C10

Friday, January 20, 2012

High school wrestling news and notes blogs.thedailyjournal. com/matpack

Club wrestling can be key to scholastic success

sk Will Elliott what got him to where he is today in wrestling a defending District 31 champion and owner of a 15-1 record this year and the Cumberland Regional High School senior will undoubtedly respond with two words The Orchard. The Orchard Training Center is a wrestling club currently based in Williamstown. Its the offseason home for a good number of area wrestlers and where many South Jersey kids moonlight after high school practice a few nights a week. I probably wouldnt be as good of a wrestler if it wasnt for club wrestling, Elliott said. Hes not alone with that thought. Most of the top wrestlers spend plenty of time on the mats away from their high school teams, so much so, that the club identity can be as important as the high school they attend. Theres The Orchard, Seagull Wrestling (Mantua), the Patriot Wrestling Club (Turnersville), RAW 241 (Bellmawr), Phoenix Wrestling (Deptford) and Wrestling 360 (Millville) just to name a few. St. Augustine Prep coach Joe Melchiore ran Sidewinders Wrestling Club out of Vineland before taking over at the Prep and still helps out kids during the offseason. Its a lot more technical, Buena junior Sal Marandino, a Seagull wrestler for a year and a half, said. You learn a lot. For some, the club is just a place for offseason work, but for many of its wrestlers, like Elliott, the club is where they really polish their skills. I think if you go to a

SOUTH JERSEY

THE
tage of going outside our area, Orchard president Vern Zellner said, citing the meets and tournaments the team competes in out of state. We get to travel, we get to compete against some of the best kids in the country. Costs vary widely for clubs, as to session and season lengths, and often individual cases are considered. Choosing the right club is also key. I ask two important questions, Schalick coach Justin Martin, a former Seagull wrestler, said. Who is teaching and whats the practice like? Whats the mat time like? Martin said he encourages all his wrestlers who arent involved in other sports to try a club, and while most coaches agree the offseason work is great, moonlighting with a different team during the winter isnt as popular. In season, I dont like it, Millville coach Scott Stay said. My problem is, as a coaching staff, we have a program that were trying to build and every coachs philosophy is different. Zellner said his goal is to have his wrestlers place in the NJSIAA tournament and clubs can compliment the high school team if theyre run properly. I think the styles we teach compliment everybody, Zellner said, adding he stresses an offensive mindset. During the season isnt the time to make drastic conditioning or technique changes either according to Zellner. When they come into the club room in-season, its primarily drilling, keeping them sharp, he said. Its film review and technique improvement, we rarely go live. Elliot is a senior and a eam leader, so whats his advice to young grapplers looking to get where he is? If you want to become better, go to a club practice, Elliott said. If you want to just be an average wrestler, stay at the high school practice.

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T H E D A I LY J O U R N A L

MEAN15

NEWS & NOTES

Haddonfields Robert Schlitt (160) was named the Outstanding Wrestler for the American Division of last weekends Virginia Duals Tournament. Schlitt went 4-0, including a 9-4 overtime win up a weight class over Virginia 2011 state AA finalist Tyler McClanahan, of Grundy. Schlitt placed eighth in the state at 160 last year. Timber Creek heavyweight Greg Webb recently completed football workouts at the U.S. Army combine in San Antonio. Webb, a defensive tackle, is regarded as one of the nations top underclassmen. Webb, who placed eighth in the state at heavyweight with Paul VI, has wrestled once this season a 22-second fall against his former team on Dec. 22. Timber Creek coach Nick Cottone said that Webb told him that he will wrestle again this season. However, there is no timetable for his return. Another week, another No. 1 team in the state. According to the Newark Star Ledger, Jackson (14-0) is the top-ranked team in the state with St. Peters Prep No. 2. South Plainfield was in the penthouse, but was knocked off by St. Peters two weeks ago. Timber Creek moved to No. 1, but was throttled by South Plainfield last weekend. Jackson made its debut at No. 1 and slipped past Southern, 27-26, on Wednesday.

1. Timber Creek 2. Delsea 3. Camden Catholic 4. West Deptford 5. Paulsboro 6. Clearview 7. Egg Harbor Township 8. Buena 9. St. Augustine 10. Haddonfield 11. Hammonton 12. Pennsville 13.Cherokee 14. Seneca 15. Haddon Heights

*Records through Wednesday

Cumberland Regional senior 132-pounder Will Elliott shows his Orchard Wrestling Club pride. Elliott, a standout for the Colts, hones his skills at the club during the offseason and during the high school season. STAFF PHOTO/CODY GLENN

