hill, and Justin LeMay (160, 2-2), who settled for sixth after two injury forfeits.

After losing in the top bracket, Montenegro won three straight in consolation, including a 3-2 thriller over 4-seed Alexander Brunetti.

Ferrante didn’t go the distance in his high school debut vs. PA’s #6 ranked wrestler (RankWrestlers.com) – but he took out his frustrations by decking three straight opponents, including two top-50 PA wrestlers.

State qualifier Bohr (120, 3-2) improved on last season’s fifth place finish with three pins, including decking the two-seed.

Shepard’s (138, 3-2) impressive victories included a 3-1 decision over Bound Brook state qualifier Mark Venson.

DeVito (160, 4-2) nearly replicated last season’s outstanding X-Calibur performance, but this time found not one but two Wyoming Seminary wrestlers finish above him.

Hill (170, 5-2) finishes the season’s first weekend as the team wins leader, beating Coughlin’s Tanner Smith for fifth. His toughest bout may have been versus teammate Jack Lyden (170, 2-2), whom he topped 1-0.

Day 1 Wrestling, Fast Starts

The Wolfpack finished Saturday first among public school teams, trailing only Seminary and BC.

But X-Calibur can be a cruel place for even very good wrestlers – especially if you’re making your varsity debut.

Dan Kern (126, 1-2) nabbed his first varsity victory, and also had the pleasure of falling to Pennsylvania’s #11 ranked wrestler.

Freshman Malachi Shepard (113, 2-2) made a great first impression, besting St. Anthony’s Ryan Napodano 14-0, before getting pinned by nationally ranked Nick Kayal from BC, and losing a 6-4 heartbreaker to NY state qualifier Sean Flick.

Brian Cherifi (195) saw Sem’s Kyle Costello (#4 in PA) in his first-ever bout. Tyler Torner (152) and Zach Miller (220) also debuted.

Solid Performances

Colin Loughney (145, 2-2) had a huge win topping PA #8 ranked Sam Beckett before losing to top ranked wrestlers from PA and Virginia.

Jack Lyden (170) went 2-2, with a big pin over Damon Waltenbaugh (PA #18), a loss to PA’s #21 ranked Nick Zaboski, and painfully eliminated by teammate Hill, 1-0.

Matt Borgia (132), was undefeated when he wasn’t facing top-ranked wrestlers from BC and Sem, going 2-2 with four pinfalls – one over PA #34 Matthew Chase. His losses were to Sem’s #1 ranked Beau Bartlett, and BC #7 ranked Richard Halal.

Kevin Ramos (285) contributed a pin, going 1-2 on the day, with one loss to Sem’s #8 ranked Nate Miller.

Nick Kaltenhauser (195), who medaled last year, started strong with a pin, finishing 1-2.

Luke Stefanelli (182), who took bronze last year, missed this weekend’s event. He’s hopeful for the team’s first dual.

BC and Sem Factor

Bergen Catholic competed at X-Calibur for the first time since WMC joined. The seven-time defending New Jersey state champions took X-Calibur’s competition to a new level – though even they could not overcome the waves of Seminary wrestlers competing. BC sent just their 14 starters, including multiple defending NJ state champions and #1 ranked wrestlers, to place second with 245.5 points. They won three golds, three silvers, two bronzes and four more medals. Seminary sent 25 – nearly two full squads – amassing 345.5 points with eight golds, five silvers, five bronzes and four more medals.

Quakertown (117 points) finished a distant third, WMC fourth (113.5), Princess Anne (94), St. Anthony’s (94), E. Stroudsburg South (85.5), WVW Spartans (82), New Jersey’s Bound Brook (77.5), and James M. Coughlin (76) round out the top-10 of 24 squads.

Next Up

WMC hosts Montville Tuesday 12/18, and Union City Saturday 12/22. The Goles Tournament is 12/27 at Warren Hills. The team is home 12/29 vs. top-25-ranked North Hunterdon, away at Roxbury 1/3 and the Mt. Olive quad 1/5 with Paramus and #7 ranked Southern. Pin Cancer night is 1/22 at Mendham.