Cinnaminson's Swartley wins region wrestling title for third time
TOMS RIVER, N.J. - When the bout ended - a 3-2 decision in overtime - Keith Swartley calmly rose to his feet, flexed his muscles, and flashed three fingers at the crowd.
TOMS RIVER, N.J. - When the bout ended - a 3-2 decision in overtime - Keith Swartley calmly rose to his feet, flexed his muscles, and flashed three fingers at the crowd.
Even his celebration looked methodical, completely belying the weight the Cinnaminson senior said he felt on his shoulders - literally and figuratively - throughout his 285-pound Region 7 title match against Cherry Hill West's Lorenzo Hernandez.
So, how does one deal with such pressure?
"You don't," Swartley said afterward, still looking and sounding totally at ease despite being drenched in sweat. "You let that pressure sink in. Regions and districts are more stressful for me because I know I have to defend my title, but once you're on the mat, it just goes."
Swartley added another page to Cinnaminson's record books Saturday in the Region 7 wrestling championships at Toms River North, where the top four wrestlers advance to a spot in the state tournament.
He's now the only Cinnaminson wrestler to win three region titles.
This came one day after he broke the school's all-time career win record in the semifinals, winning his 120th career match. After his championship win, his record this season is 32-0.
"This weekend means a lot to me," said Swartley who scored the decisive point on an escape. "But right now, I'm focused on bigger things. I might have the most region titles of any wrestler in school history. But I haven't placed in the state.
"That would mean everything to me. I have nothing to lose but a lot to gain."
Swartley was one of five South Jersey wrestlers who successfully defended their Region 7 titles, including Seneca's Joe Manchio (113 pounds), Camden Catholic's Lucas Revano (120), Holy Cross' Avery DiNardi (152), and Collingswood's Michael Taulane (195).
"This tournament is a great atmosphere with great wrestlers," said Manchio, a junior who won the state championship at 106 pounds last year and has now won three straight Region 7 titles. For wrestlers of Manchio's caliber, the regional tournament can feel like something of a formality. He won his bout 14-3 over Cherokee's Colin Wickramaratna, an opponent he estimates he's wrestled 15 times.
"He's a great wrestler," Manchio said. "He catches on to my moves and I catch onto his moves. So it's interesting trying to figure out different ways to beat your opponent."
Paulsboro had its usual strong showing: Anthony Duca was dominant, earning a technical fall in the 126-pound bout. His teammate, sophomore Santino Morina, earned his first region title in a 4-3 decision in the 160-pound bout, and Joey Perez was runner-up in the 132-pound bout.
"As a team, all week long, we've just kept pushing each other and motivating each other," Morina said.
West Deptford, in its first year in Region 7, found success in brothers Dylan Fischer, who pinned his opponent in 51 seconds to win the 138-pound bout and Corey Fischer, who finished second in the 145-pound bracket.
"This is my last season," said Dylan, a senior. "I'm just trying to go out with a bang."
Results 220: James Thompson, Pennsauken, dec. David Lemay, Jackson Memorial, 4-3; 285: Keith Swartley, Cinnaminson, dec. Lorenzo Hernandez, Cherry Hill West, 2-1 (ot); 106: Hunter Gutierrez, Lacey Township, dec. Chase Mullarkey, Holy Cross, 4-0; 113: Joe Manchio, Seneca, m.d. Colin Wickramaratna, Cherokee, 14-3; 120: Lucas Revano, Camden Catholic, dec. Matt Higgins, Shawnee, 6-0; 126: Anthony Duca, Paulsboro, t.f. Ryan Manahan, Cherokee, 4:39 (20-3); 132: Anthony Croce, Camden Catholic, dec. Joey Perez, Paulsboro, 11-6; 138: Dylan Fischer, West Deptford, pin Luke Gauthier, Lacey, :51; 145: Cole Corrigan, Toms River South, dec. Corey Fischer, West Deptford, 7-0; 152: Avery DiNardi, Holy Cross, dec. Christopher Bolletino, Haddonfield, 3-1(ot); 160: Santino Morina, Paulsboro, dec. Andrew Meyers, Toms River East, 4-3; 170: Drew Bowker, Rancocas Valley, dec. Patrick O'Donnell, Toms River North, 6-4; 182: Dean Helstowski, Brick Township, dec. Sean Bowker, Rancocas Valley, 2-1 (utb); 195: Michael Taulane, pin Collingswood, Alex Cawley, Pemberton, 2:24.