Here's why the Ocean wrestling team could win an NJSIAA sectional title
LONG BRANCH - There is no question the Ocean Township High School wrestling team is a work in progress.
The Spartans, who snapped a seven-match losing streak to rival Long Branch with a 45-24 Wednesday night in a Shore Conference Class B North match, still have some key wrestlers missing from their lineup.
However, they will soon be whole, and that could be enough to make them a major contender in the NJSIAA Central Group 3 Tournament. The NJSIAA Team Tournament begins Feb. 5 and concludes Feb. 11 with the group championship matches at the Rutgers University Jersey Mike's Arena.
"I think we have very big potential,'' Ocean senior 150-pounder and three-time state qualifier James Farina said. "We're only getting better every day. We've got a young team and every day we're learning. The ceiling can only get better because everyone is learning every day.''
Ocean (9-1, 2-1), ranked No. 10 in the Asbury Park Press Top 15, had four sophomores and three freshmen in its lineup Wednesday night.
Junior 215-pouder Marvin Hill and freshman 132-pounder Jake Volek are expected back in the lineup soon. Senior and returning region qualifier Michael Poniros recently returned to the lineup after being sidelined for close to the first month of the season with an injury and senior Rodley Petit (165) returned to the lineup at 165.
"All these guys are going to get their stamina back, and we're going to be a dangerous team,'' Farina, who won by technical fall Wednesday night, said.
The potential has Cip Apicelli, whose is in his 13th season as the Spartans' head coach, cautiously optimistic that this team can win the school's ninth sectional title and fourth under him.
"I think this is one of our more dangerous teams that we've had since I've been here,'' Apicelli said. "There's just a lot of tough, gritty kids throughout the lineup. The hope is that in about two weeks, that's there in the week leading up to the team state tournament.''
What expected reinforcements could also mean for Ocean
Apicelli can play chess with anyone when it comes to moving the pieces around in the lineup to get the matchups that are needed to win a tight match.
He feels the return of Jake Volek, Hill and Petit will enable him to do that.
"It gives us manuerability and a lot of options throughout our lineup,'' Apicelli said. "The kids are buying in. We've just got to be there in a couple of weeks. "
Central Group 3 is as wide open as it has ever been
Perennial state power South Plainfield, Hopewell Valley, Robbinsville and Allentown appear to be among the other major contenders in Central Group 3.
"Anybody can win it,'' Apicelli said. "Our goal in two weeks and five days is to put our best team out there and give it our best shot.''
South Plainfield, which has gone back and forth over the years from Central 2 to Central 3, has always been the head and shoulders above everyone else when it has been team in Cental 3.
However, the Tigers were 5-10 headed into Wednesday night, which makes them as vulnerable as they have ever been for the rest of the Central 3 field.
"They are still South Plainfield,'' Apicelli said. "They're a scary team. No, they're not the team that we wrestled in 2012 (in the Group 3 championship match), but they're talented and will be a tough out for anybody.''
Ocean has had a great rivalry with Hopewell Valley through the years in the sectional tournament. Friday night, weather permitting, Apicelli and his coaching staff will get a read on how they stand with Robbinsville, when the two teams meet at Robbinsville.
"That's an important match,'' Apicelli said.
A family affair
Ocean has had a long history of members of several families wrestling for it.
A look at this year's team has two families having three wrestlers.
Farina's younger brothers - Justin and Daniel, are at 113 and 190, respectively. Justin Farina, a freshman, pinned in the 120-pound bout Wednesday night and Daniel Farina, a junior, clinched the match, with a pin.
There are also three Voleks on the team in junior Michael Volek, Jake Volek and freshman Dominic Volek. Michael Volek won by major decision at 138 and Dominic Volek pinned at 132 Wednesday night.
Apicelli also gets the chance to coach his nephew, Michael, a freshman 106-pounder. Michael Apicelli bumped up to 113 and recorded a 7 5 win over Jordan Viera on a takedown with 6.5 seconds left in the sudden victory period. Viera was also bumping up to 113.
Coaching a family member is never easy for any coach.
