Youth wrestlers enjoy big week

It was a memorable week for youth wrestling in Brick. Along with Lake Riviera Middle School sealing a second straight unbeaten season last week, the Brick Recreation Mat Rats I team on Sunday sealed its fourth straight War at the Shore championship that the Mat Rats program hosted at Veterans Memorial Middle School. And nine Lake Riviera wrestlers won their weight classes in the Blue Division individual championships at Lake Riviera on Saturday. Those champions faced the best of the Red Division on Monday night at Lake Riviera for the Ocean County title and the right to take on the best of Monmouth-Middlesex today at Lake Riviera. There also were two runners-up in that Saturday tournament.

Lake Riviera Middle School sealed a second straight unbeaten wrestling season with a hard-earned 59-31 victory over cross-town rival Veterans Memorial Middle School last week.

"There were some great matches. Vets came to wrestle," said Lake Riviera coach Paul Panuska, as the two-time Blue Division champion secured its 15th victory with pins by Dan Rackliffe at 70 pounds, Connor Mulligan (75), Dan Wojtaszek (132) and heavyweight Bryce Tocci. There also were victories by Brian Matthews (85), Dean Sherry (90), Christian Casselli (95), Nick Melon (100), Steve Cimmino (108) and Mike Nasen (185) as Lake Riviera broke out to a 21-3 early lead.

Panuska also hailed the match of the day won by Veterans'Anthony Miller, a 6-1 decision over Dan Watson. "We wanted to get those guys in a head-to-head match and it was a great one," said Panuska, who moved Watson up one weight class to 158.

Joe Ghione at 80 pounds and Tyler Richardson at 120 got pins for Veterans, which slipped to 9-4 but led the Red Division.

Panuska also hailed the hard work of his assistant coaches, Mike Elmendorf and Charles Pazmino.

"They both do a great job and he (Pazmino) keeps track of the boys academically. We run it like a college program," Panuska said.

As for the Mat Rats I team of coach Kevin Watson, it trailed only once in three dual meet victories in the War at the Shore, losing to Nutley in the second round, 31-24, before reeling off 30 unanswered points to win, 54-31. Tyler Richardson (122), Dan Wojtaszek (130), Dan Watson (150) and Bruce Weber (heavyweight) pinned their opponents during that stretch.

With eight teams entered in the tournament, Mat Rats I beat Paulsboro, 71-19, in the opening round and clinched the title over WashingtonTownship, 50-33, as Joe Ferigne (52), Dan Rackliffe (72), Joe Ghione (80), Kyle Wojtaszek (85), and his brother, Dan (130), Nick Melon (100), Matt Moore (140) and Weber each won all three of his bouts.

Mat Rats II finished in sixth place. It opened with a 39-34 victory over Dover Recreation before dropping the next three bouts to Washington Township, 46-33, Paulsboro, 55-41, and Dover Rec, 54-44, in a rematch for fifth-place consolation. Against Dover Rec the first time, Mat Rats II was behind, 28-27, when Chris Morrison at 130 pounds got an upset pin. Mark Bixenman (140) picked up a victory and Mike Nasen upset his opponent.

Bixenman, Ian Azzaretti (114) and Alec Donovan (100) each won three of his four bouts.

Mat Rats I and II close their Jersey Shore Junior League season on Saturday in a double dual meet at Howell before the league's team tournament at an undetermined date and the individual's championships on Feb. 14 at Long Branch. Mat Rats II is 11-1 and Mat Rats II is 8-4.