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WRESTLING
Monmouth relishes 1st trip to tourney

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/8/06
BY JOE ADELIZZI
STAFF WRITER

Some teams can afford to dream big when the NJSIAA wrestling tournament comes around. Jackson, Southern, Howell and Ocean have had their eyes on a trip to the Ritacco Center Feb. 19 for the state finals from the day wrestling began this year.

But for other schools, just making the cut can be a special moment.

"It's the first time we've ever qualified," said Kevin Mammano, the coach at Monmouth, which battled its way into the Central Jersey Group II field when it got by Matawan Saturday.

"We knew we had to win that match," said Mammano. "We were both at .500 when the day began and they were right behind us in power points."

Now the Falcons, seeded sixth in their section, are among the 21 Shore Conference schools that qualified for the annual event.

The No. 1 or No. 2 seeds serve as the home team in these events, with lower-seeded teams meeting for a chance to go against the top two teams.

There are seven Shore Conference schools hosting events Tuesday when the tournament begins. The winners from the semifinals will meet at the remaining highest-seeded teams' home gyms Feb. 16. Tuesday's matches begin at 5:30 p.m. The semifinals are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

The group semifinals and finals will be held Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Ritacco Center in Dover Township.

There are four returning sectional champions from the Shore that will be seeking to defend titles.

Southern, the overall Group IV champion and winner in South Jersey Group IV, Jackson, the Central Jersey Group IV title holder, Ocean, the defending Central Jersey Group III champion, and Central, the South Jersey Group III title holder, all return. All four will host matches Tuesday, three as No. 1 seeds while Central is a No. 2.

In all, there are four No. 2 seeds. Howell (CJ IV), Wall (CJ III), Raritan (CJ II) and CBA (Non-Public A South) all will host matches.

Monmouth will be at Raritan, one of two sites where all three schools wrestling will be from the Shore Conference.

Monmouth will wrestle Point Boro for a chance at Raritan.

"I haven't seen Point Boro wrestle," said Mammano. "But I know they're good."

So are the Falcons in certain key spots.

Anthony Bongarzone remains undefeated at 140 pounds. Kyle Christensen is a defending district champion and Jim Eggie has been a runner-up.

"They're all good wrestlers," said Mammano, who is in his third year as the head coach for the Falcons.

However, the biggest reason Monmouth made the tournament may be heavyweight Paul Schweighardt.

"He's the first heavyweight we've had in a while. He's more than a body. He's held his own against some top people," said Mammano.The Falcons didn't get a chance to celebrate after beating Matawan,
37-33, despite losing the final five bouts.

"I wanted to be sure we were in," said Mammano.

Tuesday it became official.

NJSIAA TEAM TOURNAMENT

AT A GLANCE

Shore teams in: 21

Combined records: 255-109

No. 1 seeds: Three (Jackson, Southern, Ocean)

Most team wins: 22, Jackson

Most team loses: 9, TR East and St. John Vianney

Fewest wins to qualify: 8, Shore