Delsea's Dobzanski wrestler of year

Bryan Dobzanski finished his junior wrestling season undefeated and won a state championship for Delsea. He allowed eight points in 42 matches. There were not many ways in which he could have improved off that season.

Yet somehow he did.

Dobzanski once again went unbeaten, 41-0 with 32 pins, and gave up only three points all season, and increased his pins from 25 to 32 at 220 pounds this season in earning another state title.

"Eight last year and people said that was ridiculous," said Dobzanski, who hadn't been taken down since his sophomore year. "It's pretty exciting. I only gave up three points and 11 in two years. It's awesome."

Dobzanski is The Inquirer's South Jersey wrestler of the year.

While Dobzanski improved in his senior year, it was a difficult challenge to repeat as state champ. Delsea coach Greg Sawyer compared it to being "hunted after he was the one on the hunt for a championship."

"Getting the first one is hard, but there's always something about repeating," Dobzanski said. "People were gunning after me because they know I was the top guy at the weight, so that's a lot of pressure on me. People were like, 'You're supposed to win.' If you do lose, you're a disappointment to people.

"They know, this kid, he's the defending state champ. If they knock you off, they know they're the best now. That's pretty much what everyone's going for."

Dobzanski could continue to wrestle if he chose, but he is pursuing baseball. He is a pitcher with a fastball that has been measured up to 94 m.p.h.; he is a Louisville recruit.

That said, he is happy with the way his wrestling career ended. He defeated Don Bosco Prep's Zack Chakonis in overtime to clinch his second state title. He was invited to all-star events after the season, but that championship is how Dobzanski wants to finish his career.

"After that match, the time was right for me to put my shoes away," Dobzanski said. "I went out there, did my thing, and that's something I can remember for the rest of my life, and they can't take that away from me."

Dobzanski left his mark on Delsea wrestling. He ended his career as the school's winningest wrestler, compiling a 158-8 record, and won his final 93 bouts dating to his sophomore year.

"I feel like I do have the best high school resumé in Delsea history and I will go down as the best," Dobzanski said. "It's awesome. That's why I joined wrestling when I was 5 years old, just to be the best that I could possibly be. Knowing I was the best at Delsea, I can just sit on that for the rest of my life."

Dobzanski will miss the sport, but he plans to find ways to be around it. No matter where he is, he expects to check Delsea's scores online, read about the team, try to make it back to the school for practices and meets in the area, and try to attend the state championships in Atlantic City - this time without the pressure.

"I want to come in this [wrestling] room as much as possible and just talk to the coaches and watch the wrestling team," he said. "I'm going to keep up to date with them. I'll be around the sport. I just won't be a part of it.

"It's going to be tough without him," Sawyer said. "I really believe that he is one of the most dominant high school wrestlers in our school's history, if not the most successful wrestler in our history."