CHAPMAN 2ND AT AC; DALY, SCHOLZ AC QUALIFIERS

One win away from a clean sweep highlighted the Cranford High School wrestling team’s season. The Cougars, who finished with a 19-3 record, captured their ninth straight Union County Tournament (UCT) championship, won the District 16 title (2nd in a row), added a very hard fought North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 title and followed with a Group 3 semifinal victory only to fall short of the Group 3 crown with a loss to Delsea.

Not only did the Cougars hit the Big Trifecta with the UCT, District and Section crowns but they also won their third conference title in a row, recorded the program’s 700th win and earned Head Coach Pat Gorman his 200th career win.

“It was a great season! Each year we get a little closer to the ultimate team goal of a state title. This year the team was able to have such success because of the depth we had. It allowed us to make so many moves and get the best match-ups in our dual meets, having multiple guys at each weight that were battle tested and ready for varsity experience. This year we also had six new faces to the lineup, and all of them played a key role at one point or another,” Coach Gorman explained.

Individually, the Cougars claimed four UCT champions, four district champions, two Region 4 champions and one individual who placed second in the NJSIAA Tournament at Atlantic City (AC). That individual was junior Jordan Chapman, who claimed the UCT, District 16 and Region 4 titles before placing second in the 165-lb class atAC to finish with a 43-2 record. Chapman, who placed third last year at 157-lbs, upped his career record to 120-11.

Sophomore Mike Daly had a very good ride this season with a UCT, district and region title at 106-lbs. Daly won two bouts at AC and finished with a 36-9 record. Sophomore Luke Scholz, who was injured the first several bouts of the season, recovered to take first in the UCT at 132-lbs, second in the district and third in the region to qualify for AC where he also won two bouts. Scholz finished with a 23-6 record.

Junior Eoghan O’Hara grabbed the 144-lb UCT crown and the district crown to finish with a 31-8 record. Sophomore Joey Acinapura claimed the 190-lb crown at the districts but also placed second in the UCT at 175lbs. Acinapura finished 29-9. Competing predominantly at 175-lbs, senior Marcus Nock had a 9-8 record.

Senior Joey Tona placed third in the UCT and third in the district at 113-lbs and finished 21-6. Sophomore Ryder Connors also placed third in the UCT and the district at 126-lbs to finish 24-13. Junior Dylan Jones placed fourth in the UCT at 157-lbs and finished 25-15. Senior Alex Muller placed third in the district at 138-lbs and finished 21-16. Competing with the big boys (285-lbs) junior Louis Kruk placed second in the district and finished 19-14.

A number of varsity newcomers took to the mats this season and junior Jake Ulicki competed at 190-lbs and finished 9-17. Rotating somewhat around 150-lbs were sophomore Owen Woodruff who finished 11-16 and junior Lucas Guitierrez who finished 7-6. Junior James DelFino finished 11-9 at 120-lbs and freshman Mason Wolf finished 3-9 at 215-lbs.

The Cougars’ only losses during the regular season were to Phillipsburg and Southern. They sealed their death grip on the conference with a 49-27 triumph over a strong Governor Livingston Highlander squad then had quite a wild ride in the sectional tournament, taking out Warren Hills (4132), Morris Hills (39-36) then West Essex (27-24) for the title. After knocking off Hopewell Valley, 4121, in the Group 3 semifinal, the Cougars came up short to Delsea.

According to Coach Gorman, “A few highlights were getting 10 to regions,

three to states and Jordan making the finals. (Also) Jake Ulicki (new to Varsity) pinning in the last match of the state quarterfinals to get us a win over Morris Hills and spark the run we had in the Group 3 team state duals. Then Jordan getting the pin in the last match to beat West Essex in the State finals. Joey Tona getting a reversal and a pin in the districts to punch his ticket to the regions (over the GL wrestler who had beaten him twice before).”

The Cougars graduate only Tona, Muller and Nock from the starting rotation, so another powerhouse is expected to return next year.