SPORTS

Wrestling: GMC Tournament 160 pound preview

Greg Tufaro

@GregTufaro

160 POUNDS

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

Favorite: Carteret's Elias Vega owns a 19-1 record. Vega's lone defeat was a 5-3 decision in sudden victory to Woodbridge's Bryan McLaughlin, who is the prohibitive favorite to win the 152-pound weight class after reaching his descent plan.

Top contenders: Jordan Handwerger (South Plainfield, 10-1), Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick, 18-3), Mike Petite (Piscataway, 13-2)

Others to watch: Algenis Nunez (New Brunswick, 15-7), Russell Rivella (Edison, 13-8), Marquan Payne (Woodbridge, 12-4), Jair Pittman (J.P. Stevens, 15-6)

Rest of the field: Rene Peterson (Bishop Ahr, 1-3), Abdal Abrahim (Colonia, 5-14), Matt Miskanic (East Brunswick, 4-8), Sean Aston (J.F. Kennedy, 10-7), Derek Shapiro (Metuchen, 2-11), Jefferson Galeano (Middlesex, 4-13), Chris Turchio (Monroe, 5-14), John Mueller (North Brunswick, 10-7), Akuamoah Fosuhene (Old Bridge, 7-9), Joe Schenck (Perth Amboy, 4-5), Kyle Wavero (Sayreville, 6-9), Aldo Posas (South River, 9-11), Richard Melvin (Spotswood, 13-7).

Top GMCT returner to weight class: Vega placed third with a 5-4 decision over Handwerger in the consolation final last season.

Notes: Handwerger, who injured his hand just before the Virginia Duals and has been sidelined since, returns in time for the conference tournament. Schwarz and Petite did not get the opportunity to wrestle Handwerger in regular-season duals.

INTRACONFERENCE RESULTS OF FAVORITE AND TOP CONTENDERS

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Russell Rivella (Edison) (Fall 1:27)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over John Mueller (North Brunswick Township) (TF 15-0 0:00)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Tyler Underwood (Bishop Ahr) (Dec 4-1)

Bryan McLaughlin (Woodbridge) over Elias Vega (Carteret) (SV-1 5-3)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Kevin Coleman (Metuchen) (MD 10-0)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Kyle Baszak (South River) (Fall 1:17)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over John Mueller (North Brunswick Township) (MD 15-5)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Jair Pittman (John P. Stevens) (TF 15-0 0:00)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Algenis Nunez (New Brunswick) (MD 14-0)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Richard Melvin (Spotswood) (Fall 1:57)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Peter Gelmine (Colonia) (Fall 3:14)

Elias Vega (Carteret) over Ahmed Mohamed (Middlesex) (Fall 1:28)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Anthony Seikel (JFK-Iselin) (Fall 0:29)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Zackary Cottrell (Woodbridge) (MD 16-7)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Tommy Dunn (South Plainfield) (Dec 4-3)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Kyle Wavro (Sayreville War Memorial) (Fall 0:36)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Frank Balzano (Old Bridge) (Fall 4:58)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Tyler Underwood (Bishop Ahr) (SV-1 6-4)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Algenis Nunez (New Brunswick) (Fall 5:54)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over John Mueller (North Brunswick Township) (Fall 1:26)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Anthony Tamayo (East Brunswick H.S.) (Dec 3-2)

Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) over Kevin Creech (Monroe Township) (Fall 3:29)

Michael Petite (Piscataway) over Tommy Dunn (South Plainfield) (Dec 5-0)

Michael Petite (Piscataway) over Russell Rivella (Edison) (Dec 9-7)

Michael Petite (Piscataway) over Akuamoah Fosuhene (Old Bridge) (MD 9-1)

Michael Petite (Piscataway) over Tyler Schwarz (South Brunswick Hs) (Dec 6-4)

Michael Petite (Piscataway) over Abdal Abrahim (Colonia) (Fall 2:18)

Michael Petite (Piscataway) over Mark Basilious (East Brunswick H.S.) (Fall 2:23)