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Klaus earns district title, school record

Haddonfield's Kyle Klaus was seeded No. 1 in his weight class in the District 28 wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday, and as expected, the senior did more than win a medal.

Haddonfield's Kyle Klaus was seeded No. 1 in his weight class in the District 28 wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday, and as expected, the senior did more than win a medal.

In the semifinal and final rounds of district action Saturday, in which Collingswood hosted Haddonfield, Audubon, Camden, Haddon Heights, Haddon Township, Paul VI, Pennsauken and Sterling, Klaus won the district title at 112 pounds and broke a school record.

The tournament concluded Saturday, with the top three wrestlers in each weight class advancing to Region 7 competition, scheduled for Tuesday at Robbinsville.

"It's kind of a statement," Klaus said about being the top seed. "You are No. 1 and that's fine. It's motivation. It was a goal of mine to win districts again."

And win he did, by defeating Sterling's Griffin Donnelly, the second seed, by major decision, 16-2, in the final. Klaus had pinned Donnelly in 3 minutes, 28 seconds during a dual meet Feb. 2.

Drawing a bye in the first round Friday night, Klaus made school history in the semifinal by pinning Audubon's Charles Livecchi in 3:08. The win was the 112th of his high school career, shattering the previous school record of 111 set by Andrew Hessert in 2007. Klaus' record now is 113-23.

"I was happy about the record," Klaus said. "It was a milestone, an accomplishment in my career. Every win from here on adds to the record."

Klaus won the district competition at 112 in his junior and sophomore years, during which he also was a regional runner-up. He did not medal in the state tournament that followed.

"It's pretty special [to win three]; it's not something everybody can do," Klaus said. "The ultimate icing on the cake would be placing at states."

Ranked No. 2 in the state at 112 by the Newark Star-Ledger, the Bulldogs' captain has two more reasons to do his best in the two remaining tournaments. He wants to place higher than his uncles Pete Klaus and Joe Robinson, who finished fifth for Haddon Township and Triton, respectively. Furthermore, he plans to put away the singlet after his last bout.

Klaus said he will attend Elon University, a private liberal arts institution in Elon, N.C., in the fall and not wrestle competitively again.

A four-year varsity grappler, Klaus has managed to remain at 112 pounds for the third year, which is unusual as well as beneficial.

"He's a senior at 112, and that is pretty big [news]," Haddonfield coach Pete DiPol said about Klaus. "He's a big 112-pounder, with more muscle and more maturity."

DiPol said wouldn't mind it if Klaus were to face off with South Plainfield's Anthony Ashnault, ranked No. 1 in the country at 112, in the state tournament.

Klaus didn't shrink from the challenge.

"Hopefully, we can meet in the final," he said.