Wrestling: Underwood's pin leads Bishop Ahr past Woodbridge

Tyler Underwood has unselfishly competed up in class all season to help the Bishop Ahr High School wrestling team stretch its lineup.

So, it only seemed fitting that the junior standout, whose descent plan allowed him to wrestle at 152 pounds for only the second time this year, would record what proved to be the decisive pin in a 35-31 victory over Woodbridge on Wednesday night.

Underwood's ability to cut to 152 enabled him to avoid undefeated Woodbridge 160-pounder Bryan McLaughlin (18-0) and instead face Marquan Payne (9-4), a second-year wrestler with potential who he pinned in 4:34 to give Bishop Ahr an insurmountable 35-22 lead with two bouts remaining.

"Tyler wrestled up at 160 all year to stretch our lineup, be a leader and get more seniors into the lineup," Bishop Ahr coach Nick Tonzola said. "Jonathan Sandoval at 152 has done an excellent job for us, but in a tight (Greater Middlesex Conference White Division) match, we've got to get our points where we can get them."

McLaughlin pinned as expected and teammate Zack Cottrell – wrestling for the first time after missing the last four dual meets with an injury – followed with a decision to produce the final margin.

Bishop Ahr won the dual with a 14-10 edge in bonus points. Mike DeSantis (220) recorded a key pin, while teammates Dylan O'Connor (113) and Tyler Earl (132) each posted major decisions. All three scored bonus in bouts where Woodbridge expected to lose small.

"Bishop Ahr, for whatever reason, always seems to be a bad matchup," said Woodbridge coach Michael Carbone, who expected the dual to be decided by the toss. "I did the matchups both ways and I thought it was going to be a three-point match either way. Bishop Ahr knows how to hang in matches."

Carbone credited Tonzola with preparing his wrestlers and being able to talk each of them through bouts.

"I give Tonzola and his team credit because Nick always does a great job of having his team ready for whatever," Carbone said. "You can hear when our guys go out on the mat, he's saying, 'Watch this' and 'Watch that.' And it's very specific toward what our actual kid does. He's not just saying it to have his kids aware. He's saying it because he's scouted, and Nick does a really good job with that."

Bishop Ahr, ranked No. 9 in the Home News Tribune Top 10, owns a deceptive 5-11 record that includes losses to third-ranked Edison and fourth-ranked Old Bridge. Bishop Ahr has also lost to perennial state powers such as Hunterdon Central and Southern Regional.

The turning point of the season, however, was a stretch of four consecutive defeats that began with a 39-24 loss to division runner-up J.F. Kennedy and ended with a 39-29 loss to division champion Sayreville.

"The kids really fought hard this year," Tonzola said. "We had a stretch of four very tight losses in the middle there that weren't from a lack of effort and will to win. I'm really proud of the guys. We lost two tight divisional matches. I know the guys broke their butts and they got a little payoff tonight for their continued work."

The teams split bouts with Bishop Ahr also getting pins from Andrew Brazicki (182) and John Sheedy (138). Gaven Ringwood scored a key 4-3 decision over Yehia Mosaad at 106 for Bishop Ahr, which never trailed.

Woodbridge (12-4) has been competing without 195-pounder Vin Zecchino (shoulder) and 138-pounder Dale Alvarez (ankle), who are both sidelined for their year. With both in the lineup, Woodbridge would have been favored against Bishop Ahr and would be back in the Top 10, where it started the season.

Alex LaGrippo (285) and Elyas Azouzi (145) both pinned for Woodbridge, while teammates Rob Bagnar (195) and Jack Quinn (120) won by decision and major, respectively. Joey Marty's 14-10 decision over Nick DelDuca at 126 pounds in the most entertaining bout of the dual trimmed Bishop Ahr's lead to three points with six bouts remaining.

Underwood sealed the victory with his pin of Payne, who wrestled well and trailed just 2-0 entering the third period.

Tonzola told Underwood Bishop Ahr needed a pin and his 152-pounder responded, running a spiral until he got in his trademark half for the fall.

"I heard him," Underwood said of Tonzola's instructions. "He said I definitely have to turn it up and wrestle and get the pin. I was definitely going out there looking for a pin, but (Payne) was strong and it was tough at first.

"When 'Tonz' told me I just knew I had to do it."