Now the competition hits an all-time high.
Wrestling in Atlantic City this weekend for high school grapplers won’t mean trying to get out of the way of a senior citizen heading to the slots.
It will mean, specificially for 14 UnionCounty grapplers, that their ultimate goal is right in front of them.
That goal?
Winnning a state championship!
Fourteen wrestlers from UnionCounty high schools advanced out of Region 3 this past weekend at Union and qualified for the NJSIAA Tournament that will commence Friday, continue Saturday and conclude Sunday at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
In addition to wrestleback rounds that will begin Saturday, the pre-quarterfinals are Friday night, the quarterfinals and semifinals Saturday and the finals Sunday.
Here’s a look at the final Region 3 results and which Union County wrestlers advanced to compete in this weekend’s NJSIAA Tournament:
2014 REGION 3 FINALS AT UNION:
106: Ty Agaisse, Delbarton, injury default, Nicholas Fierro, SHP, 4:22.
113: Lou Ramio, Hanover Park, dec. John Fuller, Westfield, 7-3.
120: Nick Farro, Delbarton, dec. Anthony Cefolo, Hanover Park, 5-4.
126: Christian Innarella, Del., maj. Dec. Tyler Gazaway, N. Prov., 12-2.
132: Mike Magaldo, Watchung Hills, pin Christian Bassolino, HP, 5:33.
138: Gavin Murray, Cranford, dec. Alex Murray, Watchung Hills, 3-0.
145: Dan Reed, Delbarton, dec. Raymond Jazikoff, South Plainfield, 9-7.
152: Nick Velez, Westfield, dec. Inan Sikel, South Plainfield, 3-2.
160: Anthony Bassolino, HP, dec. Brian Matthews, RosellePark, 3-2.
170: Josef Johnson, Delbarton, pin Vin Mattia, WhippanyPark, 5:58.
182: Joe Balboni, Brearley, maj. dec. Phil Woods, RosellePark, 18-4.
195: Jeff Velez, Bearley, maj. Dec. Nick D’Uva, Parsippany Hills, 14-6.
220: Stephen Hill, Par. Hills, dec. Donovan Mantone, Madison, 10-5.
HWT: Nick LaShell, Hanover Park, dec. Anthony Carbajal, WH, 7-3.
THIRD-PLACE QUALIFIERS:
106: Max Meyers, Watchung Hills
113: Tom DiGiovanni, Cranford
120: Ryan Walsh, South Plainfield
126: Daniel Hedden, South Plainfield
132: Anthony Canfora, Seton Hall Prep
138: Travis Vasquez, Delbarton
145: Matt Barber, Westfield
152: Joe Tavoso, Delbarton
160: Niko Cappello, Cranford
170: Steve Loevsky, RosellePark
182: Michael Weiss, Parsippany Hills
195: JamesValley, North Plainfield
220: Saverio Salcfas, Brearley
HWT: Lloyd Jackson, Elizabeth
REGION 3 CHAMPIONS
FROM UNION COUNTY:
Gavin Murray, Cranford, 138
Nick Velez, Westfield, 152
Joe Balboni, Bearley, 182
Jeff Velez, Brearley 195
Balboni won his third Region 3 title,
with his first two – the last two years –
coming at 170.
Murray and both Velez’s are first-time winners.
REGION 3 FINALISTS
FROM UNION COUNTY:
John Fuller, Westfield, 113
Tyler Gazaway, New Providence, 126
Brian Matthews, RosellePark, 160
Phil Woods, RosellePark 182
REGION 3 THIRD-PLACE QUALIFIERS
FROM UNION COUNTY:
Tom DiGiovanni, Cranford, 113
Matt Barber, Westfield, 145
Niko Cappello, Cranford, 160
Steve Loevsky, RosellePark, 170
Saverio Salcfas, Brearley, 220
Lloyd Jackson, Elizabeth, HWT
UNION COUNTY TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWN:
Brearley (3): Joe Balboni, first at 182, Jeff Velez first at 195, Saverio Salcfas third at 220.
Cranford (3): Gavin Murray first at 138, Tom DiGiovanni third at 113, Niko Cappello third at 170.
Westfield (3): Nick Velez first at 152, John Fuller second at 113, Matt Barber third at 145.
Roselle Park (3): Brian Matthews second at 160, Phil Woods second at 182, Steve Loevsky third at 170.
