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Jackson proves it's best, answers all questions
NEPTUNE CLASSIC

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 12/18/05

BY JOE ADELIZZI STAFF WRITER APP

NEPTUNE * It doesn't look like Jackson has plans to settle for being second best, not
the way the Jaguars wrestled on Saturday at the Neptune Classic. They left no doubt
who was the best team.

The Jaguars sent all 14 wrestlers into the consolations and finals, winning six
championships, picking up three second-, four third- and a fourth-place finish while
running away with the team title with 243.5 points.

Jackson had more than twice the team total in points of the nearest finisher in the
16-team tournament field: Collingswood (121).

Jaguars sophomore Scott Winston, wrestling at 152 pounds, showed that the results
from a year ago, when he raced to a 22-0 start before suffering a non-wrestling
injury, were just the start of big things. He was named the outstanding wrestler
after winning the championship with a 26-11 technical fall over top-seed Wayne
Hampton of Bridgewater-Raritan.

"I guess he feels he has things to prove," Jackson coach Scott Goodale
said. "He's worked real hard to get ready for this season. He knows what he
might be able to do. But the truth is, he hasn't done it yet because of the injury
last year."

Winston knows that, and is wrestling to establish himself as a contender. Along with
that, he's watching the entire Jackson team establish its reputation.

"We've been pointing toward this whole month. We're looking at Southern
Wednesday, and then we're heading to Minnesota," said Winston, who plans to be
at 145 by next week.

Perhaps the most significant victory by the Jaguars was Corey Biscaha's 125 pounds. A
junior, Goodale calls him a blue-collar wrestler who embodies the Jackson work
ethic.

"Last year, we asked him to wrestle everywhere from 130 to 145 pounds. He worked
hard and did whatever we needed," Goodale said.

Saturday he had to beat the top three seeds to win the championship, including a 5-2
win over No. 2 Mat Frank in the semifinals and an overtime victory over Monmouth
Regional's Kyle Christensen, seeded No. 1, in the finals.

"I beat Kyle twice this summer by a point, and now this," Biscaha said.
"It feels awful good because he's such a good wrestler."

Almost as good as watching his teammates compete in all 14 weight classes.

"Here it is 6 p.m. and we're all still wrestling. Lots of teams are already at
home," Biscaha said.

The Jags also got championships from Sean Byrnes (130), Matt Bradley (135), Ken
Carney (160) and Dan Hopkins (171).

But they weren't the only story at the 31st Neptune Classic.

Toms River East started and ended the tournament with championships. Freshman Vinnie
DelleFave won at 102 and junior Adam Henig took the heavyweight crown.

In fact, freshmen won the first two championships. Jake Bruno of Middletown North
pinned Nico Coppola of Toms River East at 119. He was the 11 seed in the tournament.

"It's special to win in my first varsity event," Bruno said.

He said his toughest bout was actually in the semifinals against Ryan Cheek of
Oakcrest.

"I wasn't really nervous," he said. "I was looking forward to getting
a chance."

The team that may have gained the most from the tournament was Monmouth Regional. The
Falcons had a champion when junior Anthony Bongarzone won at 140. They also had
Christensen finish second, Jim Eggie finish third at 135 and Jared Flynn finish
fourth at 145.

"We're working hard in the gym and the competition is getting tougher and
tougher when we go against each other," said Bongarzone, who was the third
seed.

Sean Sims of Long Branch won at 145 pounds and was named as winner of the
sportsmanship award. His teammate, John Jasio, lost the 215-pound title to Roy Dragon
Jr. of Bridgewater-Raritan, but kept things close, 3-0.

None of the teams could come close to the Jags, who hadn't been at the Neptune
Classic since 1991. The year before, Goodale was part of the team that won the title
here.

"I think the trophy is the same one they gave out back then," he said.
"I remember how big it was."

And it may just be the first of many for the Jaguars, who are second in the Asbury
Park Press Preseason Top 10 and third in the Gannett New Jersey Top 20.