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COACHES INVITATIONAL WRESTLING MEET
Winston edges Molinaro, 5-3

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/30/06
BY JOE ADELIZZI
STAFF WRITER

BRICK * When it was over, Jackson's Scott Winston took a little victory lap around the mat at Brick Memorial High School.

Half of the packed house at the Coaches Invitational Wrestling Meet had spent six minutes chanting his name in a rhythmic tempo.

The other half had been chanting "Frank the Tank" from the minute Southern's Frank Molinaro took off his sweats.

It had been a brutal battle between the two wrestlers most observers think have the best chance to win gold in Atlantic City in March.

But Sunday, with Molinaro moving up a weight, they were just there to give wrestling fans a good time and to show the skills that each has used to be undefeated this season.

Winston took advantage of two aggressive charges by Molinaro for takedowns, one in the first period and another in the second, and then battled off numerous tries at a takedown by Molinaro in the final minute to take a 5-3 victory.

"We've been going at each other since we were kids," Winston said."He's usually gotten the better. But not today. I wanted to win this match. It meant a lot to me."

Winston's season was cut short a year ago when he was injured in a non-wrestling accident.

"I think a match like that, in front of all these fans is great. It will get meready for what is ahead," said Winston, a sophomore who is now 21-0, and 43-0 in his high school career.

Molinaro, who requested the match with Winston, knowing he would have to move up a weight to 145, said he had nothing to lose in the bout.

"What I learned is there are things I have to work on," said Molinaro, who was a state champion last year as a sophomore. "He was better on his feet today then I was. But that might not be true in two weeks."

Southern coach John Stout said Molinaro wanted the match and came out knowing he had nothing to lose.

"It won't affect his seeding. It was an opportunity to wrestle a top guy," Stout said.

The two wrestlers could go at each other again if Jackson and Southern should meet in the Shore Conference final Saturday or in the state team championships at Group IV.

"I wouldn't mind," Stout said. "I like my guy."

The only thing that made Jackson coach Scott Goodale happier than the outcome was the fans reaction throughout the day to the 14 bouts, which included some of the best wrestlers in New Jersey.

Before a standing-room-only crowd in the gym that seats 2,500, there were numerous matches that brought the crowd to its feet, cheering the pure wrestling.

The bout at 189 pounds, between Jamelle Jones of Winslow Township and Keith Dobish of Lodi, was a clinic in scrambling and in-fighting. On at least three occasions Jones seemed to be in for a sure takedown, only to be denied by Dobish's strength or balance.

In the end, Jones took a 3-2 decision when Dobish was called for stalling during the final overtime period, when he was trying to ride out Jones.

Jackson junior Ken Carney started the day with a 5-2 victory against Justin Bonitatis of Cherry Hill East at 160.

"I was so nervous all week thinking about this. It wasn't until the second period that I calmed down," Carney said.

"I've never wrestled anyone built like he was. He was so big up top. I kept waiting for him to make a mistake. He took a sloppy shot in the third period and I got the points I needed," Carney said. "A match like that, with all the fans cheering and all the atmosphere, has to help me get ready for the end of the
season."

Toms River North's Matt Oliver lost to Fred Santaite of Northern Highlands, 7-5 in overtime at 103.

The Mariners' junior gave Santaite, the runner-up in the Beast of the East, all he could handle.

"It's better to have lost to him today than at the states," Oliver said."I'll get him there."

Ocean's Dan Lopes was out-muscled by Holy Cross's Chris Notte, 5-2. He trailed by a point when a desperation attempt at a takedown near the buzzer failed, and Notte got the final two points.

Matt Rega of Point Beach ran into a buzz saw at 119 when John Tumbetti of St. Joseph of Montvale pinned him in 5:22. Tumbetti improved to 21-1.