Madison 38 – Hanover Park 23 (12/21/06)

Madison wins first dual meet of the season

There are times when things just fall into place. There are times when things just go your way. Most importantly, there are times when you work hard to assure that things do go your way. First year Coach Steve Healey and his strong Madison Dodgers (1-0) executed their game plan to near perfection. The 103 draw could not have worked out better for the Dodgers. It had to be a huge advantage for Coach Healey knowing that he could rely on his stacked upper weights. It may have been a surprise to some in the Hanover Park gym, but it was two key lower weight stunners that guided the Dodgers to their first win of the season. Freshman Christian Mazzochi and Captain Austin Bone both recorded pins and put the Dodgers in excellent shape as the strength of their line was sent on to the mat. Madison upper weights responded winning six of the final seven matches and coming from behind 13-19 to secure a 38-23 victory over Hanover Park (1-1). Not only did Madison win the final four matches of the evening, but did not allow a point.

103 -- Charles Savino (HP) tech fall Nicky Rodriguez (M), 22-7 (HP 5-0)

The Hornets took four points in the opening bout with freshman Charles Savino earning an 22-7 Tech. Fall over Madison’s Nicky Rodriquez. Savino lead 4-1 at the end of the first and then used six takedowns, two penalty points and reversal to build a 20-7 lead, before taking down Rodriquez 14 seconds into the third.

112 -- Ryan Colwell (M) dec Jordan Toma (HP), 4-2 (HP 5-3)

This was an even fought match Colwell took down Toma in the first period. Toma tied it up early in the second period, but Colwell escaped for a 3-2 lead. Colwell used his third period decision to choose defense and escaped to up his lead to 4-2 and held it to get the Dodgers three important points.

119 -- Christian Mazzochi (M) pin Mike Johnstone (HP), 5:02 (Mad 9-5)

You can expect these two talented freshmen to meet many times during the next four years. You can be sure that each match will be an exciting one. This first match was an exciting one. Mazzochi fought off numerous shots by Johnstone and used a head lock after a sprawl to take down Johnstone in the first period for a 2-0 lead. The second period went scoreless except for a penalty point gained by Johnstone when Mazzochi was hit with a second stalling call. Mazzochi chose defense for the third period and was able to catch Johnstone by reaching up for a half and hipping up for a pin from the bottom. The pin gave Madison a 9-5 lead.

125 -- Anthony Johnstone (HP) tech fall Mike Cerillo (Madison), 21-6 (HP 10-9)

Another talented freshman in the Hornets line up outscored Cerillo 17-5 in the second period and part of the third to add five points to the Hornets total. Johnstone’s final take down forty seconds in the third period gave the Hornets a 10-9 lead. The freshman used 9 takedowns, two penalty points and an escape to earn the victory.

130 -- Jason Benensky (M) major dec Mike Schnappauf (HP) , 12-1 (Mad 13-10)

Benensky, a third place finisher at Mt. Olive Saturday, jumped to a 1^st period 5-0 lead. Schnappauf avoided a pin and was able to escape in the second period, but trailed 9-1 as the second period ended. Benensky chose defense, escaped and took down Schnappauf to earn a major decision and four points for the Dodgers. The Dodgers regained the lead 13-10.

135 -- Rich Szymczak (HP) pinned Franco Napoletano (M) , 3:33 (HP 16-13)

The Hanover Park gym erupted with cheer as Junior Rich Szymczak reversed Napoletano in the second period for a 4-0 lead, then turned the Dodger with over 1 minute left in he middle period. Szymczak was able to hold Napoletano on his back, keep him in bounds and record the pin. Another lead change as Hanover went up by three.

140 -- Chris Tracy (HP) dec Steve Martin (M), 11-6 (HP 19-13)

Chris Tracy outscored the Dodgers’ Captain 4-1 in the first and 5-3 in the second. The Senior Dodger did a great job of not allowing any back points and held Tracy in check preventing the Hornet Junior from getting any team bonus points. Hanover’s lead improved to 19-13.

