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Gateway wrestlers top Highland in sectional tourney

Four straight victories through the mid to upper weights propelled fifth-seeded Gateway past fourth-seeded Highland, 33-22, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 3 tournament Monday night.

Gateway's Austin Holmstrom (bottom) holds off Highland's Joe Tripoli to win their 182 lb match.
Gateway's Austin Holmstrom (bottom) holds off Highland's Joe Tripoli to win their 182 lb match.Read more

Four straight victories through the mid to upper weights propelled fifth-seeded Gateway past fourth-seeded Highland, 33-22, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 3 tournament Monday night.

Gateway (18-5) advanced to face top-seeded and defending champion Delsea in the sectional semifinals on Wednesday night.

Reggie Davis gave the Gators a 15-12 advantage at 145 pounds when he pinned Highland's Frank Plefka with five seconds left in the opening round.

Davis went into the match expecting to wrestle Josh Clark of Highland, who went the bout before at 138 instead. Clark won, 5-2, over Alyceo Perez, at that point putting Highland up 12-9 for its first lead.

"I guess Coach moved me up to get the six points for the team," Davis said. "I wanted to wrestle Josh Clark; that was my main focus."

With his side up three, Chad Gentzler recorded a pin of his own at 152 over Nick Genna in 2 minutes, 59 seconds. Jacob Winterly (160) and Austin Holmstrom (182) earned decisions to make it a 27-12 Gators lead. A double forfeit came between the two at 170.

The Tartans' George Duddy beat Griffin Mills, 9-0, at 195 to cut the deficit to 11, but a pin by Frank Weyhmiller over Devon Starks at 220 put the match away for Gateway.

"It was a total team effort from top to bottom," said Gateway coach Jim Rutter. "These kids have got to start believing in themselves because we believe in them."

Gateway 33, Highland 22

106: Dante Mininno, G, d. Seth Henry, 6-5; 113: Antonio Mininno, G, d Luca Siegfried, 3-2; 120: Justin Cariss, H, pin Jacob Sparks, 3:38; 126: Tim Sparks, G, d. Dillon Prendergast, 6-3; 132: Tom Cuffari, H, d Ryan Pote, 6-5; 138: Josh Clark, H, d. Alyceo Perez, 5-2; 145: Reggie Davis, G, pin Frank Plefka, 1:55; 152: Chad Gentzler, G, pin Nick Genna, 2:59; 160: Jacob Winterly, G, d. Jared Colbert, 4-3; 170: double forfeit; 182: Austin Holmstrom, G, d. Joe Tripoli, 5-3; 195: George Duddy, H, d. Griffin Mills, 9-0; 220: Frank Weyhmiller, G, pin Devon Starks, 5:07; 285: Highland by Gateway forfeit