St. Joseph's Mascioli wins title at 220 pounds in Region 8 wrestling
Mike Mascioli was excited to win his first region title. He was almost as excited as his coach. Mascioli, a senior at St. Joseph, earned the 220-pound title with a 3-2 decision over Highland junior Devon Starks in a battle of unbeaten Region 8 wrestlers on Saturday night at Egg Harbor Township.
Mike Mascioli was excited to win his first region title.
He was almost as excited as his coach.
Mascioli, a senior at St. Joseph, earned the 220-pound title with a 3-2 decision over Highland junior Devon Starks in a battle of unbeaten Region 8 wrestlers on Saturday night at Egg Harbor Township.
When the final buzzer sounded, Mascioli jumped for joy with his fists in the air.
His coach, legendary former three-time state champion Mark Manchio, also took flight - and landed in a tangled heap, twisting his ankle.
"I didn't see it," Mascioli said with a smile. "Hopefully somebody will show me the video."
Mascioli's victory was a highlight of the championship action before a near-capacity crowd in Egg Harbor's cavernous gymnasium.
The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the state championships next weekend at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Timber Creek senior Dominic Augello, the fourth seed, captured the 126-pound title with a 6-2 victory over St. Augustine sophomore Connor Kraus.
Clayton junior Nasir Moore, also a fourth seed, stunned top-seeded Kody Wood of Pennsville by a 5-4 score to grab the crown at 285 pounds.
Kingsway junior Quinn Kinner won his third region title with an 18-7 victory over Matthew Barnett of Southern at 132 pounds.
Gateway junior twins Dante and Antonio Mininno won titles at 106 and 113 pounds, respectively.
Dante Mininno improved his record to 38-0 and won his first region title with a 13-7 victory over scrappy Kingsway freshman McKenzie Bell.
Antonio Mininno went to 37-1 and captured his second region title with a tense 1-0 win over Woodstown freshman Jack Prendergast.
Delsea junior Billy Janzer won his second region title with a 53-second pin of Lower Cape May's Mike Yorio at 170 pounds.
Delsea junior Edison Echevarria also won his second straight title, taking down Williamstown's Shamun Smith with 18 seconds left in overtime for a 6-4 victory.
"Confidence, that's the thing," Janzer said. "Coach [Greg Sawyer] tells us to trust our abilities, just go out and wrestle no matter who you are wrestling against."
Mascioli's victory was the culmination of a remarkable rise this season by a wrestler who didn't even compete in the sport as a freshman and sophomore.
"Right now I'm just thinking about all the hard work I put in this season and how it paid off," Mascioli said. "For me to beat another undefeated kid, that's a big accomplishment.
Mascioli entered the bout with a 35-0 record. Starks was 32-0.
Mascioli was trailing 1-0 after Starks escaped to open the second period. But Mascioli worked inside for a takedown, the only one of the bout.
"That's what we said, 'One takedown will do it,'" Manchio said.
Mascioli said he wrestled "all my life" before entering St. Joseph. He didn't wrestle as a freshman and sophomore, focusing instead on weight-lifting in the winter to prepare for football season.
When Manchio, who won three state titles from 1999-2001 at Sterling, was hired as St. Joseph's coach, Mascioli decided to return to the sport.
"He's a crazy guy," Mascioli said of Manchio. "But he obviously knows what he's talking about."
Although low numbers have limited St. Joseph's team success, Manchio found an apt pupil in Mascioli.
"He's listened to everything I've said to him," Manchio said."Everything I've ask, he's done.
"He's the best kid I've ever had and I've been coaching for 10 years. The best person. He's such a great kid and I'm so proud of him."
When Mascioli held off Starks' last shot, the St. Joseph senior was ready to celebrate.
But Manchio was way ahead of him. One of the most flamboyant wrestlers in South Jersey history, Manchio is an emotional coach who jumps out of his seat, spins around, punches the air in satisfaction when things go his athletes' way.
So when Mascioli became Manchio's first wrestler to win a region title, the coach leapt in the air with all his might.
In the old days, he always landed on his feet, like a cat.
This time was different.
Manchio went limping off the mat, one arm around the shoulders of his champion wrestler.
"I was so excited I jumped as high as I could," Manchio said. "And I landed like a ton of bricks."
Region 8 championship bouts
152: Dillon Taylor, St. Augustine, d. Yusuf Yilmaz, Vineland, 7-6; 160: Jake Maxwell Buena, d. Blaine Shade, Timber Creek, 3-2; 170: Billy Janzer, Delsea, pin Mike Yorio, Lower Cape May, 0:53; 182: Christopher Nielsen, Pinelands, d. Vince DeGeorge, Delsea, 4-2; 195: Chad Watt, Woodstown, d. Connor Agostino, Egg Harbor Twp., 13-1; 220: Mike Mascioli St. Joseph, d. Devon Starks, Highland, 3-2; 285: Nasir Moore, Clayton, d. Kody Wood, Pennsville, 5-4; 106: Dante Mininno Gateway, d. McKenzie Bell, Kingsway, 13-7; 113: Antonio Mininno, Gateway, d. Jack Prendergast, Woodstown, 1-0; 120: Edison Echevarria, Delsea, d. Shamun Smith, Williamstown, 6-4 (OT); 126: Domenic Augello, Timber Creek, d. Connor Kraus, St. Augustine, 6-2; 132: Quinn Kinner, Kingsway, d. Matthew Barnett, Southern, 18-7; 138: Travis Layton, Woodstown, d. Trace Kinner, Kingsway, 5-2.