Who were the Shore Conference wrestling stars from SCT week?
The Asbury Park Press is highlighting the top Shore Conference wrestling stars each week during the 2023-24 season.
Here are those stars from Shore Conference Tournament week.
More: Shore Conference Tournament Wrestling Results
More: Freshmen rule the day at the Shore Conference Wrestling Tournament
Sonny Amato, Rumson-Fair Haven
A freshman who had already finished fourth and second at 144 at the Beast of the East and Sam Cali Invitational respectively, Amato won the Shore Conference Tournament 144-pound championship with a dramatic 5-2 win over returning state fifth place finisher Zach Reilley of Raritan on a takedown and two back points in the last 35 seconds. He also won by technical fall over three-time state qualifier Giovanni Scafidi of Howell in the semifinal.
Tanner Hodgins, Howell
Hodgins, a freshman, won the SCT 175 pound championship with a 12-6 win over 2022 region fifth place finisher Ryan Acquisto. He majored dreturning state qualifier Trey Tallmadge 9-1 in the semifinal.
Jake Clayton, Point Pleasant Borough
A freshman, Clayton won the SCT 157-pound championship by riding out No. 1 seed and returning state qualifier Matthew Castelli of Middletown North in the ultimate tiebreaker for a 3-2 win.
James Farina, Ocean
Farina, a three-time state qualifier, won the SCT 150 pound title with a 7-3 win over three-time state qualifier Donovan DiStefano of Wall. He also defeated returning state qualifier Alex Delaurier of Raritan 5-2 in the semifinal.
Alex Reyes, Holmdel
A sophomore and returning state qualifier, Reyes avenged a defeat three days prior to Rumson-Fair Haven's returning state qualifier Conor Delaney with a 5-2 win in the 190 pound final. He is Holmdel's first SCT champion.
James Lynch, Toms River East
Lynch, a junior and a state qualifier last year at 215 pounds, won the SCT heavyweight championship with a 3-1 win on a takedown with 24 seconds left in the sudden victory period over returning state qualifier Sam Rock III of Donovan Catholic. Lynch is 11-0 on the season.
Michael DiBiase, Red Bank Catholic
DiBiase, a junior and a state qualifier at 106 pounds the last two seasons at Wall, won the SCT 106 pound championship with a 7-2 win over Ethan Michaels of Colts Neck. It was the first time this season DiBiase wrestled at 106.
Kurt Wehner, Donovan Catholic
A senior and Donovan Catholic's only two-time state medal winner, Wehner won the SCT 120 pound championship with a 9-0 major decision over Matthew Gould of St. John Vianney. Gould was eighth in the state last season at 106 pounds.
Patrick O'Keefe, St. John Vianney
O'Keefe, a junior who was the NJSIAA runner-up at 106 in 2022 and eighth in the state last year at 132, won the SCT 132-pound title with a 5-0 win over returning state qualifier Alexander Grant of Freehold Township. O'Keefe, who was the SCT runner-up at 113 last year, was one of three champions from St. John Vianney and helped the Lancers win the team title.
Paul Kenny, Christian Brothers Academy
Kenny, a standout freshman 113-pounder, won by major decision in the final bout to give the Colts a 37-36 win over Don Bosco Prep in the third-place bout in the Catholic School Duals. He also defeated St. Peter's Prep's returning state third-place finisher Salvatore Borrometi in the Colts' 42-24 defeat to the Marauders in a Catholic Schools semifinal match.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ Wrestling: Top wrestlers from SCT week
