Reid overcomes defeat to finish third in state

JEFFGRANIT staff Brick Memorial's Steve Santos grapples with South Plainfield's Billy Ashnault during a 135-pound prequartefinal bout in Atlantic City on Friday.

Karon Reid said he would "turn some heads" in the NJSIAA individual wrestling championships in Atlantic City over the weekend after winning the Region VI competition the previous weekend and he proved true to his words.

The 130-pound junior on Sunday became the first Brick Memorial wrestler since Charlie Rodgers in 2000 to finish in third place and seemed pleased with his performance afterward.

Reid, who missed the first half of the season to brush up on his academics, reeled off a 15-7 decision over Joseph Lospinoso of David Brearley in the final round of wrestlebacks on Sunday for third place and cap off a 15-1 season. He beat Andrew Carthan of Delran, 15-3, in the quarterfinal wrestlebacks on Saturday.

Prior to that, he had command decisions over Pequannock's Jude Tropona (13-4) and Kingsway's John Renard (11-2) in previous wrestleback rounds on Saturday.

Reid on Friday night was decisioned, 7-5, by Rich Russoniello of Bernards, who scored six points on three takedowns in the opening period, the first one just 10 seconds into the bout.

"I was kind of nervous," said Reid of the loss. "Then I was pretty mad. It's my junior year and I didn't want it to end like this. I could've won that match. I knew I had to come back and wrestle better on my feet and on top, and that's what I did. I was more mentally prepared."

Two other Brick wrestlers were eliminated in the first round of wrestlebacks. Steve Santos of Brick Memorial lost his 135-pound bout to Livingston's Zachary Kane, 8-7, and Brick Township 215-pounder John Battista was pinned in 53 seconds by John Hayek of West Essex. Santos is 34-4. Battista, the first Brick Township wrestler competing in the states in at least six years, finished 32-5.

All three are juniors.

- Wayne Witkowski