News Flash

Southern, Jackson not taking opponents lightly
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/4/06

BY JOE ADELIZZI
STAFF WRITER

The elephant in the room is that most of the people in the Southern Regional High School gymnasium today for the Shore Conference Tournament are expecting to see the home team wrestle Jackson.

But before that can happen, the two traditional Shore Conference powers will have to deal with two other teams who have been ranked nationally this past year.

"I think everyone, but Ocean and Howell, is looking to us against Jackson," said John Stout, the Southern coach. "But I don't think either of those two teams are going to lay down for us."

The matchups are interesting. Ocean, which started the year off as the No. 1 team in the Shore, went through trials and tribulations all season long. The loss of Jeff Siciliano, a potential state medal winner at 189, has created a hole in the lineup, and allowed people to bump away from another potential medal winner, Kyle Kiss.

But Ocean has hung in there, and now gets a chance at Jackson, a match that everyone expected when the season began and the teams were No. 1 and No. 2.

"This is what we wrestled for," said Ken Hoff, the Ocean coach. "We have some interesting matchups with Jackson. We're going to need some things to go our way. But we're here and ready to go."

The key matchups with Jackson could come at 140 and 145. Earlier this season Ocean had Joey Falco cut to 140 pounds. The Spartans might do it today to avoid a Falco-Scott Winston bout at 145.

And don't be surprised if Kiss gets to face Ken Carney in a bout at 171, according to which weight class starts the match, and the score when it nears the end.

"You know coaches give you the old "we take 'em one at a time' stuff," said Scott Goodale, the Jackson coach. "But you can't do that here. You have to look at both matches and prepare for both of them. That means you weigh people in where they will help you the most in the two matches."

Goodale has had success with his method. The Jags have won the last two titles, and are the No. 1 rated team in the state. He too knows that Southern is the match that the fans are clamoring for.

"We can't help but think about them. There's a tremendous rivalry between the two schools. But you have to try and stay focused on that first match. Ocean is good, very good. And they're dangerous," said Goodale.

Meanwhile Howell coach John Gagliano is happy with the opportunity. Undefeated and seeded No. 2, the Rebels have had their eyes on this prize since knocking off Ocean in December and following with a win
against Phillipsburg.

"It's the first time for the coaches and the kids. We are all excited," said Gagliano.

"A lot of our old wrestlers have been in contact and plan on being at Southern Saturday.

"It's going to be loud," said Gagliano.

"Southern's fans are loud and our fans aren't exactly quiet. Noise really pumps up our kids. The louder it gets the more excited they get."

Howell has never won the title and reached the final only once, in 1989.

Both Stout and Gagliano believe the difference in the match will come with the points at the upper weights.