Anthony Knox of St. John Vianney wins Beast of the East wrestling 120 pound title

SUNDAY

BEAST OF THE EAST

AT UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, NEWARK, DEL.

St. John Vianney's talented sophomore and returning NJSIAA champion Anthony Knox added another championship to his growing haul by capturing the 120-pound title Sunday at the prestigious season-opening Beast of the East.

Knox, who won the state 113-pound title last season and was the No. 1 seed, defeated No. 2 and 2021 state 106-pound champion and last season's state 113-pound fifth-place finisher Daniel Jones of Delbarton 5-2.

Three other Shore Conference wrestlers finished second in their respective weight classes . They were Brick Memorial's returning state champion Harvey Ludington (175), St. John Vianney's returning state fifth-place finisher Jasiah Queen (165) and Rumson-Fair Haven's two-time state qualifier Hudson Skove (215).

Knox, who defeated Jones 5-1 in last season's state 113-pound semifinal, had a takedown with 37 seconds remaining in the first period, an escape early in the second and a takedown off a pancake move with around 30 seconds remaining.

Prior to his final takedown, Knox, while riding Jones, fought off a reversal attempt and allowed just an escape that made it 3-2 with 43 seconds remaining.

Ludington was the NJSIAA 175-pound champion last year. The No. 2 seed and sophomore was defeated 3-1 by Parkersburg (WVa.)'s Gage Wright 3-1. Wright scored the winning takedown with 10 seconds remaining after he fought off several takedown attempts by Ludington during the bout.

It was the first scholastic defeat for Ludington since a 5-4 defeat to Mount Olive's Hunter Perez in the semifinal of last year's Mustang Classic at Brick Memorial.

It was also the second straight season a Brick Memorial finished second at the Beast of the East. Anthony Santaniello was the runner-up at 132 last season to Delbarton's eventual state champion Tyler Vazquez.

Queen, who was fifth in the state at 157 last year, was majored 10-1 by Delbarton's two-time state top six finisher and top seed Louie Cerchio.

Despite the defeat, Queen had a sensational run as the No. 14 seed. He defeated the No. 3, 6 and 2 seeds in his three bouts before the final with the first of those wins coming in tiebreaker No. 1 and the second in sudden victory period No. 1. The third of those wins came over a Pennsylvania state champion.

Cerchio, was fourth in the state at 165 last season and sixth at 160 in 2021, took control of the bout with a takedown and then three back points in the first period.

Skove, a junior and the No. 3 seed, was defeated by No. 1 seed Max Agresti of Salesianum (Del.) 3-2 in the ultimate tiebreaker.

Agresti, who had choice because he had won the flip at the start of the second period and scored first, escaped four seconds into the ultimate tiebreaker. He had also escaped early in the second and with 17 seconds left in the first part of the tiebreaker No. 1 period.

Skove escaped 20 seconds into the third period and with eight seconds remaining in the second part of the tiebreaker No. 1 period.

Three other Shore Conference wrestlers took home medals.

Middletown South's two-time state fourth-place finisher and three-time state top five finisher Jack Zaleski was fourth at 132. It is the second straight season Zaleski has medaled at the Beast of the East. He was seventh at 126 last season.

Zaleski, the No. 5 seed, was defeated 4-2 by No. 4 seed Chase Van Hoven of Brooke Point (Va.) in the third-place bout. It was Van Hoven's second win of the day over Zaleski. He defeated Zaleski 4-3 in the quarterfinal.

In the wrestleback semifinal. Zaleski defeated Kingsway's Nathan Taylor 1-0 in arematch of last season's 126-pound state third-place bout that Taylor won 4-2 in sudden victory period No. 1.

Howell junior Sebastian Ortega, the state fifth-place finisher at 113 in 2021 and a two-time state qualifier, took home a seventh-place medal at 126 and Howell senior and two-time state qualifier D.J. Henry was eighth at 190.

Powerful Delbarton won the team championship. The Green Wave had two champions in Cerchio and Alessio Perentin (157) and two runners-up in Jones and Vazquez (138).

