SPORTS

Wrestling: Bound Brook places three in finals

Harry Frezza
@thefrez56

ATLANTIC CITY – Near the top of the bleachers right in front of the big stage at Boardwalk Hall Saturday night, Bound Brook assistant coaches pled for 145-pounder Stephan Glasgow to cut Delran’s previously-unbeaten Marcus Miraglia free.

Down on mat four, Glasgow had rallied from a 5-2 deficit to tie Miraglia, who also had a stall warning to think about. But the feeling was Glasgow wouldn’t turn Miraglia – who had beaten Glasgow 4-3 in a Jan. 31 dual meet. Glasgow had to beat Miraglia on his feet, so after Miraglia reclaimed the lead at 6-5, Glasgow kept pushing until he went through and over Miraglia for a takedown with eight seconds left and win 7-6 and earn his first NJSIAA State Championship.

Glasgow’s brother, Sean, the Crusaders’ senior 152-pounder picked up the momentum to earn his first final berth with an 8-6 victor over Cranford’s Gavin Murray, a state runner-up last year. That was followed not long after by Bound Brook senior 170-pounder Josh Ugalde’s 3:51 pin of Passaic Valley junior Jala`a Darwish. Ugalde earned his second state final. He lost to East Brunswick’s Jon Schleifer 6-5 in last year’s state final at 160.

Wrestling begins Sunday morning at 10 a.m. with wrestleback semifinals with consolation finals to follow. The championship finals will begin at 3 p.m. at Boardwalk Hall.

Though he was the Region V top seed last year at 120, Stephan Glasgow didn’t make weight after winning a District 18 title and lost the chance to qualify for Atlantic City. The brothers have won Somerset County, District 18 and Region V titles.

Stephan Glasgow avenged a dual meet loss to St. Peter Prep senior Ryan Burkert in the afternoon quarterfinal round.

“We didn’t have a doubt in our minds that Stephan wouldn’t win that match,’’ said Bound Brook assistant coach Mark Leh. “He’s relentless. He keeps pushing, keeps coming after it.’’

Sean Glasgow said he got to watch most of his brother’s match before his own.

“Everything is coming together for met his year and it’s really cool that Stephan and I got to the finals, but we never really thought of it like that’’ said Glasgow. “He’s working so hard. I wouldn’t be surprised if we both walked away with two state titles.’’

Both won National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling titles last April with Stephan winning a national freshman title at 132, and Sean a junior title at 152. Sean Glasgow hadn’t placed at the NJSIAA Tournament, losing the medal-clinching bout the past two years.

He broke the growth plate in his left elbow in the final football game of his junior year and didn’t return football until late January. He qualified for the state tournament as a region runner-up at 145 to John F. Kennedy’s graduated standout Carl Buttita

“As a sophomore (132-pounder) I was cutting a lot of weight and l had some problems with that and last year I was hurt, but everything is coming together for me now,’’ said Sean Glasgow, who transferred with his brother form East Brunswick after his sophomore year.

Stephan Glasgow will meet Brick Memorial’s senior Region V champ Alec Donovan in the state final. Donovan was seventh at 145 last season. Sean will take on Delbarton senior and Region III champ Joe Tavoso in the state final.

Ugalde earned his second straight final appearance with a fall at 3:51 in the 170-pound semifinal. Ugalde had struggled with offense, but going with a 6-0 victory in the quarterfinal. He built a 6-0 lead against Darwish before pinning him. Ugalde will face Bergen Catholic’s Joseph Grello in the state final. Ugalde beat Grello 1-0 in a Feb. 1 dual meet.

Staff writer Harry Frezza: hfrezza@mycentraljersey.com