Calm & Colorful, Camden Catholic scraps its way back to Rutgers for state title defense
CHERRY HILL – Whatever uneasy feelings there might have been among its coaching staff, the Camden Catholic High School wrestling team quickly calmed those nerves on Thursday.
The Fighting Irish put together an impressive showing, punching their ticket to Rutgers University for Sunday’s state final with a 48-27 victory over Red Bank Catholic.
Camden Catholic (15-1) will defend its state Non-Public B title when it faces St. John Vianney in a rematch. Sunday’s final will begin at 11 a.m.
While it boasts a relatively young lineup, the Irish didn’t look rattled at the stakes of the meet against RBC. The same couldn’t be said for head coach Bill Heverly.
“I was really nervous about this one,” Heverly said. “These guys didn’t seem that way. There were just in regular mode. (Camden Catholic assistant coach TJ Miller) was downstairs with them before the meet and when he walked into the room, the guys were all over the place. When he saw that, he said to me, ‘These guys are going to get it done tonight.’”
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The Irish won nine bouts, including five by pin and one by tech fall, in a dominating performance.
For sophomore Jaden Simpson, wrestling in the team tournament is new territory. A transfer from Paul VI and Mount Ephraim native, Simpson is 2-0 this week in the playoffs, including a pin that clinched the meet against the Caseys.
“It’s been fun,” Simpson said about the playoff experience. “There’s a real family feel here. We push each other and we just go out there to compete.”
Simpson has enjoyed plenty of success too, winning 25 bouts including his last nine in a row at 175. Last year, he was a district runner-up and placed fifth at regions.
“He’s starting to bust out of his shell,” Heverly said. “He’s starting to become more confident in himself. He knows what his ability is, he just needs to get there.”
Simpson won't be the only one making their first trip to Rutgers. Freshman Eric Swanson has never been to RU either.
Last year, Swanson was wrestling in a state qualifier youth tournament and didn’t make the journey to Piscataway to follow the Irish. He joined the team when they returned back home for the celebration.
The Runnemede native is excited to get his opportunity to wrestle in the state final. Regarded as one of the top freshmen in South Jersey, Swanson has been as good as advertised. After missing most of December with an injury, he’s racked up a 15-4 record, including a pin against RBC.
“It’s been a little tough of a transition with the weight cut the hardest part,” Swanson said. “I just try to perform my best when I got out there. That’s all I really think about.”
Gotta be the hair
It’s a little difficult to recognize most of the members of the Camden Catholic squad these days.
Most are sporting new buzz cuts along with a wide variety of hair colors from the traditional bleached blond, to green, red and even pink.
“Our captain (Austin Craft) came up with the idea a couple weeks ago,” said Simpson, who got the haircut but is waiting for the dye job. “It’s just part of the fun. It’s a bonding thing.”
Heverly wouldn’t confirm the rumor that he would bleach his hair if the Irish won a state title.
“I’ve already bleached my hair millions of times,” Heverly said about his scholastic days with the Irish. “My crew kinda brought the bleached hair into the room years ago.”
Jackson Young was on the Camden Catholic sideline for the meet, talking wrestling with his coaches throughout the meet. The senior is on the mend after undergoing neck surgery a few weeks ago.
More: St. John Vianney wrestling sets up a chance for payback against Camden Catholic
St. John Vianney (13-1) advanced to the state final with a 57-14 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in its semifinal. The Golden Griffins won their only state championship in 1995. The Golden Griffins lost 33-29
Camden Catholic won its 19th state title last winter with a 33-29 decision over SJV. The Irish won the last three bouts of the meet with Young (126), Kage Jones (132) and Wayne Rold (138), but also got key wins up top with Terry Terch (190) and Tyler Byrd (285).
The Results
Camden Catholic 48, Red Bank Catholic 27
106: Michael DiBiase, RBC, d. Chase Martino, 4-0; 113: Dom DiGiacomo, CC, p. Arthur Torrone, 1:40; 120: Noah Michaels, RBC, p. Noah Madorno, 1:02; 126: Lazarus Joyce, CC, tech. fall Michael Milke, 17-2, 3:39; 132: Sammy Spaulding, CC, forfeit; 138: Eric Swanson, CC, p. Luken Ramos; 144: Marco Conroy, RBC, p. Luke Humphrey, 0:36; 150: Michael Craft, CC, p. Robert Connelley, 5:46; 157: Austin Craft, CC, md. Christian Rodriguez, 9-1; 165: Kage Jones, CC, p. Frank Romeo, 0:42; 175: Jaden Simpson, CC, p. Vincent Muscillo; 190: Tristan Owen, CC, d. Hayden Wooley, 6-2; 215: Mamoun Chater, RBC, p. Madden Rosario, 2:06; 285: Lorenzo Portella, RBC, p. Nelson Vidro, 1:28.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Camden Catholic checks back into state Non-Public B championship
