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Povalac, Gargano named OW as South Plainfield wins GMCT wrestling

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

Editor's note:This is a significantly updated version of an earlier story with complete results and multiple quotes from wrestlers and coaches.

As the youngest sibling of one of the most talented brother combinations in Greater Middlesex Conference history, South Plainfield freshman Nick Heilmann felt an obligation to continue the legacy of his family and his high school's storied wrestling program.

One of three champions for the Tigers, who claimed their seventh consecutive team title and 11th in the past 12 years, Heilmann won the 106-pound crown with a 10-0 major decision over Bishop Ahr's Gaven Ringwood at Piscataway High School on Saturday night.

South Plainfield won the team title with 224 points. Despite competing without four starters, all of whom were injured, Monroe finished second with a team score of 153 and crowned a school-record three champions.

Billy Povalac of Edison pinned South River's Jared Smith in 36 seconds to win his second consecutive title, this one at 145-pounds. Povalac was named Outstanding Wrestler for the lower weights and recorded the most pins (four) in the least amount of time (7:24).

"I've just got to keep rolling into districts and regions," said Povalac, who placed fifth in the state last year. "I've got bigger goals. I'm looking to do big things this year in Atlantic City."

Old Bridge 182-pounder Mike Gargano and Sayreville heavyweight Anthony Porcaro defended their respective titles, while Edison's Robert Cleary and Monroe's Sal Profaci each won their second GMCT crowns.

Gargano, who decisioned Piscataway's Eti-ini Udott 4-2 for the second time this season, was named Outstanding Wrestler for the Upper Weights.

Their bout was arguably the most exciting of the finals. With the score 2-2 late in the third, Udott attempted a single-leg takedown, but Gargano wizzared out and merkled for a takedown. He rode Udott out the rest of the way for the win.

Cleary, who won the GMCT and District 19 titles at 106 pounds a year ago, avenged a 3-1 regular-season loss to previously unbeaten Stephen Nadera of Old Bridge with a 12-5 decision in the 120-pound final.

"I learned a lot obviously," Cleary, a Region V runner-up a year ago, said of his regular-season loss to Nadera, one of four defeats on the year for the sophomore. "I know he's strong and I beat him with my quickness tonight. This is a huge win. Maybe the biggest of my life. It's because the beginning of the year things started out rocky, and I'm happy to come out on top."

Profaci, a four-time GMCT finalist, scored a 10-4 decision over South Plainfield's Kyle Bythell at 132 pounds, where the University of Michigan commit may be the state's best.

Jordan Handwerger, who wrestled Friday night for the first time following a lengthy layoff after breaking his hand, advanced to the 160-pound final against Carteret's Eliias Vega, dropping a 5-1 decision.

"He's the foundation of our team," Carteret coach Dan Farrar said of Vega. "He's been a captain since he's been a freshman. It (the title) is something he's worked for really hard and he really deserves it. He's a full-time wrestler. He is a kid you would enjoy coaching in any sport. If he never won a match ever I'd still say he's a great kid. He's a class act all the way."

East Brunswick's Mark Schleifer, who split four bouts with Perth Amboy's Norberto Torres last season, defeated his archrival for the third time this year with a 3-2 decision in the 113-pound final.

Porcaro defended his heavyweight title with a 2-0 decision over East Brunswick's Kevin Eid, while his brother Michael dropped a 3-1 decision to Monroe's Nick Goff at 220 pounds.

Ryan Walsh (126) and Dan Hedden (138) also won championships for South Plainfield. Walsh scored an 8-4 decision over South River's Tyler Burgess, while Hedden decisioned Monroe's Chris Muce 6-3 in what was regarded as another great tossup bout of the finals.

The Cinderella run for South Plainfield's C.J. Maszczak, a No. 15 seed who defeated the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, ended with an 8-1 loss to undefeated Bryan McLaughlin of Woodbridge in the 152-pound championship.

Brandon Farrell of J.F. Kennedy, who has had tremendous success despite having an injury-riddled career, defended his 170-pound title with a 3-2 decision over East Brunswick's Anthony Tamayo.

Monroe's Pat Dressel won by injury default over defending champion Doug Ryan of South River in a rematch of last year's 195-pound final. Ryan broke his leg just before the start of the 2014 football season, an injury which required the surgical implantation of a metal rod.

"We knew we were coming in a little shorthanded, but quite honestly, as I said to our kids, this time of year, all across the state, there's a lot of teams in the same boat as us, so no one here really cares that we are in the situation we are in," Monroe head coach Billy Jacoutot said. "So no one is feeling sorry for you. But what I was proud of is the fact that the kids we did enter were able to pull their weight and do their individual jobs. I thought that for us to take second here was an accomplishment based on the fact that we were severely shorthanded."

Heilmann's older brothers, Troy, a current University of North Carolina sophomore wrestler, and Nick, a former Tar Heel grappler, combined to win seven GMCT individual championships (a broken finger prevented Troy from winning a fourth title).

Joe remembers watching his brothers shine for South Plainfield in the league tournament finals.

"Everything my brothers did, I always looked up to them," Joe said. "I always wanted to follow in their footsteps. I wanted to be a GMC champ. All the seniors wanted us to win this tournament, especially as a team, but they also wanted the best for the individuals."