Delbarton finished with 172.5 points, nine more than Bethlehem (Pa.). Catholic. St. Peter's Prep was fourth with 145 points and St. John Vianney 11th with 88.5 points.

More:Shore Conference 2023 wrestlers to watch, team outlooks, preseason Top 10, key dates

NATIONAL SHOWCASE DUALS

AT NEW ORLEANS

Blair Academy 52, CBA 6

106: Benjamin Koch (BA) d. Alex Provines 1-0

113: Ryan Meier (BA) d. Robert Duffy 6-5.

120: Leo DeLuca (BA) tf. Tyler Venet 5:01 (21-6).

126: Marc Anthony McGowan (BA) p. A.J. Falcone 5:21.

132: Matthew Lopes (BA) p. Williams Sakoutis 3:56.

138: Alex Nini (CBA) d. William DeKraker 7-2.

144: Julian George (CBA) d. Logan Rozynski 4-1.

150: William Henckle (BA) d. Tyler Barrett 7-2

157: Paul Ognissanti (BA) d. Zander Silva 3-1.

165: Lorenzo Norman (BA) d. Anthony Lawrence 6-5.

175: Peter Snyder (BA) by forfeit.

190: Liam Kilrain (BA) md. Nick Stump 15-5.

215: Joshua Anthony (BA) md. Peter Grippo 16-5.

HWT: Carter Neves (BA) p. Robert Canterino 1:52.

SATURDAY

TOURNAMENTS

BEAST OF THE EAST

AT UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, NEWARK, DEL.

Returning state champions Anthony Knox of St. John Vianney and Harvey Ludington of Brick Memorial led the six Shore Conference wrestlers who advanced to the quarterfinals of the prestigious power-packed tournament.

Knox, who is a sophomore and was the 113-pound state champion last season, is the No. 1 seed at 120 pounds. He recorded two technical falls and a pin.

Ludington, who is also a sophomore and was the 175-pound state champion last season, is the No. 2 seed at 175. He recorded a pin and a technical fall.

St. John Vianney has two other quarterfinalists in sophomore Patrick O'Keefe (113) and senior Jasiah Queen (165).

Middletown South senior Jack Zaleski (132) and Rumson-Fair Haven junior Hudson Skove (215) are the other quarterfinalists from the Shore.

The quarterfinals will take place at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. The semifinals will be at 11:30 a.m. Sunday and the championship, third, fifth and seventh-place bouts will take place at 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

O'Keefe, the state runner-up at 106 last season, is the No. 6 seed. He recorded a pin and two decisions.

Zaleski, a two-time state fourth-place finisher and three-time state top five finisher, is the No. 5 seed. He had a pin, a major decision and a 10-4 decision.

Queen, fifth in the state at 157 last season, came from the No. 14 seed. He knocked off No. 3 seed Behkurz Sadriddinov Council Rock (Pa.) South 9-8 in tiebreaker No. 1 in the pre-quarterfinal. He had pins in his other two bouts.

Skove, a two-time state qualifier who came within one win of a state medal last season, is the No. 3 seed. He had a 9-3 decision and a pin in his two bouts.

ROBIN LEFF TOURNAMENT

AT SOUTHERN

Jackson Memorial senior Ryan Fischer defeated two returning state qualifiers to win the heavyweight championship at the 19-team tournament.

The Region 6 sixth-place finisher at heavyweight last season, Fischer defeated Delsea's returning Region 8 champion Rocco Bennett 3-1 in the final. Bennett was one win away from a state medal last season.

In the semifinal, Fischer defeated Southern's Anthony Evangelista, who was a state qualifier last season at Hammonton, 4-0.

Southern had five champions in Conor Collins (132), Wyatt Stout (138), Matt Henrich (150), Nick Bennet (157) and Cole Velardi (165). The Rams also had four runners-up in Attila Vigilante (120), Scottie Sari (126), Hayden Hochstrasser (144) and Riley O'Boyle (215).

