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Huff becomes three-time region champ for Minutemen

EGG HARBOR TWP., N.J. - As a freshman, Chalie Huff was football player who also wrestled.

EGG HARBOR TWP., N.J. - As a freshman, Chalie Huff was football player who also wrestled.

Now a senior, Huff is a wrestler who used to play football.

That became clear Saturday night as Huff became Washington Township's first three-time region champion with a stunning pin of undefeated Delsea senior Matt Hennelly in the 130-pound weight class in Region 8 tournament action.

"I was more a football player when I first got to high school," said Huff, a three-year starter at running back for the Minutemen. "Now I'm a wrestler. I've grown to love the sport."

Williamstown 145-pound senior C.J. Cobb capped a remarkable run through his weight class with his second region title, and Timber Creek and Paulsboro wrestlers each went 4 for 4 in championship bouts in other highlights of the competition at Egg Harbor Township.

The top three finishers in each weight class advanced to the state championships next weekend at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Cobb (33-1), named the region's Most Outstanding Wrestler, scored an incredible 73 points in registering three technical falls Friday and Saturday, including a 25-10 victory over Ocean City's Daniel Pettit in the title bout.

"This is what I expected," Cobb said. "To me, it's motivating. It shows me how hard I've been working."

Clearview senior 215-pounder Dan Garwood became the Pioneers' first region champion since Billy Gibbs in 2000 with a 3-1 victory over Absegami senior Kevin Stadtmueller.

"I remember coming here as a freshman and watching the introductions and thinking it was the coolest thing," Garwood said after improving his record to 36-1. "It's amazing to win."

Timber Creek, the No. 1 team in The Inquirer's final Top 10, went 4 for 4 in championship bouts in a span of six weights.

Junior Ricky Carter won at 112 pounds, sophomore Brandon Keller won at 125, senior Kevin Birmingham won at 135, and sophomore Bryce Shade won at 140.

Carter defeated Delsea sophomore John Hennelly, Matt's brother, by a 5-2 score. Carter, who placed second at 103 pounds last season, didn't wrestle live this season until early February after transferring from Washington Township to Timber Creek.

Keller (33-3) won his second region title with an 8-0 victory over St. Augustine junior Joe Esposito. Keller, who placed seventh in the state last year at 112 pounds, said he was much more confident heading to Atlantic City this season.

"I was nervous last year," Keller said. "I want to go down there and wrestle my best."

Birmingham (34-3) won his first regional title with a 6-4 decision over Washington Township senior Christian Matthew Salera.

"Ever since I walked in the door, I wanted to win a region title," Birmingham said.

Shade completed Timber Creek's sweep with a 13-5 victory over Oakcrest senior Antonio Mancella.

Of the large contingent of Timber Creek wrestlers heading to Atlantic City, Shade said, "Nobody is going to be lonely."

Paulsboro, the No. 2 team in the final rankings, received region titles from sophomore John Gentile (103) senior Dymere Rappa (152), senior Matt Cosgrove (171), and junior Eric McMullen (189).

Rappa (27-9), who was second in 2009 and 2010, scored a 5-4 decision over Pennsville senior Ken Emmons.

McMullen (32-3) overcame a hip injury and registered a late reversal on his way to a 4-2 decision over Buena senior Eric Hensel.

Cosgrove (32-6) scored one of the night's most dramatic victories.

Tied at 1-1 with Washington Township senior Steve Swayze, Cosgrove registered a takedown with 3.9 seconds remaining, then cut Swayze loose in a 3-2 victory.

"The third period is all about heart, and I live by that," Cosgrove said.

Gentile scored a 4-1 victory over St. Augustine's Tom Gattinella.

Gentile had lost twice to Gattinella in the regular season, by 7-5 and 5-3.

"I figured I had nothing to lose," Gentile said. "If I lost, I still would get second, so I just went out and wrestled my match."

Huff (30-1) won the 125-pound title as a sophomore and the 130 title as a junior, both in one-point decisions. He was in command against Hennelly (28-1), and used a quick counter to score a pin at the 5-minute, 55-second mark.

"Third time, you're just so much more confident," Huff said.

Region 8 Wrestling

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

103: John Gentile, Paulsboro, dec. Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine, 4-1. 112: Ricky Carter, Timber Creek, dec. John Hennelly, Delsea, 5-2. 119: Billy Ward, Buena, dec. Mike Jiampetti, Absegami, 11-2. 125: Brandon Keller, Timber Creek, dec. Joseph Esposito, St. Augustine, 8-0. 130: Chalie Huff, Washington Twp., pinned Matt Hennelly, Delsea, 5:55. 135: Kevin Birmingham, Timber Creek, dec. Christian Matthew Salera, Washington Twp., 6-4. 140: Bryce Shade, Timber Creek, dec. Antonio Mancella, Oakcrest, 13-5. 145: C.J. Cobb, Williamstown, tech. Daniel Pettit, Ocean City, 25-10, 3:32. 152: Dymere Rappa, Paulsboro, dec. Kenny Emmons, Pennsville, 5-4. 160: Adam Schroeder, St. Augustine, dec. Robert Elliott, Cumberland, 11-7. 171: Matthew Cosgrove, Paulsboro, dec. Steven Swayze, Washington Twp., 3-2. 189: Eric McMullen, Paulsboro, dec. Eric Hensel, Buena, 4-2. 215: Dan Garwood, Clearview, dec. Kevin Stadtmueller, Absegami, 3-1. 285: Steven Paul, Cumberland, dec. Trent Hampton, Pennsville, 3-1.

THIRD PLACE

103: Zach Valcarce, Lower Cape May, dec. Jesse Swope, Delsea, 10-3. 112: John VanBrill, Clearview, dec. Josh Dickinson, Lower Cape May, 9-3. 119: Jovanni Arroyo, Oakcrest, pinned Stewart Richardson, Schalick, 2:38. 125: Dontay Scott, Paulsboro, dec. Coley OBrien, Ocean City, 3-1. 130: Dom Ruggierrio, Timber Creek, dec. Paul Bachman, Deptford, 5-4. 135: Curt Delia, Delsea, dec. Dillan Berghof, Buena Regional, 3-1. 140: Colton Newsome, Pennsville, dec. Drew Spector, West Deptford, 3-1. 145: Monty Krough, Pennsville, dec. Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea, 3-1. 152: Philip Bakuckas, Hammonton, dec. Robert Shade, Timber Creek, 6-2. 160: Anthony Dawson, Paulsboro, dec. Connor Donahue, Clearview, 6-0. 171: Alex Gong, Absegami, dec. Andrew Hughes, Clearview, 3-1. 189: Bryheim Muse, Timber Creek, dec. Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea, 10-8 (OT). 215: Roy Lucas, St Joseph (Hammonton), pinned Lucas Pearson, Ocean City, 2:51. 285: Steve Schwartz, Absegami, dec. Tom Rementer, Clayton, 5-3.

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