Atkinson fits in like a champ at Clearview

It's still a little strange for Stanley Atkinson, pulling on that green singlet and joining forces with two of his oldest rivals.

Before this school year, Atkinson spent his whole wrestling career in the Kingsway system. He was a Dragon, proudly sporting the red and black.

Now he's a senior, and he wrestles for Clearview. He's a Pioneer, wearing the green and gold.

"It's different, that's for sure," Atkinson said. "But I've really enjoyed it. These guys have really made me feel welcome."

Clearview coach Dave Tomasette said Atkinson has been "great in the room" and a strong addition to the team.

Atkinson said he moved into the Clearview district in the summer. He enrolled at Clearview in September.

But Tomasette said it seems like Atkinson has been a part of the program for longer than five months.

"It's like he's been here all four years," Tomasette said. "He's fit in great with our guys, been a big part of our team. It's like a family with this program, and he's become part of the family."

Atkinson has made a major impact. He's compiled a 19-0 record, generating eight falls and winning three other bouts by fortfeit or technical fall.

For years and years, some of Atkinson's toughest competitors at around his weight - and this goes back long before high school - were Clearview star seniors Zach Firestone and Mike Van Brill.

Now Atkinson works out with those guys in the Clearview wrestling room every day and sits on the bench and cheers for them during matches.

Wrestling mostly at 145 pounds, Atkinson has joined with Firestone and Van Brill - both of whom also are undefeated - to form perhaps the strongest row of wrestlers on one team in South Jersey.

"They are so tough to match up with because they are so strong there in the middle," St. Augustine coach Bill Ward said after his team's hard-fought 28-25 victory over Clearview in a battle of two of South Jersey's top teams on Friday night.

Atkinson was a standout wrestler at Kingsway, winning nearly 90 bouts in three seasons and taking second in Region 8 as a sophomore at 126 pounds and second again as a junior at 132 pounds.

Atkinson believes he's wrestling his best as a senior, thanks in large part to daily workouts with Firestone and Van Brill, who are regarded as serious state-title contenders at 132 and 138 pounds, respectively.

"It's been great," Atkinson said. "Mike is just so tough, so 'funky.' It's a great workout to compete with him.

"Zach is so strong for a smaller guy. He's so good it's always great to go against him."

Atkinson said he didn't compete much against Firestone as a youth wrestler, mainly because of a weight difference. And for a while, Firestone was a teammate in the Kingsway youth program.

But Van Brill has long been a rival, Atkinson said. The two met in the Region 8 finals last year, with Van Brill earning a decision.

"Mike and I have been going back and forth for years," Atkinson said. "It's pretty nice that we're both on the same team now."

Atkinson joined a Clearview program that's in the midst of the strongest run in its history, with a Group 3 state title in 2014 and a South Jersey Group 4 title last season.

He's the new guy in the room but doesn't feel like an outsider.

"It's been great so far," Atkinson said. "These guys treat me great. The coaches treat me great. We all go at things the same way. We all just grind."

panastasia@phillynews.com

@PhilAnastasia

www.philly.com/

jerseysidesports