Jackson team to beat again in District 21
Marlboro’s Parisi goes for third straight in Manalapan
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Marlboro’s Matt Frankel works Shore Regional’s Matt Hoffman in a cradle during a 103-pound bout in West Long Branch on Thursday.

It wouldn’t be out of line to say that the battle at this weekend’s NJSIAA District 21 Wrestling Tournament is for second place.

That’s how commanding Scott Goodale’s Jackson Jaguars have become.

The Jags will be chasing after their eighth consecutive District title Friday and Saturday at Manalapan High School.

What makes Jackson’s dominance so newsworthy is the talent in District 21. It is clearly one of the most competitive in the state. Of the 10 teams in the District, five — Jackson, Howell, Freehold Borough, Colts Neck and Matawan — made the state tournament. Marlboro and Manalapan enjoyed winning dual-meet seasons, adding more quality to the tournament.

In the past years such notable wrestlers as Cary Broad, Steve Rivera, Joe DiMario and Indra Sulijoadikusumo, of Manalapan; Zac Cunliffe and Glenn Sanduoll, of Howell; Joel Osborne and Anthony Vitola, of Freehold Township; and Doug Withstandley and Jeremy Edwards, of Jackson, have won District 21 championships.

Jackson had five champions last year and graduated three of them, returning only Nick Keshecki (119) and Joe Slisky (heavyweight). The Jags also graduated eight starters. But don’t cry for the Jaguars. They have reloaded big time and come into this year’s tournament as strong as ever. They won their second straight and fourth overall Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) championship recently, when Slisky registered a pin fall in the third period to beat Ocean, 32-29. Last week, the Jags defended their Central Jersey Group IV (CJ IV) state sectional championship without their freshman sensation Scott Winston (140), who was undefeated. A broken wrist has the young star on the shelf for the rest of the season.

Veteran Matt Bradley (112) has been one of the team’s most reliable wrestlers and championship contenders, he was a District runner-up last year.

Corey Bischaha (130), Glenn Booth (135), Ken Carney (160), Rob Swan (103) and Brian Cohen (112) have all enjoyed big winning seasons for the Jaguars, and should make their presence felt this weekend.

Howell has been making inroads, finishing second to Jackson last year. But two dual-meet losses to Jackson (the SCT and CJ IV) would suggest that the Rebels still have a ways to go. John Gagliano’s Rebels do have one thing going for them, they are better suited to tournaments, as their wins in the Neptune Classic and Roselle Park Tournament back in December, revealed.

Three freshmen have been forces for the Rebels — Cody Fobes (103), Joey Langley (112) and Mike Bonfig (215). Veterans Billy Woodward (145) and Tom Tuminelli (135) have had very strong seasons with 20 wins each. They were District runners-up last year and want nothing more than to move one notch up on the podium.

Marlboro’s Nick Parisi is halfway to being a rare four-time District champion. He is the heavy favorite to win his third this weekend, wrestling at 171. The junior is wrestling up from 160 this winter and he has found the heavier weight better suited him. He doesn’t have to cut weight, and it has made him stronger. He has two tournament wins and is 19-1. His one loss has served as motivation, a reminder that he can’t look past any match.

If he wins, he’ll join Livio DiRubbo as the school’s only three-time champions.

This year, however, Marlboro is not a one-man show. The Mustangs made a run at the A North Division title this year, made the SCT and just missed the state playoffs, finishing seventh in the CJ IV power points (top six go).

Marlboro’s other contenders include Steve Pellicione (160), Bryan Tiscia (heavyweight), Matt Frankel (103) and Anthony Facchini (125).

Freehold Borough has made the greatest inroad this winter in Scott Pressman’s second year. The Colonials were 15-5 during the regular season and qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in school history. Early in the season, they captured the Hawk Classic, which was the first championship of any kind in more that 25 years.

Last year Jaimie Giovinazzo broke a long dry spell for the school when he won the District 21 title at 189 pounds. The Colonials have several contenders this year including Dan Franke (103), Nick Triozzi (112), Miguel Arroyo (130), George Cuevas (152), Andrew Rock (145) and Ben Ostner (160), who are all among the winning wrestlers in the Shore in their respective weight division.

Colts Neck is another program on the move, having made the state playoffs as well this year. The Cougars have several contenders themselves in Jonathan Panek (171), Chris Panek (135), Niko Brown (103), Jeremy Gaines (119) and Rob Manney (152).

Host Manalapan has long been one of the top programs in the Shore, and although this was a rebuilding year for John Verderosa’s Braves, they remain dangerous, especially wrestling at home. The Braves’ top wrestlers this winter have been Anthony Accardi (130), David Becker (135) and Carmine Roth (112).

Jack Withstandley has Freehold Township on the way back. The Patriots wrestled a difficult nondivision schedule this year, not so much for the team’s won-loss record, but as preparation for the Districts. Last year, that formula led to a fifth-place finish and two champions.

This year, the Patriots’ hopes are pinned on Efrain Morales (119), John Post (125), Thomas Gallicchio (160) and Pat Bell (171).

Matawan figures to dramatically improve on its ninth-place finish of a year ago, as last year’s underclassmen have turned into seasoned veterans, as evidenced by the Huskies making the state tournament. Eddie Terry (112), Rocco Bucco (130), Matt Deckman (135), Billy Murcia (140) and James O’Donnell (160) are Matawan’s contenders this year.

2004 NJSIAA District 21 Wrestling Tournament

Team standings:

1Jackson241.4

2Howell174.5

3St. John Vianney156.5

4Manalapan101

5Freehold Township97

6Freehold Borough65.5

7Marlboro51.5

8Colts Neck38.5

9Matawan13

10Holmdel11

Individual:

103Nick KesheckiJackson*

112Nick ManochioManalapan

119Jeff PascarellaJackson

125Joe EurellJackson

130Anthony CastoSt. John Vianney

135Kyle PardunSt. John Vianney*

140Mike BrogranSt. John Vianney

145Pete ReillyFreehold Township

152Kevin ShellyJackson

160Nick ParisiMarlboro*

171Adam MillerFreehold Township

189Chris SwensenSt. John Vianney

215Jamie GiovinazzoFreehold Borough

Hwt.Joe SliskyJackson*

* denotes returning champion

SJV had a big 2004 with four District champions and a third-place finish. The Lancers graduated three of them, which will take them out of contention in the team standings, but they do have returning champion Kyle Pardun back.

The senior is 18-2 wrestling at 145, which is a very competitive class this year.

Also in contention for the Lancers are Lenny Sasso (140) and Jason Fischer (189).

For Holmdel, John O’Donnell is 16-4 and someone to watch for in the loaded 145-pound division.

The District champions won’t be the only winners this weekend. The runners-up and third-place consolation winners will get to continue their seasons at the Region VI championships.

District 21 action begins Friday night with the preliminaries at 6 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. with the quarterfinals. Saturday wrestling starts at 10 a.m. with the semifinals. The consolations are at 1 p.m. followed at 2:30 p.m. by the District finals.