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OBTAINABLE GOAL: Eclipsing 100 wins becomes a little easier
The 100 club
Marlboro's Parisi takes long road to 100th win

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/12/06
BY JOE ADELIZZI
STAFF WRITER
MIDDLETOWN *

Win No. 100 came in much the same manner that so many before had come
for Marlboro's Nick Parisi.

It took him 46 seconds to pin Middletown South freshman Mike Farrell in an outcome
that almost everyone in the gym expected in their wrestling bout.

"I was so excited," said Parisi, who is now 100-13 in his career.
"It's a milestone that you think about."

Parisi joins an ever-expanding club. Last Saturday, Dan Lopes of Ocean Township won
his 100th, and sometime next week Matt Rega of Point Pleasant Beach, who set a school
record with his 96th victory, will get his 100th.

They may be the final class where triple digits alone are a special moment. Wrestling
has changed. More freshmen than ever wrestle these days, and the number of matches
each wrestler may be involved in also has risen.

This year they can be in 35 bouts before the district, regional and state tournaments
begin. It's a far cry from the days just 10 years ago when 120 lifetime wins seemed
nearly impossible and 25 bouts was the maximum.

Last year Andrew Flanagan of Bound Brook broke the state career record when he won
his 148th bout. The year before, Ryan Goodman of Absegami had set the mark with 145
victories. And this year, when the wrestlers convene at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic
City, Mike Grey of Delbarton could set a new mark, if he stays healthy. He already
has 124 victories and hasn't lost to a New Jersey wrestler in his four-year career.

"It was tougher for us," Parisi said before he took to the mat, where his
pin helped Marlboro to a 35-33 Class A North victory. "Fewer bouts, and less
opportunities as a freshman."

But that's when he started, and that's when his father, Joe, began keeping the
calender in his computer, looking for the day No. 100 would come.

"My first win came at the Hawk Classic at Manchester. I beat Joe Zito of Toms
River North," Parisi said. "But he beat me in wrestlebacks."

It wasn't until the districts that his coach, William Werntz, knew how good Parisi
had become.

"He just rolled past everybody," the coach said.

Parisi calls his victory in the districts that year one of his biggest thrills.

For Lopes, the district tournament his freshman year holds the worst memories.
"I lost to Kyle Christenson (of Monmouth Regional)," Lopes said.

Since that time, he has been a big wrestler on the big stage. He had a huge victory
as a sophomore when he beat Southern's Luke Lanno in the Region VI final, and Ocean
has become a premier program. But he says the best is ahead for him.

"The goal is to win a state championship," said Lopes, who was a
place-winner last year and returns at 130 pounds this season.

Rega is thankful he's getting the chance for triple digits.

"I got hurt during football," said Rega, who has been wrestling at 125, but
plans to be at 119 when the district tournament begins.

"I had a torn meniscus in my knee. The doctor said he'd have to go in. It could
either be two months of rehab or two weeks. Turned out two weeks is all I needed.

"But it was on my mind that my senior year as a wrestler might be lost,"
Rega said.

Parisi, who moved here from Belleville, was directed into wrestling by his dad. His
brother Joe was two years ahead of him. When they came to Marlboro, his dad was
instrumental in starting the recreation program.

But there was no middle school wrestling team when he was there. It was club
wrestling or nothing.

"When I got here (Marlboro) they had a spot for me. I started at 140, but
couldn't keep the weight. I ended up at 145," Parisi said.

Most of the time he has flown below the radar. Marlboro doesn't get many high-profile
dual meets, and they don't face the big-name programs.

"In some ways that would have been nice," Parisi said. "But I love the
guys I wrestle with and I love the coaches. They work me hard."

He's had some moments in the sun.

Last year he wrestled at the Coaches Invitational All-Star match at Rider as a
last-minute fill-in. He surprised everyone when he beat Angelo DiLeo of Seton Hall
Prep. Turns out the two were boyhood friends from Belleville.

"That was a great experience," said Parisi.

Last year's trip to Atlantic City had its ups and downs. He ended up placing fourth
while his main nemesis from the Shore, Jeff Siciliano of Ocean, finished second.

He was looking forward to bumping heads again with Siciliano this year.

"I can't tell you how sad I was when he got hurt. He's such a great
competitor."

He's changed a lot as a wrestler. He used to be a leg guy. Now you don't even see him
try and get a leg in. He is stronger and more of a takedown artist now than he was
when he began.

And he's more focused than ever. He recently accepted a commission to West Point,
where he will continue his education and make a career in the U.S. Army.

He'd love to go there with a state championship and he already has his milestone.

There will be other wrestlers who could join the club before the season is over.

They are juniors, well on their way to 140 or 150 career wins. Frank Molinaro and
Lanno of Southern should be at 100 by the time the states are in full gear, and Kyle
Kiss of Ocean will be there at about the same time, if all goes well.

Lopes was the first wrestler to reach 100 for the Spartans. He knows the record won't
last long.

"Kiss is going to pass me. And it doesn't bother me. He's the kid I admire most
on our team. He just works so hard," Lopes said. "But his record probably
won't stay for long. Nick (Menditto) could pass us all."

Menditto, a sophomore, won 35 as a freshman.

Rega knows that you never know in this game. His knee injury served as a wake-up call
to how fragile a wrestling future can be.

"But I need it (wrestling) to get into college," said Rega, who said that
his biggest moment came in the district finals last year when he lost to Wall's
Blaine Woszczak.

"I knew after that match how hard I would have to wrestle to compete," he
said.

Parisi knows that also. Which is why, when his bout was done Wednesday night, and
they had given him his plaque, and he had hugged his mom and dad, he was alone in the
far corner, away from the remaining bouts. He was jumping rope, getting ready for No.
101.

"Take a look," a Middletown assistant told one of his wrestlers.
"That's how you become a champion. You never settle."

You give 100 percent.

d three bouts.