Wrestling - Point Boro Ends Long Drought at District 21

MANALAPAN – The list of goals had check marks next to all of them. Expect for one.

Point Boro took care of its last bit of business on Saturday afternoon.

With four champions, three runners-up and three more third-place finishers, Point Boro captured the team title at the NJSIAA District 21 Tournament on Saturday at Manalapan High School to complete arguably the most successful season in program history. Ben Sabo, Spencer Robinson, Francis Marshall and Anthony Bonavito led the way with their first district championships as the Panthers out-pointed Brick Memorial, Colts Neck and Manalapan to win their first district team title since 1991.

A total of 10 Panthers will make their way to the Region 6 Tournament as John McTaggart, Billy Borowsky and Gabe Fattizzi finished second and Nick Torre, Jack Bailey and Ty Bailey battled back for the third and final qualifying spot. The victory put the finishing touches on a season where Point Boro also won the South Jersey Group II sectional title for its first sectional championship since 2007 and second overall in program history.

“This was our last team goal and I believe the kids did it for each other and that really pushed them over the edge to score those tough points,” said Point Boro head coach Pat Brady, who was selected as the District 21 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. “I couldn’t be prouder. These guys believed in each other, believed in the coaches and they really bonded. It’s a special group and we showed that consistently throughout the year. I couldn’t be more proud to be the coach of this team.”

“It was awesome. This has been the goal since my freshman year and we finally did it,” Bonavito said. “The first goal was a state title, obviously, but we hadn’t won districts since 1991 so it is a huge team accomplishment.”

A four-time district medalist, Sabo got Point Boro going by claiming his first district title with a 10-1 major decision over Brick Memorial’s Joe Rotondo in the 113-pound championship. Sabo had a takedown and three near-fall points in the first period and duplicated that output in the second period to open a 10-0 lead. Rotondo didn’t threaten until a throw nearly put Sabo to his back late in the bout but the Panthers senior was able to hold on and secure his first district championship.

At 145 pounds, Robinson dominated against Manalapan’s Anthony Coposky with a 16-3 major decision. He took Coposky down right away and turned him twice for two, then three back points to lead 7-1 after the first period. A reversal and three more near-fall points in the second pushed his advantage to 12-1 and a takedown and a reversal in the third closed out his title run.

Marshall was equally as dominant at 152 pounds with a 17-8 major decision over Burlington Township’s Michael Limone. Marshall’s signature ‘take ‘em down, let ‘em up, repeat’ style was on display as he recorded eight takedowns against Limone.

Bonavito was pushed by Brick Memorial’s Chris Mitler in the heavyweight final but was able to secure a third-period takedown to snap a 1-1 tie and win 3-1 in the final bout of the tournament.

At 195 pounds Brick Memorial senior Sam Williams finally got to Borowsky, and this time it earned him a district championship. After losing to Borowsky twice during the season – 2-1 in the season-opening TCNJ Pride Tournament and 4-2 in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals – Williams used a takedown in sudden-victory overtime for a 4-2 victory.

“Sweet revenge as I like to say,” Williams said. “He won the first two but there’s not better feeling that coming back and avenging a loss, especially in a district final in this atmosphere where everyone is yelling. And to win it with an overtime takedown, it was an overwhelming feeling.”

After a scoreless first period, Williams chose defense and escaped to take a 1-0 lead. Borowsky followed with a takedown shortly after to go up 2-1, but William was able to get to his feet again to tie the score at two. Borowsky chose defense to start the third period and Williams was able to ride him out for the entire two minutes, including a key mat return midway through, to force overtime. In the one-minute sudden-victory period, Williams got in on a shot and was able to finish off the win after a brief scramble.

“I just had to keep my cool and wrestle smart,” Williams said. The first two times we wrestled I slipped up and it cost me the match, so I really tried to focus in on wrestling my match and working what I know best.”

Manalapan junior Paul Santomarco also had a thrilling overtime win to claim his second district title. In the 126-pound final against Colts Neck’s Dyon Womack, Santomarco used a takedown with 1.7 seconds left in sudden victory to rally for the win. Womack was in on a shot and close to finishing for the win, but Santomarco was able to scramble long enough to create an opening which he seized just before time ran out.

“I’ve been in that situation plenty of times and practice it all the time,” Santomarco said. “I just held on and saw the opportunity. His hips were going low and I came back up and got the two.”

Brick Memorial and Manalapan each had three champions to finish second and fourth, respectively, in the team standings. Joining Williams as a district champ were freshman Vincent Santaniello and junior Ean Mueller. Santaniello continued his tremendous debut season by pinning Colts Neck’s Logan Waller in 3:07 to capture the 106-pound title. Mueller also won by fall to take a district title, pinning Bordentown/Florence’s Joe Levach in 3:18 to win the 170-pound championship.

