Patrick O'Keefe St. John Vianney Wrestler of the Week

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Every week this wrestling season, Shore Conference fans will have the chance to vote for the Elite Sports Physical Therapy Wrestler of the Week on our website and decide which local standout should earn the weekly honor.

The winner of the Week 5 (Jan 17 to Jan. 23) is St. John Vianney freshman 106-pounder Patrick O'Keefe, who beat two returning state medalists to continue his excellent season.

St. John Vianney announced its presence to the rest of New Jersey when it won the Patriot Duals on Saturday, Jan. 22, with three state-ranked wins in victories over Livingston, North Hunterdon, and Kingsway. O'Keefe played a major role in all three matches, starting in the Livingston dual with a 3-1 decision over returning state fifth-place finisher Aidan Carmody. The two wrestled earlier in the season at the Sam Cali Tournament with Carmody winning 3-0.

During SJV's win over North Hunterdon, O'Keefe one-upped himself when he won 5-3 over North Hunterdon's Logan Wadle, who was last season's state runner-up at 106 pounds. Not only was it a huge individual victory, it was also the swing bout in the dual that propelled the Lancers to a 37-33 victory over the Lions.

In the championship match, O'Keefe won by fall to provide important bonus points as the Lancers won 37-34 over Kingsway, which was ranked No. 5 in the state at the time.

O'Keefe entered high school with plenty of promise after a great youth career and he has certainly lived up to the billing. He is 24-5 on the season with all of his losses coming at high-level tournaments (Beat of the East, Sam Cali, Escape the Rock) and is ranked No. 1 in the Shore and will move up to No 2 in New Jersey after the wins over Carmody and Wadle.

O'Keefe and St. John Vianney will compete for the Shore Conference Tournament championship on Monday night, taking on Christian Brothers Academy in the semifinals with the winner to face the Middletown South/Howell winner in the championship match.

O'Keefe was the Week 5 poll winner with 32.46 percent of the votes.

Archive

Week 4: Raritan's Braden Kmak

Week 3: Jackson Memorial's Mike Rauch

Weeks 1 & 2: Middletown South's Robert Generelli