News Flash

SECTIONAL WRESTLING
No. 1 Jackson takes third straight crown
Friday, February 17, 2006

Jackson, ranked No. 1 in The Star Ledger Top 20, won its third straight NJSIAA/Star-Ledger Central Jersey, Group 4 championship when it knocked off No. 6 Howell, 38-18, last night in Jackson.

For the second straight year, Central Regional (17-6) upset Kingsway (22-3) in the South Jersey, Group 3 final, 34-27. Kingsway, ranked No. 7, was one of just three teams in the state not to have lost to a New Jersey team during the season.

Ocean Township (17-7), ranked No. 12, dominated the middle weights on its way to a third straight Central Jersey, Group 3 championship when it defeated Wall, 47-20, in Ocean Township.

No. 4-ranked Southern (17-3) defeated Absegami for the second straight year in South Jersey, Group 4 in Manahawkin, setting up a rematch of last year's state Group 4 final with No. 16 Phillipsburg in the
semifinal round of the Group 4 championships on Sunday. Southern defeated Phillipsburg, 30-25, to win the Group 4 title last year.

Last night's sectional winners move on to the group championships Sunday at the Ritacco Center at Toms River North.

In Jackson, Scott Winston won the featured match of the evening, bumping up to 152 pounds to beat Howell's Billy Woodward, last year's Region 6 champion, 5-3. Winston is 27-0 this year and 49-0 for his
career for Jackson, which improved to 27-1.

Jackson took control of the sectional by winning seven straight matches from 130 through 171. Glenn Booth (140), Dave Concepcion (145) and Ken Carney (160) registered pins for the Jaguars during the run that turned a Howell 12-7 edge to a 38-12 Jackson lead. Carney is 27-1. Jackson is looking for its first overall group championship.

Howell (20-2), making its first appearance in a sectional final, got big victories from Cody Fobes, who scored a 3-2 deciison over Jackson's Kyle Kincher at 112 and Justin Morello (24-1), who decisioned
once-beaten Corey Bischia, 3-2, at 125. Josh Barnhard won by fall at 189 for Howell.

Key to Central's championship were a pair of overtime victories.

Len Forsyth beat Mark Dattuso, 4-2, at 140 and at 160, undefeated Nick Tenpenny (26-0) edged Bill Widener in the fourth overtime on a reversal, 3-1.

Heavyweight Sean Dedayn sealed Central's title with a fall at 2:52. Central was holding a slim 28-27 lead going into the last match of the night.

Brian Powers also registered a fall at 119 for Central.

Kingsway got pins from Jarred Smith (103) and John Renard (130) on its way to taking a 20-9 lead early.

Ocean got consecutive victories from its returning state place-winners Nick Menditto (125), Danny Lopes (130) and Andrew Van Dyk (135), who were a part of a run of seven straight victories. Joey Falco (140) and Maverick Nunes-Vais (145) registered back-to-back pins for the defending champion. Kyle Kiss (28-1) won by forfeit at 215.

Wall (12-6) beaten for the third straight year in the sectional final by Ocean, got a pin from standout heavyweight Drew Doyle (22-1).