Vote for the Big Frog Wrestler of the Week for December

Every week this season, Shore Conference wrestling fans will have their chance to vote for the Big Frog Shore Conference Wrestling of the Week on our website.

Since the first two weeks of the season are a bit disjointed with the Christmas and New Year's breaks, we'll take a look at the top performances from all of December. Now it’s time to get your vote in for who had the top performance in the Shore to choose the Big Frog Wrestler of the Week. The winner will be announced on Friday right here on ShoreSportsNetwork.com. Voting will end Thursday at midnight.

The regular poll will occur weekly with nominees announced Sunday and voting going through Tuesday.

Scroll down to see the candidates and make your selection. If you'd like to vote more than once, just wait one hour and come back.

Wrestler of the Week Nominees for December

Sean Foley, Sr., 120, Barnegat: Foley has started the season 8-0 with first-place finishes at the Garden State Classic and the Overbrook Holiday Tournament. He defeated Somerville’s Brock Laggini, a state qualifier last season, 7-5 to win the GSC and has three wins by fall.

Joey King, Sr., 120, Colts Neck: The Cougars’ top wrestler, King is 9-1 through the first two weeks of the season, including a first-place finish at the prestigious Mustang Classic and a first-place finish at the TCNJ Pride Tournament. King’s only defeat came at the hands of St. Peter’s Prep’s Michael Kelly, a state medalist, 1-0. Among his wins are a 4-1 win over Bordentown’s Billy Moore, a state qualifier, and a 9-2 win over St. John Vianney’s Tyler Pepe.

Sal DiSalvo, Sr., 220, Donovan Catholic: DiSalvo went 10-0 winning the Colt Classic and the Holmdel Holiday Tournament.

Nico Messina, So., 113, Freehold: A state qualifier as a freshman last season, Messina has picked up right where he left off by going 9-0 and winning the Garden State Classic and the Holmdel Holiday Tournament.

Scott Dupont, Sr., 160, Holmdel: Dupont went 12-1 in December with a championship at the Holmdel Holiday Tournament and a second-place finish at the Ewing Blue Devil Invitational. In the HHT he pinned Donovan Catholic’s Conor Panzarella in the final. His lone defeat came to Rancocas Valley’s Daequan Jackson-Swoope, who, like Dupont, was a state qualifier last season.

Kyle Slendorn, Sr., 132, Howell: Slendorn has been dominant in getting off to a 9-0 start with six wins by fall, a technical fall and a major decision. He on the John and Betty Vogeding Tournament to open the season and helped lead the Rebels to a first-place finish in their pool at the Disney Duals. Slendorn is a returning state finalist and currently ranked No. 12 in the nation at 132 pounds by InterMat.

Luke Gauthier, Sr., 145, Lacey: Gauthier has started 10-0 with wins at the TCNJ Pride Tournament and the Collingswood Tournament. He has six pins and two major decisions.

Ryan Zimmerman, So., 113, Long Branch: Zimmerman won both the Neptune Classic and the Hawk Classic in going 7-0 during December. Among his wins was a thrilling 7-4 victory over Middletown North’s Tyler Klinsky in which he hit a four-point move in the closing seconds. He has four technical falls, two pins and one major decision.

Nicko Cofone, Sr., 182, Middletown North: Cofone went 12-1 in December with a first-place finish at the Bayonne Tournament and a second-place finish at the Mustang Classic. Among his wins are a 6-3 win over Long Branch’s Pete Wersinger and a wild 11-9 overtime victory over Rancocas Valley’s Drew Bowker, both of whom were state qualifiers last season. Cofone’s only loss came in ultimate tiebreaker to Paulsboro’s Santino Morina. Cofone has five wins by fall and one major decision.

Anthony Bonavito, Sr., Hwt, Point Boro: Bonavito is off to a 9-0 start with a first-place finish in the Walter Woods Tournament where he defeated another of the Shore’s top heavyweights, Middletown South’s Adam Markman, 5-2. Bonavito has four wins by fall.

A.J. Erven, Sr., 138, Raritan: Erven won the Kurt Meister Invitational and the Hawk Classic to start the season 12-0. Among his wins was a 9-4 win over Gateway’s Tim Sparks, a state qualifier last season. Erven has four pins and two major decisions.

Sam Goldzweig, Sr., 152, Red Bank: Goldzweig is 11-0 with victories at the Edison Classic and the Secaucus Patriot Invitational. He has six wins by fall, one technical fall and one major decision.

Nick Addison, Jr., 170, Rumson-Fair Haven: Addison won the Caldwell Tournament and the Holmdel Holiday Tournament in starting the season 11-0. He recorded bonus points in 10 of 11 bouts with six pins, one technical fall, two major decisions and one forfeit.

Dean Peterson, Fr., 106, St. John Vianney: The highly-touted Peterson was impressive in his first marquee tournament, defeating state qualifier Joey Lamparelli of Allentown in the semifinals and then Brick Memorial freshman Vincent Santaniello in the final to take home the Mustang Classic championship. Peterson also won the Robin Leff Invitational and is 9-0 to start the season.

Al Desantis, So., 132, Shore: Desantis is 9-1 with a championship at the Holmdel Holiday Tournament and a second-place finish at the Pine Barrens Tournament. He has won by fall five times. He only loss came to Shawnee’s Matt Higgins, who was a state qualifier last season.

Nick O’Connell, Jr., 160, Southern: O’Connell is 7-0 with a first-place finish at the Robin Leff Invitational. He defeated Woodstown’s Cody Wolf, a state qualifier last season, 8-4.

Riley Cheong, Jr., 138, Toms River South: Cheong is out to a strong start with a 9-0 record that includes a first-place finish at the Walter Woods Tournament. He owns wins over Jackson Memorial’s Carsten DiGiantomasso, Southern’s Nick Pepe and Monroe’s Andrew Lombard.

Jack Kelly, Sr., 145, Wall: Kelly is undefeated at 12-0 with wins at the Colt Classic and the Mustang Invitational. He has an 8-6 win over Toms River North’s Nick Boggiano, an 8-4 win over Middletown North’s Stanley Wojdylak and an 8-5 win over Delsea’s Nick Bennett. Kelly has five technical falls and two pins.

 

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