Matawan wrestlers ready for SCT test against Brick

The last time Matawan’s wrestling team faced Brick Township was last season in a dual meet when the Huskies came out on the short end of a 52- 18 outcome.

The two teams collide again, this time in the Shore Conference Tournament Jan. 26 atHowellHighSchoolina5p.m.opening round match that looms a lot closer than last season when Matawan ended up 14-12.

Matawan is seeded No. 11 and Brick Township is No. 6. Howell, the No. 3 seed, is in the other bracket against the winner of Toms River East vs. Barnegat on Jan. 24. The winners of those two matches come back at 7 p.m. in the finals of the satellite bracket. The eventual survivor on Jan. 26 advances to a berth in the tournament semifinals which are at Long Branch High School Saturday Jan. 28.

This year’s Matawan team is off to a 12- 1 start coming into this week, reminiscent of two seasons ago when Matawan won its first 14 matches before losing in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament to Manchester. Matawan was 20-3 two seasons ago, losing in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II finals to Long Branch.

The biggest question this time in the Shore Conference Tournament is whether the Huskies can lick their wounds from a 50-9 hammering by Raritan in a Shore Conference A Central battle of division unbeatens on Jan. 21. The Huskies also had a match on Jan. 24 against Manasquan. “They outwrestled us,” said coach Jess Monzo about Raritan, which won all but three bouts, those going down to decision. “There was a little bit of pressure and the kids were nervous coming in at 12-0. But emotionally, they’ll be all right [against Brick].”

“We’ll bounce back,” said Tim Birch, a senior who is 9-4 at 113 pounds. “Our wrestlers have bounced back before from tough losses they’ve had [individually].”

Brick comes into the week 12-3 with losses to Christian Brothers Academy, Toms River South and Jackson Memorial.

“They’re a tough squad that’s battle tested with a lot of kids back,” Monzo said. “We’ll have our hands full. Down in the low weights they’re tough and in the middle weights, they’re solid. We need to score in the heavier weights.”

That’s where Brick Township is not as strong while Matawan has some good ones, led by senior Francis Palumbo, the team captain who is 13-4 in the 220-pound class. He was a District 21 runner-up, finishing 29-12. Junior Glenn Cross, who competes at 182 pounds, is 16-3 and was district champion at 171 last year when he went 24- 10. Seniors David Liebowitz at 195 and Matt Morenz at heavyweight each have 11 victories.

“I think we’ll bounce back because we’re mentally tough. It’s all because of hard work and the experience of guys having success in past years,” Palumbo said. “I had a decent season last year and worked off that and put a lot of time in the off-season. Overall, I became a better wrestler, more in synch. It feels pretty good that I can help our team succeed.”

Brick looms tough in the middle weights with juniors Dan Wojtaszek, who is 22-4 at 160 pounds and Dan Watson, who is 20-3 at 170. A fourth consistent winner for Brick is Connor Mulligan with a 19-3 record at 106.

Matawan sophomore Chris Hartigan, a district runner-up last year with 18 victories, is 11-4 wrestling at 152.

“I’m a little surprised that we started off 12-0 [before the Raritan loss]. I did not expect us to be there right away,” Monzo said. “It’s their work ethic, believing in themselves and jelling together.”

That showed in two telltale victories this season. Trailing by two points entering the final bout against St. John Vianney, senior Hakan Yuksel, a third-year starter, pinned his opponent at :29 to clinch a 36-32 victory. Yuksel has 14 victories at 120 pounds. He’ll face Brick Township 20-bout winner Dean Sherry, a freshman, in what looms as the top bout of the Shore Conference Tournament match. The other telltale Matawan victory, an impressive 36-34 victory over Jackson Liberty, on Jan. 19, was decided when senior DeShaun Allen got a pin at :56 in the 145- pound finale. Allen is 10-10. Jackson Liberty comes into the week 12-3.

Add to Matawan’s resume the Matawan Icebreaker Tournament team title back over the Christmas holidays and a seventh-place finish in the East Brunswick Tournament and it’s been an exciting season for the Huskies.

“We’re working together as a team and really balanced with one or two weak spots and that’s it,” Birch said. “We can’t give up bonus points [major decisions, technical falls and pins] against Brick.”

“The whole key is to lose small and win big,” said Monzo, referring to getting and not giving away bonus points.

Also contributing big to Matawan’s success is senior Ryan Berg, who is 15-5 at 160 and freshman Billy Rodriguez, who is 14-6 at 126 pounds.