SPORTS

Wrestling: GMC Tournament 113 pound preview

Greg Tufaro

@GregTufaro

113 POUNDS

CHECK IT OUT: Convenient link for previews of the 13 other weight classes

Favorite: East Brunswick sophomore Mark Schleifer, whose older brother Jonathan, a 2014 NJSIAA Individual Tournament champion is now wrestling at Princeton, owns a 15-1 record. Schleifer's lone defeat was a 3-1 decision to Edison's Robert Cleary, last year's 106-pound GMCT champion who will be competing this year at 120 pounds. Schleifer owns an impressive 6-5 decision over reigning Somerset County Tournament 113-pound champion Brian Kuhlman of Manville, who he defeated at the Bear Invitational. Schleifer has twice defeated Perth Amboy's Norberto Torres (1-0 and 3-1) and owns a 5-3 decision over South Plainfield's Jake Giordano.

Top contenders: Jake Giordano (South Plainfield, 11-9), Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy, 16-4), Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret, 19-4), Dylan O'Connor (Bishop Ahr, 17-6).

Rest of the field: Azam Naqvi (Colonia, 7-6), Julian Burke (Edison, 4-11), Jeffery Reyes (Highland Park, 7-10), Dan Defillippo (J.P. Stevens, 7-10), Adem Djonovic (J.F. Kennedy, 4-4), Michael Naverez (Metuchen, 3-5), Charles Zaccardi (Middlesex, 7-10), Ryan Craver (Monroe, 4-2), Dylan Ur (Old Bridge, 9-8), Erick Valentin (Piscataway, 5-5), Frank Roman (Sayreville, 14-5), Roger Sheffmaker (South Brunswick, 9-10), Justin Thompson (Spotswood, 1-12), Alec Shea (Woodbridge, 12-4).

Top GMCT returner to weight class: Dhillo placed eighth last season.

Notes: An injury will keep Monroe's Nicky Lombard, a third-place finisher at 106 pounds last year who may have been regarded as this year's 113-pound favorite, out of the tournament. Schleifer placed fourth at 106 pounds last season. Giordano decisioned Torres 6-4 at the Morris Knolls Invitational. Giordano is the most battled-tested wrestler in the field, but Torres is also capable of winning the bracket. Dhillo decisioned O'Connor 3-1 in sudden victory.

INTRACONFERENCE RESULTS OF FAVORITE AND TOP CONTENDERS

Mark Schleifer (East Brunswick H.S.) over Rich Ritter (Old Bridge) (Fall 3:22)

Mark Schleifer (East Brunswick H.S.) over Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) (Dec 3-1)

Robert Cleary (Edison) over Mark Schleifer (East Brunswick H.S.) (Dec 3-1)

Mark Schleifer (East Brunswick H.S.) over Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) (Dec 1-0)

Mark Schleifer (East Brunswick H.S.) over Jake Giordano (South Plainfield) (Dec 5-3)

Mark Schleifer (East Brunswick H.S.) over Manuel Gomez (North Brunswick Township) (Fall 0:26)

Mark Schleifer (East Brunswick H.S.) over Roger Sheffmaker (South Brunswick Hs) (Fall 0:59)

Jake Giordano (South Plainfield) over Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) (Dec 6-4)

Jake Giordano (South Plainfield) over Erick Valentin (Piscataway) (Fall 4:55)

Jake Giordano (South Plainfield) over Andrew Lombard (Monroe Township) (Dec 3-2)

Jake Giordano (South Plainfield) over Julian Burke (Edison) (Fall 3:15)

Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) over Adem Djonovic (JFK-Iselin) (MD 13-1)

Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) over Manuel Gomez (North Brunswick Township) (Fall 0:36)

Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) over Andrew Lombard (Monroe Township) (Dec 5-1)

Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) over Daniel Defilippo (John P. Stevens) (Fall 0:56)

Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) over Alec Shea (Woodbridge) (Fall 1:16)

Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) over Dylan Ur (Old Bridge) (Fall 2:41)

Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) over Julian Burke (Edison) (MD 18-5)

Norberto Torres (Perth Amboy) over Roger Sheffmaker (South Brunswick Hs) (Fall 2:36)

Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) over Dylan Ur (Old Bridge) (MD 13-1)

Robert Cleary (Edison) over Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) (MD 16-4)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) (SV-1 3-1)

Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) over Azam Naqvi (Colonia) (Fall 0:55)

Victor Torress (JFK-Iselin) over Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) (Fall 1:26)

Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) over Jonathan Peters (South Brunswick Hs) (TF 15-0 6:00)

Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) over Francisco Roman (Sayreville War Memorial) (MD 12-2)

Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) over Daniel Defilippo (John P. Stevens) (Fall 3:55)

Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) over Alec Shea (Woodbridge) (MD 14-3)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Dylan O`Connor (Bishop Ahr) (SV-1 3-1)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Alec Shea (Woodbridge) (MD 9-1)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Michael Nevarez (Metuchen) (Fall 2:22)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Mark Pacheco (South River) (Dec 5-1)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Daniel Defilippo (John P. Stevens) (Fall 2:43)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Enrique Cuervas (New Brunswick) (Dec 3-0)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Michael Egan (Spotswood) (Fall 3:40)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Azam Naqvi (Colonia) (Fall 2:43)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Jake McCrone (Highland Park) (Fall 2:42)

Mohammad Dhillo (Carteret) over Steven Ta (Middlesex) (TF 21-6 2:00)