Three Mat Rats still undefeated this season

For Brick youngsters Vincent Favia, Dan Rackliffe and Jesse Lyon, it's an exciting wrap-up to a very successful wrestling season.

All three are unbeaten for the Brick RecreationMat Rats program and wrestle for the Lake RivieraMiddle School, which last week clinched the Ocean CountyMiddle Schools Blue Division championship and looked to wrap up an unbeaten season in their final dual meet onWednesday this week. And they'll head into the Middle Schools championship tournament at the Ritacco Center in Toms River on Saturday afternoon.

All three advanced to the U.S.A. Wrestling state championships after winning in the regional qualifier at Toms River on Sunday. Nine Brick wrestlers were among the top three in each weight class who advanced, six of them as weight class winners, to the state finals inMarch.

Favia, Rackliffe and Lynch will be competing for the Mat Rats in the War at the Shore on Saturday at Brick's VeteransMemorial Middle School starting at 9 a.m. Mat Rats I is defending champion and Mat Rats II finished fourth last year.

"This season is everything I wanted it to be," said Favia, who has won all 30 of his bouts and got some of his sweetest victories on Sunday when he swept four bouts as a 119-pound intermediate qualifier. It started with a 15-3 major decision followed by a pin and then a 3-2 semifinal victory over the defending state champion and a 2-1 championship triumph over the wrestler who beat him in last year's qualifiers. The latter two opponents are from Pascack Valley.

In the semifinal, Favia got a takedown in the first period and an escape in the second before his opponent got two escape points. In the finals, he got a takedown in the second period and his opponent got an escape point in the third, but Favia finished the bout on his feet.

"I improved a lot from last year all around," said Favia. "I try to do anything I can and practice with guys who are good to push me. I'm best on my feet, pretty good working from the bottom. On top, I'm trying to get better."

Favia admits he is influenced by his older brothers - Joe, who is unbeaten at 160 pounds this season at Christian Brothers Academy, where Vincent is enrolling for this fall, and Charles, who is 19- 4 at Stevens Institute of Technology. Charles was at the qualifiers Sunday to give advice and encouragement to his younger brother.

"They do, actually," said Vincent when asked if his brothers influence his career. "My oldest brother really helps me out."

"He's just aggressive and is calm, cool and collected," said dad Joe Favia, who coaches Mat Rats I and Vincent. "He just goes out and does what he has to do."

Dan Rackliffe advanced in the 65-pound junior division, and Jesse Lyons, in only his third year of competition, reached the state finals in the 170-pound intermediate class.

"Dan comes from a wrestling family," said coach Joe Favia, a point he can appreciate. "And Jesse is big for an eighthgrader because he weighs in at 170 and is only about 5 feet 8 inches."

Also advancing as weight class winners were JoeGhione in the 70-pound Junior class, Dean Sherry in the 80- poundMidget division, and Alec Donovan in the 90-pound Midget class, while DaveWallis at 210-pound Intermediate and Anthony Maimone at 90-pound Junior were runnersup. Kyle Wojtaszek at 80-pound Midget also moved on as a thirdplace finisher.

Ghione's younger brother, Jon, is unbeaten for theMat Rats in the 52-pound class in the Jersey Shore Junior League in which theMat Rats compete.

"Mywhole family is proud of us," said Joe Ghione. "I'm doing better this year because it's more competitive with twice as much practice as what I've had. I get pumped up before the match and use my technique. When I'mdown, I just keep trying."

Jon Ghione said he and his brother trade wrestling tips and he follows them "most of the time. You just try your hardest." The younger Ghione said he is working hardest on his shooting moves while on his feet.

The Ghiones helped Mat Rats I improve to 11-1 after Joe Ghione pinned both opponents and brother Jon won both of his bouts. Sherry also pinned both opponents at 80 pounds.

Also going 2-0 were Dan Rackliffe (64), Conner Mulligan (68), Brian Matthews (78), Christian Casselli (85),AnthonyMaimone (90), Steve Cimino (95), Joe Paton (100), Brendan Dowd (107), Dan Wojtaszek (114), Vincent Favia (122), Chris Jarvie (130), DanWatson (140) and heavyweight Jesse Lyon.

Mat Rats II beat Matawan, 80-22, and Old Bridge, 52-26, to improve to 9-2.

KyleWojtaszek (80) had two pins while Tyler Clayton (72) and Nick Melon (76) had a major decision and a pin. Matt Moore (114), back after sitting out three weeks with a broken thumb, also won two bouts along with Ryan Jachim (68), Alec Donovan (90), Justin McLaughlin (100), Tyler Richardson (122), Hayden Hrymack (130) and Andrew LaMura (140).

The War at the Shore will have eight teams, including the Mat Rats I and II cohosts. The others are Roselle Park, Nutley, Paulsboro, Morris Hills, Hazlet and Washington Township.

After that meet, the Mat Rats are off until Feb. 2, when they close out their Jersey Shore Junior League schedule against Bayshore YouthAthleticAssociation I and II teams in a double-dual meet before heading into the Junior League team tournament and individual championships later next month.