New Providence (1): Tyler Gazaway second at 126.
Elizabeth (1): Lloyd Jackson third at heavyweight.
* * *
Here’s a look at last year’s results and which Union County wrestlers advanced:
2013 REGION 3 FINALS AT UNION:
106: Ty Agaisse, Del., dec. Requir van de Merwe, MountainLakes, 3-1.
113: Nick Farro, Delbarton, maj. dec. Daniel Hedden, South Plainfield, 12-4.
120: Brenden Calas, Seton Prep, dec. Jon Mele, Gov. Livingston, 3-1 (OT).
126: Corey Stasenko, South Plain., dec. Mike Magaldo, Watch. Hills, 5-2.
132: Scott DelVecchio, South Plain., dec. Nick Anderson, Delbarton, 5-1.
138: Anthony Ashnault, South Plain., pin Matt Coppola, Watch. Hills, 4:40.
145: Troy Heilmann, South Plain., pin Anthony DiRosa, WH, 1:57.
152: Dylan Painton, South Plain., dec. Colin Barber, Westfield, 2-1 (2OT).
160: Josef Johnson, Delbarton, dec. John Balboni, Brearley, 12-6.
170: Joe Balboni, Brearley, dec. Mike Carroccia, Watchung Hills, 7-2.
182: Brian Bulger, Westfield, dec. Jeff Velez, Brearley, 6-4.
195: Shane Haddad, GL, maj. dec. Nicholas D’Uva, Parsippany Hills, 14-4.
220: Anthony Iarussi, Summit, dec. Jeff Weiss, Cranford, 3-1 (OT).
HWT: Anthony Tufaro, Scotch Plains, dec. Rodney Cenat, Columbia, 5-3
THIRD-PLACE QUALIFIERS:
106: Casey Egan, Seton Hall Prep
113: Nick Tekula, Linden
120: Christian Innarella, Delbarton
126: Gennaro Cuccolo, Hanover Park
132: Gavin Murray, Cranford
138: Christian Bassolino, Hanover Park
145: Dan Reed, Delbarton
152: Anthony Bassolino, Hanover Park
160: Inan Sikel, South Plainfield
170: Phil Woods, RosellePark
182: Corey Markovitch, Cranford
195: Nick Haboj, Madison
220: Tory Russell, South Plainfield
HWT: Nicholas LaShell, Hanover Park
REGION 3 CHAMPIONS
FROM UNION COUNTY:
Brenden Calas of Clark, Seton Hall Prep, 120
Joe Balboni, Brearley, 170
Brian Bulger, Westfield, 182
Shane Haddad, Gov. Livingston, 195
A.J. Iarussi, Summit, 220
Anthony Tufaro, Scotch Plains, heavyweight
Balboni, a junior, and Tufaro, a senior, are repeat champions, each winning their second Region 3 titles and at the same weight class.
Calas also won his second Region 3 crown, with his first coming at 103 in 2011. Calas won state championships at 103 in 2011 and at 113 in 2012.
Haddad, a senior, is GL’s first Region 3 champion since Tim Marcantonio won the 160 pound weight class in 2000.
REGION 3 FINALISTS
FROM UNION COUNTY:
Jon Mele, Gov. Livingston, 120
Colin Barber, Westfield, 152
John Balboni, Brearley, 160
Jeff Velez, Brearley , 182
Jeff Weiss, Cranford, 220
REGION 3 THIRD-PLACE QUALIFIERS
FROM UNION COUNTY:
Nick Tekula, Linden, 113
Gavin Murray, Cranford, 132
Phil Woods, RosellePark, 170
Corey Markovitz, Cranford, 182
UNION COUNTY TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWN:
Brearley (3): Joe Balboni first at 170, John Balboni second at 160,
Jeff Velez second at 182.
Cranford (3): Jeff Weiss second at 220, Gavin Murray third at 132,
Corey Markovitz third at 182.
Gov. Livingston (2): Shane Haddad first at 195, Jon Mele second at 220.
Westfield (2): Brian Bulger first at 182, Colin Barber second at 152.
Summit (1): A.J. Iarussi first at 220.
Scotch Plains (1); Anthony Tufaro first at heavyweight.
Roselle Park (1): Phil Woods third at 170.
Linden (1): Nick Tekula third at 113.