Several local wrestlers advance to states
SUSSEX COUNTY The mental and physical rigors of wrestling can be difficult for a student-athlete to handle. However, the ordeal is worth it when a wrestler is able to meet their goals. The goal for many good wrestlers in New Jersey is to advance to the NJSIAA State Tournament, the opening rounds of which are this Friday, March 2. The tournament concludes on Sunday with the medal rounds. For local mat standouts James Elphick (113 pounds, Kittatinny), Glenn Haines (120 pounds, Lenape Valley), Clarke Moynihan (152 pounds, Kittatinny), Kieran Gerrity (160 pounds, Kittatinny), Jake Brook (170 pounds, Kittatinny) and Jake Connelly (195 pounds, Newton) the goal of making it to the states was realized after strong showings at the Region 1 Tournament, hosted by Wallkill Valley High School. Moynihan and Connelly both earned Region 1 titles in their respective weight classes. Second-seeded Moynihan gave up just one point in three matches during the tournament. In the finals, he toppled first-seeded Dillon Artigliere of Roxbury, 5-1. Moynihan, a junior, heads to the states with a record of 33-3. Connelly, a first-seeded senior, went 3-0 with a pin and a pair of 3-2 decisions en route to the crown. He now has a record of 40-0. Despite losing to Corey Fleming (West Morris Central) in the quarterfinals, Elphick, a senior, responded by winning three straight matches to earn a spot at the states. In the match to determine third place he downed Fleming by four points. Haines advanced to the championship round before dropping a match to top-seeded Joe Cruz from Hopatcong. Haines, a freshman, went 3-1 in the tournament with two pins. His record now stands at 33-6. Gerrity rebounded from a loss to eventual champ Keith Lemengello (Pequannock) to capture two consecutive victories en route to a third place finish. Gerrity, a sophomore, enters states with a record of 29-8. Brook advanced to the states in dramatic fashion, placing third. Brook lost to defending state champion Ryan Harrington (Mendham) in the semifinals, but won his next match to earn a spot in the consolation final where he won by two points in an overtime tie-breaker. Brook, a junior, is now 25-13. Other local student-athletes were also part of this past weekends regional competition. David Popek from Kittatinny lost in overtime in his quarterfinal round match, but rebounded to win his first wrestle-back match. In the consolation semifinals, he lost to High Points Michael Derin and had a junior year record of 22-15. Matt Benvenuto from Lenape Valley finished in fourth place at 126 pounds. Benvenuto lost to eventual champ Sam Tareky (Wayne Valley) in the semifinals, but bounced back to make it to the consolation finals where he was defeated by Max Elling of Phillipsburg. Benvenuto, a junior, was 34-6 this year. CJ Sarao from Pope John went 1-2 at 132 pounds as a senior. Sarao finished the season with a mark of 13-10. Thomas Murphy, a freshman from Kittatinny, advanced to the consolation semifinals at 132 pounds before losing his second match of the tournament. Murphy was 21-17 this season. Nick Romyns (Kittatinny, 138 pounds) ultimately placed fourth at the regionals this year. He lost in the semifinal round, but rebounded to win the consolation semifinals. He lost by two points in overtime in the consolation finals and had a sophomore year record of 27-10. Joe Emering (145 pounds, Pope John) advanced to the semifinals where he lost to champion Tim Garripoli (Roxbury). Emering, a senior, lost in the consolation semifinals and was 25-9 this year. Andrew LaBell (170 pounds, Lenape Valley) went 2-2 at regionals this year and was 32-9 in his senior year for the Patriots. Kittatinny sophomore Dylan Wunder went 1-2 in the 195-pound weight class and had an overall season record of 27-9 for the Cougars. In the 285-pound weight class, Noah Merritt from Pope John had a 1-2 record at the regionals. He was 16-15 as a sophomore for the Lions this winter.