Wrestling: No. 4 Old Bridge defeats No. 3 Edison in style

Spectators arriving for a big dual meet at Old Bridge High School may have thought they were underdressed for the occasion.

Students wearing handsome tuxedos and gorgeous gowns for a fashion show that was being held simultaneously in another part of the building gathered behind a ticket table near the entrance to the gymnasium, where Old Bridge was preparing to wrestle Edison.

While their neatly-coiffed classmates – some of who waltzed into the gymnasium or pressed their faces against the glass windows of its doors to sneak a peek at the action – made a grandiose entrance, it was the Old Bridge wrestling team that exited in style.

Freshman Mike Botte's second-period pin in the final bout sealed the fourth-ranked Knights' 36-25 comeback victory over third-ranked Edison in a battle of Home News Tribune Top 10 teams on Friday night.

Mike Gargano, one of four senior starters, carried Botte, a 106-pounder, off the mat and into the waiting arms of teammates who celebrated a victory that signaled Old Bridge's return to league prominence.

"Old Bridge is back," a usually stoic Bryan Garnett said, his voice beaming with enthusiasm. "We are not where we need to be just yet, but we are showing the character of a winning team, and that's what I am looking for. There's a desire to win, a desire to improve, and that's what a program is all about."

Garnett was quick to credit assistant coach Dave Kiley, renowned as a master technician and whose impact in the room cannot be overstated, with Old Bridge's improvement from an 8-10 finish a year ago to a 13-2 start this season.

"He's one of the greatest assistants I could ever have,' said Garnett, who returned as Old Bridge's head coach following a three-year hiatus after compiling a 78-32 record during his previous stint at the school.

"He has the kids buying into his system. He has them working hard and he's teaching them cutting edge wrestling as opposed to the same old stuff that all of us coaches do. If he for some reason can't be at practice, the attitude is down a little bit. They still practice, but it's not as intense when he's there. So he has a great influence on this team."

Kiley's tutelage was subtly felt throughout the dual but overtly displayed in T.J. Angstadt's 4-3 decision over Joseph Montuoro in a key tossup bout at 138 pounds. Angstadt used a move Kiley taught him in the room for the decisive takedown with 12 seconds left that helped the Knights build a 12-4 lead.

Consecutive pins from Billy Povalac (145), Eric Nolan (152) and Russell Rivella (160) enabled the Eagles to erase the eight-point deficit and take a 22-12 advantage with six bouts left.

The Knights won five of the remaining bouts including a string of four in a row which Mike Yuhas started with a 7-2 decision over Christopher Cuevas at 170 pounds. Unable to beat the 182-pound Gargano, a reigning Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament champion, in a wrestle-off, Yuhas' descent plan allowed him to wrestle for the first time all season at 170 pounds. Cuevas would have been favored against any other Old Bridge 170-pounder.

"(Yuhas) couldn't get in the lineup," Garnett explained. "He was certified at 170, and he said, 'Coach, I'm going down.' By him going down, it's getting him his spot that he wants and now he is a varsity starter."

Gargano followed with a 50-second pin, helping the Knights close to 22-21, before Dan Makagon gave Old Bridge a 24-22 lead it would not relinquish with a 4-0 decision over Vlad Torres at 195 pounds in one of several key tossup bouts.

Old Bridge's Stephen Nadera, a district runnerup last season, scored a 3-1 decision over Robert Cleary, a reigning conference champion and incumbent state qualifier, at 120 pounds in the dual's marquee bout.

After Old Bridge extended its lead to 30-22 with a forfeit victory at 220 pounds, heavyweight Keith Serio kept alive Edison's hopes, rallying for a 5-4 decision over Christian Manzanares as the Eagles closed to 30-25 with one bout remaining.

Old Bridge won nine bouts but was outscored 10-9 in bonus points including the three it received from the forfeit.

"I told my team the ultimate goal is a pin," Garnett said. "I love pins. But (Edison) can't win if we keep winning, and that's what happened tonight."

Garnett got his wish for another fall when Botte pinned Ryan Maurath in 3:30, sending the Old Bridge bench into a frenzy.

"Little Botte is turning into a solid varsity wrestler," Garnett said. "He went out there and wrestled for the pin. The way the team embraced him at the end was golden. The freshman brought it home and that's what it's all about. There's nothing greater than winning a match at the end with a pin."

Forget those fancy tuxedos and evening gowns. Singlets were en vogue on Friday night.