Deutsch looks for repeat of 2009 magic

Eastern wrestler Rob Deutsch remembers the feeling of winning a state title, fondly. And Friday and Saturday at Robbinsville, he'll be going for his fourth Region 7 title in an effort to advance to his final state tournament to recapture the glory.

"I felt like I was on top of the world," Deutsch said about winning the 112-pound state championship two years ago as a sophomore. "It was an extreme adrenaline rush. It really doesn't hit you until a week later, although you know you won.

"Wow. There are 14 kids in the state who do this every year. Winning by a pin made it even better."

Deutsch pinned Dave Della Torre, a senior from Riverdale, in 3 minutes, 39 seconds for the trophy.

Eastern's ace sees himself ascending to the top step of the podium in Atlantic City again, but this time it will be at 119 pounds. Deutsch is a little heavier, older, and wiser after being part of a team that underwent three head-coaching changes in as many years.

Last season, things didn't go that well for him and the team. He won the district and regional titles for the third time, but at the state level, he finished a disappointing third.

"I really don't think that I was trained to my potential," said Deutsch, who finished with a 37-3 record. ". . . The [wrestling] room was changed. It was a different environment. It turned out for the worse.

"This year, I have taken it into my own hands."

Deutsch has been working double sessions, coming in on Sundays and spending private time with some of the coaches, all in an effort to go undefeated like the Paulsboro wrestler with whom he occasionally worked out over the summer, Joe Duca.

Duca won the 125-pound state crown with a 42-0 record last season.

Deutsch (33-0) could have moved up to 125, but he decided to stay at 119 and that was a good move, said Eastern coach Bobby Stinson, who was an assistant during Deutsch's freshman and sophomore years.

"Absolutely, he is stronger at 119," Stinson said. "He's bigger for the weight this year. I would say he is number one in the state at that weight."

The Newark Star-Ledger, which ranks teams and individuals throughout New Jersey, had Deutsch ranked No. 1 at 119 when he won his fourth District 26 title at Holy Cross on Feb. 19.

Senior Kris Castagnola, Deutsch's partner in the wrestling room, knows first-hand what Deutsch brings to the mat at that weight.

"He's the strongest 119-pounder in the state," said Castagnola, who had compiled a 24-5 record at 135 entering districts. "He's tough on top. Nobody can ride him. And he can take anyone down.

"If he were down by a lot, he'd be able to come back. He never runs out of gas."

Conditioning has always been a key part of Deutsch's preparation. In addition, he competed in tournaments in Omaha, Neb. and Fargo, N.D., over the summer.

"I'm hoping to expand, put more points on the board so no one is close to me," Deutsch said. "I want to dominate the weight class."

And if he does, the top step on the podium would belong to him once again in Atlantic City.