Don Bosco wrestling slays the dragon against Bergen Catholic in down-to-the-wire victory
RAMSEY – Dante DeLuca emptied the gas tank, and Don Bosco ended a drought that hung over the wrestling program for 14 long seasons.
The Ironmen knocked off Bergen Catholic at last and the payoff could not have been much sweeter.
A packed crowd in Ramsey that got louder and louder throughout the match hit a crescendo when DeLuca scraped out a double overtime win in the second-to-last bout. His decision at 215 pushed the second-ranked Ironmen past No. 4 Bergen Catholic, 32-30, on Wednesday night.
The victory was a long time coming for the Ironmen who had lost 17 straight to their archrivals since a meeting in the 2010 state sectional finals. And after watching it all unfold, the man who inherited a one-win team four years ago summed it up with one word.
"Amazing," Don Bosco coach Jim Azzolina said. "Amazing."
"Bergen is the model of everything you want your program to be. They have set the bar for what New Jersey wrestling is. They're down a little this year, but to come out and get a win against a program like that – that does it right day in and day out, year after year, is relevant on the national scene – it's awesome."
Slaying the dragon would not have been possible even a year ago when the Ironmen scored only six points in a humiliating loss in Oradell. But Don Bosco managed to turn the tables by winning three of the last four bouts and eight overall. Times have changed now that Don Bosco's program-changing sophomore class is a year older.
Sophomores like DeLuca and like Nevin Mattessich, who teed up the win by scoring a crucial four points at 190.
"We got it done when the pressure was on," Azzolina said. "What I love about him and Nevin is they want the pressure on. They are young as sophomores, but sometimes the best guys shine when the light is the brightest."
The pressure was on all on DeLuca, who took the mat with a 29-24 lead and star heavyweight Ben Shue waiting in the wings on the other sideline. And after six minutes, the score was still tied at 1 between DeLuca and Crusader Mason Marck.
Sudden victory came and went without either wrestler scoring a point.
A student section that chanted, cheered and draped over the Don Bosco balcony still had no resolution.
"I love that moment," DeLuca said. "With all the hard work we put in in the room, you want that to be your moment. When Nevin comes off with the big win, it felt unstoppable. It was an unbelievable feeling."
DeLuca rode out his opponent in the first OT period, then got up from bottom fairly easily when the positions were switched. The Florham Park native roared back to the crowd after a 2-1 decision.
Azzolina said his wrestler's expanded gas tank and challenging schedule helped build him up for the moment.
"The later the match was getting – besides the heart palpitations as a coach on the side – I felt more and more confident," Azzolina said. "I know that guy can go for eight, 10, 12 minutes."
What it means
Don Bosco (9-3) has come a long way in short period of time. This is a program that forfeited nine weight classes in a state match again Delbarton the year before Azzolina took the job. One that wasn't in the North Jersey rankings in 2020 right before the current seniors came on board.
"This is definitely the best win that Bosco has had on the wrestling front in a long time," Azzolina said. "This one feels really good."
Inside the match
While the sophomores sealed the deal for Don Bosco, it was the freshmen who made it possible with a hot start. Rookies Joseph Eboli and Andrew Bonita opened the match with quick pins at 106 and 113, respectively, and Brian Little made a statement by upsetting state qualifier Chris Nucifora, 7-1, at 120.
Things started to break Bergen Catholic's way with Jayden Iznaga's sudden victory win at 150 and with Don Bosco transfer Logan Cantone catching his old school by surprise by descending down to 157 for a forfeit.
Rutgers commit Ryan Ford handed Bergen Catholic a two-point lead by bumping up to 165 for a 3-1 decision over Benjamin Garcia.
"I think it's all about the next guy up," Mattessich said. "When Brian beat Nucifora, I just felt everything change. I felt like I wanted to go out and I wanted that match more than anyone."
Don Bosco answered with Michael Fuccilli beating Genti Idrizi (6-3 score) at 175 and with Mattessich downing Leo Varga (9-0) in a swing bout at 190. Robert Ekins took an injury default in the last bout at heavyweight, but DeLuca's win kept it from impacting the match.
"We've been training really hard," Azzolina said. "We've been doing everything we needed to do in the last couple of weeks. It's a testament to these guys. They've grown a lot."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Don Bosco wrestling slays the dragon, beats Bergen Catholic in close win
