Districts

At the District 10 championships held Friday February 20 and Saturday February 21 at Union High School, Brearley’s powerful and heavily favored wrestling team was in trouble before a match ever began. In a development that sent shock waves throughout the venue, neither freshman sensation Nick Lospinoso, the favorite at 112 nor his senior brother Joe Lospinoso, the overwhelming favorite at 135 appeared at Friday’s weigh ins. Joe Lospinoso had won the Outstanding Wrestler award at the districts last year and was state runner-up at 135 but bowed out of this year’s tournament to be with his father, a Brearley assistant coach Joe Lospinoso, who was having gall-bladder surgery.

“Coach Lospinoso was very sick and is getting better. I am quite sure he was missed more than the kids let out and their thoughts were with him. He brings a certain flavor to our team and yes it is always different when an ingredient is missing,” said Luciani.

Nick Lospinoso had missed school the past two days and would not have made weight. Joe Lospinoso made the decision to be with his father at 3 pm Friday and did not weigh in.

Leaving two weight classes they were favored to win vacant, proved to be too much for even Brearley to overcome, as the Bears lost a 208.5 to 207.5 squeaker to local rival Roselle Park and saw their four year winning end. The Bears did not go down without a fight as Kenny Knapp became the school's first four-time district champion when he claimed the crown at 130 pounds. Knapp, sixth in the state tournament last year at 119 pounds and third in the state at 103 in 2007, won the championship at 103 pounds in 2006 and '07 before winning at 119 last year. Knapp's teammate, Umar Taramov, repeated at 160 after winning at 171 two years ago. The Bears also got titles from sophomore Anthony Madonia at 103, sophomore Dillon Geoghegan at 145, junior Khusen Taramov at 171 and senior Travis Dilts at 215, but Roselle Park took both 112 and 135 titles and won two of three head to head finals matches.

Coming into Saturday Brearley Coach Brian Luciani knew the odds were stacked against his team.”We had three less going into the semi finals than Roselle Park After the semis we had cut the margin to 8.5 but I thought Park would squeeze in and win. All of our kids wrestled well and gave as much as they could,” said Luciani.

Leading the charge was Knapp, who defeated Alex Kleban of Seton Hall Prep 17-1 in the final.”He is like the energizer bunny, he just goes and goes and goes, what else can you say? I would take an entire team of Kenny's. He is in a good place and he understands that he cannot take anyone lightly so he is focused for the Regions, where he could be a four time finalist and possible three time champion. The States are the states and once you are there it is time to be smart and mistake free,” said Luciani.

Umar Taramov was dominant in his two matches, pinning Joe Lombardo of Seton Hall Prep in 3:46 in the final. Taramov has appeared to be gaining strength and should be the top seed at the region tournament. His younger brother Khusen was one of the great stories of the state tournament last, upsetting two region champs on his way to a seventh place finish in the state. After an impressive romp to his first district title at 171, which culminated with a 1:25 pin over Tyler Selby of Seton Hall Prep, the younger Taramov will be one of the favorites in his weight class. “Khusen will not be sneaking up anybody this year but he knows what he needs to do,” said Luciani.

At 103 Sophomore Anthony Madonia pinned Eamonn Gaffney of Seton Hall Prep in 3:56 to win his first title. “Madonia went from a .500 record to an incredible sophomore year. He has been transformed into a great wrestler and he just keeps on getting better and he is a great kid,” said Luciani.

Sophomore Dillon Geoghegan avenged a county finals loss when he won his first district title at 145 by defeating Nick Longo of Roselle Park 8-6.

Dilts defeated Daryl Shabazz of Columbia to win his first title, a long deserved award according to his coach. “Travis is the consummate team player. Over the course of his career here he has wrestled up giving up over 70 pounds as heavyweight last season and has cut down to wrestle state champs. He is having a great year and I could not ask for anything more. I hope he continues and reaches his goal of making the state tournament,” said Luciani.

Also advancing for the Bears was sophomore Dan Ries, a runner-up at 119, junior Allen Phillip, third place at 125, sophomore Devin Geoghegan, a runner-up at 140 and Khasan Taramov, a runner-up at 189. All four runner-ups will wrestle on Tuesday night while the six Brearley first place winners wrestle again on Friday night,

“It is nice to relax until Friday however I like the match on Tuesday it makes you maintain weight and gets the butterflies out for Friday. All should do fine and then prepare to battle on Friday and Saturday,” said Luciani.

While it was scant consolation for a stunning loss, Luciani, was named the district's Coach of the Year. “That award is really a representation of the coaching staff and our wrestlers who did a great job this year. My assistants are extremely dedicated and our kids work extremely hard.”