THE DAILY JOURNALS REGION 7 & 8 RANKINGS

106
1. John Gentile, Paulsboro 2. Tyler McBride, Camden Catholic 3. Patrick DArcy, Holy Spirit 4. Jesse Swope, Cumberland 5. Joey Rocks, Egg Harbor Township 15-1 14-3 18-0 7-1 16-1 16-0 18-2 16-3 14-3 1-0 16-2 14-6 10-1 16-3 15-1 12-0 13-1 19-3 6-1 16-5 17-3 12-0 15-1 17-2 16-4 15-2 17-1 14-0 17-1 14-3 17-1 19-1 14-1 9-6 10-2 13-0 16-3 21-1 14-6 17-1 11-0 17-0 18-2 17-0 17-3 15-0 17-3 17-3 17-0 16-1 14-0 14-3 15-2 14-2 14-3 10-0 17-1 16-4 14-2 18-1 15-2 14-0 15-1 14-3 14-1 1-0 9-2 16-0 16-1 18-2

PATRICK BUGANSKI
club practice, youre working two times harder than your opponent, Elliott said. Its not that wrestlers cant improve in a high school room, but since the club can draw from all over, the quality of workout partners is increased. When I go to my club practice, I have guys like (Oakcrests) Antonio (Mancella) or Jason Cohen from Egg Harbor Township, said Elliott, who goes to the club three times a week. And thats where I really get my practice because theyre mostly on my level. Increased mat time and quality of partner are perhaps the two biggest draws for a wrestler joining a club team. We have the advan-

113

1. Anthony Racobaldo, Williamstown 2. Sam Morina, Paulsboro 3. Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine 4. Zach Valcarce, Lower Cape May 5. John Amato, Timber Creek

120

1. Billy Ward, Buena 2. Ricky Carter, Timber Creek 3. Collin Mitchell, Eastern 4. Juan Rivera, Paulsboro 5. Newt Richardson, Schalick

LOCAL RECORDS
106
Zach Goranson, Millville Steven Bergamo, St. Augustine Jesse Swope, Cumberland Luis Rivera, Buena Sal Marandino, Buena Joshua Pineda, Vineland Tom Carney, Delsea 14-2 15-6 7-1 7-1 12-4 15-5 9-9 16-3 15-4 13-3 11-5 10-5 15-1 16-2 14-5 7-5 9-8

126

1. Kevin Devoy, Burlington Township 2. John VanBrill, Clearview 3. Ron Gentile, Paulsboro 4. D.J. Mele, Cherokee 5. Mike Jiampetti, Absegami

132

113

1. Brandon Keller, Timber Creek 2. Maaziah Bethea, Trenton Central 3. Will Elliott, Cumberland 4. Joe Lemerise, Cherokee 5. John Hennelly, Delsea

Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine Zach Nealis, Vineland John Gallo, Schalick Connor Palmieri, Buena Chad Kahn, Millville

138

120

1. Chad Walsh, Camden Catholic 2. Joe Esposito, St. Augustine 3. Ed Lenkowski, Clearview 4. Dillan Berghof, Buena 5. Jason Cohen, Egg Harbor Township

Newt Richardson, Schalick Billy Ward, Buena Danny DeTetta, Vineland John Rizzo, Vineland John Borelli, Delsea

126 132

145

no wrestlers Will Elliott, Cumberland John Hennelly, Delsea Elias Garcia, Millville Jarred Hodges, St. Augustine Jonathon Rodriguez, Vineland 15-1 16-4 7-4 9-6 11-8 17-1 17-1 10-5 11-9 9-8 19-1 13-5 9-5 9-7 10-9 21-1 13-3 14-4 5-5 18-2 17-4 12-4 5-3 9-7 15-4 13-6 9-2 7-3 9-3 5-3 11-8 17-1 17-3 16-3 15-1 13-4 13-7 7-5 6-6 18-2 9-5 9-5

THE INSIDE STUFF

Buena junior 106-pounder Sal Marandino went from being a junior varsity wrestler as a freshman to having a .500 record last year. Now, hes 11-6 and a major reason why Buena is still among the top teams in South Jersey and eyeing a Group II South title run. He recently spoke with The Mat Pack about wrestling, the season and a few other things. Question: What makes Doug Castellari successful as a coach? Answer: Experience. He has a lot of years of experience, he knows where to put people in the lineup, he knows what to do with teams in practice and he knows how to run a practice. Q: Whats it like have a big-name kid like Billy Ward on your team and close to your weight? A: Me and Billy work out a lot, were drill partners most of the time. Its good because hes close to my weight, if I have a question, he can relate. It helps out a lot. Q: What is it about Buena that you guys always seem to come on strong late in the season? A: I think in the beginning of the season we come off a little bit too confident and they dont realize they still have to work extremely hard. And you have to get a feel for things and eventually we get into our groove. Were hoping this year is the same thing, or better. Q: Did you see the movie,

Q&A
SAL MARANDINO
Buena 106 :: Junior

FANTASY WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

THIS WEEKS MATCHUP
Karl Haywood wrestles Joe Crawford of Hammonton at the 1993 regionals.

