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Volume 27 • Issue 569

JerseySportingNews.com

1/28/20 - 2/17/20

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Page 2 Jersey Sporting News • 1/28/20 - 2/17/20

A Day Fit for a King – Basketball and Scholarship

By Eugene Stewart

LONG BRANCH – Four years ago at an NAACP meeting at the Bucky James Community Center in downtown Long Branch, Lorenzo “Billy” Dangler, branch president, shared his vision for a fundraising event.

Blending several elements of the community to benefit the next generation, Dangler captured the interest of his fellow NAACP members. This event could marry a couple of local civic organizations, some local businesses, co-ed high school basketball talent and the basketball faithful of the area to benefit deserving high school students from across Monmouth County in their pursuit of higher education.

“Creating opportunities to help young people heading off to school with a few dollars for books, supplies or simple odds and ends” sparked this idea. The discussion at the meeting was very spirited and encouraging and on that Saturday morning, The Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship Basketball Classic was born.

With the first Classic played on the day designated for the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, the third Monday of January 2017, Long Branch High School played host to both girls and boys high school teams from across north and central New Jersey. Eight teams enrolled, making for four games on the day.

The idea was well received and in the first year of the Classic, the fundraiser was deemed a success.

Funds generated were used to assist the Greater Long Branch NAACP, the Martin Luther King Guild of Long Branch and the W.E.B. DuBois Economic Corporation to provide book scholarships for selected freshmen heading off to college in the fall. The scholarships have been distributed during the Greater Long Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet, held annually in the fall as well.

“Each year, we get a little bigger, have more hoops fans attend and grow the Classic. This makes it easier to fund our scholarships and put some money into the hands of the kids heading off to school. This is what it’s all about,” stated Dangler. Scholarships distributed to the youth over the years range between $100$200 per student since the inception of the Classic.

This year’s version of the Classic paired Bridgewater against Red Bank Regional, Ridge against Asbury Park, Toms River North vs. Jackson Memorial, Long Branch vs. Roselle Catholic (girls), Marist vs. Matawan, and closing out the day was host Long Branch boys against Rumson-Fair Haven. Twelve teams paired to make for six games, with the day beginning at 10am ending at 8pm. Attendance averaged 150250 per game.

There are many moving pieces to bring together a showcase such as this. There is no shortage to the number of people and organizations who are responsible for the successful day this year. Volunteers from the NAACP and MLK Guild of Greater Long Branch work with staff from LBHS with facilities, contacted athletic directors and coaches to secure teams for the showcase, and engaged local well-known DJ Skills, who provided a musical reprieve during play stoppage through the entire day. In addition, staffing of the snack stand provided an opportunity for local youth to obtain volunteer hours for high school and college pursuits.

“This helps to create an overall positive day for the entire community. The Dr. King’s birthday holiday is designed to be a day of service. This is just another way to do that,” said Dangler.

“We want to be the place to be in the tri-state area on Dr. King’s birthday for the best the area has to offer in high school basketball, boys and girls,” said Dangler when asked about the future of the Classic. “The better the matchups, the more people come out, the more scholarships we can fund. We’d love to give out $500-$1,000 scholarships. We’ll get there soon.”

For additional information about the Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship Basketball Classic either participating as a team, sponsor a component of the event or as a scholarship donor, contact Dangler at (877) 5300067 or bdangler@longbranch.org. Teams are already being sought for the fifth annual event in 2021.

Photos by Eugene Stewart

Salt Creek Grille Is For Lovers RUMSON – For more than 20 years, Valentines have fallen in love at the Jersey Shore’s most popular waterfront American grill. They have celebrated their first Valentine’s Day together; they have gotten engaged, married and returned – often with children! – to celebrate Cupid’s day with us again and again. That’s because we take love seriously! We strive to make every meal as memorable as the first.

And this year will be no different as Salt Creek Grille prepares to welcome lovers – and loving families – to its stunning riverfront setting and award-winning menu.

On this Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14, the bar/ lounge is open for cocktails at 4 pm and dinner will be served from 5 to 10 pm.

For your special day, Executive Chef Bob Belt has assembled a special al a carte menu filled with a wide variety of tasteful choices. A sampling of the menu includes: starters – lobster bisque ($8 for a cup; $10 bowl, gluten-free); Salt Creek Grille’s signature stuffed jumbo shrimp, stuffed with horseradish and bacon wrapped, served with chipotle

honey sauce ($16); PEI mussels with garlic, shallots, white wine chorizo, tomato broth and toasted focaccia ($13); Ahi Tuna stack, sashimi-style stacked with avocado, cucumber and wasabi and soy ($19 gluten-free); salads – house salad, Caesar salad over mesquite or traditional, and the wedge (all $9 each); entrées – prime rib with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables finished with pan jus ($34 gluten-free); cauliflower steak, oven roasted, red quinoa, butternut squash puree, toasted cashew tabbouleh chimichurri sauce ($18); crab cake dinner with whole grain mustard sauce, kale slaw, fried capers, asiago garlic fries ($27) and many more dishes to select from; desserts – flourless chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce (gluten-free); NY style cheesecake, graham cracker crust and mixed berry sauce; butter cake, vanilla ice cream; passion fruit crème brûlée with wine poached pears (gluten-free); fruit sorbet (gluten-free; all $9 each). Our regular children’s menu will be available too.

Salt Creek Grille is located at 4 Bingham Avenue, Rumson. For more information, call (732) 9339272 or visit www.saltcreekgrille.com or @saltcreekgrille_rumson.

1/28/20 - 2/17/20 • Jersey Sporting News

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Page 4 Jersey Sporting News • 1/28/20 - 2/17/20

10 Things to Consider Before Moving into a Community Association

By Kaitlyn Campanile New Jersey has an ever-growing number of condominium associations and homeowners’ associations, collectively referred to as “community associations.” Community associations are attractive to all different types of homeowners, whether it be the appeal of less lawncare or appealing amenities. Owning a home in a community association, however, comes with certain considerations that a buyer should consider.

Here are some tips to consider before making the decision to move into a community association: 1. Read the Association’s Governing Documents.

A community association will have a recorded set of Governing Documents which describe how the association is run, set forth rules and regulations, and provide valuable information to you regarding certain procedures. The association’s property management company or your realtor should be able to provide you with a copy of the Governing Documents before purchase.

2. Confirm Association Responsibility v. Your Responsibility.

Generally, owners of a condominium are responsible for the maintenance and repair of items that are located inside the unit. Home owners in an HOA are typically responsible for anything that is on your single-family property. The association is responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, and repair of all common areas in the community. But each community has different specific de-

tails in their by-laws, and you may be surprised at what falls under your responsibility. Things like windows, exterior siding, decks, and even roofs, may be an owner’s responsibility upon further inspection of the association’s by-laws and you should consider that in connection with your decision to buy.

3. Changes to Your Home Must be Approved by the Association.

You most likely need approval from the association’s Board of Trustees for any structural or cosmetic modifications that you may want to undertake. This definitely applies to major renovations like moving a wall, but it can also apply to much smaller changes, like repainting your front door a particular color. In other words, don’t assume that once you move in you will be able to change everything. Particularly in condominium associations, there is an emphasis put on maintaining architectural and aesthetic consistency within the community. After movein, make sure to err on the side of caution and request Board permission before undertaking modifications to your unit or home.

