Wolfpack Fans Lift Wrestlers Over Roxbury 37-25 In Home Opener

“Like a wave that lifts you and carries you past your own limits,” Wolfpack fans cheered the West Morris Central wrestling team to a thrilling 37-25 triumph over Roxbury in WMC’s home opener.

To quote Dwayne Wade again, “When the fans are with you, their voices come together in a big rush of sound you can actually feel in your body.” WMC’s grapplers rewarded their fans with an exhilarating victory, like the basketball great so often did.

“The coaches and the team were extremely motivated by the students, parents, alumni, and wrestling fans who came to the match last night,” said a thankful Coach Ken Rossi.

“People want to see a mano y mano battle and that is what most of the matches were. If you are a fan of wrestling, I think you got your money’s worth.”

Taking on a Perennial Powerhouse

WMC and Roxbury -- the defending Division and Group champs – were both undefeated going into last night’s match. But the Gaels had topped the Wolfpack four years in a row.

“Roxbury has excellent coaching, discipline, and athletes. They have been the gold standard in our division for years,” according to Rossi.

WMC is now 4-0, and ranked #21 in New Jersey by Full Circle Wrestling.

Rewarding the Crowd

Down by 14 points, Roxbury won a pin and a forfeit to leave WMC clinging to a tenuous 27-25 lead with two bouts remaining. Even the pin didn’t quiet the crowd -- Zach Fuchs’ gutty varsity debut showed Wolfpack pride, giving up nearly 30 pounds to a 6-2 Roxbury senior at 220.

Freshman Robby Bohr (6-2) rode the emotional wave, sprinting into the spotlight vs. Roxbury’s Dover Holiday Tournament champion Kevin Stone at 106. It was Bohr’s first career dual meet action.

Bohr was a bundle of energy, dominating the bout. At 3:06 the Wolfpack crowd roared and rose to its feet as Bohr delivered the fall, and guaranteed the team victory.

WMC heroics were delivered in virtually every bout, and as Rossi said, “the win tonight was a complete team effort.”

The daunting presence of WMC captain Shane Metzler (11-1 at 126), ranked #2 in the state, likely caused Roxbury to bump up their whole line up to the next weight class. Despite Roxbury having a regional place winner at 126, Metzler took a forfeit for the Pack’s first points.

The strategy seemed to be working for the Gaels, winning the first three bouts wrestled.

Turning the Tide

With WMC down 10-6, Justin LeMay (10-4 at 145) faced undefeated regional qualifier Richard Reimars, fresh off championships at the Lincroft and Dover Holiday tournaments.

In an epic battle, LeMay emerged victorious 10-8 in overtime igniting the crowd. He “definitely sparked the team and got the momentum rolling in our direction,” according to Rossi.

The coaches leapt and high-fived each other, as did many in the crowd.

It Often Comes Down to Bonus Points

Captains Kade Loughney (11-1 at 152) and Marco Gaita (12-1 at 170) gave the team maximum points with critical pins.

On the other hand, Roxbury’s top wrestlers – with combined 22-1 records -- were denied bonus points by Jonathan Vazquez (3-6 at 132), John DeVito (6-6 at 138) and Christian Trimarchi (7-6 at 160). Rossi singled them out for “showing great heart and battling to save team points.”

So while Roxbury’s weight-bumping strategy gave them more clearly-favored wrestlers, WMC got 12 points in their two wins, vs. nine points for Roxbury in their three wins.

A Complete Team Effort

Luke Stefanelli (7-4 at 182) and Robert Rosen (3-4 at 195) made the upper weights an emerging Wolfpack strength with critical victories.

Somehow, Mike Caso (9-2 at 113) made the night’s anti-climactic final bout memorable. The team victory already in hand, Caso took on Roxbury’s regional qualifier and Lincroft tournament champion John Tesoriero, and dominated 9-1.

“Fuchs and Chris Parisi both worked hard in their first varsity dual meet,” the coach also noted.

Those who arrived early were the first to see the team’s flashy new mat in battle, as the JV squad christened it with multiple wins, starting with Matt Borgia.

Then the popular Long Valley Wrestling Youth Program ran out, giving the cheering crowd a look at a bright Wolfpack future – and starting the night’s wave of energy from the extraordinary home crowd.

WMC Wrestling Parent’s Club president Jeff Hill summed up how it felt to the team to have a “nearly sold out gym,” saying, “We're just getting started on and off the mat, but what a great way to come out of the gate. Thanks again to all who made tonight special.”

Up Next

WMC travels to Kearny Friday, and to the Mt. Olive quad Saturday, against Cedar Grove, state-ranked Southern, and Mt. Olive. The always-thrilling Mendham match at WMC on Tuesday, 1/10/17 is Pin Cancer Night, a fundraiser for the nonprofit supporting cancer research. The Pack visits Hackettstown 1/11/17.

Photos

Credit: Mollissa LeMay.

Scores from TrackWrestling.com

New mat/JV: Chris Borgia