SP-F Wrestling Team Falls in Opener Against Bridgewater-Raritan

This season is supposed to be an educational one for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School wrestling team. Friday night was a good lesson.

The young and inexperienced Raiders did some good things before a spirited crowd in a 44-24 loss to Bridgewater-Raritan in the season opener. The Raiders fell behind 18-0 when Bridgewater-Raritan's K.J. O'Sullivan (103), Valerio Lamorte (112) and Joey Vega (119) won by pins. Senior Tristan Bundy, who hopes to win his 100^th career bout this year, got the Raiders on the scoreboard with a quick fall at 125.

"I didn't know what to expect,'' said Bundy, a third-place District 11 place winner last year, who finished with a 24-7 record last season."I saw some positive things, and some negative. But by season's end I'm sure we'll be much better."

A big plus is the return of Jawaan Gaines, who didn't wrestle last year. He pulled Scotch Plains-Fanwood to within 18-12 when he followed Shane Squier's 1-0 win at 130 with a 5-1 win over Pierce Gladfelter at 135.

"It was our first match and a lot of guys were nervous," said Gaines. "It was an icebreaker type of meet. But we'll break the ice. We're working our way up. We'll get better with our technique and skill."

Junior Mike Steinfeld had a 5-3 lead late in his 140-pound match with Karim Abozied, but got reversed, then put to his back for a 5-point move and an Abozied 8-5 win.

Senior Josh Foote rallied to beat Eric VanHouten at 145 and sophomore Luke Vuono beat Mike Muni 7-3 to cut the Bridgewater-Raritan lead to 21-18.

But Jamaar Archer scored a 14-5 major decision win over sophomore Jon Devia at 160 before Jon Friedman pinned junior Eddie Heavey to give the Panthers a 31-18. Kazier Archer pinned senior Brian Laspe to make it 37-18 and clinch the match. Junior Neville Hall, making his first-ever wrestling appearance, got the crowd jumping when he pinned Bridgewater-Raritan's Jon Saavedra in 91 seconds.

The Raiders will play host to Madison Tuesday night before making a trip to New Providence Wednesday. The team will once again participate in the annual John Goles Tournament at Warren Hills High School Dec. 29.