4. Ask About Rental Restrictions.

If there is any possibility that you may choose to rent out your unit or home, you need to find out what the association’s rules are regarding rentals. Many associations have minimum lease durations (i.e. one year, for example), sub-letting prohibitions, and may also prohibit

listing your unit or home for rent on sites like Airbnb. In addition, many associations have a “cap” on the number of rentals permitted in the association.

cial assessments can quickly add up, so be sure to find out if there are any foreseeable special assessments coming down the pipeline.

5. Pet-Restricted and Pet-Prohibited Communities.

Many community associations have rules in place regarding pets. Some associations place limits on pets (i.e. one dog or cat per unit, weight/size limit on dog, no pets in the elevators, etc.), while others prohibit pets altogether.

There are certain laws in place to protect owners that need an assistance animal, and that require an association to permit an accommodation accordingly. Having a non-approved pet in a pet-restricted or pet-prohibited community association can be a fineable offense.

9. Be Aware of Parking Limitations.

Particularly in condominium associations, you may have limited parking. Take note if you will have a garage and/ or driveway, if you have assigned street or parking lot spaces, and where street parking is permitted. Due to limits on parking availability, many associations employ the use of a parking system, such as a decal that goes on cars, and each owner is given a certain amount of said decals. When you have visitors, they may struggle to find parking anywhere near your unit.

6. Be Prepared to Make Timely Maintenance Payments.

Community associations assess maintenance fees to all owners. These fees are utilized to run the community and can be to provide services such as lawn care, pool maintenance, and snow removal. Check the due date of the monthly maintenance payment, and be prepared to pay it each month, and on time. Many associations have provisions in their bylaws that allow them to assess late fees for missed or late maintenance fee payments, and strict collection procedures that may allow for the collection of missed payments by way of liens, judgments, and even foreclosures.

10. Avoid Getting Fined.

Many community associations have provisions in their by-laws that permit the imposition of fines, under certain circumstances, for non-compliance with the association’s rules. And many associations take enforcement of their rules very seriously. If your association has a rule that garbage cans must be taken in at a certain time or that smoking is not permitted in common areas and you do not abide, for example, you may receive a violation notice and be in danger of being fined. Depending on the association’s Governing Documents, fines may quickly add up – some associations allow fines upwards of $50 per day for violations that are not rectified, as long as the association follows the proper protocol of notifying an owner and providing notice of Alternative Dispute Resolution availability, when applicable.

7. Maintenance Fees May Increase.

Make sure to ask what the current maintenance fees are set at and ask how often they have increased over time. Some associations increase their maintenance fees slightly every year, while others manage to go a decade or more without increasing fees. You’ll want to know what the prior history has been to make the determination that you are able to afford to live there.

8. Ask About Special Assessments.

Ask the property management company or your realtor if the association has any special assessments coming up.

Special assessments may periodically be assessed to all owners for the association undertaking a project that is outside of the normal operating budget or for undertaking a project that the association cannot otherwise fund.

This may be for situations such as roof replacements or siding replacements in a condominium association. Spe-

Living in a community association can provide many perks and be a great experience for many homeowners.

Be sure to consider these tips when contemplating purchasing a home in a community association so that you can make an informed decision as to whether a particular association is the right fit for you and your family.

Kaitlyn R. Campanile, Esq. is an associate attorney at Davison, Eastman, Muñoz, Paone, P.A. in the Business Law and Litigation department. She has experience representing condominium associations and homeowners’ associations throughout New Jersey. She may be reached at kcampanile@respondlaw.com or (732) 462-7170.

SHORE CONFERENCE BASKETBALL RECAP

By Mike Ready

BOYS TOP 10

GIRLS TOP 10

No. 1 MANASQUAN (14-1, 7-0) – The Warriors are still without Player of the Year favorite Alex Galvan, who’s still nursing a high ankle sprain, but to their credit really haven’t missed a beat. After nearly upsetting No.2 Roselle Catholic last Saturday, they easily took care of No. 18 St. Peters Prep by 21 points. Then on Tuesday they coasted to a 78-46 win over Shore Regional with sophomore guard Ben Roy scoring a career-high 30 points.

No. 1 SAINT JOHN VIANNEY (12-0, 8-0) No. 1 in the state – The undefeated Lancers continue to roll with wins over No. 10 Neptune, Ocean Township and Middletown North by an average of 50 points. Ranked No. 1 in the state, the Lancers have notable out-of-conference wins against Staten Island Academy, Gill St. Bernard’s, Riverside Baptist (MD), and Washington Township. Sophomore guard Madison St. Rose leads the team in scoring (16 pts) and rebounds (6) per game.

No. 2 TOMS RIVER NORTH (13-2, 8-0) – The Mariners easily disposed of No. 8 Wall, 66-50, at Saturday’s Coaches vs. Cancer Showcase at Southern. They then destroyed Jackson Memorial, 76-40, on Monday as they ran their A South winning streak to a remarkable 67 consecutive games. Jakari Spence leads the team in scoring averaging almost 24 points per game. The Mariners pushed their streak to 68 games behind Najae Hallenbeck’s monster game in a 74-54 drubbing of Toms River East.

The senior center scored 30 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in the win.

No. 3 MIDDLETOWN SOUTH (12-1, 7-0) – The Eagles beat Freehold Township, 87-62, to complete a first trip through the Class A North schedule. Senior guard James Anderson is leading the team in scoring averaging close to 17 points per game.

No. 4 MARLBORO (10-4, 6-2) – Sophomore Jay Seidler scored 29 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Mustangs’ 82-66 win over Howell on Tuesday. Marlboro has been playing without Jon Spatola but still beat Freehold Township and Neptune prior to beating Howell.

On Thursday, senior Alex Ratner, averaging 22 points a game, matched a career high with 36 points, including the 1,000th point in his varsity career; however, the Mustangs fell to CBA, 79-75, as the Colts reeled off their third straight win. 6-foot-5 sophomore Jack Seidler is averaging 22 points and nine rebounds a game as his breakout season picks up steam.

No. 5 HOLMDEL (10-2, 6-1) – The Hornets won their fifth game in a row routing No. 9 Red Bank Catholic by 18 points handing the Caseys their second consecutive loss after reeling off three straight wins. The win keeps Holm-

No. 2 RED BANK CATHOLIC (12-1, 7-0) No. 2 in the state – The Caseys have reeled off 10 straight wins since their 10-point loss to Long Island Lutheran, ranked No. 1 in New York and fourth nationally. They also have Shore Conference wins over No. 5 Rumson-Fair Haven, No. 7 Manasquan and No. 4 St. Rose by 15 or more points.

MANASQUAN’S ALEX GALVAN Photo by Tom Smith del just one game back of No. 1 Manasquan in Class A Central. Alex Baker leads the Hornets in scoring hitting for 15 points per game. In their win over RBC, senior Derek Chan had a game-high 20 points.

No. 6 MANALAPAN (7-3, 5-2) – The Braves won their fifthstraight game with an impressive 73-32 win over Long Branch. Senior Ryan Knoor, who’s averaging 21 points per game, led all scorers with 15 points while senior Chris Clark added 14. The Braves have upcoming games with Middletown South and Marlboro and a couple wins there and they’ll be in the hunt for the A North title.

No. 7 WALL (10-4, 8-0) – After taking a 10-point loss to No. 2 TRN, the Knights bounced back with impressive wins against Matawan and Red Bank Regional. Quinn Calabrese tops Wall in scoring with a 14 point average. Calabrese had a game-high 23 points and Pat Lacey added 16 while Logan Peters had nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.