Point Pleasant Boro's Joey DeAngelo (106) was the other champion from the Shore.

Collins, the 2021 state runner-up at 113 and a two-time state top three finisher, defeated Mount Olive's 2021 106-pound sixth-place finisher and two-time state qualifier Jack Bastarrika 5-2 in the final.

Stout, the Region 7 champion at 126 last season, defeated Blair Academy's Danny Acconando 3-2.

Henrich, the state seventh-place finisher at 138 last season, won by injury default over Jackson Memorial's returning state qualifier Kael Huxford.

Bennet defeated Point Boro's returning state qualifier Jack Thompson 5-2. Thompson came within one win of a state medal last season.

Velardi, the state fifth-place finisher at 150 last season, majored Absegami's two-time state qualifier Sean Cowan 8-0. Cowan came within one win of a state medal and was a state quarterfinalist at 157 last season.

DeAngelo, a returning state qualifier, defeated Delsea's returning state qualifier Gage Summers 5-4 in overtime.

Vigilante, Hochstrasser and O'Boyle were all defeated by returning state medal winners. Mount Olive's Tyeler Hagenson, fourth at 106 last season, defeated Vigilante 5-0. Delsea's Jamar Strasser, fifth at 132 last season, majored Hochstrasser, a returning state qualifier, 13-5 and Mount Olive's Anthony Moscatello, fifth at 190 last season, defeated O'Boyle 8-6 in overtime. O'Boyle came within one win of a state medal last season.

Jackson Memorial's Jason Seda was the runner-up at 113. He was defeated 13-6 by New Milford's Devin Ryan 13-6. Ryan came within one win of a state medal last season.

RON MAZZOLA MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

AT OLD BRIDGE

Defending NJSIAA Group 2 champion Raritan crowned seven champions as it won the team title at the 18 team tournament.

The tournament, which for many years was called the Icebreaker Tournament, was renamed this year in honor of the late Ron Mazzola. Mazzola, who was the long-time Region 5 ranking chairman, Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament director, the president of the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, a tireless manager and computer technician for wrestling tournaments and ambassador for wrestling, died last Feb. 21.

One of the tournaments Mazzola managed and ran the computer program was the Icebreaker Tournament. He also ran the computer program for the state boys and girls tournaments and the Region 5 tournament.

Raritan's champions were returning state qualifiers Ryan Mansueto (126), Zach Reilley (138) and Braden Kmak (144), Nick Sheldrick (106), Alex Delaurier (132), Logan Acevedo (150) and Kieran Falzon (190).

The Rockets finished with 258 points, 38 more than Old Bridge. Freehold Township was third with 114.5 and Matawan was fourth with 102.

Other champions from the Shore were Matawan's 2021 state qualifier Ricky Gomez (113) and Colin Palumbo (165). and Toms River East's James Lynch (215).

Mansueto defeated returning region fifth-place finisher Alex Grant of Freehold Township 9-3

Delaurier, whose season last year was cut short by an injury, won by medical forfeit over Freehold Township's returning state qualifier Ryan Dubnik.

Falzon pinned returning region qualifier Aidan Harrington of Freehold Township.

Palumbo, a returning region qualifier, pinned returning region sixth-place finisher Spencer Gangel of Northern Burlington.

Lynch, a sophomore and a returning region qualifier, defeated Old Bridge's returning region qualifier Robert Orzol 6-2.

WENDY PENDY-LEH WRESTLING INVITATIONAL

AT DELAWARE VALLEY

Wall's returning state qualifiers Michael DiBiase (106), Donovan DiStefano (150) and 2021 Central Region 220-pound sixth-place finisher Kei'Sun Sanders (heavyweight) and Ocean's Michael Volek (132) won championships.

Wall finished second in the team standings with 147.5 points and Ocean was seventh with 80.5 points in the 10-team tournament. Defending NJSIAA Group 1 champion Delaware Valley won the team title with 211 points.

