Cranford High School junior Jordan Chapman placed second in his weight class at the NJSIAAWrestling Championships held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (AC) from February 28 to March 2. Two Westfield Blue Devils, three Cougars and two AL Johnson Crusaders qualified for the trip to AC.
In the 165-lb championship bout, Chapman, the second seed, dropped a 12-7 decision to top-seeded Alessio Perentin (Delbarton). Chapman began his journey to the finals with a 33second pin over Donte Nocito (Gateway). He pinned Gavin Gomes (Morris Knolls) in 57 seconds then defeated Ben Garcia (Don Bosco), 113, in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Chapman won by 17-2, 4:40 technical fall over Tanner Hodgins (Howell) to reach the title bout.
Blue Devil senior Mat Rotter lost his first bout by 17-2, technical fall to third-seeded Mike Bautista (St. John Vianney) at 120-lbs then was defeated, 4-1, by Lazarus Joyce (Camden Catholic). At 190-lbs, Blue Devil sophomore Jake Zemsky was pinned by third-seeded Vince LaValle (Hanover Park) in 56 seconds then after he pinned Omar Ebrahim (Lawrence) in 4:30 he was defeated by Sal Marchese (Delsea), 12-5.
Cougar sophomore Mike Daly won his first bout at 106-lbs with a 4-3 decision over Reid Buzby (North Hunterdon). Daly then lost, 4-3, to seventh-seeded Jake Holly (Pope John). In the consolation, Daly topped JulianArango (St. Joseph Metuchen), 5-2. Daly was nipped, 1-0, by Charles Esposito (St. Joseph Montvale) in the next round.
Cougar sophomore Luke Scholz won his first round bout at 132-lbs by stopping Joey Falco (Ramapo), 7-4. Second-seeded Carson Walsh (Pope John) cast Scholz into the consolation round via 19-4, 4:59 technical fall. Scholz beat Ethan Kerlin (West Essex), 7-1, then was edged, 3-2, by Nick Pallitto (Paramus Catholic).
Johnson Crusader senior Joey Ortega 11th-seeded at 144-lbs, pinned Dan Ramirez (Long Branch) in 5:41 then lost by 11-4, majority decision to sixth-seeded August Hibler (Leonia/ Palisades Park). Ortega won by 11-1, majority decision over Rocco Negron (Belleville) then nipped Desmond Lenaghan (St. John Vianney), 3-2, before losing 9-6 to Donovan DeStefano (Wall) in the fourth round consolation.
Crusader Zach Belverio (113-lbs) lost, 7-5, to seventh-seeded Matt Gould (St. John Vianney) in the opening round then was nipped, 7-6, by PT Terranova (Delbarton). Governor Livingston Highlander Cristian Gioia placed eighth at 165-lbs after being defeated, 10-6, by Ben Garcia (Don Bosco). Gioia pinned Mike Fahmie (Whippany Park) in 2:34 then pinned Lorenzo Caamano (Caldwell) in 5:35 to reach the quarterfinals where he was pinned by Alessio Perentin (Delbarton) in 3:34. Gioia later advanced to the 7th/8th bout with a 7-5 win over Cole Stangle (St. John Vianney).
Seeded fourth at 215-lbs, Highlander Nate Faxon pinned Ed Vincent (St. Augustine) in :41 then defeated Tom Borgia (West Morris), 8-5. Faxon was pinned in 3:35 by Ethan Mendel (Northern Highlands) in the quarterfinal. In the fourth round consolation, Faxon dropped a 12-9 decision to Cole Hughes (Emerson/Park Ridge).
GL’s Joe Dasti (150-lbs) lost 9-3 to Jon Fuller (St. Peter’s Prep) in the first round then he was pinned by Tyler Russ (Colts Neck) in 4:29. GL’s Jake Kriesberg (157-lbs) dropped an 18-5, majority decision to Jake Clayton (Point Pleasant Boro) in the opening round. Kriesberg pinned Nick Laccitello (Pompton Lakes) in the first round consolation in 1:19 then lost, 2-1, to Cody Pritzlaff (Watchung Hills).
