South Plainfield crowns four champs, wins Morris Knolls title

The South Plainfield High School wrestling team crowned four individual champions and freshman Joe Heilmann had an impressive debut for the Tigers, who captured their eighth consecutive Morris Knolls Invitational Tournament title on Saturday.

The Tigers amassed 218 team points, besting the host school, which tallied 198 points.

Ryan Walsh (126), Kyle Bythell (132) and Dan Hedden (138) strung together individual crowns for South Plainfield, while teammate Jordan Handwerger won the 160-pound title.

Heilmann, the younger brother of former South Plainfield and current University of North Carolina standout Nick, dropped a 3-0 decision in the opening round to West Morris sophomore Shane Metlzer, who InterMat ranks No. 19 in the nation at 106 pounds.

Heilmann rebounded from the defeat, wrestling his way back to third place.

Max Meyer (113), Alex Murray (152) and Ben Gomes (182) finished second for Watchung Hills, which placed fifth as a team with 124 points.

Perth Amboy, which did not boast a finalist, placed seventh.

Team scores: 1. South Plainfield (218); 2. Morris Knolls (198); 3. West Morris (195.5); 4. Montville (148.5); 5. Watchung Hills (124); 6. Seton Hall Prep (123); 7. Perth Amboy (75.5); 8. Newark Academy (67); 9. Wallkill Valley 62; 10. Morris Hills 21.

106—Shane Metzler (West Morris) dec. Austin Perrault (Morris Knolls), 9-3.

113—Garrett O’Shea (Morris Knolls) tech. fall Max Meyer (Watchung Hills), 17-2 (4:47).

120—Dylan Luciano (West Morris) dec. Nick Fierro (Seton Hall Prep), 3-0.

126—Ryan Walsh (South Plainfield) maj.dec. Marco Gaita (West Morris), 11-2.

132—Kyle Bythell (South Plainfield) dec. Michael Glasser (Montville), 6-2.

138—Dan Hedden (South Plainfield) dec. T.J. Calas (Seton Hall Prep), 5-0.

145—David Migliaccio (West Morris) dec. Brandon Seyffried (Newark Academy), 4-1.

152—Anthony Fano (Montville) dec. Alex Murray (Watchung Hills), 7-3.

160—Jordan Handwerger (South Plainfield) dec. Joey Schiele (Morris Hills), 1-0.

170—Luke Drugac (Morris Knolls) tech. fall Charles Austin (Newark Academy), 15-0 (2:53).

182—Dean Drugac (Morris Knolls) pin. Ben Gomes (Watchung Hills), 3:29.

195—Kevin Sears (West Morris) dec. Donovan Monteverdi (Seton Hall Prep), 8-1.

220—Joe Lascala (Montville) dec. Kevin Van Dyne (Morris Knolls), 7-1.

285—Parker Fox (Montville) dec. Jake Baker (Seton Hall Prep), 7-2.