News Flash

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 12/23/05

STAFF REPORT

While it is still very early in the 2005-06 wrestling season, Howell
has already shown there is no moment too big for it to handle.

One day after toppling Ocean, No. 1 in the Asbury Park Press Top 10 and
No. 2 in the Gannett New Jersey Top 20, the Rebels traveled to
Phillipsburg and left "The Pit'' with a 39-19 nonconference win over
the state's 13th-ranked squad.

Joey Langel's 9-2 decision over Charlie McGuinness at 103 pounds gave
Howell a 36-12 lead over the Stateliners (1-1) to clinch the win for the
Rebels, No. 5 in the Press Top 10 and 16th in the state. Langel's
victory capped a stretch of six consecutive Howell wins in which it rang
up 24 straight points.

"That was big especially after (152-pounder Billy) Woodward got
caught and pinned,'' said Rebels coach John Gagliano. "I tell the
team all the time that we're not built on one person. They picked him
up.''

During their five-bout winning streak from 171 to 103, the Rebels (2-0)
had pins by Pat Sheehan, Josh Barnhard and Mike Bonfig to go with
decisions by Warren Lisa and Langel.

Experience was also a big factor in the Rebels' second straight win
over a state-ranked opponent. Last season, the Rebels traveled to "The
Pit'' and were a bit overwhelmed by the legendary Phillipsburg scene,
losing by a 2-1 margin.

"We knew what we were coming into from having done it last year,''
Gagliano said. "It wasn't a shock.''