The wins by Williams, Santaniello and Mueller extended Brick Memorial’s streak of seasons with a district champion to 37, which is a Shore Conference record.

Alex Baran and Matt Benedetti joined Santomarco as district champions for Manalapan. Baran edged Bordentown/Florence’s Matthew Potash, 4-3, on the strength of a second-period reversal to win the 138-pound title. At 160, Benedetti scored a takedown with 15 seconds left in regulation to defeat McTaggart, 3-2.

Colts Neck had two champions as senior Joey King and junior Michael Jannucci each repeated as District 21 champions. King, a returning state qualifier, won by 5-0 decision over Manalapan’s A.J. Sortino in the 120-pound final. Jannucci pinned Burlington Township’s Tre’Vonne Black in 1:32 to take the title at 182 pounds.

Bordentown/Florence’s Jajuan Hayes won the 220-pound title with a 7-3 decision over Fattizzi and was selected as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Burlington Township’s Craig Cook won the 132-pound championship with a 7-3 victory over Manalapan’s Kareem Ghiada.

RESULTS

Brackets

Team Standings

Point Boro 191.5

Brick Memorial 162.5

Colts Neck 152

Manalapan 141

Bordentown/Florence 112

Burlington Twp. 73.5

Trenton 53

New Egypt 20

Burlington City 4

Outstanding Wrestler: Jajuan Hayes, Bordentown/Florence

Coach of the Year: Pat Brady, Point Boro

Assistant Coach of the Year: Jimmy Somma, Manalapan

FINALS

106: 1-Vincent Santaniello (Brick Memorial) p. 2-Logan Waller (Colts Neck) 3:07

113: 1-Ben Sabo (Point Boro) md. 3-Joe Rotondo (Brick Memorial) 10-1

120: 1-Joey King (Colts Neck) d. 2-A.J. Sortino (Manalapan) 5-0

126: 2-Paul Santomarco (Manalapan) d. 1-Dyon Womack (Colts Neck) 4-2 SV

132: 1-Craig Cook (Burlington Twp.) d. 2-Kareem Ghiada (Manalapan) 7-3

138: 1-Alex Baran (Manalapan) d. 3-Matthew Potash (Bordentown/Florence) 4-3

145: 1-Spencer Robinson (Point Boro) md. 2-Anthony Coposky (Manalapan 16-3

152: 1-Francis Marshall (Point Boro) md. 2-Michael Limone (Burlington Twp.) 17-8

160: 1-Matt Benedetti (Manalapan) d. 3-John McTaggart (Point Boro) 3-2

170: 1-Ean Mueller (Brick Memorial) p. 2-Joe Levach (Bordentown/Florence) 3:18

182: 1-Michael Jannucci (Colts Neck) p. 6-TreVonne Black (Burlington Twp.) 1:32

195: 2-Sam Williams (Brick Memorial) d. 1-Billy Borowsky (Point Boro) 4-2 SV

220: 1-Jajuan Hayes (Bordentown/Florence) d. 2-Gabe Fattizzi (Point Boro) 7-3

285: 1-Anthony Bonavito (Point Boro) d. 3-Chris Mitler (Brick Memorial) 3-1

THIRD-PLACE BOUTS

106: 5-Nick Torre (Point Boro) d. 3-A.J. Beck (New Egypt) 6-3

113: 2-Carlos Sanchez (Trenton) 4-Nicholas Moldaver (Colts Neck) 10-8 SV

120: 5-Jack Bailey (Point Boro) d. 6-Liam Rivera (Brick Memorial) 8-6

126: 3-Billy Moore (Bordentown/Florence) d. 4-Michael Richardson (Brick Memorial) 7-1

132: 3-Justin Pierre-Louis (Colts Neck) md. 4-Austin Ryanor (Bordentown/Florence) 11-2

138: 2-Ty Bailey (Point Boro) p. 5-Gabriel Menchu (Trenton) 0:37

145: 3-Anthony Lombardo (Colts Neck) p. 4-Braeden Clemens (Bordentown/Florence) 2:42

152: 4-Caleb Alvarado (Brick Memorial) tf. 3-Joseph Barsky (Colts Neck) 4:31 (17-2)

160: 2-David Szuba (Brick Memorial) p. 4-Lucas Britton (Burlington Twp.) 0:35

170: 4-Yajaziel Reyes (Trenton) d. 3-Kenny Koenig (Colts Neck) 6-5

182: 5-Brian Shawsam (Trenton) d. 2-Dylan Ippolito (Point Boro) 9-7 SV

195: 3-Ryan Brazil (Bordentown/Florence) md. 4-Michael Schmid (New Egypt) 13-0

220: 4-Peter Benedetti (Manalapan) p. 3-Caleb Spaulding (Trenton) 3:37

285: 2-Billy Costner (Bordentown/Florence) p. 5-Jovani Velasquez-Ruiz (Colts Neck) 1:33

