Wolfpack Wrestling Tops Voorhees 48-21, Falls to #14 High Point

WMC senior leader Mike Caso topped Voorhees' dangerous District champ Colby Koshinski 3-1

(Washington Township, NJ 12/22/17). With 17 wrestlers already contributing wins, West Morris Central followed its Xcalibur Tournament success by topping Voorhees 48-21, then falling to powerhouse High Point 42-24 this week.

Seven wrestlers take five wins into Wednesday’s John Goles Tournament action: Robby Bohr (5-2, 106), Mike Caso (6-3, 113), AJ Hill (6-2, 145), John DeVito (6-2, 160), Marco Gaita (5-1, 170), Luke Stefanelli (5-2, 182) and Robert Rosen (5-1, 195) – and that doesn’t even include state-ranked junior Justin LeMay (2-0, 152), who delivered pins in both duals after missing Xcalibur.

WMC 48, Voorhees 21

It’s never been easy against Voorhees. Three years in a row, it came down to the very last bout: in 2014, all-time-great David Migliaccio topped a fellow senior in a winner-take-all finale; in 2015, freshman LeMay capped a dramatic comeback with a pin; and last year, DeVito, in one of his first starts, dramatically pinned a Voorhees senior for the win.

There was no such drama this year, as WMC triumphed in nine of 11 bouts wrestled in Tuesday night’s home opener. Bohr started the scoring for the Pack with a pin before the MC had time to announce the wrestlers.

In the marquis bouts of the night, Caso and Eli Shepard (2-3, 126) denied Voorhees wins they desperately needed from District champions. Caso topped the dangerous Colby Koshinski 3-1, and Shepard shut out State qualifier Aidan Taylor 5-0.

WMC sophomore Eli Shepard shut out Voorhees State qualifier Aidan Taylor 5-0

After forfeiting 220 and HWT, WMC clung to a narrow 18-15 lead at halftime with first-year starter Matt Borgia (1-2, 138) stepping to the mat. The sophomore turned the tide in the Wolfpack’s favor with his first varsity victory 7-3.

Hill, LeMay, DeVito and Gaita followed Bohr’s example, decking four inexperienced wrestlers in a row, all in the first period. Stefanelli wrangled a strong 8-2 win over returning junior Matt Brandner.

Jonathan Vazquez (1-4, 132) nearly upset Voorhees’ third-winningest wrestler, District finalist Hunter Rinehart, but fell 9-7. Adrian Hefner (1-4, 220) took one for the team against Scott Fernandes, ranked #9 in the state (Full Circle).

Voorhees boasts six Regional qualifiers including the state-ranked Fernandes brothers, but also wrestles seven first-time starters.

High Point 42, WMC 24

WMC was unable to pull off any major upsets, and fell to powerhouse High Point 42-24 before a large home crowd. The Wildcats showed why they are ranked #14 in NJ (NJ.com) Thursday night.

Bohr and Stefanelli contributed inspiring wins over previously-undefeated Wildcats -- Bohr 6-5 over Colt Classic champ Devon Liebl, and Stefanelli 4-1 over District place winner Grayson Sabo. DeVito won a big toss-up match 7-1 over Regional qualifier Trey Osborn.

Four High Point Regional place winners (two state-ranked) gave the Wildcats a 21-0 lead to start the match. WMC won five of the next six – Hill by 5-0, LeMay by pin, DeVito, Nick Kaltenhauser (3-2, 170) by forfeit, and Stefanelli. But with senior leaders Gaita and Rosen on the bench and a forfeit at HWT, it was too little too late.

Noteworthy gutty performances include Vazquez’s overtime 6-5 loss to Regional place winner Billy Talmadge (who took WMC’s three-time state medalist Shane Metzler into overtime last year), and Hefner aggressively hanging with senior Hunter Flores (who was 13-6 last year) in a 13-6 loss. Hefner’s performance bodes well for the team’s flexibility in upper weights going forward.

Milestones

LeMay’s two wins give him 47 for his career, tying State qualifier Adam Kratch, Christian Trimarchi and Sal Carfaro for 35th all time for WMC.

Next Up

Wednesday’s 12/27 Goles Tournament @ Warren Hills will include competition from Delaware Valley, Edison, Newton, North Hunterdon, and Sparta. WMC will be at home 12/30 vs. Kearney.

Credits

Photos by JoAnn Vazquez