C8

Friday, March 2, 2012

High school wrestling news and notes blogs.thedailyjournal. com/matpack

The votes are in:MARK SAUL PATRICK BUGANSKIore than 1,750 votes have been cast so far in the inaugural Daily Journal Fantasy Wrestling Tournament, and its down to the title match Millvilles Mark Saul vs. St. Augustines Bobby Malatesta. Malatesta was the No. 4 seed, beating Delsea/Easterns Anthony Baldosaro in the first round before upsetting top-seeded Joe Alexander of Delsea in the semifinals. Saul knocked off unseeded Bobby Hanson of Buena in the first round before a steady victory over Delseas Donnie Fisch, the No. 3 seed in the semifinals. Now Malatesta and Saul face off for the title of the best pound-for-pound wrestler in greater Cumberland County since 1985, and you, the readers, get to decide. Log on to thedailyjournal.com/matpack to cast your vote! The finalists certainly have long resums. Both are members of the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame and both are state champions. Malatesta won once in 1985, but was also fourth in 1983 and second in 1984 before taking gold at 122 pounds as a senior. Malatesta pinned Larry Goodman of Paramus to win the title. Saul won two state titles and was the tournaments Most Outstanding Wrestler in 1996 when he posted wins of 12-2, 15-0 and 17-2 en route to the finals where he scored an 11-0 win over Jeffersons Tom Tanis at 160 pounds. Malatesta also enjoyed great success beyond the high schools mats, winning many freestyle and

SOUTH JERSEY

THEMillville, 1996 No. 2 seed, beat Bobby Hanson (Buena) and Donnie Fisch (Delsea) Region champion, threetime state finalist, two-time state champion, state tournament MOW*Final records.

BLOG

PACK21-3 22-2 25-5 20-4 14-5 22-8 16-8 17-6 23-2 21-4 17-8 18-6 17-8 17-6 23-6

MAT

T H E D A I LY J O U R N A L

Its Malatesta vs. SaulM

MEAN15

NEWS & NOTES District 30 was the big winner at Region 8, crowning seven champions. District 29 was second with three while District 31and District 32 had two titlists apiece. District 32 had the most placewinners, advancing 12 wrestlers to Atlantic City. District 29 advanced 11 while District 30 pushed 10 to states while District 31 had nine placewinners. West Deptfords Tyler Kaminski was the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament and Claytons Dan Antonelli was the regions Coach of the Year. At Region 7, Districts 26 and 28 each crowned four champions while Districts 25 and 27 had three apiece. In the placewinners race, District 27 advanced 13 while Districts 25 had 11 and District 26 had 10. District 28 had eight wrestlers qualify for states. Haddonfields Robert Schlitt was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tornament and Haddon Heights Chris Ormsby was the regions Coach of the Year. One weight class 138 had all three placewinners come from the same district (27).

1. Timber Creek 2. Delsea 3. Camden Catholic 4. Paulsboro 5. Clearview 6. St. Augustine 7. Buena 8. Pennsville 9. Clayton 10. West Deptford 11. Haddonfield 12. Shawnee 13. Cherokee 14. Egg Harbor Township 15. Hammonton

Millvilles Mark Saul, left, wrestles in the state tournament in 1996. FILE PHOTO quarterback as well as a state champion, former teammate and current Delsea assistant coach Bob Barber said. Athletically, physically, he was gifted. He was strong, he had enormous hands and a (heck) of a grip. His best move on top was a tilt, and if he got your wrist, you werent getting it back, he had your wrist for two minutes. But like Malatesta, the mental part of Sauls game was world class. He honestly believed he was the best wrestler every time he went on the mat, Barber said, citing the state final in 1994, when he lost to Dave Hughes of Jefferson. He wasnt even supposed to be in the state finals and he went out there right away and took him down. Malatesta went 111-6-1 for his career and won three region titles, Saul was 113-10 and won just one, but lost one final to state finalist Karl Haywood of Schalick in one of South Jerseys best backand-forth rivalries. Theres no denying they are two of the best champions South Jersey has had, but now the question is, pound-for-pound, who would win? Well post the results online Monday, March 12 and in print on March 13.