DiStefano, the Region 6 champion and a state quarterfinalist last season, defeated Delaware Valley's returning state qualifier Chris Colasurdo 9-4 in the final. He had a pin and a major decision in his other two bouts.

DiBiase had two pins and a technical fall in his three bouts. Sanders defeated Voorhees' Cameron Bautman 3-2 in the final. He pinned in his other two bouts.

Volek came from the No. 5 seed to win his title. He defeated Delaware Valley's Michael Roche 7-5 in the final after he knocked off No. 1 seed and returning state qualifier Brandon Ribiero 9-8 in the semifinal.

Wall's Will Kinsella (157) and Ocean's Michael Poniros (165) each finished second in their respective weight classes.

JOHN AND BETTY VOGEDING TOURNAMENT

AT PAULSBORO HIGH SCHOOL

Shore Conference Team: Howell.

CALDWELL TOURNAMENT

AT CALDWELL HIGH SCHOOL

Rumson-Fair Haven's Eamon Fry (106), Julian DuQue (126) and Conor Delaney and Freehold's Angelo Messina (138) won championships.

Messina is a two-time state qualifier. Delaney is a returning district champion and region sixth-place finisher and DuQue is a two-time region qualifier.

Rumson-Fair Haven and Freehold finished third and fourth in the team standings.

GARDEN STATE CLASSIC

AT BARNEGAT HIGH SCHOOL

Shore Conference Teams: Barnegat, Lakewood, Manchester, St. Rose.

GATOR TOURNAMENT

AT GATEWAY HIGH SCHOOL

Red Bank sophomore Kevin Ruland won the 113-pound championship and the Bucs received runners-up finishes from Dominick Sena (120), Gavin Lisko (150) and Tyler Palumbo (190) as they finished fourth with 126 points in the 10-team tournament. Gateway won the team title with 231.5 points.

Ruland, who was the District 20 fourth-place finisher at 106 last season, pinned in 1:15 in his final. He had two pins and a 12-5 decision in his three bouts in the tournament.

HADDONFIELD TOURNAMENT

AT HADDONFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

Shore Conference Team: Toms River South.

HAMMONTON TOURNAMENT

AT HAMMONTON HIGH SCHOOL

Shore Conference Team: Shore.

DUAL MEETS

LACEY TRI

Lacey 45, Rancocas Valley 29

Rancocas Valley 66, Toms River North 18

QUAD MEETS

CENTRAL QUAD

Manalapan 52, Pinelands 28

Pinelands 61, Central 18

Middletown North 58, Pinelands 18: Pinelands' returning state qualifier Mason Livio defeated Middletown North's returning region fifth-place finisher Colin Oden 5-4 at 138 pounds.

Manalapan 62, Central 9

Manalapan 40, Middletown North 29: Manalapan's Vincent DePierro (132) majored Middletown North's Justin Fearon 18-7 in a matchup of returning state qualifiers.

Middletown North 75, Central 0: Middletown North senior Lucas Ainbinder defeated Central's returning state qualifier Cosmo Zaccaro 7-6 in the 215-pound bout.

KEANSBURG QUAD

Keansburg 72, Highland Park 6

Keyport 39, J.P. Stevens 30

Keansburg 58, Keyport 24

Keansburg 66, J.P. Stevens 17

Keyport 42, Highland Park 11

COLTS NECK QUAD

Colts Neck 75, Newark Academy 3

Colts Neck 60, Carteret 24

Colts Neck 43, Holmdel 30

Holmdel 79, Carteret 0

Holmdel 69, Newark Academy 9

FRIDAY

CLASS A CENTRAL

Raritan 75, Monmouth 6

CLASS B CENTRAL

Shore 48, Asbury Park 29

CLASS B SOUTH

Donovan Catholic 45, Manchester 30

NONDIVISIONAL

Holmdel 78, St. Rose 0

Manalapan 68, Lakewood 6

NONCONFERENCE TRI MEET

Barnegat/Holy Cross at Palmyra

THURSDAY

CLASS A NORTH

Christian Brothers Academy 63, Freehold 18: A 14-5 major decision by returning state fourth-place finisher and two-time state medal winner Alex Nini over two-time state qualifier Angelo Messina in the 138-pound bout highlighted the Colts win over the Colonials.

