Who were the Shore Conference wrestling stars from Week 8 of the 2023-24 season?
The Asbury Park Press is highlighting the top Shore Conference wrestling stars each week during the 2023-24 season.
Here are those stars from the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 3.
Tucker Pazinko, Jackson Liberty
Pazinko, a returning state qualifier, defeated Point Pleasant Borough's two-time state qualifier 4-3 on a reversal with 1:16 left in the third period in the 126-pound bout of Jackson Liberty's 31-30 win on the 10th criteria (most near fall points). The win enabled Jackson Liberty to clinch the outright Shore Conference Class B South championship.
Joseph DeAngelo, Point Pleasant Borough
A two-time state qualifier, DeAngelo began the Panthers' match with Jackson Liberty with a 4-1 win over returning state qualifier Anthony Urso in the 113-pound bout. It was DeAngelo's second win of the season over Urso. He also defeated him in the Shore Conference Tournament 113-pound final.
Dylan Placca, Holmdel
A freshman 113-pounder, Placca pinned in the final bout to clinch the Hornets' 41-30 win over Raritan.
Carson Cheong, Toms River South
Cheong, a senior 126-pounder, recorded a 5-2 win in the final bout to give Toms River South a 35-33 win over Toms River East. It was Toms River South's first win over Toms River East since the 2016-17 season.
Tyler Palumbo, Red Bank
Palumbo, a sophomore 175-pounder, pinned in the final bout to give the Bucs a 36-32 win over Point Pleasant Beach. He then defeated Manchester's returning Region 7 fifth-place finisher Dante Mortellite 6-1.
Tornick Kajaia, Long Branch
A returning state qualifier and a sophomore 175-pounder Kajaia majored Rumson-Fair Haven's Luke Dougherty 15-7. Dougherty was 18-7 on the season before that bout.
Alexander Delaurier, Raritan
Delaurier, a junior 150-pounder and a returning state qualifier, went 5-0 on the week, including a pin of Delaware Valley's returning region sixth-place finisher Ben Levy.
Robert Connelley, Red Bank Catholic
A junior 150-pounder, Connelley went 4-0 with four pins on the week.
James Lynch, Toms River East
Lynch, a junior heavyweight who was a state qualifier last season at 215 pounds, remained unbeaten. He had a pin of Pinelands' Tyler Glass. Glass had pinned Donovan Catholic's returning state qualifier Sam Rock earlier in the season.
Xavier Ortega, Howell
A junior 132-pounder and a two-time state qualifier, Ortega went 6-0 on the season, including a 5-1 win over High Point's returning Region 1 fourth-place finisher Nick Clayton.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ wrestling: Standouts from the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4