"It's fun, but it's a little bit more stressful,'' Apicelli said. "Obviously, as a coach, you want everyone to do well, but he (his nephew) is my family. You, obviously, want him, to succeed. He came through with a big win.''
Apicelli's win was the second bout of an opening 28-0 surge through the first six bouts that put Ocean in control of the match.
Ocean 45, Long Branch 24
106: Justin Penta (O) p. Danielle Silva DeJesus 1:05.
113: Michael Apicelli (O) d. Jordan Viera 7-5 (sudden victory).
120: Justin Farina (O) p. Dominic Lugo 3:03.
126: Steven Perez (O) d. Mikel Rodriguez 7-4.
132: Dominic Volek (O) p. Jason DeNoia :41.
138: Michael Volek (O) md. Pedro De Souza 11-1.
144: Daniel Ramirez (LB) p. Malcolm Beale 2:51.
150: James Farina (O) tf. Nick Miller 4:51 (21-5).
157: Devon Smith (LB) md. Josh Calixte 9-0.
165: Cristian Cunalata (LB) p. Rodley Petit 1:51.
175: Tornick Kajaia (LB) d. Michael Poniros 7-4.
190: Daniel Farina (O) p. Noah Hoomgmoed 3:57.
215: Tyler Taylor (LB) tf. T.J. Strom 5:47 (20-5).
HWT: Abimael Andre (O) p. Nickolas Soria :43.
Elsewhere around the Shore Conference Wednesday night
Class A Central
No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven 37, No. 8 Red Bank Catholic 25
Junior heavyweight Matt Smith put the capper on the Bulldogs' win by upending Lorenzo Portella 5-4 by virtue of two takedowns and handing Portella his first defeat of the season.
Portella was the NJSIAA seventh-place finisher at heavyweight in 2022 and is the two-time defending Region 5 heavyweight champion.
Rumson-Fair Haven erased a 25-24 deficit with wins in the last three bouts. Returning state qualifier Conor Delaney (190) gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with a major decision and defending 215-pound champion Hudson Skove clinched the match with a pin.
No. 3 St. John Vianney 75, Monmouth 6
Two-time NJSIAA champion Anthony Knox weighed in at and wrestled at 120 for the first time this season in the Lancers' win over the Falcons. Knox, who had been wrestling at 126 before Wednesday night, won state titles at 113 in 2022 and 120 last season.
Class A North
No. 1 CBA 44, No. 6 Howell 28
Pins by freshmen Killian Coluccio (106) and Paul Kenny (113) and a pin by sophomore Bobby Duffy (126) were part of a four-bout 22-point surge from 106-126 that erased an early 18-0 deficit as the Colts defeated Howell and put themselves in command of the Class A North race.
Manalapan 57, Freehold 18
Freehold Township 49, Marlboro 22
Class A South
No. 5. Brick Memorial 62, Toms River North 9
Toms River East 39, Brick 30
A win by technical fall by Tyler Singer (126), a major decision by Jaton Wellington (132) and a pin by Richie Kulessa (138) in the final three bouts erased a 30-24 deficit and gave the Raiders the win over the Green Dragons.
Toms River South 40, Central 34
A pin by Owen Beneciuk (157) in the final bout gave Toms River South the win over the Golden Eagles.
Class B South
No. 14. Jackson Liberty 35, Donovan Catholic 29
Nondivisional
No. 13, Raritan 37, No. 12 Colts Neck 33
A pin by returning region qualifier Logan Acevedo in the final bout at 157 pounds gave the Rockets the win over the Cougars.
Colts Neck had grabbed a 33-31 lead headed into the final bout when 2022 state qualifier Tyler Russ defeated returning state qualifier Alexander Delaurier 4-3.
Raritan wiped out a 24-12 deficit after six bouts with a 19-6 run from 113-144. A pin by returing state fifth-place finisher Zach Reilley (144) gave the Rockets a 31-30 lead.
No. 15 Lacey 48, Manasquan 21
No. 9 Holmdel 48, Red Bank 21
Point Pleasant Beach 42, Matawan 36
A pin by Thomas Schulter (190) in the final bout gave the Garnet Gulls the win over the Huskies.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ wrestling: Ocean has a chance to win a sectional title
