Mazzocchi Makes State Quarterfinals

The New Jersey State Wrestling Tournament began on Friday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Madison sent two wrestlers to the state championship tournament this year: sophomore Patsy Davis at 103 pounds and senior Christian Mazzocchi at 152 pounds. Davis was eliminated in his preliminary round fight, but Mazzocchi won both of his matches Friday night with pins, advancing to the quarterfinals.

"People don't expect me to place, but I think I can," said Mazzocchi before his second match.

"When you get down here, anything can happen… he has got the one punch capability," said Madison head coach Steve Healey of Mazzocchi's ability to pin an opponent at any time.

That one punch capability was made apparent twice on Friday night: first in the preliminaries against Jeff Farina (19-9) of St. Joseph in 1:20, and then again in the pre-quarter-final round against Brian Hairston of Collingswood in 0:39.

"It's amazing to win two matches, even just to win one, if I end up placing, I don't know what I'll do," said Mazzocchi.

Friday night's event included the preliminary and pre-quarter-final rounds of the tournament. Any wrestler who scored a win in the preliminary round was guaranteed at least two more fights, but any wrestler that lost was eliminated.

Davis' loss in the preliminaries eliminated him from the tournament, but he gained valuable experience that most sophomores do not have an opportunity to by even making it to the state tournament.

"I was really nervous… I don't think I wrestled my best, I think my nerves overtook me," said Davis. "But now I know what it feels like, so hopefully I can come back and place next year."

"That was only Patsy's third loss at 103, but he is only a sophomore so this is a learning experience," said Healey.

With Davis eliminated, Mazzocchi will be the only Madison wrestler continuing in the tournament. His quarter-final match on Saturday will be against Eric Reger (30-3) of Delsea Regional High School.

Reger was one of the top seeds of the tournament, which earned him a bye out of the preliminary round. In his pre-quarter-final round match, Reger faced John Balboni (30-6) of Brearley, and beat him decisively, 18-5. Mazzocchi will have his hands full with Reger, but Mazzocchi has the ability to win any match at any time.

"When he gets you in a pin combo, its lights out," said Healey. "We think it's great that no one sees it coming, anything can happen."

For more updates on Mazzocchi and the State Wrestling Tournament in Atlantic City, check back with Patch.