Rebels, Parisi ones to watch in loaded District
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Colts Neck’s George Manney (above) and Freehold Township’s Mike Tabasco (l) both work on their opponents during the season-opening Icebreaker Tournament at Matawan on Dec. 17.

Wrestling is no longer a party of two. For years, wrestling in the Freehold Regional District centered around Howell and Manalapan, and their showdown.

That changed last year, and in 2005-06, everyone is invited to the party.

Last year, five of the District’s six schools had winning records, and the one that didn’t, Freehold Township, was 11-13.

Howell led the charge last year for John Gagliano. The Rebels were a young and untested team with potential last year, and still went 15-6. With only two starters graduated, the Rebels are loaded. But will it be enough to win a title this year?

The Shore area is stacked with many of the best teams and richest traditions in the state. The Rebels took a big step toward regaining the Shore Conference A North Division title by beating defending champion Ocean, ranked No. 2 in the state, 30-28, in their first dual meet of the season in Howell on Dec. 21.

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But in the NJSIAA District 21, state-ranked and defending Shore Conference Tournament and District champion Jackson is the roadblock.

“For sure, the Shore is the toughest part in the state this year,” said Gagliano. “Five teams are ranked in the top 20, which says a lot about the talent here.”

Still this promises to be one of Howell’s best teams, led by District and Region champion Billy Woodward, and District champion Tom Tuminelli.

Freehold Borough’s Scott Pressman was the NJSIAA District 21 Coach of the Year after guiding the Colonials to a 15-5 record and a third place at the District championships. Those were unheard of results for a program that was all but forgotten.

William Wernst continued his resurrection of the Marlboro High School program, taking the Mustangs to a 14-6 season, including their first win over Manalapan since the 1970s. It helps having one of the state’s finest wrestlers in Nick Parisi, a fourth-place finisher in Atlantic City at 171 pounds.

Parisi begins the season with 88 career wins and will likely end the season as the second winningest wrestler in Freehold Regional District history, behind only Howell’s Zac Cunliffe (138), while becoming the first Mustang to win 100 career matches.

With three District 21 titles already, he should become a rare four-time winner. However, his main goal is striking gold in Atlantic City. No Mustang has ever won a state title.

Parisi has moved up to 189 this year and he believes the weight division is just perfect for him. He has surrendered none of his quickness on the mat, nor, more importantly, his technique. While wrestlers at the heavier weight tend to maul each other, Parisi still has the same skills that he developed wrestling at 145 as a freshman. He has the strength to match the 189-pounders, plus his wrestling skills.

“Technique is the key to wrestling,” he said.

Parisi, who has committed to West Point Prep School with the goal of going to the US Military Academy the following year, made a successful debut at 189 at the Robin Leff Invitational at Southern Regional High School. He won by pin in his first two matched then scored a 10-5 decision over Southern’s Glenn Carson in the final.

Howell took a trip out of state to begin its 2005-06 campaign and the change of venue suited the Rebels well. They won the Battle of the Beach held in Frankford, Delaware and had five individual winners in Joey Langel (103), Cody Fobes (112), Ryan Richardson (130), Woodward (152) and Mike Bonfig (215).

Gagliano has a line-up that is solid everywhere, starting with senior Woodward, who was 33-4 and won District and Region VI crowns on the way to advancing to the quarterfinals in AC.

The Rebels had only two seniors in the line-up last winter, meaning that have loads of experience.

In addition to the winners in Delaware and Tuminelli, the Rebels have Jason Ecklof (119/125), Mark Aquino (112), Justin Morello (130), John Maculoso (160), Pat Sheehan (171), Josh Barnhard (189) and Warren Lisa (heavyweight) all returning. Paul Calafiore (145) has made an impact this year and Jimmy Bohn gives Howell flexibility at the lower weights.

As its win over Ocean indicates, Howell could be a state-ranked team before the season is over. There is a lot potential there and the squad is still quite young overall.

Manalapan will look to maintain its winning tradition with a new coach, Dave Grippo. Veteran head coach John Verderosa is moving to Raritan to become that school’s athletic director next month, and Grippo, who has been his assistant, will assume the reins. He will take over a program with a tradition that goes back to the late-1970s. Verderosa leaves with a 137-57-2 record overall. His Braves presented him with a 45-25 win over Middletown South on Dec. 21 in his final match as head coach.

