Now 13-5, WMC takes division lead with Senior Night triumph over Randolph

(Chester, NJ 1/22/17) With the National Division on the line, West Morris Central wrestling dominated the action to defeat Randolph 35-26 last Wednesday night.

An enthusiastic home crowd celebrated the wrestling careers of Austin Gast, Louis Mautone, Jack Dunn, Zach Fuchs, Kade Loughney, Christian Trimarchi and Shane Metzler in an emotional Senior Night ceremony with their parents and coaches.

With a win over Westfield and losses to Kittatinny and Delaware Valley Saturday, the Wolfpack is 13-5.

“We had our hands full with Kittatinny and Del Val,” said senior captain Metzler, “But we battled the whole way through, and will learn from those two losses. The bounce back win against Westfield showed our team’s resilience.”

Coach Ken Rossi agreed, saying “We learned what two top programs in the state look like. We had a lot of good individual match ups [that] are going to get us ready for the post season.”

National Division

WMC now tops the National Division.

“We are halfway to winning the division,” said Rossi. “It is one of the top goals we have been working toward since this summer.” WMC beat Randolph and Roxbury, with Morris Knolls and ParHills remaining. The team’s last title was 2006 (a tie).

Nationally-ranked Metzler (19-1, 126) was 4-0 on the week, passing Dylan Luciano as WMC’s all-time Net Team Points leader (scored minus given up) – a measure of team contribution.

Marco Gaita (22-1 at 170) was dominant with three more pins (five in a row). In-state, the junior captain is undefeated with bonus points every match and only one opponent surviving six minutes.

Senior captain Kade Loughney (18-5, 152) and Mike Caso (16-6, 113) contributed three wins each.

“I've been wrestling up a weight class and pushing myself to add points for my team,” said Caso after dramatically topping Luke Hoerle, who was 17-1, in overtime.

Colin Loughney (12-7, 113), Jonathan Vazquez (12-9, 132), John DeVito (9-13, 138), Justin LeMay (17-6, 145), captain Trimarchi (15-9, 160) and Luke Stefanelli (12-12, 185) contributed two wins each.

DeVito topped two regional qualifiers, and lost to the 24th-ranked wrester in NJ with no bonus points. LeMay’s only loss was an epic 7-6 battle with #10 ranked Matt Kolonia.

Morris County Championships

“We want to place top five as a team, and some guys could win it all” said Rossi of Friday/Saturday’s County Championships at Mt. Olive. With stacked brackets, “we are going to find out what we are all about.”

“It’s my second favorite tournament, just behind Atlantic City,” said Metzler, a defending champion. “Although I’m taking it one match at a time, I'm excited to wrestle Raimo.” Hanover Park’s Nick Raimo is ranked #1 in the state, Metzler #2.

“My goal for the counties is to wrestle as hard as I’ve been, and place better than last year,” said Caso, who placed fifth, as did Gaita. Kade Loughney placed fourth.

Westfield Quad

WMC lost a 36-34 heart breaker to #15 Del Val. Undefeated senior hammer Kolonia held on for his life to eke out a win over LeMay to seal the victory. Gaita started the match in style, pinning a regional qualifiers. Bohr, Kade Loughney and Trimarchi also pinned. Caso delivered a major.

Kittatinny handed WMC its worst loss of the season, 42-19. Gaita pinned Josh Hiler (15-4), and Colin Loughney majored. Vazquez, Metzler and Kade Loughney also won.

DeVito and Caso topped two of Westfield’s best, while Metzler, Vazquez, LeMay and Kade Loughney pinned, leading the Pack to a 39-30 victory. Stefanelli won, and Adrian Hefner took a forfeit in his varsity debut.

Randolph

Sophomore DeVito upset Randolph district champ Nick Rampone 6-4 to virtually assure the victory, and Gaita pinned another regional qualifier.

Trimarchi, Gaita, Stefanelli and Rosen started the night topping tough wrestlers (60% winning percentage combined). Randolph came back with two forfeits and a tech. But Colin Loughney reversed the momentum, triumphing over one of Randolph’s best.

Metzler scored a first period pin. Caso and LeMay delivered majors as the Pack won nine of the 12 bouts wrestled.

“The whole team stepped up,” said Rossi. Stefanelli, Rosen, and Colin Loughney all scored late in the match to secure individual victories. Each one of those victories is huge for the team effort.”

Photo credits: Mollissa LeMay. Photos of senior wrestlers, team statisticians, senior wrestlers and their families.