CBA's Anthony Lawrence (165) pinned Joseph Berryman in 1:12 in a matchup of returning state qualifiers.

Alex Provines (106), Robert Duffy (113), returning region champion Tyler Venet (120), A.J. Falcone (126), Justin Young (132), returning state third-place finisher Tyler Barrett (150), Peter Grippo and returning region champion Robert Canterino (heavyweight) all pinned for CBA, which is ranked No. 1 in the Asbury Park Press Preseason Top 10.

Middletown South 48, Howell 27: It looked like Middletown South had been hit hard by graduation.

The Eagles graduated three state qualifiers and nine district medal winners from a team that shared the Shore Conference Class A North championship with Christian Brothers Academy and Howell and lost by one point to Brick Memorial in the NJSIAA Central Group 4 championship match.

However, Middletown South showed Thursday night that it may not take much of a step back as it thrashed Howell, ranked No. 4 in the Asbury Park Press Preseason Top 10.

The Eagles, who defeated Howell for the second straight season, won six of the first seven bouts, including four straight from 215-113 as they built a 33-6 lead.

Highlighting the surge from 215-113 was a 4-3 win by senior heavyweight Thomas Whyte over returning district runner-up Thomas Richards.

Howell, which wrestled without two-time state qualifier Giovanni Scafid and returning region qualifier Dane Colfer, closed to within 33-18. But, a pin by two-time state fourth-place finisher and three-time state top five finisher Jack Zaleski in the 132-pound bout and a 7-5 win by Ryan Willi in the 138-pound bout enabled Middletown South to clinch the match with three bouts remaining.

Kyle Smith (175), Landon Penta (215), Joseph Veniskey, Zachary Veniskey and Michael Simoniello had pins for Middletown South.

Middletown South 48, Howell 27

165: David Hussey (MS) by forfeit;

175: Kyle Smith (MS) p. Travis Edmonds 3:20.

190: D.J. Henry (H) p. Matthew Poandl 1:21.

215: Landon Penta (MS) p. Michael Saweris 1:00.

HWT: Thomas Whyte (MS) d. Thomas Richards 4-3.

106: Joseph Veniskey (MS) p. Mason Hultman 3:23.

113: Zachary Veniskey (MS) p. Tyree Unger 1:19.

120: Xavier Ortega (H) by forfeit.

126: Sebastian Ortega (H) p. Declan Connolly 3:53.

132: Jack Zaleski (MS) p. Patrick Schaeffer 1:11.

138: Ryan Willi (MS) d. J.J. Machnik 7-5.

144: Kieran Bruen H) d. Alec Holland 8-5.

150: Michael Simoniello (MS) p. Aidan Grant 2:16.

157: Gavin Merkel (H) by forfeit.

CLASS A CENTRAL

Rumson-Fair Haven 39, Red Bank Catholic 19: An 8-2 win by returning district champion and Region 5 sixth-place finisher Conor Delaney over returning district third-place finisher Michael Palmieri in the 190-pound bout started 36-9 run over 10 bouts from 190-144 as the No. 8 Bulldogs defeated the No. 9 Caseys.

Two-time state qualifier Hudson Skove (215), freshman Joaquin DuQue (106) in his first varsity bout and returning Region 5 sixth-place finisher Cole Pangborn (138) pinned for the Bulldogs. Pangborn was trailing Robert Connelley, a transfer from St. Rose and returning region participant, 5-4, when he took him down and then pinned him with 1:10 remaining in the second period.

Rumson's returning region qualifier Nick Costello (157) began the bout with a come-from-behind 6-4 win over Robert Muscio on a takedown with 12 seconds remaining.

Red Bank Catholic's Vincent Muscillo (175) defeated freshman Luke Dougherty 6-4 on a takedown with two seconds remaining.

