Two West Deptford Wrestlers Compete for State Titles

Two West Deptford wrestlers have unfinished business to take care of in Atlantic City this upcoming weekend.

Seniors Rory Bonner and Tyler Kaminski are making one final trip to the New Jersey State tournament this weekend to take another shot at an individual state title.

Bonner will enter the state tournament as the top seed in the bottom half of the 195-pound bracket. This comes after he won the Region 8 title for the 195-pound weight class over the weekend, pinning Ed Shockley of Millville in the championship match. The senior earned pins in all three of his victories on the path to his title. Bonner finished the Region 8 tournament in third place as a junior. He wrestled at 182 pounds last season.

As the No. 1 seed in his half of the bracket, Bonner will take Parsippany Hills' Nick D'Uva in the opening round on Friday night.

Kaminski qualified for the state tournament despite falling one match short of winning his second consecutive Region 8 title. He fell in championship match of the 120-pound bracket to Tom Gattinella of St. Augustine by a 2-1 decision.

Kaminski will have his work cut out for him this weekend. He drew the No. 7 seed in the top half of the 120-pound bracket, putting him up against Marc Mastropietro of Hasbrouck Heights in the round of 16 on Friday. Mastropietro enters Atlantic City with a record of 35-1, with his only loss coming back on Dec. 29.

The pair both made the state tournament last year as well. Kaminski was eliminated in the first round of wrestlebacks, while Bonner fought his way to two straight wrestleback wins en route to a fifth place finish in the 182-pound bracket.

Three other Eagle wrestlers at the Region 8 tournament were not able to punch their ticket to the state tournament. Mark Fischer lost in the quarterfinals of the 220-pound bracket as he was pinned in 32 seconds by Bryan Donzanski of Delsea. He lost again in the quarterfinal wrestlebacks to Dakota Connors of Washington Township.

Rory's younger brother, Griffin, was eliminated in the semifinals wrestlebacks by Eric Pruszinski of Lower Cape May, losing in a 12-6 decision in the 106-pound category. Finally, Dustin Zuzulock was eliminated in the opening round by Lower Cape May's Zach Hicks in the 113-pound bracket.

The state tournament will unfold at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall March 8, 9 and 10. The final wrestler standing in each weight class will be crowned a state champion.

Tickets are on sale via ticketmaster.com for the tournament.