1. T.J. Miller, Camden Catholic 2. Curt Delia, Delsea 3. Antonio Mancella, Oakcrest 4. Dom Ruggiero, Timber Creek 5. Dan Cornew, Clearview

152

138

Each week we will feature a fantasy matchup between two of the best wrestlers from greater Cumberland County since 1985.

1. Raamiah Bethea, Trenton Central 2. Wayne Stinson, Northern Burlington 3. Mark Patterson, St. Augustine 4. Bryce Shade, Timber Creek 5. Christian Stackhouse, Riverside

Joe Esposito, St. Augustine Dillan Berhof, Buena Cruz Flores, Cumberland Jarett Pierotti, Buena Deon Henry, Schalick

145

160

1. Robert Schlitt, Haddonfield 2. Phil Bakuckas, Hammonton 3. Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea 4. Connor Donahue, Clearview 5. Austin Wetterau, Shawnee

Curt Delia, Delsea Richard Morris, Cumberland Rico Rivera, Millville Dylan Manno, Schalick Brandon Muessig, Vineland

152

Win-Win and what did you think? A: I did. I thought it was pretty cool. I know Alex Shaffer (the former New Jersey state champion who plays a troubled high school wrestler in the movie), I met him one time before, and hes exactly the same as in the movie. Q: Win-Win or Vision Quest, which is a better wrestling movie? A: Vision Quest because its an original, its a classic, you gotta love Vision Quest. Q: Whats the one food you miss most during wrestling season? A: Big pasta dishes. Macaroni and Cheese. Q: Who on your team would do best on Dancing with the Stars? A: Probably (senior 152pounder) Justin Pierotti because hes always worried about how he looks and hes always wearing fashionable clothes. Hed be good on that show.
Patrick Buganski

170

1. Steve Nelson, Haddon Township 2. Robert Shade, Timber Creek 3. Alex Gong, Absegami 4. Nick Elmer, Penns Grove 5. Nick Moore, Seneca

Mark Patterson, St. Augustine Ed Shockley, Millville Justin Pierotti, Buena David Gresk, Delsea Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea Tyler Sentman, St. Augustine Zach Rahl, Schalick Carl Hitzelberger, Schalick Derrick DeWoody, Delsea Steffen Rodriguez, Vineland James Bennett, St. Augustine Marcus Nelson, Vineland Garrett Craig, Delsea

160

182

JOE ALEXANDER
Class of 1999 RECORD: 126-11
ACCOMPLISHMENTS State: 1st twice, 2nd; Region: 1st, 2nd twice; District: 1st four times

KARL HAYWOOD
Class of 1995 RECORD: 109-15
ACCOMPLISHMENTS State: 2nd, 3rd Region:1st, 2nd District: 1st

1. Rory Bonner, West Deptford 2. David Williams, Hammonton 3. Tyler Miller, New Egypt 4. Thomas Forline, Moorestown 5. John Benard, Oakcrest

170

195

182

1. Carson Stack, Haddonfield 2. Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea 3. Anthony DeVito, Pennsville 4. Padric Lynch, Haddon Heights 5. Chris Lail, Kingsway

Marshall Brooks, Delsea Michael Coombs, Cumberland Cory Pietrzyk, St. Augustine

195

220

Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea Taiwahn Cosby, Vineland Sean Redden, Delsea

LAST WEEKS RESULTS

Bobby Hanson, Buena 124 votes (66 percent) Larry Smashey, Delsea: 64 votes (34 percent) Karl Haywood, Schalick: 121 votes (71 percent) Scott Kelley, Sacred Heart 49 votes (29 percent)

1. Mauro Correnti, Holy Cross 2. Marquis Jackson, Delran 3. Nick Pustizzi, Schalick 4. Brandon Belger, Middle Township 5. Roy Lucas, St. Joseph

220

Nick Pustizzi, Schalick Noah Repko, Buena Eugene Maisonave, Vineland Obie Kali, Millville Benjamin Henderson, Vineland Tre Porch, Delsea Jacob Paul, Cumberland Fred DeMary, Millville

HWT

HWT

1. Greg Webb, Timber Creek 2. Cody Melton, Northern Burlington 3. Tom Rementer, Clayton 4. Alex Thompson, Haddon Heights 5. Tre Porch, Delsea *Records through Wednesday

Vote for the winner at thedailyjournal.com/matpack. Check back next week for winners and a new matchup.

*Wrestlers must have at least a .500 record and a minimum of eight bouts. All the records and rankings are based on information through Wednesday.

MAT PACK online

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John Hennelly

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