Wolfpack wrestles to 3-0 in yet another thriller, topping Voorhees 36-25 with DeVito pin

(December 30, 2016, Glen Gardner, NJ) Apparently, the 2016-17 West Morris Central wrestling team wants its fans to stay to the end. For the third time in three duals, it all came down to the last bout.

Friday at Voorhees, WMC led 30-25 with one bout to go. If Viking senior Patrick Evers put WMC sophomore first-year starter John DeVito on his back, Voorhees would win.

But the WMC faithful roared its appreciation as DeVito (6-5) triumphed by fall and gave the Wolfpack a 36-25 victory.

At Montville, Eli Shepard(4-6) was the hero in the 37-30 victory. At High Point, Luke Stefanelli(6-4) secured the 31-28 win.

Full Circle Wrestlingnow ranks WMC the #21 team in New Jersey – just above High Point. NJ.com’s pre-season ranks did not include WMC in the state’s top-60.

DeVito, buoying the team to 3-0, was not the only hero at Voorhees. The Wolfpack won nine of the 12 bouts wrestled, while forfeiting two more.

Justin LeMay (9-4) started the match off with a big win over a tough senior at 145. Captains Kade Loughney (10-1) and Marco Gaita (11-1) secured bonus points. Robert Rosen (2-4) bumped up to 220 and delivered a critical victory.

Colin Loughney (5-5) beat a Lenape Tournament champion. Mike Caso (8-2) majored a district finalist. Bonus points from captain Shane Metzler (10-1), and a crucial win from Jonathan Vazquez (3-5) set up the final match.

Even at Saturday’s eight-plus hour Goles Tournament, the Pack sent more wrestlers to the finals than any other school – again, inspiring fans to stay to the thrilling end. They won four of those championships.

Voorhees’ Fernandes brothers showed why they are among the toughest in the sport, going 3-0 on the day. It took a gutty performance by WMC senior captain Christian Trimarchi (7-5) to avoid giving up six to each of them. They were a combined 90-24 last season.

This was also the third consecutive WMC-Voorhees thriller. Last season, LeMay delivered the decisive pin in the final bout. In 2014, it was David Migliaccio clinching the dramatic win.

Next-Gen Pack

“The Junior Varsity level guys had a great showing today at the Roxbury JV Tournament,” said coach Ken Rossi.

Robby Bohr, Zach Fuchs, Jack Lyden and Chris Parisi took home gold for the Wolfpack wrestling team at the highly competitive tournament.

Matt Borgia won silver, and both Billy Apostolico and Grayson Apgar bronze.

Medals are not easy to come by at this tournament, which usually includes more than 10 schools, and dozens of wrestlers with varsity experience.

Next Up

WMC’s celebratory home opener is Wednesday, 1/4/17. JV starts at 6 PM, and varsity at 7 PM. Perennial powerhouse Roxbury is the opponent.

Friday the team travels to Kearny, and Saturday the Pack competes in the Mt. Olive quad against Cedar Grove, state-ranked Southern, and Mt. Olive. A very strong Mendham squad visits WMC on Tuesday, 1/10/17, and the Pack visits Hackettstown the following day.

Photos

Credit: Margaret Stefanelli, Mollissa LeMay