No. 8 MATAWAN (7-5, 6-1) – After winning four in a row and five of six, the Huskies lost two in a row, including a 62-52 loss to Wall. Wall outscored Matawan, 26-13, in the second quarter and that did them in. Senior Ethan Okello dropped a team-high 16 points in the loss and John Buekers added 14. Buekers averages nine rebounds a game.

No. 3 MANCHESTER (12-2, 8-0) No. 6 in the state – The Hawks’ only losses are to out-of-state powers St. Francis (MD), ranked 16th in the nation by eight points and Montverde (FL), ranked 44th nationally. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier with upcoming games against Winston-Salem Christian, ranked 19th in North Carolina and No. 3 Trenton Catholic. Junior Destiny Adams leads the team in scoring (18) and rebounding (11.7).

No. 4 ST. ROSE (9-4,6-1) No. 5 in the state – St. Rose has won three in a row following their 41-40 loss to No. 4 Cherokee (13-0), including a 16-point win over No. 7 Manasquan. They have quality wins over No. 8 Rutgers Prep and No. 10 Rumson-Fair Haven and Fort Myers (FL) and Rock Bridge (MO). Senior guard Brynn Farrell leads the team in scoring averaging 24.4 points per game.

No. 5 RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN (10-2, 6-2) No. 10 in the state – Since their back-to-back losses to RBC and St. Rose, the Bulldogs have reeled off six wins in a row, including wins against Bishop Eustace and No. 12 St. Thomas Aquinas.

The Bulldogs have been without injured standout Grace Munt all season and the team has done a nice job stepping up in her absence. Senior guard Paige Slaven leads the team in scoring averaging 12.7 points per game, while senior center Lucy Adams averages 9.3 rebounds a game and 3.5 blocks.

No. 6 RED BANK REGIONAL (10-2, 6-1) No. 14 in the state – The Bucs’ two losses have been to Manchester and SJV. Since

No. 7 MANASQUAN (8-4, 4-3) No. 11 in the state – With only two seniors on the team, this young Warriors team is learning on the run and last week they were taught a tough lesson losing by 16 and 18 points, respectively, to St. Rose and Red Bank Catholic. They rebounded nicely with a 51-39 win over Shore Regional, but face a hard road ahead with many of the top teams in the state on the schedule.

No. 8 MARLBORO (10-2, 8-0) – The red-hot Mustangs have won seven games in a row and have a one-game lead in A North. Saturday’s game against RFH will be a good measuring stick for Marlboro moving forward. Junior forward Jessica Riepe leads the team in scoring with a 13.3 average and five rebounds.

No. 10 NEPTUNE (8-4, 5-3) – The Fliers have rebounded from a brutal stretch where they lost three in a row to Marlboro, Red Bank Regional and Saint John Vianney, with wins against Midwood (NY) and Colts Neck. They’ll be favored in the next four games before facing the Bucs and Lancers in the back end of the home-and-home series.

No. 10 RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN (8-3, 4-2) – The Bulldogs make their first appearance in the top 10 after reeling off three straight wins by an average of 20 points. In their 72-47 win over Long Branch, senior Geoff Schroeder scored a game-high 29 points. The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them with upcoming games against Marlboro, Manasquan, RBC and Middletown South.

TOMS RIVER NORTH Photo by Tom Smith

their loss to the Lancers, they’ve won five straight, including New Dorp (NY) and No. 10 Neptune. Junior Chloe Teter (14.4 pts.), Taylor Christian (13.7 pts.) and Amelia Medolla (10.5 pts.) give the Bucs a nice one, two, three scoring punch.

No. 9 JACKSON MEMORIAL (10-2, 9-0) – The Jaguars have a 2.5 game lead in A South and have won five in a row, including an 11-point win over second-place Toms River North. Kristina Donza scored a game-high 31 points and pulled down 11 boards in the win over the Mariners. For the season, Donza averages 26.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

No. 9 CBA (7-8, 4-4) – The Colts worked themselves back into the top 10 with three straight wins, including an impressive 79-75 win over No. 4 Marlboro on Thursday. Colin Farrell had a team-high 24 points and while junior Dane Moran added 17 as four Colts scored in double digits.

BUBBLE TEAMS: Red Bank Catholic, Saint John Vianney, Ranney, Mater Dei Prep, Pt. Boro, Southern

MANCHESTER’S DESTINY ADAMS

ST. ROSE’S MIKAYLA ANDREWS

BUBBLE TEAMS: Toms River North, Middletown South, Freehold Township, Trinity Hall, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Long Branch

1/28/20 - 2/17/20 • Jersey Sporting News

The Jersey Four To Bring Valentine’s Day Dinner Show To iPlay America

Page 5

RBR’s Theo Rennard Wins Big at Monmouth County Swim Championships, But is Not Finished Yet

P O E N D I N N P O E N A D G I N N R A G G R G

By Robert Solomon

LITTLE SILVER – As a member of a swim team, a person has to be versatile. There are numerous events involving different skills and strokes. The swimmers must also be able to mentally focus on competing as an individual and as a member of a relay. Only accomplished swimmers are able to mix the necessary skills and mental toughness to excel. Red Bank Regional swimmer Theo Rennard is one of those special swimmers.

ference Championships and the State Championships.

Rennard was selected as the boys MVP of the Monmouth County Swim Championships, which he feels is his biggest success so far this season. “It felt great (to win the MVP). I’ve been competing against my brother (Sammy) for the past two seasons, but this year I was able to win. It felt very satisfying,” Rennard stated.

2ND LOCATION IN HOWELL SEPTEMBER 201 2ND LOCATION IN HOWELL SEPTEMBER 2018

FREEHOLD – The Jersey Four is set to return to The Event Center at iPlay America for a Valentine’s Day Dinner Show. Dance and dine with your Valentine during a special performance in Freehold on Friday, Feb.14.

2248 US South, Howell, NJ (Ideal Plaza) • 732-966-3441 2248 US 9 South, Howell, NJ 9(Ideal Plaza) • 732-966-3441 The cast is being brought back to The Event Center at iPlay America by popular demand after their unforgettable show in 2019. The Jersey Four will take the guests in attendance on a journey from Frankie Valli’s solo career to present day Four Seasons shows. The highly praised act will perform songs from their collection such as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Walk Like a Man,” among others.

The Jersey Four always deliver their very own interpretation of the classic hits on stage.

With their unique vocals, authentic costumes, and the fabulous stage show, it will spark romance for couples of all ages.

“We are looking to give everyone at iPlay America an unforgettable experience as they dance and dine with their Valentine,” said Jessica Schwartz, vice president of Marketing and Sales at iPlay America. “The Jersey Four will hit the stage to recreate the famous sound of The Four Seasons during this special celebration.”

Doors will open at 6pm and the event will start at 7pm. Tickets including reserved seating, preferred seating, and exclusive Skydeck seating are now available for purchase at https://www.iplayamerica.com/event/the-jersey-four/.

Rennard is a junior who has been swimming competitively for nine years. According to RBR varsity swim coach Jennamarie DeVito, one of Rennard’s strengths is his distance swimming. “He is a good long distance swimmer. His best events are the 200 and 500 freestyle,” said DeVito.

“I have a lot of endurance. I also have a lot of willpower and want to see myself succeed,” said Rennard. “My best event is the 500 free.”

He excelled in his strongest event, the 500 free and won his race by an amazing 18 seconds. “Theo is a very mentally tough athlete. Even when he is not in a close battle with another competitor in his heat, he is able to push himself and race against the clock.” DeVito said.

Rennard also won the 200 free with a time three seconds better than the second-place finisher.

“He gets really excited for the big meets. He welcomes the competition.” said DeVito.

