Shore Conference Class B Central Wrestlers to Watch for 2021

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As our preview of the 2021 Shore Conference wrestling season continues, we’ll take a look at some of the top wrestlers in the Class B Central Division, which features Asbury Park, Keansburg, Keyport, Point Beach, Shore and St. Rose

Wrestlers are listed in alphabetical order.

Jesse Berecsky, Sr., Keansburg, 132

Berecsky is the lone senior for the Titans and is coming off his third straight season of at least 15 wins.

Steven Cajulus, Jr., Asbury Park, 220/285

Cajulus posted 19 victories as a sophomore and placed third in the District 24 Tournament at 220 pounds to become the Blue Bishops’ first underclassmen to claim a district medal since the program returned to competition in 2007.

Macky Liotta, Sr., Point Beach, 182

Liotta missed time with injuries last season but returned to help the Garnet Gulls win the division title, take home the Central Jersey Group 1 state sectional title for the fourth time in five seasons and defeat rival Point Boro for the first time since 1998. He finished with an 11-6 record and reached the District 23 final at 170 pounds.

Kip Lovgren, Sr., Point Beach, 160

Lovgren wrestled at 138 last season and will make the jump up three weight classes to compete at 160 as a senior. He is coming off a season in which he went 22-12 and finished second in District 23 while helping the Garnet Gulls win the division title, take home the Central Jersey Group 1 state sectional title for the fourth time in five seasons and defeat rival Point Boro for the first time since 1998.

Jack Maida, Sr., Shore, 132

Maida is one of the best wrestlers in program history and will look to secure his legacy and take one final shot at a state championship this season. As a junior wrestling at 120 pounds, Maida went 40-5, placed third at the Shore Conference (behind state champion Dean Peterson and state finalist Vincent Santaniello), won a District 20 title, finished second in the Region 5 Tournament (to Peterson) and reached the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. Maida, who is signed to wrestle at American University, is a three-time state qualifier, a two-time district champion, a two-time region finalist and a two-time SCT medalist. He finished sixth in the state in 2019 (106 pounds). He will enter his senior season with 120 career wins. In a normal season, he would have had a chance to break the program record of 156 set last season by Al DeSantis.

Jamie Mazzacco, Jr., Shore, 195

Mazzacco is a three-sport standout for the Blue Devils (football, lacrosse) who missed all of his sophomore season with an injury. He went 30-4 as a freshman and placed second at districts, and with a return to form would give Shore a legit upperweight hammer.

Mike McGhee, Sr., Shore, 160

Like Maida, McGhee is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in program history. He was 41-4 last season (152 pounds) with a runner-up finish at the SCT, a District 20 title and a Region 5 title before reaching the second round of wrestlebacks at the NJSIAA Championships. He has 115 career wins along with two district titles and a region title and is a two-time state qualifier.

Brendan Nichols, Sr., Shore, 120

With no experienced wrestlers at the first two weights, Shore will rely on Nichols to get things going at 120 pounds. He was third at the District 20 Tournament last season and finished with a 25-12 record.

Jason Schulz, Sr., Point Beach, 170

Schulz was a third-place finisher in District 23 at 160 pounds last season, going 22-8 and helping Point Beach win their 22^nd division title, claim the Central Jersey Group 1 state sectional title for the fourth time in five seasons and defeat rival Point Boro for the first time since 1998.

Riley Simon, Sr., Point Beach, 145/152

The Garnet Gulls won their 22^nd overall division title, their fourth Central Jersey Group 1 state sectional title last season and defeat rival Point Boro for the first time since 1998, but will be tasked with replacing six starters, including state medalist Jason Sherlock, state qualifier Liam Buday and region medalists Jesse Bowers and Jared Kerr. Simons is the returning wins leader for Beach and a returning state qualifier after going 27-12, finishing second in District 23 and placing fourth in Region 6 at 132 pounds. Simon is a three-time district medalist and a two-time region place-winner.

Cade Torres, Sr., Shore, 285

Torres missed almost all of last season after suffering an injury in December of 2019, but he was able to return during the team state tournament and then put together a nice run to finish third at the District 20 Tournament at 220 pounds. He had 27 wins as a sophomore so the Blue Devils are excited to have him back for a full season.

Other returning district medalists/wrestlers to watch

John Lavarin, So., Asbury Park, 106/113 (16-12 last season)

Davenson Joinvilmar, Jr., Asbury Park, 152/160 (13-3 last season)

Woodley Cagilus, Sr., Asbury Park, 152/160 (18-6 last season)

Ian Mendez, So., Keansburg, 152 (16-14 last season)

Keyshawn Coppinger-Ward, Jr., Keansburg, 285 (14 wins last season)

Teddy Jarahian, Jr., Point Beach, 120/126 (15 wins last season)

Josh Ramos, Sr., Point Beach, 220/285 (16-9 last season)

Jonah Bowers, Jr., Point Beach, 152 (D23 3^rd in 2019)

Gabe Scalise, Jr., Shore, 128 (29-7 last season)

Jake Herschenfeld, Jr., Shore, 145 (21-16 last season)

Dieter Rowholt, So., St. Rose, 132 (12 wins last season)