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MIRROR IMAGE: Pair of similar teams hook up today at Boro

Green Wave, Panthers in limbo
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/14/06

Point Pleasant Boro and Long Branch are two teams that find themselves in wrestling limbo.

Both are coming off tough losses in their divisional battles, but both are good enough to make plenty of noise when the postseason tournaments come around.

"We are an in-between program," said Dan George, the Green Wave coach who saw his team lose a one-point decision to Wall in a Class B North showdown. "We have a solid program, but it is really hard to compete against the elite teams. Every now and then we get enough top-line wrestlers to do it. But for the most part, we just do not have the depth to go against the Jacksons and Brick Memorials."

And that means they rarely get interesting matches.

"We're too good when we go against the lower programs. We roll up big scores. But that's not fun either," George said. "And a lot of the smaller schools don't have junior varsity programs. The kids need them to stay interested."

Long Branch will wrestle against Point Boro today — a program with a similar makeup.

"We battle against those real good teams, and we do it so often that people forget we are a Group II team. Usually, by the time we get to the state tournament we are well on our way," said Dave Kirk, Point Boro coach.

The Wave and Panthers get together today in a nondivision match that should start at about noon at Point Boro. It is the type of match that shows how tough the Shore Conference is this year. Boro, with one loss, can't break into the top 10 and Long Branch is barely hanging on despite having teams that can compete against most squads in the state.

Wrestlers such as Jeff Jacobs of Boro and Sean Sims of Long Branch will be major factors at the district, regional and state level.

On the road
Brick Memorial will take its show on the road today, continuing a trend that started during the holiday tournament season when Jackson, Howell, Southern, Ocean and Raritan all had success.

The Mustangs will be at Salisbury High School in Pennsylvania for the National High School Coaches Association Festival. They will have dual meets against Miffenburg, Northampton and Jim Thorpe high schools in Pennsylvania.

"Northampton has always been a power. Back in the 90s, when Memorial was at its strongest, they put 50 on the board against us," said Dean Albanese, the Mustangs coach.

Memorial won't have 215-pounder Rob Phillips available for the matches. Contrary to reports in earlier results, Phillips was injured in his bout against Toms River South, losing by default, not disqualification.

"He has a severe ankle sprain," Albanese said. "We don't know when he'll be back. It will hurt not having him."

Albanese sees the three matches as a chance for his kids to just go out and wrestle.

"You'd like to win," he said. "But the results really don't matter. There are no standings to worry about, or placing in the Central Jersey Group IV. Just go out and wrestle the best you can. That is the advice I am giving the team."

Among those who have been doing that in recent days are Karon Reid and John Havens, who seem to be rounding into form.

The big boys
Jackson coach Scott Goodale is expecting a full house tonight (6 p.m.) when the Jaguars host Paulsboro. They are the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the Gannett state poll.

It will be the third straight year the two teams have met, with Jackson winning the first two.

"I think the experience in Minnesota helped some of our guys get in wrestling shape," Goodale said. "The football players didn't start wrestling until after Dec. 6."

Jackson finished second at "The Clash" against 31 other top programs nationwide. They have already won 11 dual meets this season.

Goodale thinks that Paulsboro, led by standouts Niko Lopez (130), Brian Tracy (140) and Alex Silvestro (215), have their eyes on tonight's match.

"We are the last big team on their schedule," Goodale said. "That means if they want to move up on the polls they have to beat us. We have plenty of big matches ahead of us."

Among them could be Southern in the Shore Conference Tournament.

For now, Southern will continue to battle big-name programs. Tonight they visit Phillipsburg, the team they beat to win the Group IV championship last year.

The Rams beat Ocean Township last Saturday and Absegami during the week.

"It's the first time we've ever been to the Pit," said coach John Stout, who has watched his freshman class improve quickly.

Glenn Carson, wrestling at 215, has been getting rave reviews from opposing coaches.

"He could be something else," said Albanese who got a good look when Southern knocked off the Mustangs."

Star attractions
The annual coaches invitational wrestling event shifts to Ocean County this year after three seasons at Rider University. Brick Memorial will host the bouts Sunday, Jan. 29 at 1 p.m.

Some of the matchups already set include Matt Rega of Point Beach against John Trumbetti of St. Joseph, Montvale at 119; Ocean's Dan Lopes against Chris Notte of Holy Cross at 130; Matt Oliver of Toms River North against Fred Sanaite (Northern Highlands) at 103; Dave Greenwald of St. Mary's Rutherford against Jordan Burroughs of Winslow at 135 and Alex Caruso of Watchung Hills against Eastern's Scott Giffen at 160.

Jackson's Scott Winston and Mike Grey of Delbarton have also agreed to compete