SPORTS

Wrestling: GMC Tournament 145 pound preview

Greg Tufaro

@GregTufaro

145 POUNDS

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

Favorite: Edison's Billy Povalac, who placed fifth in the state and won a GMCT championship at 138 pounds last season, owns an 18-2 record. Povalac's defeats are to reigning state champion Craig De La Cruz of Summit and to Scotch Plains-Fanwood's Brian Lapham who is 21-1. He recently scored a 13-8 decision over South Plainfield's Frank Ferraro, who also lost to Lapham.

Top contenders: Jordan Cooke (Piscataway, 13-4), Frank Ferraro (South Plainfield, 15-6), Jared Smith (South River, 17-4).

Others to watch: Sam Torres (New Brunswick, 14-9), Elyas Azouzi (Woodbridge, 16-6), Isaac Blagogee (Sayreville, 13-6), Paul Vargas (J.P. Stevens, 16-6)

Rest of the field: Joe Napoli (Bishop Ahr, 7-10), Antoran Chandler (Carteret, 8-10), Mike Salcedo (Colonia, 3-13), Harrison Consentino (East Brunswick, 4-9), Matt Schrager (Highland Park, 5-8), Giovanni Magee (J.F. Kennedy, 14-5), Keaton Weidmaier (Metuchen, 0-9), Connor McCrimmon (Middlesex, 1-12), Chris Ryan (Monroe, 1-2), Mitchell Arciniega (North Brunswick, 11-6), Mike Murphy (Old Bridge, 8-10), Andrew Chang (South Brunswick, 6-9).

Top GMCT returner to weight class: Cooke placed sixth last season.

Notes: Monroe's Donny Albach, who would have been a top contender, is out with an injury. Ferraro placed seventh in the GMCT at 132 pounds last season. Blagogee was eighth in the GMCT at 138 pounds last year.

INTRACONFERENCE RESULTS OF FAVORITE AND TOP CONTENDERS

William Povalac (Edison) over Paul Vargas (John P. Stevens) (Fall 1:46)

William Povalac (Edison) over John Sheedy (Bishop Ahr) (TF 21-6 5:58)

William Povalac (Edison) over Aditya Pillai (East Brunswick H.S.) (Fall 0:21)

William Povalac (Edison) over Michael Yeboah (Piscataway) (TF 19-3 5:30)

William Povalac (Edison) over Donald Albach (Monroe Township) (Fall 1:19)

William Povalac (Edison) over William Witt (Spotswood) (TF 21-3 4:00)

William Povalac (Edison) over Frank Ferraro (South Plainfield) (Dec 13-8)

William Povalac (Edison) over Mike Murphy (Old Bridge) (Fall 2:41)

Frank Ferraro (South Plainfield) over David Laureta (East Brunswick H.S.) (Fall 0:40)

Chris Muce (Monroe Township) over Frank Ferraro (South Plainfield) (Dec 3-1)

Jordan Cooke (Piscataway) over Christopher Maszczak (South Plainfield) (Dec 5-2)

Jordan Cooke (Piscataway) over Eric Nolan (Edison) (Dec 3-2)

Xavier Jenkins (Old Bridge) over Jordan Cooke (Piscataway) (MD 10-1)

Jordan Cooke (Piscataway) over Zach Farawell (Colonia) (Fall 1:06)

Jordan Cooke (Piscataway) over Harrison Cosentino (East Brunswick H.S.) (Fall 1:00)

Jared Smith (South River) over Joe Schenck (Perth Amboy) (Fall 0:45)

Jared Smith (South River) over Mitchell Arciniega (North Brunswick Township) (Fall 4:47)

Jared Smith (South River) over Sean Aston (JFK-Iselin) (Fall 0:29)

Jared Smith (South River) over Bryan Velasquez (Middlesex) (Fall 1:08)

Jared Smith (South River) over Matthew Arantes (Carteret) (Fall 0:44)

Jared Smith (South River) over Mike Salcedo (Colonia) (Fall 1:46)

Eric Nolan (Edison) over Jared Smith (South River) (Dec 7-3)

Jared Smith (South River) over Isaac Blagogee (Sayreville War Memorial) (Dec 3-1)

Jared Smith (South River) over William Witt (Spotswood) (Fall 3:47)