SEMIFINALS

106

1-Vincent Santaniello (Brick Memorial) p. 5-Nick Torre (Point Boro) 3:19

2-Logan Waller (Colts Neck) md. 3-A.J. Beck (New Egypt) 13-5

113

1-Ben Sabo (Point Boro) md. 4-Nicholas Moldaver (Colts Neck) 11-3

3-Joe Rotondo (Brick Memorial) p. 2-Carlos Sanchez (Trenton) 3:45

120

1-Joey King (Colts Neck) p. 5-Jack Bailey (Point Boro) 5:32

2-A.J. Sortino (Manalapan) md. 3-Liam Rivera (Brick Memorial) 12-3

126

1-Dyon Womack (Colts Neck) md. 4-Michael Richardson (Brick Memorial) 9-1

2-Paul Santomarco (Manalapan) d. 3-Billy Moore (Bordentown/Florence) 3-2

132

1-Craig Cook (Burlington Twp.) p. 4-Austin Ryanor (Bordentown/Florence) 4:35

2-Kareem Ghiada (Manalapan) d. 3-Justin Pierre-Louis (Colts Neck) 2-1

138

1-Alex Baran (Manalapan) p. 5-Gabriel Menchu (Trenton) 1:10

3-Matthew Potash (Bordentown/Florence) d. 2-Ty Bailey (Point Boro) 10-8

145

1-Spencer Robinson (Point Boro) p. 4-Braeden Clemens (Bordentown/Florence) 2:47

2-Anthony Coposky (Manalapan) p. 3-Anthony Lombardo (Colts Neck) 0:43

152

1-Francis Marshall (Point Boro) d. 4-Caleb Alvarado (Brick Memorial) 14-7

2-Michael Limone (Burlington Twp.) p. 3-Joseph Barsky (Colts Neck) 4:08

160

1-Matt Benedetti (Manalapan) tf. 4-Lucas Britton (Burlington Twp.) 4:15 (16-0)

3-John McTaggart (Point Boro) d. 2-David Szuba (Brick Memorial) 3-2

170

1-Ean Mueller (Brick Memorial) md. 4-Yajaziel Reyes (Trenton) 13-5

2-Joe Levach (Bordentown/Florence) d. 3-Kenny Koenig (Colts Neck) 5-3

182

1-Michael Jannucci (Colts Neck) p. 5-Brian Shawsam (Trenton) 2:44

6-TreVonne Black (Burlington Twp.) d. 2-Dylan Ippolito (Point Boro) 3-2 UTB

195

1-Billy Borowsky (Point Boro) p. 4-Michael Schmid (New Egypt) 1:21

2-Sam Williams (Brick Memorial) p. 3-Ryan Brazill (Bordentown/Florence) 1:09

220

2-Jajuan Hayes (Bordentown/Florence) d. 4-Peter Benedetti (Manalapan) 12-8

2-Gabe Fattizzi (Point Boro) d. 3-Caleb Spaulding (Trenton) 5-1

285

1-Anthony Bonavito (Point Boro) d. 5-Jovani Velasquez-Ruiz (Colts Neck) 4-3

3-Chris Mitler (Brick Memorial) p. 2-Billy Costner (Bordentown/Florence) 3:44

QUARTERFINALS

106

1-Vincent Santaniello (Brick Memorial) by forfeit

5-Nick Torre (Point Boro) d. 4-Calvin Burke (Manalapan) 4-3

3-A.J. Beck (New Egypt) p. 6-Shahid Khan (Burlington Twp.) 3:38

2-Logan Waller (Colts Neck) p. 7-Muneer Khan (Burlington City) 1:53

113

1-Ben Sabo (Point Boro) p. 8-Bobby Caze (Manalapan) 0:45

4-Nicholas Moldaver (Colts Neck) d. 4-Colman Ermi (Bordentown/Florence) 3-2

3-Joe Rotondo (Brick Memorial) p. 6-Eliezer Ramos (Burlington City) 1:38

2-Carlos Sanchez (Trenton) p. 7-Brandon Metrick (New Egypt) 0:30

120

1-Joey King (Colts Neck) p. 8-Robert Guarino (Bordentown/Florence) 0:51

5-Jack Bailey (Point Boro) md. 4-Kyle Kaluhiokalani (Burlington City) 11-0

6-Liam Rivera (Brick Memorial) p. 3-Joseph Fiorito (New Egypt) 1:34

2-A.J. Sortino (Manalapan) p. 7-Shariel Ramos (Burlington Twp.)

