Metzler repeats as Morris County wrestling champ as WMC takes 4th

(Chester, NJ 1/29/17) Domination, not drama, defined Shane Metzler’s second straight Morris County Championship Saturday at Mt. Olive. No opponent went the distance against NJ’s second-ranked 126 pounder, as Metzler led WMC to fourth among 24 schools.

“It felt incredible to win my second title, especially with a technical fall in the finals,” said Metzler, now 23-1.

Metzler dramatically scored in the closing seconds to win last year. Saturday, he dominated start to finish with a fall, tech fall, another fall and a clinic-like 23-8 finals vs. Whippany sophomore Sean Savercool (22-4).

“We had three finalists which was very impressive,” said the team-focused WMC senior captain, referencing silver medalists Kade Loughney (22-6 at 152) and Justin LeMay (20-8, 145).

“I'm proud of all the guys who worked extremely hard to get medals,” said Metzler.

Marco Gaita (26-2, 170) and Mike Caso (20-7, 113) nabbed bronze, Robert Rosen (15-10, 182) took fifth, and Christian Trimarchi (17-12, 160) and Robby Bohr (17-8, 106) placed sixth in grueling 20-plus man brackets.

LeMay, seeded fourth, nabbed the day’s biggest upset, dominating Hanover Park’s top-seeded Sean Conley 7-1 for silver. The sophomore exceeded expectations – but not his own.

“My goal going in was to become MCT Champ,” said LeMay, who did not place as a freshman. He said he would keep working to accomplish what matters most to him: placing in the State tournament.

Loughney won silver with a 12-10 win over Delbarton’s Vincent Andreano, who had already convincingly toppled the two-seed. Loughney placed fourth last year.

Caso and Gaita took third, losing only to the eventual champions (ranked 9th and 6th in NJ respectively) to improve on 2016 fifth place finishes.

Rosen also lost only to the eventual champ, state-ranked LJ Castellano of Delbarton. Rosen led the team, and was top-10 among all 277 participants, in placing above seed rank.

“Placing fifth and helping the team was very satisfying after missing last year’s MCT to injury,” said Rosen, whose off-season work ethic is paying dividends. The junior wants to help the team go far in sectionals, and work to “win 25 matches, make district finals, and place top four in regions.”

Rosen, Trimarchi, LeMay and freshman Bohr placed for the first time. Every returning participant improved on last year’s place, except of course the returning champ. Five of the eight place winners, and four additional participants, are underclassmen.

WMC missed bronze by a point. Delbarton dominated the event to win its record ninth consecutive championship with 244 points. Hanover Park (163.5) was second, followed by Montville (149.5), WMC (149), Mendham (143.5) and Roxbury (114) of 24 Morris teams. Among Delbarton’s recruits from area schools was Wolfpack youth wrestler Trey Zgombic, who took silver at 220.

Eli Shepard (8-11, 120) and John DeVito (11-14, 138) also contributed victories toward the Wolfpack’s team finish.

Metzler is only the second repeat county champion in WMC history. Jesse Windt was the first, in 2014.Previous WMC county champs were Chris Pierson and Dave McAllister in 1987, Tim Mulrooney (1990), Mike (1991) Mulrooney, Scott Cummins and Brian McGuire (1993), Daren Carfaro (1995), and Dillon Landi (2006).

Metzler led the tournament with two tech falls, 41 total match points, and 23 single match points – which, amazingly, he accomplished in the finals.

Like last year, a highly anticipated bout between Metzler and state runner-up Nick Raimo never materialized due to injury. Many predict the two will meet in the state finals.

How will Metzler get there?

“My preparation remains the same,” he said. “Work hard in the practice room, in the classroom, and have the right attitude -- everything else will fall into place. I'm not looking ahead.”

Morris Knolls

WMC clinched a tie for the division championship by defeating rival Morris Knolls 54-18 on 1/24. Stefanelli, Rosen, Bohr, Caso, Vazquez, DeVito and Kade Loughney all delivered pins. Gaita topped a regional qualifier 7-1, and Shephard defeated a winning-record wrestler 3-1. The Pack nine won nine of 11 bouts wrestled. With wins over Roxbury, Randolph and Morris Knolls, the Pack needs to defeat Parsippany Hills (3-10) on February 1 to secure the National Division crown.

Photos

Credit: JoAnn Vazquez

• Shane Metzler won his second consecutive Morris County Championship in dominant fashion.
• WMC County Championship medal winners, from left: Just LeMay (2nd), Kade Loughney (2nd), Mike Caso (3rd), Shane Metzler (1st), Christian Trimarchi (6th), and Marco Gaita (3rd). Missing: Robert Rosen (5th) and Robby Bohr (6th).