Memorial preps for another big wrestling season

Brick Memorial lost some integral parts of its 22-2 team that won its sixth NJSIAA Group IV championship wrestling team last season but that hasn't dimmed the outlook of coach Dan O'Cone.

FILE PHOTO Brick Memorial High School's Steve Santos, (r) in action at last year's state tourney in Atlantic City. The senior will lead the way for the Mustangs, traditionally a state power on the mats. For more on Santos, turn to page 28. "Our goal is to be the No. 1 team in the state. We don't shoot for anything less," said O'Cone, whose team was ranked No. 3 in the New Jersey Coaches poll last season and No. 2 in the Shore Conference. It loses seven standouts, including two-time state place-winner Karon Reid, who was 35-7 at 140 pounds and No. 7 in the state; and Chris Giannos, a 32-6 152-pounder who was Outstanding Wrestler for the team and in District 23 where the Mustangs won their 23rd district title in 24 years. They won their 11th state section championship last season.

Reid, the program's 45th Region VI champion since it began in 1981, is wrestling at Iowa Lake Community College while Giannos is wrestling at Johnson and Wales.

Also departed is Don Miller, a threetime district champion who was 31-6 at 135 pounds; district runner-up Kevin Docherty, who was 26-15 at 215; and district champ Cody Oliverio, who was 28-9 at 160 pounds. Miller is wrestling at Rider University and Docherty is wrestling at Plymouth University.

"It's tough to replace those kids. Being a good team is OK (for some), but that's not for us," said O'Cone.

The Mustangs are preparing for another grueling season in the Shore Conference where the coach said A South is "the toughest conference in New Jersey. It's unbelievable again. A South is going to be a war."

O'Cone said there are no breathers in that conference and that includes Brick Township, which is loaded with experience off its best season in a long time at 16-8 and loses mainly two-time state qualifier John Battista, who was 30-7 last season at heavyweight, along with John Fritzsch (22-6 at 171 pounds) and Ray Johnson (18-12 at 160).

O'Cone's team will be put to the test for the first time in a different tournament this season when it opens in mid-December in the South Brunswick Dual championships rather than its customary venture into the Caldwell Tournament that it won last year.

"We want to concentrate on our team as a dual meet team rather than individuals," explained O'Cone, who will have back on the staff Dean Albanese as assistant coach,

Tim Brennan as underclass coach and Tony Nash and John DeMarco as volunteer assistants. They open the Shore Conference schedule against Toms River South. O'Cone said he was pleased with the commitment throughout the year by his returning wrestlers. "The kids had a good off-season and we're getting excited for another season ahead," said O'Cone.

"It's going to be a really great year for coaching," said O'Cone, referring to remodeling the team that is a target on the opposing schedules after last season's success. "We're looking for kids coming from the junior varsity to step up."

O'Cone will rely on senior Steve Santos, who has been district champion and state qualifier throughout his high school career and who raised his career mark to 106-14 by going 42-3 at 145 pounds last season. Mike Morales, a junior, won his second straight district title in a 37-5 season that raised his career mark to 70-9. He also is a two-time region medalist.

Senior Mike Kiley is ready for wrestling coming off a 32-9 season as he sat out football season as a two-way back and punter so his shoulder could heal properly. Kiley got his second district medal last year with a second place finish and was fourth in the region. He has 60 career wins. Junior Bill Miller was 26-9 at 189 pounds where he was third in the district and fourth in the region. He has a 47-22 career mark.

"I'll be working out with him (Miller)," said O'Cone with a laugh.

Also back are D.J. Santos, who won the district title as a freshman in a 28-12 season at 112 pounds and ju''niors Anthony Guzzi, who was 18-12 at 103, and Jake Vescovi, who was 18-13 at 125.

O'Cone will look to some untested talent to mature quickly. Sophomore Jordan Loiodice leads the way after winning three

of his eight bouts at 112 pounds. But if he shows the determination in wrestling that he did during football season as the most accurate extra point kicker in the Shore, he can be an asset to the team. "Down in the low weights, he can do something," said O'Cone. Others who saw limited action last season and will be looked to this season include sophomores Jared Wagner

(103), juniors Corey Maliff (119), Ricky Martinez (119), Cody Heilbroun (125), Sean Joaquim (130), Noel Reyes (135) and Alex Guarino (145); and seniors Corey Menafra (160) and Matt Glassford (215).