Rumson-Fair Haven Pins Down Point Boro to Return to Central Jersey Group 2 Final

Get our free mobile app

RUMSON -- The Rumson-Fair Haven wrestling program has never won an NJSIAA state sectional championship. The Bulldogs will get another chance at history thanks to their performance on Monday night.

Rumson, the No. 2 seed in the Central Jersey Group 2 section, wrestled its way back to the championship bout by defeating No. 7 seed Delran in the quarterfinals and No. 3 seed Point Boro in the semifinals to advance to its second straight sectional final. The Bulldogs will travel to face top-seeded Raritan on Wednesday in the Central Jersey Group 2 sectional championship match.

In its 44-30 victory over Point Boro in the semifinals, Rumson received pins from Julian Duque, Cole Pangborn, Evan Ridgeway, Aidan Shaughnessy, Shay Addison, Conor Delany, and Hudson Skove to win eight of the 14 bouts. Ryan Boyer won by decision at 165 pounds.

For Addison, his win by fall over Tyler Criscuolo in the first period served as his 100th career victory. The Arizona State signee is the seventh wrestler in program history to reach 100 career wins and also joins his brother, Nick, in the 100-win club. Nick Addison is RFH's all-time wins leader with 139 and is currently a junior at Stanford University. Their older brother, Theo, was also a standout wrestler for the Bulldogs.

Point Boro jumped out to a 9-0 lead when freshman Joey DeAngelo won by 4-2 decision over fellow freshman Walker Skove at 106 pounds DeAngelo had a cradle locked in three times but could never get Skove completely over for back points. Skove actually scored a reversal when he freed his arm from the cradle hold late in the second period. At 113 pounds, Point Boro freshman Frankie Burgio pinned Alexander West in 42 seconds.

The early deficit was quickly erased by Rumson thanks to four consecutive pins by Duque at 120, Pangborn at 126, Ridgway at 132, and Shaughnessy at 138, giving the Bulldogs. 24-9 lead through six bouts.

Point Boro received six points at 144 pounds via a forfeit/disqualification. Rumson sent out Shane Sullivan to face Ryan Acquisto but because Sullivan weighed in at 132 pounds he was ineligible to wrestle at any weight above 138.

At 150, Jacob Messano delivered a quick pin to cut Rumson's lead to 24-21. Then, at 157, Jack Thompson won by 8-4 decision over Nick Costello in a matchup of ranked wrestlers (Thompson No. 7 at 150, Costello No. 7 at 157). Rumson was also deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct levied against Costello at the conclusion of the bout, which gave Point Boro a 24-23 lead with five bouts left.

Rumson, however, was still in the driver's seat with three of its standouts yet to wrestle. Boyer lost out on a major decision when a penalty point was given to his opponent in the final seconds, but his 12-6 decision put Rumson ahead for good, 26-24. Addison followed with a pin at 175 and Delaney clinched the match with a pin early in the second period.

Skove put the finishing touches on the victory with a pin at 215 pounds before Rumson forfeited the final bout at heavyweight.

Click here for an expanded photo gallery by Richard O'Donnell

Box Scores

Semifinal

2-Rumson-Fair Haven 44, 3-Point Boro 30

Quarterfinals

2-Rumson-Fair Haven 57, 7-Delran 21

3-Point Boro 54, 6-Middlesex 15