Barlow, Marino medal at Beast of the East

It’s called the Beast of the East for a reason. It’s a two-day test of will and skill between some of the top wrestlers and wrestling teams from at least a dozen states, including Florida, New Mexico and California.

Haverford School’s L.J. Barlow and Garnet Valley’s Matt Marino more than held their own in that meat-grinder, which wrapped up Sunday at the Bob Carpenter Complex in Newark, Del.

Both wrestlers came away with medals. Barlow placed fifth at 195 pounds and Marino was sixth at 120.

Barlow, the Daily Times Wrestler of the Year last year and as a freshman in 2011-12, went 8-2 and beat Neil Putnam of Blair Academy in sudden victory, 9-5, to claim fifth place. Barlow took the hard way to a medal. He dropped his first match and then won seven bouts in a row before falling in the consolation semifinals. Barlow had a bye in the first round of consolations, and then won four of the next six bouts by fall.

Two of Barlow’s teammates were also involved. Chase McCollum went 1-2 at 120 pounds and Jake Hervada was 2-2 at 160.

Marino, a second-team All-Delco as a freshman last season, won his first three bouts before dropping a 10-3 decision to Jake Newhouse of Massillon (Ohio) in the quarterfinals. Newhouse went on to finish second. Marino bounced back with two more wins before falling again in the consolation semis and the fifth-place match to Requir Van der merwe of Blair Academy. Marino was 5-3 for the tournament.

And he wasn’t the only Jaguar in Newark. The entire squad was there. Pat Rowe’s 5-2 record at 152 was among the highlights for Garnet Valley. Gary Pizzuto went 3-2 at 145 and Nick Puliti was 2-2 at 126.