LONG BRANCH - In the 44-year history of the NJSIAA playoffs, no Long Branch team had ever been able to utter the statement the Green Wave made after Friday night's victory.
"We're still the champs,'' senior linebacker Luke Arnold said. "Back-to-back feels so good...
After losing an anticipated game at Red Bank Catholic last week, Long Branch got back in the win column with an all-around dominant performance Friday in a 26-0 win over Wall.
Joey King finally beat Richie Koehler to finish fifth at 120 pounds while Nick Caracappa placed third at 170 pounds at the NJSIAA Wrestling Championships.
Nico Messina became Freehold's first region champion since 1964, Brick Memorial's Ean Mueller won the 170-pound title in the final seconds and Point Boro's Francis Marshall won a region title in just his second year wrestling to highlight the 2018 Region 6 Tournament.
A pin by junior La'Qym Morris at 220 pounds helped Long Branch beat rival Ocean, 36-23, and tighten its grip on the Class B North division -title race.