RBR’S THEO RENNARD Photo courtsey of RBR

DeVito emphasizes the point. “He holds the school record for the 500 freestyle which is the longest distance swim event in high school competition,” she said. She mentioned that Rennard also competes individually in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly.

“Theo is a self-motivated, hardworking, humble student-athlete,” said DeVito.

Rennard is the type of athlete who is always looking to be better. “He is open to constructive criticism because he is always looking to improve and ‘raise the bar.’”

P O E N D ING N A R G

Rennard also sees himself as a hardworking swimmer. “I know I put all my effort into my swimming practices and I think it pays off,” he said.

Every athlete has weakness, and Rennard is no different. “I tend to get into my head and overthink my races, especially in the big meets,” he explained.

2ND LOCATION IN HOWELL SEPTEMBER 2018

DeVito spoke highly of him as a great team member. “He works so hard and has a great team attitude,” she said. “He always wants to perform his best for our team.”

2248 US 9 South, Howell, NJ (Ideal Plaza) • 732-966-3441 “I am a supportive teammate. I am always cheering for everyone else and am

Rennard explained, “I definitely do (get excited). It is a different atmosphere. In the big meets there are a lot of teams and it is a different level of competition.”

“Theo is looking forward to race at Shore Conference and then in the state tournament,” DeVito said. Rennard added that he is striving to get All-Shore.

He also wants to win all his events and drop his times at Shore Conference.

“I’m also hoping to do well in the state finals,” he added.

Rennard is not the only swimmer in his family. His brother Sammy swam for Christian Brothers Academy until he graduated last year. Ironically, Sammy competed in the 200 and 500 free just as Theo does.

“I liked it (competing in the same events). The last few years it gave me a different level of motivation. It gave me the goal of beating my brother,” he said.

“Yes for sure we motivated each other,” Rennard continued. “Sammy was faster because he was two years older. People brought up that he didn’t want to get beat by his younger brother. It motivated me to want to beat my older brother.”

team oriented,” Rennard stated.

From Basics to Champions

DeVito said that Rennard is usually the anchor swimmer in all RBR relays. “It (being anchor) is a lot of stress especially in close relays but I like it,” Rennard explained.

The brothers only competed against each other in two meets per season. Those meets were the Monmouth County Championships and the Shore Conference Championships. “Other than these two meets they are completely separate throughout the high school season,” explained DeVito.

From Basics to Champions

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Not only is Rennard a superior swimmer, but he is also a good student. “He is a very hard worker and conscientious about his schoolwork. He is always accountable for his academics,” DeVito said.

“I think they both welcomed the competition because they knew they would push each other.” DeVito added. “Theo always knew that he is going to have a great race against Sammy. He geared up for it.”

Some wonder if removing the sibling competition would affect Rennard’s motivation. He explained, “Yes, but I have changed in a good way. Without the goal (of beating my brother), I have become a better swimmer. I had to learn how to pace myself without anyone else to push me. I still want to be the best.

I have not lost any motivation.”

© George Tiedemann/GT Images.

Rennard is an exciting swimmer to watch. “He has a way of electrifying the crowd when he dives while anchoring a relay,” said DeVito. “Theo is known for never giving up in a race and being the RBR anchor swimmer in all relays.

There have been numerous races where Theo dives in last and closes the gap to out-touch his opponent,” she added.

Rennard’s hard work is one factor2248 for his success, but there are others, ac-NJ (Ideal DeVito confirmed sentiment, “Theo’s motivation is to race his best every US 9 South, Howell, Plaza)that • 732-966-3441 cording to DeVito. “Aside from working hard, he has great mental toughness. race.”

Often he will be racing against himself and the clock,” she said.

Rennard has been speaking to several colleges including Florida State, MichBesides the school’s individual meets there are several major meets where RBR igan and UNC at Chapel Hill, but his goal as of now is the University of swimmers also compete. One of these meets is the Monmouth County Swim Florida. As he continues to improve his skill set, he should meet any goal he Championships which was held on Jan. 4. The others include the Shore Consets for himself.

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Page 6 Jersey Sporting News • 1/28/20 - 2/17/20

STANDOUT WRESTLER RYAN ZIMMERMAN HAS ALREADY CEMENTED HIS LEGACY AT LONG BRANCH

By Mike Ready

LONG BRANCH – Over the years, Long Branch High School’s storied wrestling program has produced some of New Jersey’s all-time great wrestlers with many of them moving on to gain national recognition at the collegiate level.

Throughout the years these student-athletes have helped Long Branch build a reputation as a wrestling juggernaut while capturing three group and six sectional titles and 13 district team championships.

Individually, nine Long Branch wrestlers have been crowned state champions, seven have placed second, and another seven wrestlers took third in state competition.

It’s been 10 years, however, since Long Branch wrestlers Scott Festejo took home the gold medal, Doug Cornell placed second, and current Rumson-Fair Haven assistant coach and Cornell alum Billy George claimed third place in the states.

That 2010 team by the way was one of Long Branch’s all-time great teams winning the group and sectional titles, as well as the district and Shore Conference Tournament championships.

Two years ago, heavyweight Kevin Cerruti placed seventh and Peter Wersinger placed eighth at 195 pounds, but that’s been it for medals in the last decade.

Starting with the districts, 3000 wrestlers begin competition for medals in the state tournament – first place through eighth place get medals. Then there’s

the regions to get through before finally reaching the states, where 32 wrestlers in each of the 14 weight classes (448 total wrestlers) will compete for medals.

So, just advancing to the states is an unbelievable accomplishment, while medaling is a phenomenal feat.

Senior Ryan Zimmerman has qualified for the states three straight years, ever since he first stepped on the mats at Long Branch as freshman, but has yet to reach the podium. He’ll be one of the favorites at 138 pounds in Atlantic City the first weekend of March.

“Ryan has a great body of work this year,” said longtime Long Branch head coach Danny George. “He’s put himself in a great position to really get to the podium which where he wants to be. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the country. At the end of the day though, he has to be mentally and physically prepared for the districts and regions just to qualify.

You got to take those baby steps and just chew off one match at a time just to get there. It’s important to feel great at the end of the season and that’s not easy all the time. You need to be in the right place at the right time come March.”

Zimmerman is currently ranked No. 1 in the Shore and No. 2 in the state in the 138-pound weight class and is undefeated so far this season, posting a spotless 23-0 record. He’s a four-year varsity wrestler and entered the 2019-20 season with a career record of 106-22, and is a three-time state qualifier.

“Ryan has been a four-year starter, two-year captain and really embodies everything the program is

about,” said George. “He’s extremely hard working and dedicated in season and out of season to being the best person as well as wrestler he can be.

second at the state tournament at 138 pounds last season and will be one of his main competitors for the gold in the states.

“He has unique style but he’s just as competitive and tough and hard working as the great wrestlers that have come through the program are,” said George of Zimmerman. “What makes Ryan work and tick and what makes the program and team better are the same characteristics that we’ve had in our great wrestlers throughout the years and that’s awesome to see.”

Zimmerman locked Eli-Perez in a cradle and won by a fall at the 1:50 mark of the first period for the epic win.

A year ago when Zimmerman went 35-5 with 22 pins, he was the District 23 and the Region 6 champion at 126 pounds before reaching the second round of wrestlebacks in Atlantic City.

As a sophomore wrestling at 113 pounds, he finished with a 38-7 record while placing second in both the district and region tournaments.

He burst on the scene as a freshman when he won 33 matches against 10 defeats while sounding the warning bell that he was someone to be reckoned with for the next three years. During his freshman campaign he was the runner-up in District 23 and took fourth in Region 6.

