Lake Riviera Middle School wrestling goes undefeated

The number 13 was not an unlucky one for Paul Panuska and the Lake Riviera wrestling team.

That's how many matches it took for the team to nail down its first unbeaten season since 2002 and a repeat Ocean County Middle Schools championship.

"I was very confident in the beginning but you never know," said Panuska.

"As we started wrestling, we were progressing to where it is."

But it was a Dec. 19 52-51 victory over rival Goetz of Jackson that bolstered the team's optimism.

"The whole key to the season is to beat Goetz, which is a formidable powerhouse. I knew before the break that if we beat them, we could go unbeaten, that we could roll."

The team did not exactly roll to a victory over Goetz but had a typical hardearned triumph in another heated showdown. Although there were three weight classes left, Panuska said he felt it came down to Jesse Lyon at 170 because he said there were two younger wrestlers in the final two weight classes.

"We knew if he got a pin, it would be over and that if he got a technical fall, it would be a tie," said Panuska.

He was right. The victory by Lyon spotted Lake Riviera a 52-39 lead and Goetz got pins in the next two weight classes, but it was not enough.

Lyon is one of many wrestlers who figured in Lake Riviera's success this season under Panuska and assistant coaches Mike Elmendorf and Charles Pazmino.

One of two defending Ocean County champions who also went on to win the Tri-County championships against the best ofMonmouth andMiddlesex counties last season, the sturdily built Lyon went 15-2, losing to a Neptune wrestler in a keenly competitive Christmas tournament hosted by Point Pleasant Beach and a tough loss to Cenzo D'Adato of crosstown rival Veterans Memorial Middle School who Lake Riviera beat a little more comfortably than usual this season, 64-21.

Vincent Favia went unbeaten in 16 bouts, pinning all but three opponents as the most technically adept wrestler on the team. "He's a phenomenal technician who never stops. He can wrestle two matches in a row if he had to with a full tank of gas," Panuska said.

The other defending Ocean County middle schools champion - Dan Wojtaszek, suffered only one loss in 14 outings wrestling primarily at 112 pounds to a Toms River East wrestler. Vic Rivera went 15-1 with eight pins at 160 pounds, losing only a 5-4 decision to a wrestler from Goetz. Rivera finished fifth in the state championships last year.

Panuska praised Lyon and Rivera, both of whom have diabetes. "They work harder and have to take care of things more than the other boys," Panuska said in an admirable tone.

Dan Rackliffe suffered his only loss in 15 bouts at 70 pounds to a Point Pleasant Boroughwrestler in theChristmas tournament.

"He actually weighs 65 pounds but he's a sparkplug. He knows wrestling coming from a wrestling family and has never been put on his back," Panuska said.

John Faulhaber, who has eight pins at 126 pounds, Joe Paton at 97 pounds, Brendan Dowd at 105 and Dan Watson at 138 each went 14-2.

"He's peaking," said Panuska of Watson. "He's coming on and has improved 100 percent on his moves and quickness since last season."

Dowd is the nephew of longtime NHL veteran and Brick native Jim Dowd, who is playing this season for the Philadelphia Flyers. Brian Matthews, who was 14-3 at 77 pounds, Mark Bixenma, who was 13-3 at 117 pounds, and Justin Sieburt, who finished 12-3 at 144, could be counted on for their share of victories this season.

Others with double-figures in victories included Kyle Winder (11-4) at 150, Dave Wallis (10-5) at 185 and Nick Messer (10- 5) at 132.

Panuska also praised the contributions of Joe Bench (9-3 at 82 pounds), heavyweight Bryce Pocci (8-5), Steve Cimino (7- 3 at 92 pounds) and Justin McLaughlin (7-4 at 100).