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SJ GROUP IV: SOUTHERN 43, RANCOCAS VALLEY 18

Lanno, Molinaro keep Rams rolling
NJSIAA WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/15/06BY MATT UNDERWOOD
STAFF WRITER

STAFFORD - Talk about taking your game to another level.

What started Saturday with Southern's 45-15 win over Bergen Catholic, then the No. 3 team in the Gannett New Jersey Top 20 poll, snowballed into a 43-18 manhandling of fourth-seeded Rancocas Valley Tuesday in the South Jersey Group IV semifinal of the NJSIAA Tournament.

The Rams imposed their will on the Red Devils, starting with a technical fall by Nick Maugeri at 119 pounds and building into a 34-6 lead, with Rancocas Valley's lone points coming on a forfeit at 125. The Rams scored 29 points between 130 and 160, thanks to two decisions, a technical fall and three straight pins from 135 to 145.

Rancocas Valley scored 12 of its 18 points on a pair of forfeits (125 and heavyweight) and two decisions, at 171 and 112.

"I knew we matched up well with them," said Southern head coach John Stout after his team's impressive performance.

Luke Lanno posted an 8-0 lead at 135 after the first period before wrapping up Ryan Morgan and pinning him 1:15 into the second.

Frank Molinaro followed with a dominating performance at 140, rolling Bryan Reichert onto his shoulders from an arm bar in just 35 seconds.

"That's my favorite move," said Molinaro. "Once I get the arm bar, I just try to sit back and look for the other arm. I was going to start the match with some takedowns, but he gave me the arm bar."

Keith Dillard notched the final pin of the match at 145, dropping Logan Adams in 2:29.

The Rams will host Absegami Thursday night in the sectional final. Southern has beaten Absegami once already this season.

With two more wins, the Rams will set up a third match with Jackson, which they've lost to twice, including a down-to-the-wire finish in the Shore Conference Tournament final.