138LB - LONG BRANCH’S RYAN ZIMMERMAN Photos by Fran Attardi

Earlier this season, Zimmerman proved he’d be a tough out in Atlantic City with a statement win at the Mustang Classic when he took down Paulsboro’s Jacob Eli-Perez to win the 138-pound title. Eli-Perez was

“That was a tremendous match for Ryan,” said George. “He’s done everything asked of him from his parents to his coaches to his club coaches and it’s great to have him get something special to show that all his work is paying off — it was a rubber stamp. It gave him confidence, showed him he belonged and that if he wrestles at his absolute best, that’s what he’s capable of.”

Zimmerman just recently signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle for American University, which is a D1 program competing in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. The program has produced 16 NCAA All-Americans and one national champion.

“That was a special day for not only Ryan, but for us,” said George. “He worked extremely hard to earn that scholarship and we know he’ll represent Long Branch to the highest degree not only as a wrestler but as a person.

“He’s a leader and an excellent student,” George added. “He’s always working with the younger kids always trying to get them to do the right thing whether it’s academically, practice or in the halls – he’s a good role model and a great face of the program.”

1/28/20 - 2/17/20 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 7

RBR WRESTLING COACH SCOTT FERRIS WINS 200TH MATCH; NAMED NJ WRESTLING COACH OF THE YEAR

By Robert Solomon

LITTLE SILVER – Longevity is usually an indication that a person is successful and happy with their job. For a high school coach, it also demonstrates the ability to work well with student-athletes. However, with the additional duties of teaching, staying on for a long period of time as a coach becomes a challenge and causes many coaches to leave early. For those who stay, the success and accolades begin to build. Red Bank Regional is lucky to have coach Scott Ferris who is an example of this point.

Ferris, who is completing his 20th year as the head wrestling coach at RBR, has had a most eventful few weeks. On Jan. 15 he earned his 200th career win (against Asbury Park). And on Jan. 10 he was named the National Federation of High School Association’s (NFHS) New Jersey Wrestling Coach of the Year.

one-on-one with me and found the areas I was good at and we focused and improved on them,” Ferris explained. That system and hard work paid off, as he was a three-time NCAA Division III National Qualifier.

Ferris also felt getting wins to help the team was important. “Making the tournaments was a lot of fun also,” he said.

Going into coaching was the next logical step for Ferris. “I want to help out others and see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they are a success. I also want to teach kids to do the moves that I was able to do,” he explained.

Ferris describes himself as a hardworking coach who is dedicated to his athletes. “I never want the kids to think I’m giving up on them,” he said. He also sees himself going beyond just busi-

ness as usual. “I am looking to help the kids have fun. I am always looking to find new ways to improve myself as a coach.

Ferris was also proud of coaching Brandon Scott, a blind wrestler who was a twotime district champion and placed fourth in the region twice under Ferris’s tutelage.

ment. “It really is a special number because not too many coaches get to 200,” he said. “It shows I’ve been successful in the sport.”

“I think they respond real well to me. They appreciate all of the hard work we (Ferris and his coaching staff) put in for them,” Ferris said. He explained that he is always willing to stay after practice to work with any wrestler to help them become better.

Even with all of these accomplishments, Ferris puts one highlight above the rest.

“Being able to watch my son wrestle is my biggest highlight,” he said. His son is a senior wrestler at Wall. Ferris’s daughter is a wrestler at Wall Middle School. The wrestling tradition runs deep in the Ferris household.

Another milestone was being selected as NFHS NJ High School Wrestling Coach of the Year. “The NFHS is the governing body of rules for all high school sports throughout the country,” explained Ferris. “I was recommended by the NJSIAA.”

In any 20-year career there are numerous highlights. Ferris has many, but was able to name a few immediately. Last year was the first time since 1996 that the Bucs made it to the state sectionals. He was selected District 22 Coach of the Year a few years ago, and coaching Lamar Brown (who placed fourth in the New Jersey State Championships) are just a few.

Fresh out of college, Ferris joined the RBR staff and was also hired as the head wrestling coach. “I took over a struggling program. One of my goals was to keep a high number (of wrestlers) on the team,” said Ferris. He took this to the next level and helped build a successful program.

Another accomplishment Ferris can add to his resume is helping to organize the first New Jersey girls wrestling regional tournament. The tournament took place last February and was hosted by RBR. There were 305 girls from 95 schools who participated in the event.

He felt that with the amount of work she did, there should be a place for her to compete. This athlete made it to the finals and placed sixth in the state.

RBR does have a girls wrestling team, also coached by Ferris. This year there is only one wrestler because four wrestlers from last year graduated, and several decided not to come out for the team again. Ferris is looking to improve its numbers next year.

“I was pretty intense (as a wrestler). I was always focused and determined to do my best. I always wanted to be the best,” explained Ferris.

His wrestling career took off at SUNY Cortland. “I had a coach who worked

Although he didn’t think about it much before, he is proud of this accomplish-

Being selected for this award is extremely important to Ferris. “It means a lot because it is a national federation,” he said.

“People saw all the hard work my assistants and I put into the sport.”

“My athletic director (Del DalPra) and I did it because I had a female athlete on my team. She was talented but couldn’t beat the boys. We wanted to make this (the tournament) happen for this girl,” explained Ferris.

Wrestling has been in Ferris’s blood since a young age. His father coached the local recreation team where Ferris started wrestling at the age of five. “My father was the coach and then I had success,” said Ferris. This success encouraged him to continue to wrestle at the next level.

Ferris continued his wrestling career at West Morris Central High School in Long Valley. “I was an OK wrestler (in high school). I did go to the regional qualifier,” he recalled.

Ferris didn’t think he would reach 200 wins. “I didn’t think I’d be coaching that long but I still have the desire,” he said.

His 200th win snuck up on him. “I never really thought about it and didn’t even realize it was that close.”

RED BANK REGIONAL WRESTLING Photo courtsey of Red Bank Regional

Ferris and his son travel the country racing go-karts and are national champions. This does not distract him from his high school wrestling coaching career.

“I plan to keep coaching, keep winning matches and to help grow the sport,” he concluded.

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RUMSON – From 2014 to 2018, the Rumson-Fair Haven wrestling program recorded a total of 22 wins.

During that time period the struggling wrestling program was an after-thought as the school’s highly successful football and basketball programs, among others, grabbed the spotlight by bringing home numerous state titles that helped win the affection of its studentathletes as well as its raucous student body cheering section.

“We’ve always had individual success but it’s the numbers that really hurt us,” said Heller. “The year we had two wins we regularly forfeited six weight classes. It’s really difficult to win when you forfeit nearly half the weight classes.”

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After winning just two matches in the 2017-18 season, Rumson made significant strides as a program last season and it’s carried it over into this season.

Behind arguably the best wrestler in program history, Nick Addison – now a freshman wrestler at Stanford, the Bulldogs went 12-7 overall, 10-6 in the Shore Conference and placed second in A Central with a 5-1 record a year ago. Addison was a three-time district champion, 2019 region champion and placed fourth in the state in both 2018 and 2019, and finished with a 42-2 career record.

“The biggest thing was changing the culture,” said Bulldog head coach Bryan Heller. “At Rumson there are a lot of very successful sports, so when you have a culture in a school with sectional and group and division champions, it was really difficult being the losing team and trying to get people excited about joining that losing team. It really was just changing the minds and perception of the student body that this was a good thing to be part of.”

