CBA wrestling flips the script and gets payback on Southern in another epic
MIDDLETOWN - A.J. Falcone had been waiting a year for redemption against Southern.
"Since that match ended last year, I've been wanting it back, and I got it ,'' Falcone, a junior 138-pounder at Christian Brothers Academy, said.
Falcone's 1-0 win over Bryce Manera was one of several key wins Tuesday night as CBA, ranked No. 8 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, defeated No. 5 Southern 30-28 in another instant classic between the two teams.
The match was wrestled in front of a frenzied sold out crowd at CBA's gymnasium. The Colts avenged a 27-25 defeat at Southern last January.
The win enables CBA (6-1) to leapfrog Southern (6-1) into the No. 1 spot in the Asbury Park Press Top 15 and gives it the inside track for the final No. 1 ranking at the Shore.
It was Southern's first defeat to a Shore Conference team since a 28-26 setback to Toms River North on Jan. 14, 2020.
Falcone's defeat by pin to Scottie Sari in tiebreaker period No. 1 was the turning point in last year's match.
"When you look up my name, that's the first thing you see 'Falcone gets pinned,'" Falcone said. "I proved my ability (Tuesday night) and how much I've improved over the year.''
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"These guys remember all that stuff with the social media and all that stuff,'' CBA coach Billy Ashnault said. "For A.J. to get that back, is kind of like a sigh of relief. It comes from him believing in us and him believing in himself.''
Falcone's win was part of a series of events that went CBA's way as it won seven straight bouts from 106-144 to erase an 18-0 deficit and grab a 30-18 lead headed into the final three bouts.
Sophomore Bobby Duffy had a key pin in the second period of the 126-pound bout.
Then, ironically, in the completion of the script-flipping, Will Sakoutis upended Sari, a returning state qualifier, 3-1, in the 132-pound bout.
All of that enabled the Colts to survive the expected Southern surge over the final three bouts.
Falcone's redemption
Falcone, a returning region champion, rode out Manera in the second period with a hard, tough ride that had several restarts.
"I knew I had it in me,'' Falcone said. "At practice (Monday), I drilled it into my mind, I'm going to ride this guy and I rode him out.''
Manera, who was one win away from a state medal in 2022 when he was at Holy Spirit, threw everything he could think of to try and get out but could not escape Falcone's grasp
"It was just about being mentally tough there,'' Falcone said. "He kept moving. Obviously, that's what the bottom guy is supposed to do. For me, it was just about staying strong in my ride because if I let him up there, that's kind of doubting myself. With that ride, I wasn't doubting myself and I was strong mentally.''
"A.J wrestled tough as nails,'' Sakoutis said. "He's one of the toughest guys on the team. Those guys getting those tough wins is what it is all about.''
Sakoutis set the table for Falcone
Sakoutis did not wrestle like an underdog in his bout against Sari. He got the winning takedown with 1:35 remaining in the third period and then rode Sari out to give CBA the lead for good at 21-18.
"He's a workhorse,'' Ashnault said. "He shows up every day and works as hard as he can and he's willing to get better.''
Sakoutis said he waited for his shot on the winning takedown.
"I kind of pulled him, hit his head with my hand and snapped him down,'' Sakoutis said. "I was waiting for him to step that right leg forward. I practice that a lot. That's my best shot.''
Duffy is dangerous from anywhere
Duffy, who is a returning region champion and was one win away from a state medal last year, was trailing Attila Vigliante 2-1 in the second period before he took him down and then locked in a cradle for the pin.
The CBA fans erupted with a roar as loud as the roar that accompined Sari's pin at Southern in last year's match.
"I've always been a cradle guy,'' Duffy said. "When I lock it up, it's a match-ender. It's over."
Duffy said he was able to use Vigiliante's length against him for the cradle.
"Those long guys, once you lock it up, there's no getting out from there,'' Duffy said. "It's my strength against his.''
"He's very dangerous, the most dangerous wrestler in the state. There's no doubt,'' Falcone said.
Ashnault said he was concerned when Duffy gave up the first takedown to Vigliante, who is a returning region sixth-place finisher.
"Usually, he gets the first takedown,'' Ashnault said. "Him not getting the first takedown is a pretty big deal for someone like him. But, he's dangerous, he can put somebody on their back from any position.''
There were plenty of other heroes for CBA
To win a a dual meet like this one, a team needs contributions from everyone. CBA got that.
Brendan Boyle (175) only gave up a decision to returning region champion Mitch Bivona and James Jakub (157) also saved points by only giving up a major decision to returning state champion Matt Henrich.
Also, sophomore Justin Repetti (120) taking the place of an injured Teag Saito, recorded a 6-0 win over Jacob Chambers. Three-time state placewinner Alex Nini turned what was looking like a technical fall over Noah Fontana in the 144-pound bout into a pin and freshman Killian Coluccio (106) defeated returning state qualifier Anthony Mason 4-2 on a takedown with three seconds left.
All of those results meant Southern's returning state eighth-place finisher Hayden Hochstrasser needed a technical fall or pin in the final bout against 2022 state eighth-place finisher Nick Campagna for Southern to win the match.
Campagna, a transfer from South Plainfield, who was wrestling his first bout of the season after he became eligible under the NJSIAA's transfer rules, was able to hold Hochstrasser to a 7-4 decision.
Had the match ended tied, Southern would have won based on CBA forfeiting at heavyweight.
CBA 30, Southern 28
175: Mitch Bivona (S) d. Brendan Boyer 3-2.
190: Bradford Birch (S) d. Brock Oizerowitz 12-6.
215: Levi Foote (S) p. Parker Hughes 3:40
HWT: Collin French (S) by forfeit.
106: Killian Colucco (CBA) d. Anthony Mason 4-2.
113: Paul Kenny (CBA) p. Cash McVey 3:05
120: Justin Repetti (CBA) d. Jacob Chambers 6-0.
126: Bobby Duffy (CBA) p. Attila Vigilante 2:59.
132: Will Sakoutis (CBA) d. Scottie Sari 3-1.
138: A.J. Falcone (CBA) d. Bryce Manera 1-0.
144: Alex Nini (CBA) p. Noah Fontana 4:58.
150: Wyatt Stout (S) d. Tyler Venet 8-5 (tiebreaker No. 1).
157: Matt Henrich (S) md. Jimmy Jakub 19-7.
165: Hayden Hochstrasser (S) d. Nick Campagna 7-4.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ Wrestling: CBA, A.J. Falcone beat Southern in redemption
