Rackliffe gets storybook ending to his career Pins his way to state championship at 70 pounds BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer ELIZABETH - Matt Rackliffe of Brick could not find a better way to conclude his wrestling career. The eighth-grader at Lake Riviera Middle School in Brick, who wrestles for his middle school team and the Brick Recreation Mat Rats, won the USA state championships in the 70-pound Intermediate class and was nothing shy of inspiring, pinning all three opponents he faced at the Dunn Athletic Center in Elizabeth on Saturday. Leading in all three bouts, Rackliffe used the cradle to put the defending state champion on his back at 47 seconds. Rackliffe, who had finished seventh in the state a year ago, led, 2-0, at the time. "It felt great," said Rackliffe, who was runner-up in the Ocean County middle school championships and second in the Jersey Shore Junior Wrestling League. "I set him up when I got behind him and hooked him for my favorite move, the cradle. "This is great because this is my last year [of wrestling]," said Rackliffe as his voice choked up for a moment. "I have a heart murmur." Rackliffe, whose older brother, Dan, was fourth in the state in the 60-pound junior division despite giving away 5 pounds, was on a mission. He has a mild aortic spenosis, better known as a heart murmur. He's had it from birth, being born with a bicuspid valve in his heart, which means he has two heart valves instead of the customary three. He has had regular checkups at Deborah Hospital near Fort Dix, and the doctor was hesitant to clear him to compete for this year. "But when the doctor saw he had the same middle school coach [Paul Panuska] who had watched over him very carefully [and who also is involved in the Mat Rats program], he approved Matt to compete," said his mom, Lori. "To be a state champion, knowing this was the end to his wrestling career, was very important to him." And it wasn't easy for Matt. Instead of lifting weights to give him strength, which could have put a severe strain on his heart, Matt did pushups. But he would have difficulty gaining 30 pounds over the next year to compete at the lowest 103-pound class for Brick Township, where he will enroll for this fall, and in keeping up with the excruciating regimen of weight training necessary at the higher level of competition. "In high school, weight lifting is more extreme and it would definitely cause a lot of undue stress on his heart," said Lori. "And to go from 70 to 103 [in a half-year] is too much of a risk. "I'm very proud of him. I know this is very hard for him to give this up," said the mother. "He's done this for so many years with the Mat Rats and the club team Shore Thing. I know he'll stay around to help the wrestling programs and he would be a good coach some day." Rackliffe continues the legacy of state champions to come out of the program. Dean Sherry (at 65 pounds bantam) and Bill Miller (at intermediate heavyweight) won state titles last year. After getting a bye in the opening round of the states, Rackliffe went on his rampage. He held a 6-4 lead in the second period when he ended the bout with a cradle. Then, in his next bout, he got a takedown early before securing a first-period pin. Rackliffe had 10 pins during the Jersey Shore Junior League when he won 13 of 14 bouts. He was 16-1 for Lake Riviera as it won the Blue Division championship. "This is the best I've ever seen him wrestle," said Panuska. "He was on a mission to finish out this season because of his heart condition, and this was a storybook ending. "He's gone through a lot of rigorous work ethics and never let it get him down," said Panuska. "He always strived to be the best." Mat Rats coach Pete Anderson agreed that, in a matter of speaking, his heart was in this competition. "It's a rarity to see someone pin his way through the state finals like he did in those three bouts," said Anderson. Along with his brother, five other Mat Rats wrestlers were state place-winners. Anthony Moriarty was runner-up at 180 Intermediate, losing a close decision in the finals. Conor Brennan dramatically finished in third place at 100 Intermediate, pulling out a 3-2 victory in four overtimes on an escape point after electing to work from the down position. Both were tricounty champions from Lake Riviera. Along with Dan Rackliffe, three other wrestlers were place-winners in the Junior Division. Vic Rivera, in only his second year of wrestling, placed fifth in his first appearance in the state championships at 140. Vin Favia dropped a 6-4 overtime decision in the consolation round to finish in sixth place. Anthony Miller, a former Mat Rat, was eighth at 126. Six other wrestlers also qualified for the states but fell short of placing, including Dave Santos, Jordan Loiodice, Matt Moore, Joe Ghione, Hayden Hrymach and Dan Wojtaszek. But that's not the end of the story for this season for the Rackliffes. Older brother Corey will compete in the high school cadet division as one of eight Mat Rats hopefuls in the final phase of state championships this weekend at Union. John Ghione, Jake Scott and Jake Jachim will compete in the Bantam Division, while Dean Sherry seeks another state title in the Midget Division along with Brian Matthews, Alec Donovan and Christian Casselli.