In his seventh season at Rumson, Heller could easily be in that conversation with Addison as Rumson’s alltime great. He finished with a career record of 118-12 in his four seasons at Rumson, where he was a twotime district champion, two-time regional champion and two-time state placer. He then wrestled at Penn State where he posted an 81-40 career colligate record.

During that two-win 2017-18 season, RFH had only eight or nine varsity wrestlers for matches that consist of 14 weight classes. So right off the bat, they were forced to forfeit five or six matches, depending on who was available and at what weight class.

Taking over a losing program as Heller did can be a daunting task for anyone, but Heller is obsessed with wrestling. He eats, drinks and sleeps wrestling and he’s quick to let you know that Rumson’s recent success is no fluke and moving forward he expects the program to compete for championships on a yearly basis.

“We definitely have higher goals as a program,” said Heller. “We want to be part of that winning culture at Rumson where sectional titles are the benchmark. We’re just getting started; we want to be a perennial top 20 team in the state. This is not just a one-off. We have more kids coming in than we’re graduating. This is just a step in the building process. We’re really excited.”

The Bulldogs also moved into the Shore Conference Top 10 a few weeks ago, currently at No. 7, for the first time in recent memory and people have begun to take notice with attendance at matches skyrocketing.

“We’ve promoted the sport with tee shirt giveaways,” said Heller. “We had our third one this year and that brought the whole school to the match and people realized this was a fun thing to watch and could be a cool thing to be part of and that has helped transform us.”

Part of Rumson’s resurgence can be attributed to the popularity of Rumson’s feeder program, RFH Youth Wrestling, which has seen a resurgence in recent years under the direction of former Long Branch and Ohio State standout wrestler Thomas Skove and it serves as a pipeline to the high school.

“We have over 115 kids in the program this year which is insane,” said Heller. “It’s essentially three age groups of kids that we’re developing. We have a bunch of coaches that help out, including Billy George.”

145LB - RFH’S MAX BRIGNOLA VS HOLMDEL’S JOHN STEELE George is Heller’s right-hand man at the varsity level and was a former Long Branch wrestling and football standout before wrestling for Cornell, where he posted a 54-35 career record.

“Billy has a little bit of a different background and our coaching styles vary so that has also contributed to our success,” said Heller.

Heller expects eight kids to come into the program next year from the youth program as it continues to grow in popularity.

This season the Bulldogs brought back the bulk of last year’s team, including six wrestlers with 20 or more wins and another two with double-digit wins.

Junior Max Brignola was 39-6 a year ago while taking first in District 18 and third in Region 5 and is currently 18-0 wrestling at 145 pounds.

“Max is all in, he’ll do anything it takes,” said Heller.

“He’s all in at taking the extra steps; he wrestles year round. He was on a team this summer that consisted of the 100 best wrestlers in the state. He’s not afraid to wrestle anyone. He’s looking for those best matches all the time. He just loves the sport and loves to compete so it’s exciting to have him.”

Football players Jack Kelly and Liam Horan have found that their wrestling skills translate well onto the football field and others are taking notice.

195LB - RFH’S LIAM HORAN VS HOLMDEL’S VICTOR WLADICA Photos by Tom Smith

“The process of turning the program around is multifaceted,” said Heller. “Our feeder program is thriving but we needed to get our football program to buy in. We need upper weights to come from that program and I think we got that buy in. Head coach Jerry Schulte was a wrestling coach and he was preaching it. The football players who have crossed over and found success are good examples for the others.”

Horan, a senior wrestling at 195, posted a 28-10 record a year ago and is 14-2 this season, while Kelly

went 27-14 last season and is 16-1 wrestling at 170 pounds this season.

As a sophomore last season, Kelly took first place in District 18 and placed sixth in Region 5 at 170, while Horan was the runner-up in District 18 and placed sixth in Region 5 at 195 pounds.

Sophomore Shay Addison had a breakout freshman year when he posted a 27-8 record and has continued his rise this season with a perfect 18-0 record.

Junior Tyler Brignola was 22-14 last season, placing third in District 18 at 152 pounds and is 15-2 this season at the same weight.

Sophomore Aiden Shaughnessy, wrestling at 113 pounds, is 14-2; senior Tristan Izzo is 13-4 at 120 pounds; and senior Mike Ponenti is currently 10-2 at 152 pounds.

Last week Rumson had a program-defining win when they overcame a 30-15 deficit with five bouts remaining to defeat long-time Shore power Raritan, 37-30. Kelly’s pin gave them a 33-30 lead, and then Horan clinched the win with a major decision.

“We hadn’t beaten Raritan since I was wrestling in the program,” said Heller. “We’ve had to fight our way back to get there, so that one felt good. For the program, it’s kind of like one of those notches that you check off – we got that one done.”

Rumson can clinch A Central for the first time since 2003 with a win over Manasquan on Feb. 5 in a match they’ll be heavily favored in.

“We probably should talk about it more,” said Heller referencing the division title. “But really we’re focused on the sectional title. The kids are excited about it but the mood in the locker room is that this would be another stepping stone for us, but we feel we were expected to win the division and we’re really in the hunt for a sectional title. That’s what we talked about on the first day of practice.”

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1/28/20 - 2/17/20 • Jersey Sporting News

Page 9

SJV WRESTLER DEAN PETERSON IS THE “BEAST OF THE EAST”

By Robert Solomon

HOLMDEL – The Beast of the East is a national wrestling tournament held at the University of Delaware. First-year Saint John Vianney wrestling coach Chris Notte explained that teams come from all over the country to compete in the well-respected and prestigious tournament, which draws college scouts who are looking at the high school talent. This year Dean Peterson became the first wrestler from Saint John Vianney, in any weight class, to win the tournament.

Peterson is a junior wrestler at SJV and competes in the 120-pound weight class.

Last March he won the NJ state championship for his weight class. NJ.com has ranked him the No. 1 NJ high school pound-for-pound wrestler, and he is the No. 3 ranked wrestler in the 120-pound weight class in the nation, according to intermatwrestling.com. He continues his dominant career at SJV with an 11-0 start to the 2019-2020 season.

“Dean is a very intense, relentless and athletic athlete,” said Notte. “He is not the most technical wrestler, but his will to score rises above his opponents’ skill set and his technique.”

On his way to winning the state championship last year, Peterson was looking forward to competing in the Beast of the East wrestling tournament in his sophomore

year. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with a concussion and had to sit the tournament out. It was a bitter disappointment for him. “I do think he wanted to make some noise last year but was a little upset that he had to sit it out,” explained Notte.

“Yes, I felt like I missed out last year,” said Peterson. “I know I could compete with the guys. I felt like I had something to prove this year.”

Peterson’s confidence was high going into this year’s Beast of the East tournament. “I knew since day one that I was the top guy.

The seeding didn’t show it (he was seeded second), but I knew I could win,” Peterson said.

Notte was not surprised that Peterson won the tournament. Winning the tournament was foreseeable according to Notte.

“Knowing how he trains, I had total belief he would win. It was something that he was waiting for about a year. He was prepared and ready to win it,” he said. In the tournament, Peterson was in top form. “He started off sizzling and he kept moving.”

However, Notte noted that Peterson does not take any win for granted. He faced some physical challenges during the tournament, including a head butt in the semifinal match and an eye poke and a tweaked MCL in the finals.

“I was a little beat up. After day one I had a black eye,” said Peterson. “I was head butted and also had a slight high ankle sprain.”

Notte noted, “He is as tough as nails. He finds ways to win through adversity.”

