Brick Mat Rats teams continue their early tournament suc­cess
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

The Brick Recreation Mat Rats I wrestling team in recent years has been on the sidelines of the eight-team War at the Shore showcase.

This year, they not only got to the finals but had the fans on their feet for the last three matches at Brick’s Veterans Memorial School. On Sunday they pulled out a 45-43 victory over defending champion Kitatinny, which has won seven War at the Shore tournaments in its nine-year history.

Trailing, 43-31, the Mat Rats rallied back behind a pin by Kevin Watson at 140-pounds and a major decision by Bill Miller at 150 that cut the gap to two points.

It came down to heavyweight Steve Turner, who rarely is in a position of deciding a match by the time he wrestles. The 6-foot-1 Turner used his speed to shoot his way to takedowns as he scored a technical fall for the victory. Turner went 3-0 in the tournament.

"Talk about an old-fashioned barn-burner," said Pete Anderson, one of the coaches along with Tony Nash and John Fritzsch. "We knew we had to win by a pin or a major decision in the last three bouts and thought it was all over. When it came down to Steve Turner, we knew if we needed points, we can feel confident counting on him. We were just thrilled winning this. They all pulled together as a team.

"We’re the Rats on a rampage," he said.

The Mat Rats actually trailed by as many as 19 points, 37-18, and Anderson felt the team started turning around in the middle weights as Kevin Johnson, at 100 pounds, and Don Miller, at 107, won their bouts.

Actually, the Mat Rats looked like they might be wrestling in the consolations again when they trailed in the opening match to Neshaminy, Pa., 22-6, before rallying for a 48-32 victory. Cody Heilbroun’s victory at 85 pounds got the team going for its comeback. The Mat Rats then had a surprisingly easy semifinal victory over Paulsboro, 78-18.

Cody Oliverio pinned all three of his opponents at 114 pounds while the Miller brothers — Bill at 150 and Don at 107 — each beat all three opponents, two via pin. Heilbroun, Johnson and Vin Favia at 68 pounds went 3-0.

The Brick Mat Rats II finished in sixth place in the tournament, as Sean Casey went 4-0 with three pins at 130 and Mike Kiley got two of his four wins via pin at 140.

John Battista also went 4-0 while Joe Foderaro (100), Ray Johnson (104) and Kerry O’Keefe (122) went 3-1. Mat Rats II lost their opening match to Mahwah, 52-50, but beat Tinton Falls, 52-48, before losing to Paulsboro, 62-40. The team came back in the consolation round against Mahwah again, and this time, the tired team dropped a 60-43 verdict.

On Saturday, both Brick teams were in action in a Jersey Shore Junior Wrestling League meet in Hazlet. Mat Rats I continued unbeaten at 8-0 with victories over Old Bridge, 59-31, and the host team, 74-27, as Nick Lusby (64), Joe DeAngelo (80), Don Miller and Turner each pinned opponents.

Lusby went on to suffer his first loss of the season in the War at the Shore the following day.

Heilbroun saw his unbeaten streak end in the Saturday quadrangular meet.

Others going 2-0 included Connor Mulligan (52), Matt Rackliffe (60), Vin Favia and brother Joe (122), Johnson and John Fritzsch (130).

Mat Rats II took its first league loss of the season to Old Bridge, 50-46, but beat Hazlet, 54-42, to go 5-0 in the B Division.

Casey, Kiley and Corey Menafra, at 107, got instrumental pins against Hazlet. All three pinned both opponents in the match as did Chris Sorice, who stepped in at heavyweight for Battista, who had an excused absence.

Brian Matthews (52), Kyle Oliveria (60) and Nick Onnembo (64) each won both bouts.