Wrestling: First night notebook
ATLANTIC CITY – - North Hunterdon 126-pound senior Ryan Pomrinca was one of 23 unbeaten wrestlers who opened the 82nd NJSIAA State Tourament Friday night with an unbeaten record.
Pomrinca was 36-0, going into his pre-quarterfinal bout with Don Bosco sophomore Avery Shay at Boardwalk Hall.
Other unbeatens
Bergen Catholic' junior and two-time state champ Nick Suriano (36-0 at 120), DePaul senior state champ David McFadden (42-0 at 160), Don Bosco’s two-time state finalist senior Zack Chakonis (28-0 at 285), Holy Cross' senior Matt Correnti (39-0 at 195), third and eighth the last two seasons. St. Joseph of Montvale junior Jon Tropea (41-0 at 106), Jackson Liberty senior Matthew Russo (39-0 at 138), Keansburg senior Tyree Sutton (39-0 at 195), Kingsway freshman Quinn Kinner (38-0 at 106), Old Tappan junior Tyler Mullen (38-0 at 160), Monroe senior Sal Profaci (37-0 at 132), Clifton junior Mohammed Farhan (36-0 at 138), West Orange senior Chris Morgan (36-0 at 182), Delran senior Marcus Miraglia (34-0 at 145), Brick Township senior Dean Sherry (34-0 at 182), Clearview junior Zack Firestone (33-0 at 120) and junior Michael Van Brill (33-0 at 132), Christian Brothers’ junior Sebastian Rivera (33-0 at 113), Toms River South junior Owen McClave (32-0 at 120), Elizabeth senior Lloyd Jackson (28-0 at 285), Eastern junior Brandon Barbella (26-0 at 132) and Wall junior Brett Donner (13-0 at 170).
Five champs return
Bound Brook two-time state champ Craig De La Cruz -- who transferred to Summit last summer -- is one of five returning state champs. The 132-pound senior, Bergen Catholic junior Nick Suriano (120) and Hanover Park senior Anthony Cefalo are attempting to join 25 others as three-time state champions. DePaul Catholic’s David McFadden and Delbarton's Ty Agaisse (120) are the other returning champs. Agaisse won at 106 and McFadden at 145 last season.
De La Cruz, beaten in the Region III final by Delbarton’s Nick Faro last week, is attempting to become Summit’s first state champ since Enzo Catullo won at 149 in 1985. Catullo won the 142-pound title in 1984.
It's been awhile since Summit had a state champion, 30 years to be exact, Enzo Catullo went back-to-back in 1984 (142 pounds) and '85 (149) for the Union County school's lone titles. Craig De La Cruz will be looking to end that drought as he bids for a third championship after winning two at Bound Brook. De La Cruz will be competing at 132 pounds this weekend in AC.
There were 43 returning state place winners in all.
Atlantic City 21
AC is hosting for the 21st time. Princeton University's Jadwin Gym hosted 22 times from 1970 to 1991. With the exception of a two-year stop iat the Meadowlands as Boardwalk Hall was being renovated in 2000 and 2001, AC has been the tournament’s home.
The event has also been held at the Elizabeth Armory (nine times, 1947-55), Rutgers (seven from 1959-65) and Asbury Park Convention Hall (four years - 1966-69).
High schools hosted before that, including Somerville High, now the district’s middle school. Roselle Park, Teaneck, Grover Cleveland Jr. (Elizabeth), Springfield, Thomas Jefferson, Rahway and Belvidere also hosted it. Union was home to the first four tournaments from 1934-37.
Union leads state
Westfield’s Christian Barber was the 129th and last Union County state champ when he won at 152 in 2011. He beat county rival Devin Geoghegan of Brearley for the title. Union County leads the state in state titles. Sussex has 113 - 82 from Newton, Bergen (107), Warren (85), Ocean and Somerset - both with 61, Morris (59), Gloucester (58), Camden (57) and Middlesex (41). Hunterdon County has 36 one behind Monmouth..