Parsippany Preview - no seeds yet

I need to first thank Coach Gary Vittorio for the 14 page, double sided and covered FREE program that he provides every year. All the pre-tournament info has been compiled using the info from his program and info from www.NJLineUP.com and predictions will be posted as soon I get the seeds, talk to my Morris County Wrestling Experts and evaluate the brackets. Until then, here’s what you get:

On December 28, 2006, Parsippany High School and Gary Vittorio will host the 43rd annual Parsippany Wrestling Christmas Tournament. The 2005 tournament may have held the strongest field in its history with two state champions and seven county champions. Vittorio has chosen St. Benedict’s and Delbarton as his pre-tournament favorites to win the team title.

Delbarton’s Frank Perrelli returns and looks to add a third Christmas Tournament championship. Another standout is Morris Knolls Zach Walsh at 285. Walsh has already won the 2006 Morris Knolls Holiday Tournament and looks to add a 3rd Parsippany Christmas Gold to his trophy case. St. Ben’s returns 2005 PCT champion Bagana Tovuaj and two runner ups. Wayne Valley returns 2005 champion Luke Rigogliaso. Delbarton’s Trevor Melde won in 2004 and is definitely a favorite to be in the finals again. Melde has already won the prestigious Beast of the East Tournament with a 6-2 decision over Blair’s Max Shanaman. Delbarton returns 3 Morris County Champions: 103-Colin Hayes; 112-Frank Perrelli; and 130-Trevor Melde and has begun developing other weight classes to become a strong team. Boonton will be lead by Alex Anest and Nick Questa. Parsippany should be lead by Alex Veselinski(3rd) and Kyle Hussey. David Standridge(103) won Gold at Mt. Olive last week and Steve Moran(130) added a 3rd. Parsippany Hills returns second place finisher Jose Sosa, also a 2nd at Mt Olive. Dustin Brooks has a good shot to win at 189. Spencer Williams (5th) recorded the fastest pin last year at 0:15 (tied with Grey). Ben McNeil(3rd) looks strong so far in 2006, grabbing Gold at Mt. Olive last week. The Wildcats of Whippany Park look to Steve Godine, a Silver finisher at Dover and Senior Chris Mignone (Silver at Dover) to move in the brackets at 103 and 112. Newark Academy’s returns John Sternlicht(3rd last year). Craig Helfer is another quality wrestler for the Minutemen and maybe a finalist at 171. Union returns finalist Byran Gomes (2nd). Jasterzbiski was in the finals for Newark Acad. last year and has a great shot of being there again.

Look for many surprises at 160, 171 and 189. These maybe wide open brackets and should be a lot of fun to watch. This is a good tournament for untested wrestlers to surprise and maybe make names for themselves, but in reality, until we see the brackets, it’s all in up in the air. That being said, they’ll wrestle it out on the mat!

2005 Champions

103 – Luke Rigoglioso Wayne Valley
112 – Frank Perrelli Delbarton
119 – Mogi Baatar St. Benedict’s
125 – Mike Grey Delbarton
130 – Paul Galipeau Par Hills
135 – Mike Eagen Morris Knolls (MOW 2004, 2005)
140 – Billy Steinmetz Morris Knolls
145 – Mike Farina Morris Knolls
152 – Iverri Johnson St. Benedict’s
160 – Bagana Toovuaj St. Benedict’s
171 – Bobby Laraway St. Benedict’s
189 – Alex Kociski Parsippany
215 – Jusin Brancaccio Morris Knolls
275 – Zach Walsh Morris Knolls

(active wrestlers in bold)

Morris Knolls has edged ST. Benedict’s the past two seasons. Last year by 6 (167-161) and by 12.5 in 2004. Graduation has hit the Eagles, but both schools return a champion. I will wait to see the seeding until I make a prediction, but Delbarton has a line on three possible champions has added strength to their line up.