Region mat titles for Langel, Turner, Somma
Frankel, Ecklof place second
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Last year the Colts Neck High School wrestling team established its Wall of Fame.

CHRIS KELLY staff Freehold Township High School's Mike Tabasco tries to score a double-leg takedown against Jackson Memorial's B.J. Young during the 119-pound quarterfinal bout at the NJSIAA Region VI Tournament at the Ritacco Center in Toms River on Feb. 29.

Already, the Cougars have to create a new category. Next to Holiday Tournament and District 21 champions is Region champions.

Saturday, senior Jimmy Somma became the first Colts Neck wrestler to win a NJSIAA Region VI championship when he completed a difficult run to the title by beating Southern Regional's Nick Maugeri, 5-2, in the 135-pound final Saturday at the Ritacco Center in Toms River.

"In means a lot to be the first," said Somma. "It's still a relatively new program with no history. Being one of the first to build the program means a lot."

Somma said he wrestled pressure-free in his first ever Region final.

"I was fourth last year," he noted. "I wanted to improve on that and get to Atlantic City.

CHRIS KELLY staff Freehold Boro's Josh Davis muscles Middletown South's Tim Tomaino for backpoints during their 215-pound quarterfinal bout at the NJSIAA Region VI Tournament in Toms River on Feb. 29.

"Win or lose in the final, I was still going to Atlantic City," he added. "I just went out to have fun."

Fun was getting an early taking in the first period. Getting an escape in the second period and another takedown in the second leading to a nice 5-0 lead that he protected in the third period.

Somma, who was a District runner-up, had to wrestle in the do-or-die preliminaries on Feb. 26. He stayed alive by pinning Middletown North's T.J. Mercantante in just 1:37.

Next came his 2008 nemesis, Ryan McGilvray of Manalapan, the fourth seed in the quarterfinal. McGilvray had dethroned him as District champion the week before 6-5 and had won during the dual-meet season. But, wrestling a tighter, cleaner match, Somma made the third time the charm prevailing 6-2.

It was on to the semis where he knocked off the No. 1 seed Don Miller of Brick Memorial, 1-0, securing a ticket to Atlantic City.

Maugeri, the sixth seed, was who stood in front of Somma and Colts Neck history.

While Somma marched into school history over the weekend, Howell's Joey Langel and Harry Turner continued on their paths that could lead to a state title. Both captured their first Region titles impressively.

Langel, who had lost the last two Region finals, wasn't going to be denied in his third try beating Mark Meastry of Toms River South, 9-3, in the 112 final.

"It feels great to have a Region title in my hand," said Langel. "I wrestled a lot of high-caliber wrestlers during the season and that helped.

"I felt I wrestled good [at the tournament]," he added.

The top seed had won by a technical fall in the quarterfinals and 2-0 over Jackson Memorial's Zac Huxford in the semis. He's 38-1 on the season and goes to Atlantic City wrestling as well as anyone and thinking about what he needs to do to perhaps win it all.

"I have to maintain my work ethic and mentality, stay focused and keep working hard," he said.

Turner continued to prove he made the right decision moving up to heavyweight for the states after wrestling most of the season at 215 pounds. He again outwrestled his opponents with his quickness. He was a takedown machine in the final, beating Ameer Washington of Long Branch, 13-7.

Turner, who was seeded No. 1, pinned his way to the final and is 39-0 this season, a sharp turnaround from '07 where he was third in District 21 and did not get to Atlantic City.

"It all started in the preseason with all the work I put in," said Turner. "I just got on a kind of roll during the season."

Although he hasn't been to Atlantic City, Turner said the experience of wrestling in a big tournament throughout his career and in the Region final like Saturday are good preparation.

Which includes Jason Ecklof, who is also headed to Atlantic City with his teammates. He lost to JacksonMemorial's Scott Winston by a tech fall in the 160 final, 25-10.

Ecklof chose to stay in the weight class that has the best wrestler in the state, if not the country. Although it didn't bring him a District or Region title, it got him to Atlantic City where he has a chance to be a place-winner.

When Ecklof beat Cody Oliverio, 8-1, in the semifinals, it was his 100th career victory for the Rebels.

"I wasn't keeping track," noted the senior, who is 30-5. "It's a great mark."

Langel, Turner and Ecklof all dedicated their Region tournament to teammate Cody Fobes, last year's Region champion and state runner-up. After capturing his third District 21 title, Fobes received the news that the reason he hadn't been feeling well the last couple of weeks was that he had come down with mononucleosis. His season and career came to an abrupt end.

Marlboro's Charlie Frankel is returning to Atlantic City as well. The Mustang lost the 103 final to his rival, Tyler Biscaha of Jackson Memorial, 6-1. The week before, Frankel had beaten the Jaguar 5- 3 getting back points on a cradle in the final seconds of the match.

With the victory, Biscaha is 2-1 against Frankel, who hopes that he can even the score in the 103 final. He was seventh at 103 last year.