South Jersey wrestling notes

The bus ride home from Paulsboro last week was a giddy experience for Sam Haley and his Haddonfield wrestling teammates.

The Bulldogs had just handed Paulsboro its first loss to a South Jersey team since 2008, and its first Colonial Conference home loss in 40 years. The bus was rockin'.

"We were riding the bus on Kings Highway in Haddonfield, and it was like when teams ride a fire truck through town after winning a state championship," said Haley, a senior whose win in the final bout at 171 pounds gave Haddonfield a dramatic, come-from-behind, 33-31 victory.

"We were yelling out the windows, 'We beat Paulsboro.' "

A two-year varsity starter, Haley (19-6) was the underdog in the clash with Matthew Cosgrove, according to Haddonfield coach Pete DiPol. Cosgrove, also a senior, had advanced to the state tournament last season after placing third in District 29 and second in Region 8. He started the season with a career record of 35-8.

"That was huge," DiPol said of Haley's performance. "What helped Sam was that my assistant coaches have been staying after [practice] with him to work on technique and mechanics.

"This was the greatest win for our program. We're trying to build our program, but we still have lots of work to do. So we're trying to make sure they don't get caught up in the win."

They didn't. The next day, the Bulldogs swept Cedar Creek, Oakcrest, and Lower Cape May. Two days later, they defeated Gateway, 67-6.

Paulsboro rebounded well, too, sweeping Hammonton, Williamstown, and St. Augustine the next day. Two days later, the Red Raiders beat Collingswood, 41-18.

Paulsboro coach Paul Morina attributed the loss to Haddonfield to several factors: Not enough team matches, not enough bonus points, allowing too many bonus points, and problems in the wrestling room.

"We had matches canceled," Morina said of his team, which after the Haddonfield match was 7-1, compared to the Bulldogs' 18-1. "We're not the same Paulsboro team we were a year ago, even in the wrestling room. You win matches in the wrestling room.

"As far as wrestling technique and style, things we've been preaching in the wrestling room haven't been done, are not being done."

Morina, who has been the Paulsboro head coach for 25 years, added that he couldn't recall the last time one of his teams had lost five times by pin in a match.

West's winning ways. When Timber Creek moved to the Olympic Conference National Division and Pennsauken replaced it in the Patriot Division this season, things were looking up for Cherry Hill West.

Timber Creek had been winning the Patriot for years, and West so far appears to be the heir apparent after beating division rivals Shawnee, 34-28, and Pennsauken, 43-28. Matches against Triton and Winslow Township remain.

"Winning the first two put us in position to win" the division title," West coach Zack Semar said. "We have a good shot at winning the last two matches, but we don't want to jinx ourselves."

The Lions have an 11-6 overall record, which is a big improvement over 2009, when they were 7-15, and 2010, when they were 8-15.

Power Point leader. When the Power Point Rankings were issued by the state on Jan. 23, Camden Catholic led Parochial B South with 30.73 points. The Irish had a 13-3 record as of Jan. 27. Their losses were to Wyoming Seminary (Pa.), Canon McMillan (Pa.), and South Plainfield.