St. Augustine wrestlers seal win in last match

It wouldn't be completely correct to say that Jose Tabora waited all night for his big moment.

He waited a lot longer than that.

"As a wrestler, you wait your whole life for a chance like this," Tabora said after winning the final bout at 195 pounds to snap a 25-25 tie and power visiting St. Augustine to a 28-25 victory over Clearview in a battle of two of South Jersey's top wrestling teams on Friday night.

Fans who braved the impending snowstorm and made their way into Hank Ledden Memorial Gym saw an instant classic that featured a victory from a St. Augustine wrestler who cut 10 pounds in one day as well as impressive triumphs from the Pioneers' triumvirate of undefeated seniors.

They also saw a dramatic ending, with Tabora clinching the match for the Hermits in his first action since dislocating his left shoulder in a Jan. 6 match against Mainland.

"You just knew it was going to come down to him, with this being his first match back," St. Augustine coach Bill Ward said. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to use him, but he went out there and got the job done."

Tabora's 6-2 decision over Clearview's John Bonner in a pressure-packed bout with fans from both teams on their feet improved St. Augustine's record to 10-6, including a 7-0 mark against South Jersey foes.

St. Augustine is set to face undefeated Delsea next Saturday in a quad meet at Holy Cross that likely will decide the unofficial title of best team in South Jersey.

St. Augustine was pushed to the brink by Clearview (9-2), which rallied from a 19-0 deficit to ignite the student section.

"I'm ticked off that we lost, but I couldn't be more proud of my guys," Clearview coach Dave Tomasette said. "Every guy that went out there fought his butt off."

Clearview got great work from 120-pounder Ayush Patel, whose pin started the Pioneers' comeback, as well as its big three of undefeated Zach Firesone (major decision at 132), Mike Van Brill (pin at 145) and Stanley Atkinson (decision at 160).

Tomasette also had high praise for senior Vito Nucci, who lost a 3-1 overtime decision to St. Augustine's Jim Brady, a state-title contender, in the opening bout at 220 pounds.

"He showed heart," Tomasette said of Nucci.

Brady said he cut 10 pounds in one day to get down to 220 to be in position to square off with Nucci. When St. Augustine won the toss, the Hermits were able to manipulate the matchups, which helped create that 19-0 lead.

"A lot of running," said Brady, who plans to get his weight back up to around 235 to compete at 285 the rest of the season. "All I ate was Tic-Tacs."

Brady's decision, a pin by Ryan Lynd at 285 and decisions by George Coleman and Connor Kraus got the Hermits off to a fast start.

Nick Clark's decision at 170 gave St. Augustine a 25-22 lead, but Clearview's Henry Eisenhart answered with a decision at 182 to tie the score at 25 and set the stage for the final bout.

"You're always nervous," Tabora said. "But I felt good. My conditioning was good."

Tabora controlled the match, getting takedowns in the first and second periods and a reversal in the third.

"That," Tabora said, "was an amazing feeling."

St. Augustine 28, Clearview 25

220: Jim Brady, SA, d. Vito Nucci, 3-1 (OT); 285: Ryan Lynd, SA, pin Jackson Love, 3:30; 106: George Coleman, SA, d. Carmen Giumarello, 8-0; 113: Connor Kraus, SA, d. Davi McCullough, 5-3 (OT); 120: Ayush Patel, C, pin Brett Bodnar, 4:41; 126: Steve Schwab, C, d. Brandon Dick, 10-4; 132: Zach Firestone, C, d. Reid White, 13-5; 138: Mason Bechler, SA, d. Shea Wolfle, 7-0; 145: Mike Van Brill, C, pin Colin Donahue, 3:42; 152: Austin Lee, C, d. Shane Goldsmid, 1-0; 160: Stanley Atkinson, C, d. Dillon Taylor, 3-0; 170: Nick Clark, SA, d. Clint Matthew, 9-3; 182: Henry Eisenhart, C, d. Connor Murray, 9-3; 195: Jose Tabora, SA, d. John Bonner, 6-2.

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