145 -- Andrew Conley (M) pin Matt Melillo (HP), 3:15 (HP 19-19)

Conley, who took second at Mt. Olive Saturday, used a second period pin to cut the Hornets lead to three. Melillo took down Conley early for a 2-0 lead. Conley quickly escaped and took down Melillo two more times in the first for a 5-3 first period lead. Conely turned it up a notch and recorded a second period pin to tie the match at 19.

152 -- Austin Bone (M) pin Rob Cali (HP), 3:49 (Mad 25-19)

Hanover Senior, Rob Cali used three take downs to end the first period up 6-2. Cali’s lead was increased to 7-1 after Bone was hit with two stalling calls early in the second period. Bone erupted with lewss than twenty seconds in the second and was able to take Cali down to his back and record a quick pin with 11 seconds left in the second period. Madison took the lead for good.

160 -- Mike Lomio (HP) major dec Mike Stuart (M), 12-4 (Mad 25-23)

Another strong freshman in the Hornets line-up, Lomio took a 6-1 lead into the third period. The Hornet 160-pounder used two take downs and a reversal to earn the 8 point victory. Again, another Dodger wrestler managed to avoid a pin and stayed off his back preventing the Hornets from gaining much needed bonus points.

171 -- Bill Hutchinson (M) dec Ron Landy (HP), 5-0 (Mad 28-23)

The third tri-caption for the Dodgers was able to hand Hanover Junior Ron Landy his first loss of the season. Hutchinson, runner up in last year’s MCT, champion at Mt. Olive Saturday and ranked #1 in the Area by the Daily Record’s Joe Hofmann, used a first period takedown. An escape and take down added to Hutchinson’s lead as the Dodger began to build the lead.

189 -- Kyle Kaufmann (M) major dec Joe Williams (HP), 8-0 (Mad 31-23)

Kaufman, also ranked #1 in the Area, champion at Mt. Olive, 2005 Regional Finalist and Bronze medalist at 171 in the 2005 MCT, majored Hanover Senior Joe Williams. Williams continued to go after Kaufmann, but the Dodgers Junior used three take downs on his way to victory. Williams wrestled smart and avoided giving up any back points and nearly escaped allowed that bonus point, but Kaufmann’s take down with about 10 seconds left earned the extra team point.

215 -- Mike Hall (M) dec Antonio Delvescovo (HP) , 5-0 (Mad 34-23)

Mike Hall, 215 champion at Mt. Olive, used a first and second period take down along with an escape in the third to mathematically secure the victory for the Dodgers.

HWT -- Javier Salazar (M) dec Doug Meringer (HP) , 2-0 (Mad 37-23)

The third place finisher at Mt. Olive was able to reverse the hornet sophomore and hold the score to win the final match of the evening.

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Both teams are in action this Saturday before wrestling in the same gym at the Roselle Park Tournament. The Hornets will host Morristown Saturday at 7 pm. Morristown is strong this year and kept it close with Seton Hall, losing 39-27. The Dodgers host Butler, Pequannock and Westfield starting at 10 am.

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Coach Healey comments on Mazzachi’s important win: We wanted Christian to wrestle his best. He knew that is what he had to do to beat Johnstone.

Coach Healey comments on Bone’s important win: We asked to Austin to be patient and try to survive the early period when Cali attacked. He had the energy to catch Cali late in the second.

Coach Ryerson (Hanover Park) comments on the match: I am proud of how our kids wrestled and we’ll continue to get better.

Coach Carchietta comments on the match: Both coaches used their line up and moved wrestlers around to get their favorable match ups. Madison is very strong up top so the 103 draw was a huge advantage for them, knowing exactly what they needed to do after 152. The Dodgers were impressive and wrestled smart. Hopefully I can get to watch the Pequannock match Saturday, it will be good one. Hanover should be very proud of the upper weights going toe-to-toe with some talented upper weights and not getting pinned or giving up back points. This new look Hornets line up is young and, as Hanover assistant coach Ryerson said, “will only get better.” This was a great non-conference match for both teams and dual meet that should be continued every year in the future. It was obvious after the match that both coaches were very proud of their kids and are both optimistic for the 2006-2007 season. And just so everyone knows, for the second dual meet in a row, our Referee was superb. I am more than a happy to praise these guys, as should you!