Timber Creek, Delsea fall in state wrestling semifinals

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - Brandon Keller walked away in disgust when he heard the news over the Poland Springs Arena loudspeaker Sunday afternoon.

The 25-25 deadlock between the wrestling teams from Timber Creek and South Plainfield had been decided by Criterion H - the greater number of first points scored - by 13-12 in favor of the Tigers, announcer John Vogeding said.

South Plainfield won, 26-25. The Group 3 semifinal was history.

Keller, one of Timber Creek's best wrestlers, had done all that he could for his team in the final bout at 125 pounds. The Chargers had been trailing, 25-21, when the sophomore squared off against Dylan Painton.

Keller needed a major decision to tie and a technical fall or pin for Timber Creek to win.

He got a major decision.

"He was wrestling not to be pinned," Keller said about Painton as he awaited word on the outcome of the criteria check. "I beat him, 3-0, over the summer.

"Once I got the last takedown, I went for the fall."

Keller's disappointment with the outcome spread throughout the team like a pinched nerve. The loss was the second, by a point, to South Plainfield in as many years in the Group 3 semifinal. This was the Chargers' third trip to Toms River in the last four years and they're still chasing the elusive state group crown.

Timber Creek, ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, finished the season with a 23-3 record while South Plainfield (21-3), ranked No. 1 in New Jersey by the Star-Ledger, advanced to meet High Point, the No. 2 team in the state, for the second time in two years.

A point here or there could have changed the outcome for the Chargers, causing Timber Creek coach Nick Cottone to harken back to the 103-pound bout, in which a stalemate was called before Ray Jazikoff decisioned Timber Creek's Alan Nguyen, 8-6.

"My guy was in position to score, and it was a blatant bad call," Cottone said.

The Chargers led from the fourth bout, at 145, to the 11th, at 103, when they were ahead, 21-16. During that span, the only bonus points they scored came when Kevin Birmingham pinned Corey Stasenko in 1 minute, 44 seconds at 145 for a 9-7 lead.

The Tigers' Troy Heilman won a 7-2 decision over Rocky Carter at 119 to push South Plainfield ahead, 25-21, setting the stage for Keller to close the show.

"No one thought we could do this," Keller said later. "No one but us."

Trailing by 30-18, Delsea (18-4) needed a pair of pins in the last two bouts of the Group 2 semifinal with David Brearley to tie. Instead, Brearley's Anthony Madonia and Anthony Rice pinned John Hennelly and John Borelli at 119 and 125, respectively, for a 42-18 victory.

"At the end, it was tough having John Hennelly move up to 119," Delsea coach Greg Sawyer said. "Our 119 pounder, John Pierson, wasn't allowed to wrestle today for religious reasons. That kinda put our whole team in a bind."

Matt Hennelly and Curt Delia won the first two bouts for Delsea to give the Crusaders a 9-0 lead. Delsea's only other wins were at 189 and 103.

Delia and Jesse Swope won by falls at 135 and 103, respectively.

"The way we started the year [2-6], I'm happy with the way these guys got here and performed," Sawyer said. "And we have 98 percent of our team back next year."

South Plainfield 26,

Timber Creek 25

130: Tyler Hunt, SP, major dec., Dom Ruggierrio, 13-4. 135: Scott DelVecchio, SP, dec. Sean Barger, 5-0. 140: Bryce Shade, TC, dec. Jeff Conroy, 9-5. 145: Kevin Birmingham, TC, pin Corey Stasenko, 1:44. 152: Robert Shade, TC, dec. In an Sikel, 10-3. 160: Kyle Pompilio, SP, dec. Keith Bauberger, 5-3. 171: Caleb Shockley, TC dec. Mike Molinaro, 6-4. 189: Bryheim Muse, TC, dec. Ryan Billich, 17-10. 215: Will Whitefleet, SP, dec. A.J. Lear, 3-2. Hwt.: Sal DeSilvio, TC, dec. Sam Bermudez, 1-0. 103: Ray Jazikoff, SP, dec. Alan Nguyen, 8-6. 112: Anthony Ashnault, SP, pin Nick Virgilio, 1:47. 119: Troy Heilman, SP, dec. Ricky Carter, 7-2. 125: Brandon Keller, TC, major dec. Dylan Painton, 11-3.

Brearley 42, Delsea 18

130: Matt Hennelly, Delsea, dec. Dom Martinez, 5-1. 135: Curt Delia, Delsea, pin Andrew Scrillo, 1:26. 140: Nick Lospinoso, Brearley, major dec. Rick Azeglio, 17-6. 145: Dan Reis, Brearley, pin John Scavelli, 1:40. 152: Devin Geoghegan, Brearley, dec. Dylan Dobzanski, 6-0. 160: John Balboni, Brearley, dec. Mike Jacobs, 17-5. 171: Dillon Geoghegan, Brearley, dec. Rob Keener, 4-1. 189: Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea, dec. Anthony Tancs, 8-3. 215: Greg Rice, Brearley, dec. Sean Redden, 3-0. Hwt.: Mike Christian, Brearley, major dec. William Porch, 9-1. 103: Jesse Swope, Delsea, pin Gio Fillipone, 0:07. 112: Dylan Oliva, Brearley, dec. Corey Jacobs, 7-4. 119: Anthony Madonia, Brearley, pin John Hennelly, 3:05. 125: Anthony Rice, Brearley, pin John Borelli, 3:30.