Trio Lead Eagles in Wrestling Opener

CALDWELL, NJ - traveled north for the Caldwell Tournament and finished fourth in the team standings, but were a lot closer to tops than their place might seem at first blush.

The Eagles just missed third and were not far from second place, with 162.5 points. Somerville was just ahead with 166.5 points in third and Paramus was second at 187. Kittatinny took the top spot at 212 in the tournament.

But more importantly for head coach John Craig, the hypercompetitive Caldwell Tournament is a good test at the start of the season and sets up a base for the rest of the 2011-12 season.

The Caldwell Tournament gave the Eagles wrestlers a great test as they faced some of the best wrestling teams in the state be it Kittatinny, Paramus, Hunterdon Central and Randolph among others.

The West Deptford wrestlers took home three weight class titles in Tyler Kaminski at 113, Rory Bonner at 182 and Gerald Towns at 220.

IN SHORT–The length of the football season has taken a little bit of a toll on the start of the wrestling season for West Deptford. Eagles head wrestling coach Craig would not have it any other way and enjoys the relationship with the football team.

By the end of the season in February and March, he believes the Eagles will be much improved when it counts in the state tournament.

And the Caldwell Tournament was a good base to use for the rest of the season.

With that said, West Deptford still had 11 wrestlers finish in the top six in the weight classes. Six of the 11 went home with medals and finished in the top three.

EAGLE WRESTLER OF THE DAY–GERALD TOWNS–Towns, the second seed, upset Kittatinny's Jake Drelich the top seed, 6-4, at 220 pounds. Towns also pinned Bruce Gurnowski of Hackettstown and Billy Medve of Randolph en route to the final.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES -

Tyler Kaminski–Kaminski dominated the first period in the 113-pound final and pinned the top seed Paramus Eric Gianntonio to grab the title. Kaminski pinned both of his opponents in the first two matches of the day.

Rory Bonner–Bonner maintained his seeding as the top seed by taking home the 182-pound title by winning by technical fall in the third period by defeating Kittatinny's Garrett Armstrong.

Evan Zuzulock–Zuzolock could not keep up with Hunterdon Central's Dylan Nace in the 120-pound final by dropping a 10-4 decision. Zuzolock nipped Paramus's Justin Cochran, 5-4, in the semi-finals.

David Branco–Branco could not stay with the top seed Dan Naples of Somerville in the heavyweight final. Branco would be pinned at the start of the third period. Branco did upset the second seed, Mike Aydin of Paramus in the semi-finals.

THEY SAID IT -

"Like (head coach John) Craig said I just take the body and don't think of the names," said Tyler Kaminski about his attitude about facing an opposing wrestler.

"He did things that were weird...I got to work on my neutral and come out faster and harder," said senior Evan Zuzulock who came in second at 120. Zuzulock finished in third at 119 last season at the Caldwell Tournament.

"He was a little tall.. If I am shorter, I take more shots," said Rory Bonner about taking on Garrett Armstrong of Kittatinny to win the 182-pound title.

"My coaches told me to keep trying and they had confidence in me. They also told me don't do any stupid moves and try hard," said Gerald Towns.

"It's a long season, but it is going to be a good season," said David Branco.

"There was a quick turnaround and you are going up against some of the better teams in the state," said West Deptford head coach John Craig about some of his wrestlers coming off of the recently completed football season.

"He's always been behind someone and this is his year to shine," said Craig about David Branco.

"He's coming off an incredible football season and didn't come out for the team as a freshman," said Craig about Gerald Towns, one of the leading rushers on the football team.

UP NEXT–The Eagles host Lindenwold on Wednesday at 7 p.m., then travel to the Arthur Marinelli EHT Tournament on Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.