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District 29 Outlook: West Deptford Wrestlers Take Aim at Titles

Several Eagles wrestlers should be in contention for a district title come Saturday afternoon.

A dozen West Deptford wrestlers head into the District 29 tournament, which begins tonight at Gloucester County College, as a No. 5 seed or higher—this is how it breaks down by weight class.

106 pounds

1. John Gentile, Paulsboro, bye

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5. Dan Leash, Pitman vs. 4. Griffin Bonner, West Deptford

3. Jodeci Robinson, Clayton/Glassboro vs. 6. John Seybold, Clearview

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7. Arron Herbert, Gloucester vs. 2. Alex Eastlack, Gateway

OUTLOOK: At 25-2, Gentile is the clear favorite to win a district title. Earlier this year, he scored a pin over Bonner in 1:06. Bonner (20-10) should be able to get past Leash (16-14). If he finds himself in a consolation, he could be matched up with Robinson, who he pinned this season, or Eastlack, who he lost to, 2-0.

113 pounds

Preliminaries

9. Colin Ward, Gloucester Caltholic vs. 8. Zach Sherlock, Gloucester

First round

1. Sam Morina, Paulsboro vs. Ward/Sherlock winner

5. Vincent Feretti, Deptford vs. 4. Jason Skidmore, Clayton/Glassboro

3. Matt Sparks, Gateway vs. 6. Ben Leash, Pitman

7. Ronald Mastichelli, Clearview vs. 2. Tyler Kaminski, West Deptford

OUTLOOK: It would be a major surprise if Kaminski were not to finish in the top three of this group. He dominated No. 3 seed Matt Sparks by an 18-2 tech fall and none of the lower seeds present any real challenge. Expect Kaminski to face Morina for the district title. Morina scored a 6-0 decision when the two met in the regular season.

120 pounds

Prelims

9. Zach Crummer, Gloucester Catholic vs. Steve Miller, Pitman

First round

1. Cory Jacobs, Clayton/Glassboro vs. Crummer/Miller winner

5. Jon Lado, Gloucester vs. 4. Alex Moncher, Clearview

3. Chris Norris, Gateway vs 6. Zack Wellington, Paulsboro

7. Tyler Boss, Deptford vs. 2. Evan Zuzulock, West Deptford

OUTLOOK: Zuzulock is looking to become a two-time district champion. At 26-2, Zuzulock owns a first-period pin over his first round opponent. Norris (23-6) could pose a threat in the semifinals and Jacobs (26-4) is legit. At the very least, Zuzulock should punch his ticket to regions, if not win his second title.

126 pounds

Prelims

9. James Young, Deptford vs. 8. Domenic Ruggeri, Pitman

First round

1. Juan Rivera, Paulsboro vs. Young/Ruggeri winner

5. William Garland, Gloucester Catholic vs. 4. Devon Causey, Gloucester

3. Steve Alt, West Deptford vs. 6. Mike Rettig, Clayton/Glassboro

7. Don Baldridge, Gateway vs. 2. John VanBrill, Clearview

OUTLOOK: The weight class was altered dramatically Monday when Paulsboro freshman Ronnie Gentile (29-4) suffered a broken leg in practice. The unfortunate injury resulted in the Paulsboro coaching staff sliding Rivera up from 120 to 126. The move makes VanBrill (24-1), who finished fifth in the state last year, the clear frontrunner. Alt should be able to score a victory over Rettig (2-4), but will almost certainly have to earn his way to regions in the consolation round.

132 pounds

Prelims

9. Zach Kind, Pitman vs. 8. Andre Sujansky, Gloucester

First round

1. Bill Millward, Clayton/Glassboro vs. Kind/Sujansky winner

5. Tyler Covely, Gateway vs. 4. Ray Feigenbutz, Deptford

3. Christian Terinoni, West Deptford vs. 6. Robby Wittman, Clearview

7. Pat Rafferty, Gloucester Catholic vs. 2. Cody Croce, Paulsboro

OUTLOOK: Terinoni (23-6) will have his hands full in a tough weight class of familiar opponents. He opens against an opponent he defeated 4-0 just two weeks ago. He would then likely face Croce, who he lost to, 4-0, this season. Terinoni also faced Feigenbutz this season, earning a pin in 5:40. Terinoni has a great shot of making it to regions, but expect the entire weight class to feature close bouts.

138 pounds

Prelims

9. Kyle McFadden, Pitman vs. 8. Jeryd Greer, Gateway

First round

1. Ed Lenkowski, Clearview vs. McFadden/Greer winner

5. Alan Campbell, Clayton/Glassboro vs. 4. Scott Dennis, West Deptford

3. Aaron Kolmetsky, Deptford vs. 6. Dan Laluk, Gloucester

7. Pat Baals, Gloucester Catholic vs. 2. Nick Knauer, Paulsboro

OUTLOOK: Dennis will need to find an upset in the cards to cap his senior year off with a trip to regions. Lenowski and Knauer each own lopsided decisions against him this year, so his way into regions might have to come by beating Kolmetsky. The two met earlier this season with Kolmetsky squeaking out a 4-2 win. Anything other than a Lenkowski-Knauer final would be surprising.