126

1-Dyon Womack (Colts Neck) p. 8-Nicholas Rauch (Burlington City) 0:22 - 100th career win

4-Michael Richardson (Brick Memorial) d. 5-Jake Magley (Point Boro) 4-1

3-Billy Moore (Bordentown/Florence) p. 6-George Rios (Trenton) 1:03

2-Paul Santomarco (Manalapan) p. 7-Alex DeAngelis (Burlington Twp.) 0:23

132

1-Craig Cook (Burlington Twp.) tf. 8-Luke Schumatti (Point Boro) 15-0

4-Austin Ryanor (Bordentown/Florence) d. 5-Joseph Brown (New Egypt) 4-0

3-Justin Pierre-Louis (Colts Neck) d. 6-Ryan Andrus (Brick Memorial) 5-3

2-Kareem Ghiada (Manalapan) tf 7-Quameer Brown (Trenton) 3:18 (16-1)

138

1-Alex Baran (Manalapan) p. 8-Ariel Garcia-Carela (Burlington City) 0:19

5-Gabriel Menchu (Trenton) d. 4-Kyle Bray (New Egypt) 6-3

3-Matthew Potash (Bordentown/Florence) p. 6-Colin Sabatino (Burlington Twp.) 0:44

2-Ty Bailey (Point Boro) p. 7-Aaron Smith (Colts Neck) 0:30

145

1-Spencer Robinson (Point Boro) p. 8-Zachary Chivers (Burlington Twp.) 0:29

4-Braeden Clemens (Bordentown/Florence) d. 5-Brian Alexander (Brick Memorial) 2-0

3-Anthony Lombardo (Colts Neck) md. 6-Tu Lormia (Trenton) 11-3

2-Anthony Coposky (Manalapan) p. 7-Tyrece Swain (Burlington City) 1:51

152

1-Francis Marshall (Point Boro) tf. 8-Michael Scaramazzo (Bordentown/Florence) 28-12

4-Caleb Alvarado (Brick Memorial) p. 5-Andrew Keller (Manalapan) 3:30

3-Joseph Barsky (Colts Neck) p. 6-Ryan Cheung (New Egypt) 2:00

2-Michael Limone (Burlington Twp.) p. 7-Kyle Seay (Burlington City) 0:18

160

1-Matt Benedetti (Manalapan) p. 8-Malachi Toppin (Burlington City) 0:54

4-Lucas Britton (Burlington Twp.) p. 5-Micaias Jiminez (Trenton) 1:07

3-John McTaggart (Point Boro) p. 6-Lukas Bedetto (New Egypt) 1:27

2-David Szuba (Brick Memorial) p. 7-Daniel Moldaver (Colts Neck) 1:28

170

1-Ean Mueller (Brick Memorial) p. 8-Ben Gilmore (Point Boro) 1:02

4-Yajaziel Reyes (Trenton) d. 5-Josh Martinez (New Egypt) 7-1

3-Kenny Koenig (Colts Neck) p. 6-Jake Marshall (Burlington Twp.) 4:52

2-Joe Levach (Bordentown/Florence) d. 7-Andrew Burstyn (Manalapan) 5-4

182

1-Michael Jannucci (Colts Neck) by forfeit

5-Brian Shawsam (Trenton) d. 4-Ron Hopping (Brick Memorial) 7-6

6-TreVonne Black (Burlington Twp.) p. 3-Anthony Jomo (Manalapan) 2:29

2-Dylan Ippolito (Point Boro) by forfeit

195

1-Billy Borowsky (Point Boro) p. 8-Gregory Park (Burlington City) 1:32

4-Michael Schmid (New Egypt) p. 5-John Montgomery (Manalapan) 3:14

3-Ryan Brazil (Bordentown/Florence) d. 6-Te'amo Nazario (Trenton) 9-3

3-Sam Williams (Brick Memorial) p. 7-Jared Simmons (Burlington Twp.) 1:13

220

1-Jajuan Hayes (Bordentown/Florence) p. 8-Quaran Harney-Andrews (Burlington Twp.) 0:20

4-Peter Benedetti (Manalapan) p. 5-Thomas Lidondici (Colts Neck) 0:50

3-Caleb Spaulding (Trenton) p. 5-Ameir Pittman (Burlington City) 1:48

2-Gabe Fattizzi (Point Boro) d. 7-Willie Garner (Point Boro) 3-1 (2OT)

285

1-Anthony Bonavito (Point Boro) by forfeit

5-Jovani Velezquez-Ruiz (Colts Neck) p. 4-Shaun Balkom (Trenton) 7:45

3-Chris Miler (Brick Memorial) p. 6-Matt Kovacs (Manalapan) 1:56

2-Billy Costner (Bordentown/Florenc) p. 7-Sebastian Clara (New Egypt) 2:24

PRELIMS

126

9-Nicholas Rauch (Burlington City) p. 9-Nick Metrick (New Egypt) 1:23

145

8-Zachary Chivers (Burlington Twp.) p. 9-Edward Reynolds (New Egypt) 1:55

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.