Team effort gives Howell Neptune Classic title

BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Howell’s Tommy Russo tries to complete a takedown of Long Branch’s Sean Sims during their 140-pound quarterfinal bout at the Neptune Classic on Saturday. One of the teams expected to challenge for the Shore Conference Class A North title this year is the Howell Rebels, and their performance at last weekend’s prestigious Neptune Classic did nothing to quell those expectations.

The Rebels won their first team title at the Classic since 1971, crowning a pair of individual champions, and posting a number of top finishes to top second-place Manalapan 128.5-111.5.

Howell freshman Cody Fobes made quite a high school debut, winning the 103-pound title with a 13-5 decision in the finals. Senior Billy Woodward won the other individual title for Howell, registering a pin at the 3:19 mark of the 145-pound final.

Howell also registered a second-place win, two thirds and two fourths to hold off a Manalapan team that entered Saturday’s action with the team lead, but could not sustain its success on Saturday. However, the Braves officially staked their claim as a contender in A North.

Sophomore Tom Tuminelli took second for Howell at the Classic, losing in the 135-pound final, 3-1.

With their win at the Classic, the Rebels gave an early indication of just how strong they will be this year, in what is shaping up as one of the most competitive A North races in recent memory.

The team picked by many to emerge as the top team in A North, Ocean Township, traveled to Jackson on Saturday to participate in the Jackson Invitational. Although no team scoring is kept in this tournament, the Spartans had a strong showing, leaving Jackson with four individual champions, and a host of other top finishes.

Nick Menditto was the first champ for Ocean, as he won the 112-pound final by pinning teammate Frank Gnassi at the 1:59 mark. Mike Fantini won the 152-pound title with a pin of Northern Burlington’s Al Wonech at the 3:18 mark, before Kyle Kiss made it two Ocean wins in a row with his 4-2 win over Jackson’s Ken Carney at 160 pounds.

Jeff Siciliano then completed the Ocean three-peat with a pin of High Point’s Derrick Orr at the 3:13 mark.

The host Jaguars put on an impressive showing themselves, with seven finalists and three winners.

Junior Matt Bradley took the 125-pound title, beating Delaware Valey’s Nick LeFevre, 8-5, in the final. Freshman Scott Winston made his high school debut a successful one, winning the 140-pound title with a technical fall win (18-3) over Ocean’s Joey Falco in the final.

Senior Joe Silisky was the third Jackson winner, rolling to the heavyweight title with a pin of Northern Burlington’s John Humble in the final.

Among the Jaguar grapplers to post second-place finishes were senior Rob Swann (103 pounds), senior Nick Keshecki (119), sophomore Ken Carney (160) and junior Glenn Booth (135).

Booth’s loss came to Lakewood’s Oscar Orellana via a major decision, 14-3. Orellana, who made a name for himself with a strong run in the Region VI tournament last year, was one of two Piner champions on Saturday.

Senior Matt Rizzo beat Ocean Township’s Dan Lopes, 9-6, in a 130-pound final, which pitted last year’s Region IV 125-pound champ (Rizzo) against the 112-pound champ (Lopes).

Berkely Thomas also wrestled well for the Piners, taking second at 189 pounds.

This weekend’s tournaments marked the beginning of what should be a tremendous wrestling season for the local teams, and a number of grapplers will be competing for district, region and state championships come February.