145 pounds

9. Anthony Perez, Gateway vs. 8. Eugene Marshall, West Deptford

First round

1. Dan Cornew, Clearview vs. Perez/Marshall winner

5. Justin Gahagan, Deptford vs. 4. Russel Lee, Gloucester Catholic

3. Josh Ferentz, Clayton/Glassboro vs. 6. Ben Boyer, Gloucester

7. Jason Rafferty, Pitman vs. 2. Niko Savaiinaea, Paulsboro

OUTLOOK: Marshall (7-18) faces an uphill battle as the No. 8 seed. The good news is that he owns a pin over Perez, so he should make it out of the preliminaries. The bad news is that Cornew defeated him 15-4 this season and is 18-4 overall. Look for the top seeds to hold in this weight class.

152 pounds

Prelims

9. Adam Clayton, Pitman vs. 8. Mark Deberardinis, Gloucester Catholic

First round

1. George Skibinski, Clearview vs. Clayton/Deberardinis winner

5. Tommy Miller, Gateway vs. 4. Daniel Gibson, West Deptford

3. Jake Sprague, Deptford vs. 6. Jeff Warner, Gloucester

7. Tyler Adams, Paulsboro vs. 2. Stimento Rowe-Atkins, Clayton/Glassboro

OUTLOOK: Gibson (15-15) met Miller in a dual meet and scored an 8-2 win, so he looks good for a place in the semifinals. However, he will need to pull off an upset to advance to regions, as he was pinned by all three of the wrestlers seeded above him.

160 pounds

Prelims

9. Jake Gillis, Gloucester Catholic vs. 8. Sonny Conto, West Deptford

First round

1. Connor Donahue, Clearview vs. Gillis/Conto winner

5. Nathan Maurer, Pitman vs. 4. Jake Pennington, Gateway

3. Mike Jacobs, Clayton/Glassboro vs. 6. Diego Gonzalez, Gloucester

7. Blaine Patton, Deptford vs. 2. Mike Silvestro, Paulsboro

OUTLOOK: Getting out of the preliminaries becomes the goal here for Conto. He is just 1-8 on the season, so a win over Gillis (5-21) would be a nice way to end his season. Donahue (25-1) is the clear frontrunner, with Silvestro (23-10) likely to join him in the finals.

170 pounds

1. Mike McKenney, Gloucester vs. 8. Tim Barnaby, Paulsboro

5. Kyle McMahon, Clearview vs. 4. Ahmir Walker, Deptford

3. Phil Fisher, West Deptford vs. 6. Ian MacCorkle, Pitman

7. Shane Forand, Gateway vs. 2. Nick Rodriguez, Clayton/Glassboro

OUTLOOK: Fischer (17-10) looks to be in good position to make his first trip to regions. If the seedings hold and Fisher meets Walker in the consolations, he would enter knowing he recorded a 14-6 major decision over him earlier this season.  Fisher could also hang in with Rodriguez (23-7), while McKenney (23-4) is clearly the class of the group.

182 pounds

1. Rory Bonner, West Deptford, bye

5. Zach Funk, Paulsboro vs. 4. Robert Simmerman, Clearview

3. Mark Camma, Pitman vs. 6. David Pipolo, Gateway

7. Anthony Powell, Gloucester vs. 2. Michael Robinson, Clayton/Glassboro

OUTLOOK: There is little doubt that Bonner will be returning to regions, and there’s a good chance he will be doing so as a district champion. Bonner has a bye into the semifinals, so he won’t see action until Saturday. He already owns a first-period pin over Simmerman, while Funk (7-14) represents little challenge. His biggest test would come in the finals, where a likely showdown with Robinson (25-2) would await. The two did not meet in the regular season, as Clayton/Glassboro elected to wrestle Robinson at 195.

195 pounds

1. Will Cioffi, Pitman vs. 8. Joe Muraca, Paulsboro

5. Mark Fisher, West Deptford vs. 4. Hunter Joseph, Clearview

3. Gabe Sastre, Clayton/Glassboro vs. 6. Kyle Reim, Gateway

7. Kyle Pollander, Gloucester vs. 2. Jordan Hurwitz, Deptford

OUTLOOK: For Fischer (7-13) to advance out of the quarters, he will need a reversal of fortune from a month ago, when Joseph pinned him in the first period. Hurwitz (10-18) is not an intimidating No. 2 seed, but he does own a pin over No. 3 Sastre (17-10) this season. Anything other than a district title from junior Will Cioffi (27-3) would be shocking.

220 pounds

1. Neil Kuntz, Clayton/Glassboro vs. 8. Andrew Harper, Gloucester Catholic

5. Joe Addes, Deptford vs. 4. Davonte Randall, Paulsboro

3. Christian Ruggeri, Pitman vs. 6. Nick Cornew, Clearview

7. Russell Hart, Gateway vs. 2. Gerald Owens, West Deptford

OUTLOOK: After missing time late in the season, Owens (23-4) is back and ready for a run at a district title. All eyes will be on the expected final between Owens and Kuntz. When the two met in the regular season, Kunz pulled out a dramatic 5-4 win that helped Clayton earn a four-point victory. Ruggeri (8-4) doesn’t figure to throw a wrench in those plans.

HWT pounds

1. Tom Rementer, Clayton/Glassboro vs. 8. Mark Cosgrove, Clearview

5. David Branco, West Deptford vs. 4. Allan Westenberger, Gloucester

3. Joe Skipwith, Deptford vs. 6. Austin Im, Paulsboro

7. Connor Morgan, Gloucester Catholic vs. 2. Curtis Nealer, Pitman

OUTLOOK: Branco (17-10) and Westenberger (22-9) should be in for a showdown if their regular-season bout was any indication. Westenberger scored a 4-3 win which helped him earn the higher seed. If Branco gets past his opening match, he likely face Rementer, who pinned him in the third period this season. At 30-0, Rementer looks bound for a district title.

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