During his coaching career, which began its 11th season in December, Verderosa coached 30 District 21 champions, Region champions and seven state place-winners led by Nick Manochio, a state runner-up and the school’s all-time winningest wrestler.

The highlight, though, was the Shore Conference Tournament victory in 2003, an upset of Jackson.

“The SCT, that was the pinnacle point of my coaching career,” he said.

Manalapan went to the Neptune Classic to start the season and the Braves finished seventh there (66) as Jackson rolled (243).

David Becker was the lone Brave to get to a final, where he lost to Monmouth Regional’s Anthony Bongarzone by a major decision, 10-0.

Becker is one of eight returning starters to the Manalapan lineup. The others are Ben Shappee (189 pounds), Nick Scardelli (145), Brandon Cohen (135), Charles Morea (112), Vinny Lynch (119), Matt Marchesano (152) and Carmin Roth (125). The returners make for a balanced, winning lineup. Shappee, Scardelli, Cohen, Lynch, Roth and Becker all won 13 matches or more and posted winning records.

Newcomers are: Vin Signorello (103), Tom Coughlin (130), Charles Geloso (160), Ricky O’Hara (171), Anthony Zaharakis (215), Steve Arthen (heavyweight), Ryan McGilvray (130) and John Damato (heavyweight).

Wernst has guided the Mustangs to steady improvement every year.

Having a state champion contender helps any lineup. However, the Mustangs are solid. They have Brian Tiscia back at heavyweight. He was a District 21 runner-up. Also back are Charlie Frankel (103), Marcis Rutty (112), Justin Saphhirstein (119), Eric Stoffer (130), Aaron Weiner (160) and Steve Pellicione (171/189).

Mike Ruskin (145) and Matt Horner (135) are the newcomers to the lineup and they have gotten off to winning starts.

The A North Division is loaded again this year, however, Marlboro should continue its winning ways.

Pressman has put the Colonials on the map and with 11 starters returning, anyone caught by surprise does so at their own risk. Freehold Borough made the state playoffs for the first time last year and even won the school’s first playoff match (over Colts Neck). Anthony Panzarino, who was a District 21 champion, is the most decorated returner. He’s wrestling at 215 this year, having won his title at 189.

Also back are Dan Franke (112), Ryan Santos (119), Rick Triozzi (125), Perry Reiss (10), Miguel Arrouyo (135), Frank O’Shea (140), Andrew Rock (152), Ben Ostner (160), Josh Lamb (171), Justin Brown (189) and Travis Postell (heavyweight). This is an experienced winning lineup with Frank, Triozzi and Brown joining Panzarino as 20-plus match winners in ’05.

The Colonials just may be ready to challenge the heavyweights like Wall and Long Branch in B North. That’s Pressman’s goal in ’06.

Colts Neck’s new coach, Bob Seidel, takes over a Cougar program that is on the way up. The Cougars have all but two starters back from the lineup produced that 10-8 record, and joined Howell and Freehold Borough in the state playoffs.

The Cougars opened their season impressively at the Matawan Icebreaker Tournament, where they were second to Old Bridge, 177-156.

Winning for the Cougars were: Niko Brown (112), Jeremy Gaines (125), Chris Panek (140) and Rob Manney (152). All are among the large contingent of returning starters.

Also back for the Cougars are: Chris Fraley (103), Devrin Vivino (135); Jordan Slipek (140), Jarrod Burdge ( 171); Tom Parisi (152/160) and Zac Meyers (heavyweight). Fraley and Vivino were third-place finishers at Matawan.

Freehold Township, which never shies away from tough competition, also began its year at the Icebreaker, placing fifth.

Jack Withstandley is in his third year coaching the school he wrestled for in high school, and the signs are there that the Patriots are on their way back. Dustin Craven gave the Patriots their lone win in Matawan, capturing the 135 title. Steinbraun (171) and Chris Rash (heavyweight) were runners-up and Mitch Berger (112) and Ed Zachmann (215) placed third.

Jeff Gutkin (125) and Jody Smith (171) are the only other returners to a team that lost the heart of its lower- and upper-middle weight divisions.

Among the important newcomers are Gene Accardi (103), Mike Tabasco (112), Ryan Fry (145) and Shane Kohen (160).