Both teams wrestled without key wrestlers.

Rumson-Fair Haven was without returning state qualifier Ryan Boyer, who did not weigh in. He was on the Rumson-Fair Haven bench during the match.

Red Bank Catholic was without two-time state top four finisher Sabino Portella and returning region qualifier Davin Brewton. Neither of them weighed in.

Red Bank Catholic head coach Joe Gallagher said Portella is nursing an injury from football season and will be back in the lineup in January. Gallagher said the status of Brewton, who is also nursing an injury from football, is up in the air.

Rumson-Fair Haven 39, Red Bank Catholic 19

157: Nick Costello (RFH) d. Robert Muscio 6-4.

165: Frank Romeo (RBC) md. Jacob Tobias 12-4.

175: Vincent Muscillo (RBC) d. Luke Dougherty 6-4

190: Conor Delaney (RFH) d. Michael Palmieri 8-2.

215: Hudson Skove (RFH) p. David Nieves :15.

HWT: Lorenzo Portella (RBC) d. Matthew Smith 5-0.

106: Joaquin DuQue (RFH) p. Nicholas Friscia :14.

113: Eamon Frey (RFH) md. Williams Dodds 11-3.

120: Noah Michaels (RBC) p. Andrew Newell 2:30.

126: Julian DuQue (RFH) tf. Anthony DeGaetano 4:23 (18-3).

132: Walker Skove (RFH) d. Michael Miike 8-1.

138: Cole Pangborn (RFH) p. Robert Connelley 2:50.

144: Evan Ridgway (RFH) d. Marco Conroy 5-3.

150: Robert Stolfa (RBC) d. Christian Cady 16-9.

CLASS A SOUTH

Brick Memorial 34, Toms River North 4: Three-time state finalist Anthony Santaniello (138) picked up career win No. 99 in the No. 7 Mustangs' win over the Mariners in a match where just three bouts were held.

Santaniello, the 2021 state 120-pound champion, won by technical fall over returning state qualifier Joe Dolci.

Toms River North forfeited four weights and there were seven double forfeits.

Toms River South 50, Central 30

Southern 78, Brick 0

Jackson Memorial 37, Toms River East 18

CLASS B NORTH

Long Branch 58, Matawan 15

Ocean 37, Manasquan 36: A pin by freshman Justin Penta (106) in the final bout gave the Spartans the win over Manasquan on the criteria of most first points scored after a 36-36 tie.

Manasquan had grabbed a 36-30 lead on consecutive pins by Noah Mammeri (215) and Cristian Canesco (heavyweight).

Both teams won seven bouts and had five pins and two decisions and both teams won a bout 5-4.

Nick Fazio (113), Steven Perez (126), two-time state qualifier James Farina (150) and Rodley Peitit (190) had pins for Ocean.

Returning region qualifier Torey Falkinburg (138), Michael McNulty (144) and Max Salerno (165) also had pins for Manasquan.

CLASS B SOUTH

Lacey 70, Lakewood 9

NONDIVISIONAL

Barnegat 51, Neptune 27

Pinelands 48, Monmouth 36

Point Pleasant Boro 54, Colts Neck 25

Holmdel 38, Point Pleasant Beach 36: Conseucutive pins by returning region qualifiers Alexander Todisco (150) and Jack Cleary (165) in the final two bouts gave the Hornets the win over the Garnet Gulls and capped a rally from a 30-14 deficit over the final five bouts.

Pins by Shahood Khan (138) and Airan Fernandez (144) pulled Holmdel within 30-26 before a pin by Joe Beley (150) extended the Garnet Gulls' lead to 36-26 headed into the final two bouts.

Alexander Reyes (175) and John Steele (190) also pinned for Holmdel.

Point Pleasant Beach built its 30-14 lead on consecutive pins by Luke DeBenedetti (120), Collin Hutton (126) and P.J. Niethe (132).

NONCONFERENCE

Keansburg 59, Perth Amboy 18

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ Wrestling: Anthony Knox wins Beast of the East 120 pound title