Wrestling: Sayreville clinches GMC White Division title with 36-33 win over JFK

The Sayreville wrestling team, bolstered by the show of spirit and solidarity created during a winter sports pep rally at the high school earlier in the day, clinched the Greater Middlesex Conference White Division championship with a 36-33 victory over J.F. Kennedy on Friday night.

The Bombers, who last won a division title in 2010-2011, improved to 8-0 with their fourth consecutive division victory.

Even if Sayreville were to lose its division finale next week to J.P. Stevens, which is winless in the division, the Bombers would win the division title outright because they defeated J.F. Kennedy, which has just one loss in the division, head-to-head. No other division team has just one loss.

"Today was a real good day," Sayreville head coach Marcus Ivy said. "We had a winter pep rally in school, trying to build up our morale. The entire school came and it was a huge success. We used that as a platform. We had one of the biggest crowds since I've been here. The school was behind us. The administration was behind us. They knew the opportunity we had and they were excited for us."

The Bombers won just six bouts – five by fall and one (113 pounds) by forfeit – but lost small.

J.F. Kennedy won five bouts by a total of 13 points including one in sudden victory.

Dylan Haltli (126), Dylan Alves (132), Isaac Blagogee (145), Tyler Lewis (182) and Anthony Porcaro (285) pinned for Sayreville.

The Bombers won the toss, which proved to be key. They opened the dual by forfeiting to reigning district and GMC champion Brandon Farrell at 170 pounds. Lewis then bumped up to 182, where he recorded the first of the five pins before J.F. Kennedy's Carlos Martinez (195) recorded a 3-2 decision over Tyler Gilligan.

"It came down to the toss," Ivy said. "We won the toss, which was big. Had we lost the toss, it had a chance to be 12-0 (after three bouts)."

The Mustangs (6-2), who competed without 132-pounder Emmanuel Rivera, were not at full strength.

106: Aaron Coleman (JFIS) over Brandon Alicea (SWM) (Fall 1:55) 113: Francisco Roman (SWM) over (JFIS) (For.) 120: Victor Torress (JFIS) over Dylan Taillefer (SWM) (Dec 4-0) 126: Dylan Haltli (SWM) over Kelvin Diaz (JFIS) (Fall 2:14) 132: Dylan Alves (SWM) over Kevin Schaeffer (JFIS) (Fall 0:26) 138: Stiven Skenderi (JFIS) over Maddux Mason (SWM) (Dec 6-2) 145: Isaac Blagogee (SWM) over Jerry Diaz (JFIS) (Fall 3:26) 152: Jerry Mott (JFIS) over Dylan Kelleher (SWM) (SV-1 4-2) 160: Sean Aston (JFIS) over Kyle Wavro (SWM) (Fall 3:31) 170: Brandon Farrell (JFIS) over (SWM) (For.) 182: Tyler Lewis (SWM) over Chris Vassilatos (JFIS) (Fall 2:54) 195: Carlos Martinez (JFIS) over Tyler Gilligan (SWM) (Dec 3-2) 220: Anthony Deleon (JFIS) over Michael Porcaro (SWM) (Dec 5-3) 285: Anthony Porcaro (SWM) over Christian Cardosa (JFIS) (Fallf2:30)