Eastern’s Deutsch joins elite Region 7 club

ROBBINSVILLE, N.J. - Rob Deutsch made history Saturday night at the NJSIAA Region 7 individual wrestling tournament.

Deutsch joined two former Eastern teammates – Anthony Baldosaro and Preston Keiffer – in the record book by winning a fourth regional crown. Overall, the Old Dominion-bound senior became the 10th Region 7 wrestler in the state to win four titles since 1987. Lenape's Chuck Trotman was the first to do so.

"It's an incredible feeling to win regions four times," said Deutsch, who hearkened back to a banquet in which he was among other such champions. "Now my name is added, and it's a special thing."

The next stop for Deutsch and others who placed in the top three in the eight regional tournaments throughout the state is the individual state championships, which will bring 24 wrestlers from each weight class to Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.

Preliminaries and pre-quarterfinals are scheduled for March 4. Quarterfinals, semifinals, and wrestle-backs will be on March 5. Consolations and finals will be the next day.

Led by T.J. Miller, who won the most outstanding wrestler award, Camden Catholic sent five wrestlers to the state tournament. Haddonfield, which entered regions with nine, also advanced five.

In the 119-pound bout, Deutsch decisioned Camden Catholic sophomore Chad Walsh, a region champion last year, 11-4, to win a weight class loaded with talent. Deutsch had beaten Walsh by technical fall the last time they met, on Jan. 22.

Walsh pinned Kevin Devoy of Burlington Township in 3 minutes, 22 seconds to advance.

"I was looking more to Devoy," said Deutsch, who had beaten him twice this season. "I read that he wanted a rematch and he was closing the gap, and that got me ticked off."

Two finals featured undefeated rivals, and Willingboro seniors Tyler Scotton and James Green were involved in them.

T.J. Miller upset Scotton, the top seed at 135, with a dramatic, last-second, 3-1 victory to improve his record to 39-0. Scotton slipped to 30-1.

"This feels good," Miller said about beating the Boston University-bound Scotton. "He's a great wrestler."

Green faced Trenton Central junior Ray Bethea in the 145-pound bout and won a 9-3 decision. Nebraska-bound Green, a state runner-up at 140 last year, improved to 26-0. Bethea slipped to 30-1.

Haddonfield's Kyle Klaus, in search of his first region title after placing second twice, won a 6-0 decision over Eastern's Collin Mitchell, who had beaten him, 8-0, on Dec. 28.

Undefeated Haddon Township senior Steve Nelson (38-0) had defeated Haddonfield's Rob Schlitt twice during the regular season, 6-3 and 16-4, but in the 160-pound final Saturday, Schlitt was ready.

After two scoreless periods, Schlitt took a 1-0 lead on a stalling call. But Nelson came back with an escape and a takedown for a 3-2 win.

"This is my first region title, and it feels good," Nelson said.

Another first-time region winner was Cherry Hill East senior Brian Lussier, who defeated Audubon senior Brian Flacco, 9-3, in the 189-pound bout.

"He was definitely a lot tougher than last time, stronger and shooting more," Lussier said about Flacco, whom he had beaten, 12-3, on Jan. 7.

"This [title] feels good, but I'm going to keep pushing because the intensity at states is at a higher level."

Greg Webb of Paul VI remained undefeated at heavyweight (30-0) when he nipped Northern Burlington's Cody Melton, 2-1, in the second overtime.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

103: Connor Muli, Shawnee, dec. Tony Giancola, Collingswood, 5-2. 112: Kyle Klaus, Haddonfield, dec. Collin Mitchell, Eastern 6-0. 119: Robert Deutsch, Eastern, dec. Chad Walsh, Camden Catholic, 11-4. 125: Matt Sausman, Camden Catholic, dec. Tyler Mullarkey, Holy Cross, 3-0. 130: Dan Pak, Delran, dec. Ron Hoover, Haddon Twp., 6-4. 135: T.J. Miller, Camden Catholic, dec. Tyler Scotton, Willingboro, 3-1 (OT). 140: Eric Hamrick, Collingswood, dec. Wayne Stinson, Northern Burlington, 1-0. 145: James Green, Willingboro, dec. Ray Bethea, Trenton Central, 9-3. 152: Khalid Shakir, Bordentown, dec. Codie Spatz, Burlington Township, 6-4. 160: Steve Nelson, Haddon Twp., dec. Robert Schlitt, Haddonfield, 3-2. 171: Ross Scheuerman, Allentown, dec. Taylor Venanzi, Collingswood, 7-2. 189: Brian Lussier, Cherry Hill East, dec. Brian Flacco, Audubon, 9-3. 215: Michael Zeuli, Cherokee, def. Kristopher Rahn, Haddonfield, injury default. 285: Greg Webb, Paul VI, dec. Cody Melton, Northern Burlington, 2-1.

THIRD PLACE

103: John Amato, Camden Catholic, dec. Matt Carr, New Egypt, 9-5. 112: Jared Staub, Hamilton West, dec. Joe Michel, Steinert, 2-1. 119: Kevin Devoy, Burlington Township, dec. Maaziah Bethea, Trenton Central, 7-0. 125: Kevin Gregorio, Haddonfield, pinned Jason Gallagher, Bishop Eustace, 4:27. 130: Aaron Lambert, Camden Catholic, dec. David Bossie, Robbinsville, 5-2. 135: Christian Stackhouse, Riverside, dec. Jim Hatzell, Collingswood, 14-4. 140: Travis McDowell, Delran, tech. Shawn Gavin, Bordentown, 17-1, 4:41. 145: Jamie Calhoun, Paul VI, dec. Mark Denny, Delran, 3-2. 152: Harley Palyok, Northern Burlington, dec. Tyler Orfe, Bishop Eustace, 7-4. 160: Benjamin Fanjoy, Cherokee, pinned Jim Plianthos, Collingswood, 3:36. 171: Declan Deveney, Seneca, dec. Conor Wasson, Lenape, 5-1. 189: Carson Stack, Haddonfield, dec. Padric Lynch, Haddon Heights, 6-0. 215: Matt Bauer, Bordentown, dec. Mauro Correnti, Holy Cross, 7-5. 285: Timothy Swanson, Cherokee, pinned Davonte Jones, Burlington City, 1:39.