Regions

Regardless of their Algebra aptitude, every New Jersey high school wrestler understands the formula R * WC * Q = AC. R stands for the 8 regions consisting of four districts that are arranged geographically.. WC is 14 weight classes ranging from 103 to 285. Q equals three qualifiers from each weight class in each region. Multiply the three together and you get 336, which equals the amount of wrestlers that qualified for this weekend’s state championships which begin Friday March 6 in Atlantic City (AC) and continue with the eventual crowning of 14 champions on Sunday March 8 . The difference between being one of those select 336 and being on the outside looking in can be agonizingly miniscule.

Of the sixteen area wrestlers who participated in the regions which began Tuesday February 24, five are still alive in their quest to join Jesse Boyden of Brearley (2008) and Pat Hogan of Cranford (2006) as recent state champions, while two others fell one point short.

Senior Kenny Knapp of Brearley who is no stranger to the Atlantic City hoopla, claimed his third straight region title and was named the outstanding wrestler, winning at 130 pounds after taking the 103-pound title as a sophomore and the 119-pound title last year. Knapp will be making his fourth consecutive trip to the state finals, having placed second as a freshman at 103 in 2006.

In the finals, Knapp scored two takedowns on Westfield's John Barnes in the first period to take a 4-1 lead into the second period and held on for a 5-3 victory to secure his third straight region title. It was the first time in his brilliant career that Knapp had not faced a South Plainfield wrestler in the region finals. Second seed Nick Heilmann of South Plainfield had lost to Knapp in each of the last two seasons in the region final, but was upset in the semi finals by Barnes. In the semi finals Knapp made quick work of Erik Gobbo of Delbarton, pinning him in 1:18 and in the quarterfinals he also pinned Chris Roberts of Johnson in 2:38. Knapp improved to 30-4 for the season and 145-19 for his career.

Senior Umar Taramov repeated his 160 pound title by nipping top seeded. Mike Dessino of Middlesex 4-2. Dessino was the defending 152 pound champion. Tarmov had outlasted Dawud Hicks of Plainfield 10-5 in the semi finals. Taramov took care of Anthony Pizzuta of Parsippany 18-6 in the quarterfinal round.

Sophomore Dan Ries will be returning to Atlantic City and nearly qualified as a region champion, but lost to fellow sophomore Lou Mascola of Seton Hall Prep 5-4. It was a much closer match than the previous week, when Mascola won the district final 10-4. As a second place district finisher, Ries had to wrestle an extra match on Tuesday, defeating Tristan Bundy of Scotch Plains Fanwood. In the quarterfinals Ries dominated Rochelle Hinton of Rahway 19-2 with a technical fall in 5:08. In the semi finals Ries took care of Jeff Canfora of Delbarton 3-1.

Sophomore Anthony Madonia will be the only first time state qualifier in the Brearley quartet. Madonia was pinned by Tyler Hunt of South Plainfield in 1:13 in the finals but had already punched his ticket to Atlantic City by scoring late to edge Patsy Davis of Madison, 2-1. In the quarterfinal round on Friday night Madonia pinned Adam Sabo of Hanover Park in 2:11.

Cranford junior heavyweight Joe Brady will be the only Cougar making the trip, although he came within point of winning the region title and gaining a coveted first round bye into the round of 16. In the finals Brady was edged 4-3 by Conor Sweeney of Seton Hall Prep. The top seed, Brady won one of the longest matches of the weekend when he scored on an escape in the fourth overtime to edge. Christian Bollin of Middlesex 4-3.

Cougar sophomore Joe Giaccio just missed joining Brady in Atlantic City. After improving his record to 28-0 with an impressive 7-2 victory over Dan Pisaro of Roselle Park in the quarterfinals, Giaccio suffered his defeat of the season in Saturday morning’s semi finals when he was edged 4-3 by Steve Godine of Whippany Park. Giaccio bounced back to win his first wrestleback 8-2 over Travis Bach of Parsippany. In a back and forth match Giaccio fell short 6-5 to Rich Szeliga of South Plainfield.

Brearley junior Khusen Taramov, who finished seventh in the state last year, narrowly missed a return visit losing a 3-2 decision to Mike Lomio of Hanover Park in the consolation match for third place at 171. Taramov, the second seed, had suffered a 3-2 upset loss to Mike Wagner of South Plainfield in the quarterfinal round and had to win two wrestleback matches to qualify. In the semi finals he pinned Tyler Selby of Seton Hall Prep in 3:22.

Senior Travis Dilts of Brearley pinned Urayoan Garcia of Rahway in 4:13.in the quarterfinal round before losing in the semi finals 5-1 to Mark Wroblewski of Watchung Hills. Sophomore Devin Geoghegan won his quarterfinal match before being pinned by Nick Bach of Parsippany in the semi finals.

Sophomore Kyle Markovitch, like Giaccio was defeated by a Delbarton wrestler, Jeff Canfora who won the quarterfinal match up 7-3. Also losing in the quarterfinal round was Allen Phillips of Brearley who was edged by Ryan Sacco of South Plainfield 4-3 and Dillon Geoghegan. Julian Campo of Cranford also lost in the quarterfinal round at 215 to Wroblewski. Matt DiGiovanni of Cranford was pinned by Anthony Caselli of Roselle Park in 5:16 and Connor Leahy lost 10-5 at 171 to Mike Lomio of Hanover Park.