Why Southern Regional wrestling has a chance to be better than last year's championship team

STAFFORD - Southern Regional High School's wrestling team has a tough act to follow.

Last season, the Rams stormed to the NJSIAA Group 5 championship, blew out tradition-rich Phillipsburg twice, and dominated the NJSIAA Region 7 Tournament. And Matt Henrich became the program's first state champion since Glenn Carson in 2009.

But, if the early returns are any indication, Southern, ranked No. 1 in the Asbury Park Press Top 15 and No. 6 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, has a chance to be as good or better than it was last season.

Wednesday night, the Rams took a major step toward their fourth straight Shore Conference Class A South championship with a dominant 46-18 win over Brick Memorial. Brick Memorial is ranked No. 4 in the APP Top 15 and No. 17 in the NJWWA Top 20.

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"I feel we have a chance,'' Southern coach Dan Roy said, when asked if this team has a chance to be as good as last season. "We are solid. We do have some young kids in the lineup. We didn't have that many young kids in the lineup last year. Every single spot last year was pretty solid.

The Rams, who won the first five bouts Wednesday and 10 of 14 in all, had three returning state medal winners, including Henrich, and five other past state qualifiers in the lineup in all Wednesday night. They will eventually have nine state qualifiers in their lineup.

More: Team with 10 returning state qualifiers is No. 1 in preseason New Jersey wrestling Top 20

They will be able to stretch the lineup to get matchups they want in big matches.

If the new faces in the lineup come through, Southern will be tough for anybody in Group 5 to deal with.

"They're learning all the time,'' Roy said about the newcomers. "Hopefully, by the end of the season, they will get a lot better and they can contribute even more to the team.''

An example of Southern's strength was when it defeated two of Brick Memorial's better wrestlers - returning state qualifiers Trey Tallmadge and Ben Szuba - with returning region champions Mitch Bivona and Collin French.

Southern was aggressive

The Rams scored the first points in nine of the 12 contested bouts (more about one of the bouts that was not contested in a bit) and had an 18-6 edge in first points.

Southern was also tough on top. It scored back points in the first five bouts and seven bouts in all. It had a 38-3 edge in back points.

"I was very happy to see that,'' Roy said. "If you're turning guys on top, you're putting pressure on them. If you get a couple of turns in a match, chances are you're going to win. I liked that we were not just trying to ride. We were going for our holds and looking for more points."

Brick Memorial, to its credit, did a good job at fighting off its back. The Mustangs avoided pins to Henrich, returning state sixth-place finisher Wyatt Stout and at 106 and 126 when it was on its back.

"I liked that we didn't give up a bunch of pins in places I thought we could have,'' Brick Memorial coach Mike Kiley said. "The kids really fought in areas where we knew we were going to be in tough. I like where we're at. It's early. That was a hard-fought match by our kids.''

A state champion did not get a chance to wrestle

There were probably some people in Southern's gymnasium Wednesday night who came because they wanted to see Brick Memorial's 2022 and 2023 175-pound state champion Harvey Ludington wrestle.

However, Southern, even though it had two wrestlers weighed in at Ludington's weight - 190 - forfeited to Ludington. That despite Brick Memorial sending out a wrestler against Henrich four bouts before at 157.

Kiley said he was not happy Southern forfeited to Ludington for the second straight season.

"Yes, 100 percent,'' Kiley said, when asked if he was unhappy. "That's why we have to create a schedule for this kid and we take him to the Beast (the Beast of the East, where Ludington won the 190-pound championship last weekend), the Classic (Brick Memorial's Mustang Classic) and the Escape the Rock (which will take place Jan. 13-14 at Council Rock South, Pa. High School). "

"I knew they were going to forfeit. That's up to them. They make their decisions. I just feel bad for the kid (Ludington). He trains and wants to be part of these matches, but he's a stud.''

Roy is a wrestling purist who understands the sport is plagued by forfeits. He also knows fans want to see the best wrestlers wrestle and good wrestlers wrestle other good wrestlers.

He said the decision to forfeit to Ludington was based on what was in his team's best long term interests.

"I understand why they're upset. I get it,'' Roy said. "It's the same thing that used to happen to Damion Hahn and a lot of the great wrestlers throughout the history of the Shore Conference. I don't want to risk getting my kid hurt. That's the reason why.

"I felt the match was in hand. It wasn't worth the risk. Listen, I'm all about wrestling matches. You guys (the media) know I am. Our schedule shows that. I just felt we didn't need to do that. God forbid, what if something happens, and we don't have a kid? I have a lot of respect for Harvey. He's a great wrestler. I just have to do what's best for my team.''

Brick Memorial did forfeit to Southern's 2022 transfer Bryce Manera in the last bout of the match.

Up next

Brick Memorial will host its power-packed Mustang Classic on Dec. 27.

Southern will split its squad over Christmas week. Roy said he will send eight wrestlers, including most of his state qualifiers, to the Powerade Tournament at Canon McMillian (Pa.) High School Dec. 29-30. The remainder of the team will participate in the John Goles Invitational Dec. 28 at Warren Hills High School.

Southern 46, Brick Memorial 18

144: Wyatt Stout (S) tf. Thomas Prince 5:33 (16-1))

150: Tyler Chase (S) d. Jack Torre 13-7

157: Matt Henrich (S) tf. Mason Pirnik 4:47 (17-2)

165: Hayden Hochstrasser (S) p. Malachi Saint-Vil 3:15.

175: Mitch Bivona (S) d. Trey Tallmadge 6-2.

190: Harvey Ludington (BM) by forfeit.

215: Collin French (S) d. Ben Szuba 4-1

HWT: Steven Gobriael (BM) p. Caleb Counts 3:47

106: Anthony Mason (S) md. Santino DiMatteo 10-0.

113: Mike Napolitano (BM) d. Cash McVey 8-2.

120: Gavin Martin (BM) d. Jacob Chambers 4-0

126: Attilia Vigilante (S) tf. Kson Young 4:00 (17-0).

132: Scottie Sari (S) p. Ryan Henderson 1:17.

138: Bryce Manera (S) by forfeit.

Wednesday, December 20 Scoreboard

Class A North

Freehold Borough 41, Marlboro 26

5. Howell 34, Middletown South 28

Class A Central

3. St. John Vianney 51, Raritan 20

Class A South

11. Jackson Memorial 54, Brick 15

Toms River South 58, Toms River North 21

Toms River East 49, Central 30

Class B North

Colts Neck 39, 12. Ocean 34

Long Branch 43, Red Bank 23

Manasquan 48, Matawan 27

Class B South

13. Jackson Liberty 46, 15. Lacey 24

Pinelands 43, Lakewood 34

14. Point Pleasant Borough 63, Manchester 7

Nondivisional

Barnegat 40, Monmouth 22

Barnegat 66, Asbury Park 12

Wall 34, Point Pleasant Beach 33

Nonconference

Holmdel 52, Immaculata 16

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ wrestling: Southern Regional defeats Brick Memorial