Memorial wrestling grabs another District title
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Brick Memorial wrestling coach Dan O'Cone was uncertain early in the seasonwhether this teamcouldmeasure up to the school's proud tradition.

Now he is convinced it has.

"Yes, we have," said O'Cone in a decisive tone as his Mustangs added another title to their storied season after adding to their recent seventh state championship (in Group IV) their 23rd District 23 championship in 24 years on Saturday. And they won their third straight district title by avenging their 32-25 Shore Conference Tournament semifinal loss to Long Branch at Long Branch. Sparked by six weight-class champions, including outstandingwrestlerChrisGiannios at 152 pounds, the Mustangs amassed 228 1/2 points while Long Branch had 204 1/2 points.

"It was great to come here and win it," saidO'Cone. "WhenD.J. [Santos]won in the semifinals, that changed everything. I knew we had a chance to win it. And we did it against the No. 2 team in the state and at their place, which says something."

Santos had a pin at the buzzer at 112 pounds and then won a 12-5 decision in the championship.

But it was Giannios who put the icing on the cake and led an advance of 10 BrickMemorialwrestlers, including threewho lost in the finals and another who won the thirdplace consolation, into the District VI Tournament at the Ritacco Center in Toms River. Brick Township finished in fifth place and had three wrestlers advance, led by 189- pound runner-up John Battista,who is looking to return to the state championships in a 25-4 season.

Giannios missed the regions last year with a knee injury afterwinning the districts but has another chance when the regions began on Tuesday thisweek and continue on Friday and Saturday.

"I think the two pins and then the championship got it for me," said Giannios of the award. That included an exciting 5-2 victory over Long Branch'sNick Viscaino in the title match. BrickMemorial went 4-2 in head-tohead bouts against wrestlers from Long Branch,whichwon theGroup II state title a week earlier. "I feel I'mwrestling very smart, better than I did last year. That's the key for me from here. I definitely think I can make the states."

Another of those big victories came at 135 whenDonMiller avenged a 5-4 loss to Justin Clarke when he got a takedown in the closing seconds for a 3-2 victory. Steve Santos, with only one loss this season at 145, pulled out a 1-0 victory over Doug Cornell in another key matchup.

Also advancing into the regions are district champions Mike Morales at 119 and Cody Oliverio at 160. Karon Reid, a defending district and region champion who was No. 3 in the state championships last year, lost in the finals at 140 to John Robertson of Long Branch, 8-4. Reid said he was frustrated by his opponent's stalling tactics.

"He stalled the wholematch, every time I tried to make a move," said Reid. "Now, I just have to work harder in the wrestling room."

But Reid said he was happy with his team's performance.

"I thought we wrestled pretty good as a team," he said. "We proved we are better than Long Branch when we wrestle to our ability."

Also advancing to the regionals as district

runners-upwereMikeKiley at 171 and heavyweight John Pawin as well as thirdplace finisher BillMiller (189), who is Don's brother.

Also advancing as third-place finishers were Brick Township's Kevin Decker at 119 and Conor Brennan at 130.

"It's a very difficult districtwith two state championship teams and the other state tournament teams in it and I thought we wrestled well.We had guys getting through the district that we did not expect," said Brick Township coach Matt Opacity. "We had a sophomore [Deck] and a freshman [Brennan] who stepped up."

Brennan has 25 victories but Decker is 13-18.

"John Battista has been to the regions before and I just hope he does the right thing and makes the states again," said Opacity. "Most experienced guys are ready to advance so John is our best shot and the other two are very young and I'm glad they had the mindset to earn a spot in the region but it's very competitive and a new experience that they can take into their future seasons."