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Bound Brook wrestling returns to sectional final

Harry Frezza
@thefrez56
Bound Brook's Mekhi Lewis (bottom) wrestles Hasbrouck Heights' Michael O'Malley at 145 pounds at the NJSIAA State Tournament final on March 6, 2016.

BOUND BROOK – Bound Brook High School senior wrestlers Matt Duarte and Travis Hays are surrounded by state and region champions and placers. The two could be overlooked, but their roles have taken on greater meaning this year since the Crusaders have been shorthanded.

Top-seeded Bound Brook (11-6) earned its sixth-straight sectional final berth Wednesday night with a 52-26 victory over No. 4 Verona (14-11)  in a NJSIAA North 2 Group I semifinal. The Crusaders will face second-seeded Cedar Grove Friday night in hopes of winning their 13th section crown. Cedar Grove beat Bound Brook 40-33 in last  year’s sectional final.

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The winner of Friday's final will advance to Sunday’s state group championships at Pine Belt Arena at Toms River North. The state Group I semis are scheduled for 11 a.m. and finals for 5:30 p.m.

Since Bound Brook has been forfeiting three and sometimes four weights in dual meets this season, the production of Duarte and Hays has thrust the pair into the forefront. They both had first period pins against Verona on Wednesday's Senior Night.

“You feel a little more pressure (because of the forfeits), but you just have to push through it,” Duarte said.

“Whether it's a pin or a major you have to do it,” Hays said. “If we had people to fill those spots I don't think I would have wrestled as hard as I did. At Phillipsburg I knew I was wrestling somebody good and I went out there and didn't give up the major (decision) because that's what the team needed. It pushed me to give it my all.”

They did against Verona.

Duarte (13-14) won by fall at 152 and Hays (19-7) pinned at 170. Duarte pinned Nick Riggio in 1:39 to put Bound Brook ahead for good at 17-11. Returning state 152-pound champ Stephan Glasgow (23-1, 117-8) followed with a technical fall at 160 and Hays’ 30-second pin gave the Crusaders a 28-11 advantage.

Returning state 145-pound champ Mekhi Lewis (148-12, 30-0) won by quick fall at 182 and senior George Walton (28-2, 99-27) took a forfeit at 195. Junior Joe Casey, 21-6, seventh in the state at 120 last year, scored a technical fall at 145. Senior Robbie Cleary, a Region V champ for Edison two seasons ago, got Bound Brook’s first points with a 47-second  fall at 138.

Bound Brook's Stephan Glasgow (top) wrestles Toms River East's Andrew Meyers at 152 pounds at the NJSIAA State Tournament final on March 6, 2016.

“We do have the firepower to make up for those forfeits,” Bound Brook coach Shaun Cleary said. “But again the toss is really important and then everyone has to wrestle well. Travis, Matthew, Mike (Borja at 220) and Mark (Venson at 113). Those guys win and we are really rolling despite the forfeits."

Verona coach Peter Foster told the Bound Brook staff before the match that he intended to wrestle ‘straight up.’ In other words, there would be no surprise strategies. Cleary said he was confident that even if there were shifts in the lineup, the Crusaders would have found enough points, and that included those coming from the lesser known.

“We expect (Duarte and Hays) to win, they should win,” Cleary said. “They are seniors. They have been around for a long time. They have wrestled the best competition you could possibly imagine the last four years. I always expect them to go out and win. Matt is dangerous. Matt can beat anybody.”

BOUND BROOK 52, VERONA 26

126: Ryan Huze (V) won by forfeit; 132: Frank Gabriele (V) tf. Carlos Ugalde; 138: Robbie Cleary (BB) p. Jake Parent :47; 145: Joe Casey (BB) tf. John Gabriele; 152: Matt Duarte (BB) p. Nick Riggio 1:39; 160: Stephan Glasgow (BB) tf Nick Fierro 25-10, 4:47; 170: Travis Hays (BB) p. Tyler Czupak :30; 182: Mehki Lewis (BB) p. Billy Fauerbach :47; 195: George Walton (BB) won by forfeit; 220: Billy Czupak (V) d. Mike Borja 3-0; 285: Jeremy Sistrunk (BB) p. Matt Gautieri :56; 106: Mark Garcia (V) won by forfeit; 113: Mark Venson (BB) won by forfeit; 120: Jim Loudan (V) won by forfeit.