WRESTLING: South Plainfield looks to use GMC Tournament as springboard to success

In addition to extending its streak to 10 consecutive Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament titles, the South Plainfield High School wrestling team hopes to use this weekend’s tournament as a springboard for the remainder of the season.

The Tigers, who own a deceptive 14-6 dual meet record, are talented enough to win a third-straight state title, but some prognosticators are losing faith in the perennial power.

With four losses to teams ranked among the Top 12 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association’s Top 20  and two other losses to out-of-state foes, including one school that InterMat ranks among the Top 50 in the nation, South Plainfield managed to fall out of one highly respected statewide Top 20 ranking  this week.

“Not to be in the Top 20 in any (rankings) when you haven’t lost to anybody out of the Top 15 is hard to take, but we can’t worry about that,” said South Plainfield head coach Bill Pavlak, whose Tigers have been ranked among the Top 20 in New Jersey in at least one statewide poll for 22 consecutive seasons. “We’ve just got to move forward. It (realizing team goals) is still in front of us. The rankings that count are the final ones.”

READ: Home page for previews and complete coverage of the 2018 GMC wrestling tournament

READ: GMC wrestling tournament weight class preview 106 through 145 pounds

READ: GMC wrestling tournament weight class preview 152 through 285 pounds

READ: Live GMC wrestling tournament seeds Thursday at 5 p.m. 

The Tigers have battled injuries and illness of late, but Pavlak makes no excuses, stating that “eventually as a team we are going to find out if we are going to reach our potential.

“As a staff and a team we have to get it done before the end of the season. It has to happen soon for us. I think the team – the coaches and the wrestlers – know the urgency. It’s now and not in the distant future. I think they realize that. With the intensity I’ve seen in practice this week, I think we’re on the right path to hopefully get to where we want to be.”

That’s probably bad news for the rest of the conference, especially Monroe and Piscataway, the league’s other top contenders who appear to be battling for second place in this weekend’s tournament, which will be held Friday and Saturday at Piscataway High School.

“South Plainfield is obviously the clear favorite going in,” Monroe head coach Joe Eurell said. “They are a storied program, well-coached, and they’ve got tremendous firepower throughout their lineup. There’s a strong possibility they are going to have the most (individual) champs.”

Monroe will be without 113-pounder Nick DePalma, who is sidelined with an injury and won’t be medically cleared to return to action until next week. During last year’s tournament, DePalma recorded the most pins (four) in the shortest amount of time. His potential for bonus points will be sorely missed.

“He’s missed tremendously right now,” Eurell said, adding he is confident that Joey Fiordaliso has the ability to make it to the 113-pound championship. “We really like his odds of making it to the finals.”

Monroe has among the most balanced lineups in the tournament but will need strong performances from the 106, 160, 182, 220 and heavyweight classes if it is to overtake Piscataway for second place.

“We need those guys to get through and stay competitive throughout the tournament,” Eurell said. “I’m hoping we get guys into the finals, but if we have any shot of winning this thing, it’s going to be making sure we have the most placewinners, most in the Top 8, hopefully Top 5. I think that’s the key.”

Piscataway is expected to dominate the tournament at 152 through 170 pounds where Joseph Hatcher, Michael Petite and Nick Recine are favored to win individual titles in succession, which would be a thrill for the home crowd.

The 160-pound final, barring a colossal upset,  likely will feature Petite against Colonia’s Joseph Poznanski, who are ranked third and eighth in the state, respectively, according to Wrestling Full Circle.

Another marquee final could pit South Plainfield freshman Anthony White against Perth Amboy senior Joseph Pacheco at 106 pounds.

Among the most compelling storylines of the tournament is the move of Woodbridge’s Nick Nyers from 220 pounds, where he was ranked among the Top 8 in the state earlier this season, to the heavyweight class.

Woodbridge coach Michael Carbone said the rationale behind bumping Nyers is to put his star wrestler in the best position to reach Atlantic City.

Should Nyers compete in the postseason at 220 pounds – which he very well may do – he could have a tough time getting out of a loaded region that features three standouts including state-ranked Luke Niemeyer of South Plainfield, Scott Fernandes of Voorhees and Mike Salerno of Watchung Hills.

“It’s tough to get to states at 220 in that region,” Carbone said. “I think Nick could, but there might be an easier route there through heavyweight. That being said, we have to test him in a tournament to see if he can handle that type of abuse, because it’s a lot of weight he’s giving up. This is like a test run up at heavyweight."

Tournament schedule

Preliminary and prequarterfinal rounds immediately follow the introduction of senior wrestlers at 5 p.m. Friday.

Quarterfinals commence at 10 a.m. Saturday and immediately will be followed by the semifinals, consolation quarterfinals and consolation semifinals.

The consolation finals for third, fifth and seventh place commence  start at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The finals  begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Admission

On Friday, all-session passes, valid for admission to every round of the tournament, can be purchased at $17 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens.

Admission to Friday night’s preliminary and prequarterfinal rounds only is $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

An all-day pass for Saturday can be purchased until 3 p.m. at $14 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens.

Final round tickets can be purchased after 3 p.m. at $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

No morning session only tickets will be sold  Saturday.

Weight class preview

Visit MyCentralJersey.com for in-depth analysis of all 14 weight classes.