THE DAILY JOURNALS REGION 7 & 8 RANKINGS1. Tyler McBride, Camden Catholic 2. John Amato, Timber Creek 3. John Gentile, Paulsboro 4. Joey Rocks, Egg Harbor Township 5. Patrick DArcy, Holy Spirit 1. Tyler Kaminski, West Deptford 2. Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine 3. Sam Morina, Paulsboro 4. Tony Giancola, Collingswood 5. Dylan LaPalomento, Washington Township 1. Billy Ward, Buena 2. Ricky Carter, Timber Creek 3. Collin Mitchell, Eastern 4. Gabe Zamot, Egg Harbor Township 5. Joe Michel, Steinert 1. Kevin Devoy, Burlington Township 2. John VanBrill, Clearview 3. William Elliott, Cumberland 4. Justin McTamney, Bordentown 5. Mike Jiampetti, Absegami 1. Brandon Keller, Timber Creek 2. Maaziah Bethea, Trenton Central 3. Joe Lemerise, Cherokee 4. John Hennelly, Delsea 5. Aaron Lambert, Burlington Township 1. Chad Walsh, Camden Catholic 2. Joe Esposito, St. Augustine 3. Nick Knauer, Paulsboro 4. Ed Lenkowski, Clearview 5. Dillan Berghof, Buena 1. T.J. Miller, Camden Catholic 2. Curt Delia, Delsea 3. Chrisitan Stackhouse, Riverside 4. Antonio Mancella, Oakcrest 5. Dom Ruggierio, Timber Crek 1. Raamiah Bethea, Trenton Central 2. Bryce Shade, Timber Creek 3. Mark Patterson, St. Augustine 4. George Skibinski, Clearview 5. Jamie Calhoun, Paul VI 1. Phil Bakuckas, Hammonton 2. Robert Schlitt, Haddonfield 3. Wayne Stinson, No. Burlington 4. Connor Donahue, Clearview 5. Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea

106

113

33-4 16-3 30-3 31-3 34-3 32-6 33-5 34-6 36-5 32-3

LOCAL RECORDS106Zach Goranson, Millville Joshua Pineda, Vineland Sal Marandino, Buena Steven Bergamo, St. Augustine Luis Rivera, Buena Tom Carney, Delsea 23-8 23-8 23-10 21-13 12-10 18-15 31-4 31-6 23-8 21-6 20-12 35-3 32-3 14-5 15-14 12-12 30-4 20-10 23-15 32-5 23-11 21-11 14-7 19-14 17-13 9-9 35-4 32-6 21-11 36-1 21-12 14-6 18-10 13-12 36-2 30-8 27-7 29-10 10-9 32-5 31-8 15-12 14-9 25-6 28-11 12-7 8-7 13-5 13-7 21-13 31-1 28-7 25-9 13-6 34-3 29-8 20-11 19-10 32-6 13-10

120

St. Augustines Bobby Malatesta, front, wrestles in 1985. FILE PHOTO

BOBBY MALATESTASt. Augustine, 1985 No. 4 seed, beat Anthony Baldosaro (Delsea/Eastern) and Joe Alexander (Delsea) Three-time region champion, two-time state finalist, state champion

126

35-3 28-9 31-4 27-6 29-2 38-0 30-1 30-4 32-6 30-8 32-5 33-0 36-3 32-5 20-3

113

132

Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine John Gallo, Schalick Zach Nealis, Vineland Connor Palmieri, Buena Chad Kahn, Millville

120

Greco Roman titles in state as well as internationally. In my opinion, the only guy (in South Jersey) you could put up against Bobby was Joe (Melchiore, a three-time state champion at Highland), former teammate and current Buena assistant coach Bill Ward. Ward said Malatestas mental toughness was one of his best attributes. He was an unbelievable competitor. Even in

other things he would do. In the room, he would never relax, he was always trying to win. He was impossible to score on. I wrestled with him every day and I was at least 20 to 30 pounds heavier than he was and I struggled to score on him. Sauls wrestling career ended after high school as he chased a dream of playing collegiate football. He was a standout quarterback for the Bolts. He was a superstar

Newt Richardson, Schalick Billy Ward, Buena Danny DeTetta, Vineland John Borelli, Delsea John Rizzo, Vineland

