SPORTS

Wrestling: South Plainfield falls to Jackson Memorial

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

After dropping a 28-22 decision to Paramus in the opening leg of a tri-meet, the South Plainfield High School wrestling team, ranked No. 19 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 poll, fell 39-21 to 10th-ranked Jackson Memorial.

The Tigers (14-5) gave Jackson Memorial (12-2), whose only losses this season were on criteria to 17th-ranked Brick Township and by two points to second-ranked St. Peter’s Prep, a good run in a dual that featured four lead changes.

Jackson Memorial won the last four bouts – two by fall – to erase a 21-20 deficit.

Sean Leahey ended the see-saw battle, giving Jackson Memorial the lead for good, 24-21, on a major decision at 152 pounds with three bouts remaining.

Tanner Kelly (170) and Connor Bohringer (182) closed out the dual with pins. South Plainfield wrestled without standout Jordan Handwerger (170), sidelined with a hand injury.

After dropping the first two bouts in the dual against Jackson Memorial, which began at 195 pounds, by a major and a decision, South Plainfield forfeited to undefeated heavyweight Brody Graham as the Jaguars built a 13-0 lead.

The Tigers stormed back, winning four of the next five bouts to take an 18-17 advantage. Consecutive pins from Ryan Walsh (126) and Kyle Bythell (132) produced the short-lived lead.

After Jackson Memorial’s Tim Hamann (138) scored an 8-6 decision in sudden victory over Dan Hedden to give the Jaguars a 20-18 edge, Frank Ferraro (145) got the lead right back for South Plainfield with a 1-0 decision over Hunter Reese.

Jackson Memorial Hs (JMH) 39.00 South Plainfield (SOPL) 21.00

195: Adante Davis (JMH) over Anthony Santone (SOPL) (MD 12-3) 220: Nick Shimonivich (JMH) over Julio Gonzalez (SOPL) (Dec 4-3) 285: Broderick Graham (JMH) over (SOPL) (For.) 106: Joe Heilmann (SOPL) over Matt McGowen (JMH) (Dec 5-1) 113: Jake Giordano (SOPL) over Michael Spino (JMH) (Dec 4-3) 120: Fred Terranova (JMH) over Ryan Duhamel (SOPL) (MD 8-0) 126: Ryan Walsh (SOPL) over Ryan Bonringer (JMH) (Fall 3:21) 132: Kyle Bythell (SOPL) over Michael Christie (JMH) (Fall 1:47) 138: Tim Hamann (JMH) over Daniel Hedden (SOPL) (SV-1 8-6) 145: Frank Ferraro (SOPL) over Hunter Reese (JMH) (Dec 1-0) 152: Sean Leahey (JMH) over Christopher Maszczak (SOPL) (MD 12-3) 160: Jarret Digiantomasso (JMH) over Ben Lundy (SOPL) (Dec 2-0) 170: Tanner Kelly (JMH) over Nicholas DiFrancesco (SOPL) (Fall 2:57) 182: Connor Bohringer (JMH) over Christian Gonzalez (SOPL) (Fall 1:03)