As the first and only SJV wrestler to win at the tournament Peterson said that the win didn’t sink in right away and it took some time for him to appreciate it. “I was ecstatic that I won. It was one of the most highly touted tournaments in the country.”

As Peterson’s successes build, expectations are high for him. “I absolutely want him to continue to be successful as a wrestler, maintain his work-outs and dedication to the sport, but also to be a scholar in the classroom and a great son to his parents,” said Notte.

This echoes Peterson’s priorities.

“He was happy. That was a tournament he wanted under his belt. It is a big tournament that every successful wrestler wants to win,” Notte said of Peterson after the tournament concluded. “A lot of big-time wrestlers won that tournament. It is a great fraternity to be part of.”

Although Peterson was happy about the win, he puts it into perspective. “State titles aren’t won in December; they’re won in March,” he said. “My goal is to win my second straight state title and go undefeated.”

Peterson’s ultimate goal is to compete in the Olympics. He is looking forward to trying out for the United World Wrestling Cadet World Team sponsored by USA Wrestling after the season. The team competes overseas and it would be a step toward his goal of competing in the Olympics.

“His confidence and belief are his biggest strengths,” Notte said of Peterson.

“He gets himself in such a mindset that he believes he is going to win. He is also an unbelievable athlete.”

120LB - SAINT JOHN VIANNEY’S DEAN PETERSON Photos by Tom Smith

Notte described the move. “He basically has the opponent on all fours and he does a quick, explosive mini-cartwheel. It is tight and compact with his elbows and knees in tight. He then lands in a takedown position behind his opponent.”

“I feel that my strengths are the mixture of strength, speed and technique,” said Peterson. “I am an aggressive wrestler. I like to score a lot of points.”

Peterson has named his signature move the “Peterson with an ‘o’ at the end.” He explained that there is a wrestling move already called the Petersen Roll. That move is spelled with an ‘e’ so he tweaked the name for his move.

“My priorities in life are god, family, academics and wrestling,” said Peterson.

This seems realistic, as he is an incredible student, according to Notte. Peterson is respectful, strong academically and a straightA student. “His teachers have nothing but kind things to say about him,” said Notte.

“He gets the job done on and off the mat.”

Peterson has committed to Princeton; however, he had a lot of interest from numerous Division I and Ivy League schools, according to Notte. Because of Peterson’s athletic and academic successes, he is a desirable candidate for colleges.

“Peterson is one of the most athletic kids I ever coached,” said Notte, himself a two-

120LB - SAINT JOHN VIANNEY’S DEAN PETERSON Photo courtsey of SJV time national qualifier at Oklahoma State, a two-time All-American at Nassau Community College and came to SJV after five years of coaching.

“They offered me a great opportunity to coach a team that was hungry,” explained Notte of his opportunity here at Saint John Vianney. “The head coach had stepped down and I had the opportunity to coach with Tony Caravella (who is Notte’s assistant).”

Page 10 Jersey Sporting News • 1/28/20 - 2/17/20

SHORE CONFERENCE ICE HOCKEY RECAP

By Mike Ready

SHORE CONFERENCE TOP 10 1) Christian Brothers Academy (9-3-1), No. 1 in the state 2) Saint John Vianney (8-5-1), No. 11 in the state 3) Manasquan-Pt. Beach (7-3-2), No. 17 in the state 4) Rumson-Fair Haven (8-1-1) 5) Jackson Liberty-Pt. Pleasant Boro (9-3-1) 6) Middletown South (7-6-3) 7) Marlboro-Holmdel (5-2-2) 8) St. Rose-Donovan Catholic-Red Bank Catholic (6-2-5) 9) Toms River North (8-4-1) 10) Southern (8-4)

Freehold (7-5, 5-5) Ocean Township (4-9-1, 0-6-1) B SOUTH Central Regional (9-4-1, 5-3-1) Toms River East (8-3, 3-2) Brick Township (5-9-3, 5-4-2) Red Bank Regional (5-8-1, 4-5) Brick Memorial (2-10-2, 1-6-1) Lacey (1-14, 0-8) STAT LEADERS GOALS: Cole Schneider, Toms River North (27) Zach Rozell, Brick Township (22) Luke Satkowski, Jackson Memorial (17) Sean Grant, St. Rose (16) Matt Franzoni, Manasquan (15) Danny Klutkoski, Central Regional (15) Zach D’Andrea, Jackson Liberty (15) Dom Trosi, Saint John Vianney (14)

SHORE CONFERENCE STANDINGS A NORTH Saint John Vianney (8-5-1, 4-1) Manasquan (7-3-2, 5-1-1) St. Rose (7-2-5, 2-2-2) Middletown South (7-6-3, 3-3-3) Middletown North (5-7-2, 4-4-2) A SOUTH Southern (8-4, 6-3) Marlboro (5-2-2, 5-2-2) Wall (5-8-3, 4-3-2) Jackson Memorial (4-10-1, 3-5-1) Howell (7-5-3, 2-4-1) Freehold Township (5-8-1, 3-7-1)

ASSISTS: Anthony DeFalco, Toms River North (25) Trevor Coltenback, Central Regional (20) Matt Franzoni, Manasquan (19) Cole Schneider, Toms River North (19) Evan Brown, CBA (16) Justin Ervelli, Toms River North (15) Jeff Ricci, Saint John Vianney (15) Zach Rozell, Brick Township (15) Luke McNamara, Manasquan (15)

B NORTH Rumson-Fair Haven (8-1-1, 7-1) Jackson Liberty (10-3-1, 7-2-1) Toms River North (8-4-1, 4-2-1) Manalapan (4-7-1, 3-6)

TOMS RIVER NORTH’S #18 COLE SCHNEIDER

CBA’S GOALIE NICHOLAS EMILIO MAKES THE SAVE

CENTRAL REGIONAL’S DANNY KLUTKOSKI Photo by Tom Smith

RFH’S SAM CATALANO

Raritan Girls Wrestling: Growth in Appeal and Participation

By Eugene Stewart

HAZLET – What a difference a year makes! Just last year, New Jersey’s first sanctioned girls high school wrestling dual meet was held at Manalapan High School. The host Lady Braves were bested by the Lady Jaguars of Jackson Memorial, 30-21. This was followed by a fully sanctioned regular season of interscholastic girls wrestling. School districts across the state placed teams of girls on the mat following the template laid by the boys programs, complete with regional and statewide competitions.

What a difference a year makes! With popularity continuing to grow, this year’s schedule could include so many participants, multiple locations for the regions, instead of simply one, might be necessary.

One of the first teams breaking down the door to usher in girls wrestling in New Jersey last year was Raritan. The prideful feelings of Raritan wrestling head coach Melissa Gardner are clearly evident when speaking of her team, girls wresting in high school, the progress made in the sport in such a short period of time, and her thoughts on where the sport is headed on all levels.

As a fourth-year coach with Raritan, now her second with a full team of girls, Gardner has plenty to be excited about. Starting the year with several of her 11 wrestlers having gained experience from last year, Gardner is very happy with the growth and development of her squad, even as some of her brightest stars and most seasoned girls have not been active participants with her this season.

121LB - RARITAN’S CHLOE WONG

The first blow was the transfer of Christine Gavesheli, the 118-pound state champion as a freshman, who moved to Florida. As with any sport, the loss of a state champion is very impactful as you lose leadership, experience and a great element for growing your program. In addition, a very popular, very strong wrestler, Mia Lazarus, touted as one of the 2020 greats in the state in athletics overall, hasn’t participated competitively this year. She has battled a lingering shoulder injury which may require surgery. Then as if that was enough, while working out to stay in shape, she rolled her ankle. Lazarus, a junior at the 215 pound weight class, was expected to be a major component for this year’s team.