138

12634-4 35-4 30-10 28-1 31-6 36-1 36-1 38-2 32-2 26-8 33-0 32-5 36-2 30-1 29-8 38-0 30-1 37-4 29-2 32-5 33-0 34-3 32-5 34-3 39-2 36-3 33-4 29-5 35-2 35-4 36-0 33-1 36-5 30-7 30-7 37-3 36-1 34-3 32-4 38-3 32-2 13-1 33-5 35-1 40-2

Will Elliott, Cumberland Elias Garcia, Millville Ed Donahue, St. Augustine

132

145

John Hennelly, Delsea Jarett Pierotti, Buena Jonathon Rordriguez, Vineland Cruz Flores, Cumberland Jarred Hodges, St. Augustine Jarrett Kelly, Buena Rian Lamanteer, Cumberland

152

138

Joe Esposito, St. Augustine Dillan Berhof, Buena Deon Henry, Schalick

145

160

Curt Delia, Delsea Dylan Manno, Schalick Richard Morris, Cumberland Rico Rivera, Millville Brandon Muessig, Vineland

SCOTT2008

KELLEY

JOE1999

152

ALEXANDER HAYWOOD1995

KARL1995

HAYWOOD

KARL

JOE1999

ALEXANDERBOBBY1985

1. Steve Nelson, Haddon Township 2. Robert Shade, Timber Creek 3. Alex Gong, Absegami 4. Nick Moore, Seneca 5. Nick Elmer, Penns Grove

170

Mark Patterson, St. Augustine Justin Pierotti, Buena Ed Shockley, Millville Zach Rahl, Schalick David Gresk, Delsea

160

MAT PACKTHETOURNAMENTBOBBY1995

ANTHONY BOBBY1985

BALDOSARO2010 (Eastern)

MALATESTABOBBY1985

MALATESTADON2003

MALATESTACast your vote for the winner at thedailyjournal.com/matpack

1. David Williams, Hammonton 2. Thomas Forline, Moorestown 3. Trevant McCloud, Lindenwold 4. Rory Bonner, West Deptford 5. Joey DiCristofaro, Hightstown 1. Carson Stack, Haddonfield 2. Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea 3. Padric Lynch, Haddon Heights 4. Cory Damiana, Lower Cape May 5. Patrick Wexler, Kingsway 1. Mauro Correnti, Holy Cross 2. Roy Lucas, St. Joseph 3. Nick Pustizzi, Schalick 4. Jeff Miller, Camden Catholic 5. Ryan Thompson, Haddon Heights

182

Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea Tyler Sentman, St. Augustine Derrick DeWoody, Delsea Carl Hitzelberger, Cumberland

170

195

Steffen Rodriguez, Vineland James Bennett, St. Augustine Garrett Craig, Delsea Dylan Wargo, Schalick Marcus Nelson, Vineland Marshall Brooks, Delsea Cory Pietrzyk, St. Augustine

182

FANTASY WRESTLING

FISCH CHEW1987

195

GEORGE

DON2003

220

FISCH

Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea Taiwahn Cosby, Vineland Sean Redden, Delsea Nick Davis, Millville Nick Pustizzi, Schalick Noah Repko, Buena Eugene Maisonave, Vineland Obie Kali, Millville Tre Porch, Delsea Jacob Paul, Cumberland

220

HANSONBOBBY1995

SMASHEY1998

LARRY

HANSONMARK MARK

MARK

SAUL1996

1996

SAUL

SAUL1996

1. Cody Melton, Northern Burlington 2. Sam Ekwonike, Cinnaminson 3. Curtis Nealer, Pitman 4. Tom Rementer, Clayton 5. Alex Thompson, Haddon Heights *Records through Saturday

HWT

HWT

We will announce the winner online on Monday, March 12 and in the March 13 print edition of The Daily Journal.

*Wrestlers must have at least a .500 record and a minimum of 16 bouts. All the records and rankings are based on information through Wednesday.

MAT PACK onlinethe

Nick Defeo

BLOG

thedailyjournal.com/matpack

South Jersey wrestling news, notes, rankings and more

TWITTER

Updates, links and commentary on South Jersey wrestling

@TheMatPack

Dylan Dobzanski