Sophomore Jazleen Guzman is a rising star for the Lady Rockets at 121 pounds, who placed fourth in the regions last year. Rounding out the team are two additional upperclassmen with a balance of freshmen.

121LB - RARITAN’S JAZLEEN GUZMAN Photos by Tom Smith

“I feel very good about our team,” stated Gardner. “We’re young with a good deal of experience and although young, there is a lot of leadership.”

ing,” Gardner said. “This helps also to move closer to wrestling becoming a big scholarship opportunity for girls.”

With girls wrestling just two years on the NJ interscholastic scene, Gardner shared her thoughts about where the sport is, where she sees it going and what types of challenges she sees in the sport.

One of the major challenges identified by Gardner as having negative impact on the growth of high school wrestling for girls is the lack of solid middle school programs. Currently, many schools don’t even have varsity programs. Usually where you find girls varsity wrestlers, they’ve started as club or recreation program wrestlers. Middle school programs are extremely scarce.

“Having coached in Raritan for four years, during my first two years I only had one or two girls participating with the boys team,” she said. “This past year we had a few more and now we have a full squad with 11 girls. Just with that, it’s clear the interest is growing more and more with each year. The idea of girls wrestling is becoming more and more accepted.”

Gardner, herself an accomplished purple belt in jiu-jitsu and MMA fighter with seven fights under her belt, is also a very active advocate for girls in the sport and no stranger to the hand-to-hand competition.

“Recreation starts them out, at middle school it usually stops, which creates a gap, then programs resume in high school,” Gardner explained. “This provides a three-year period where the continuity of mental, physical and psychological development is broken and opens the door to diminished interests, if not a complete numbness and lack of interest in the sport after that imposed hiatus.

As a ninth grader, the doors are again opened and the opportunity to participate against other schools and the pride in representing your team is reignited.”

Gardner not only coaches the girls, but is helping to provide training opportunities for girl wrestlers to strengthen the footprint of the sport in the state. She assisted with a seminar for the sport last summer at Princeton University. “While the interest in girls high school wrestling is growing, the college level is explod-

What a difference a year makes! Many obstacles have been taken down and overcome, yet still many more remain. The commitment of the Raritan girls wrestling team and Gardner is unwavering in seeing this through. Don’t be surprised to see that middle school void filled and Gardner to have something to do with it.

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AFTER EPIC 2019 SEASON, TOMS RIVER NORTH WRESTLING NOT LETTING UP

By Mike Ready

TOMS RIVER – Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, there’s been no letting up for the Mariners as they continue to roll and are on pace to match or even better last year’s stellar season.

five wrestlers with over 20 wins a year ago and another two with double-digit wins, including senior Nick Boggiano, who posted a 41-7 record, placed second in District 26, third in Region 7 and eighth in the state tournament.

A year ago, Toms River North had programdefining wins over Southern and Jackson Memorial that enabled them to win Class A South for their first outright division title in program history and first division title since sharing the A Division with Lakewood in 1971.

Wrestling at 152 pounds, Boggiano is undefeated with an 18-0 record this season and is currently ranked No. 1 in the Shore and eighth in the state at that weight class.

They finished ranked third in the Shore Conference and No. 20 in the state after posting a 20-4 record and took third place in the Shore Conference Tournament while placing second as a team in District 26.

In the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group V semifinals they dropped a tough 34-26 decision to Howell, which finished second in the Shore and sixth in the state.

So far this season the Mariners are 12-3 and 6-0 in A South and ranked second in the Shore and eighth in the state. Their three losses are to Kingsway (9-1), Howell (15-1) by two points, and Phillipsburg (5-1) by one point, ranked fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively in the state.

Despite graduating three District 26 champions – including Louie Gagliardo, who also took first in Region 7 at 106 pounds, and Nick Reilly, who captured third place in Region 7 at 120 pounds as well – the Mariners returned

After posting a 39-8 record with a second place finish in District 26 and third in Region 7 a year ago at 113 pounds, senior Ryan Rosenthal has a spotless 18-0 record this season, again wrestling at 113.

Senior Mike Nakano had a breakout year as a junior going 23-8 with a third-place finish in District 26 and sixth in Region 7. This season he’s taken another step forward and is the third wrestler on the Mariners squad with undefeated record at 18-0.

Junior heavyweight John O’Donnell is another Mariner who burst onto the scene a year ago when he posted a 29-6 record and placed second in the SCT at 220 pounds, and is 12-2 this season.

Sophomore Jake Rosenthal, Ryan’s younger brother, came on strong as a freshman last season posting a 11-3 record and has picked up where he left off and showing plenty of potential with a 13-4 record while wrestling again at 120 pounds.

Senior Matt Spalletta placed third in District 26 at 160 pounds last season recording a workman-like record of 2414. Wrestling at 160 pounds again this season, Spalletta checks in with a 12-5 record.

Sophomore Cole Anderson (8-8 at 106 pounds), junior Alex Danelson (12-4 at 126 pounds) and seniors Mark Fideli (108 at 132 pounds), O’Neill Forbes (11-5 at 138 pounds), Sergio Borda (14-6 at 145 pounds), Justin Burkert (12-4 at 170 pounds) and James Elias (11-7 at 195 pounds) have all played big roles in the Mariners success this season and will be counted on in the postseason.

On Wednesday, the Mariners clinched at least a tie for the Shore Conference Class A South championship with a 45-26 win over Brick Memorial. Toms River North can clinch the outright Class A title for the second straight season with a win over Central (11-5, 1-2) at Central on Feb. 5.

Brick Memorial (11-3, 3-2), ranked 17th in the state and fourth in the Shore, was forced to forfeit four weights due to injury, however, the Mariners would’ve been favorites in all four matches.

Nakano and Nick Mancuso (1-0) recorded pins, Forbes won, 17-9, for a major decision and Borda won with a 15-0 technical fall.

SOUTHERN WRESTLING: BIG CHANGES, SAME PHILOSOPHY STAFFORD – After last year’s NJSIAA Group V championship and 18 seasons of John Stout coaching the Southern Regional wrestling, long-time assistant coach Dan Roy has taken the over the reins.

Jayson Scerbo, and junior Eddie Hummel, a transfer from Roselle Park.

He may be the new head coach but the philosophy is still the same.

”Eddie fits in perfectly,” said Roy of Hummel joining the team. “He has bought into our philosophy and is an extremely hard worker on the mat and in the classroom. He leads by example and does anything the team needs.”

“My philosophy is that the team comes first.

We have high expectations every year and we work hard to get the kids better every day,” said Roy. “We always have a tough schedule to prepare the kids for the end of the year. We try our best to develop our wrestlers into good wrestlers, students, and most importantly, great people.”

Southern is always among the best in New Jersey and as the reigning NJSIAA Group V state champions, the team has returned with several standouts, such as state qualifiers JT Cornelius, Robert Woodcock and

TOMS RIVER NORTH - A SOUTH WRESTLING CHAMPIONS Photo courtsey of Toms River North

Hummel was a sixth-place finisher at the state tournament last season.

While they have been as good as expected early this season, the performances of the Rams’ underclassmen have been equally impactful. ”I feel the season is going well. We just had a big win against Phillipsburg,” said Roy.” There is still a lot of season left, but our goal as a team is to win the Group V state title.”

138LB - SOUTHERN’S EDDIE HUMMEL Photos by Emily Brehme