WARMINSTER – Sometimes, revenge can be so sweet, especially when it is exacted against your out-of-state rivals.
Avenging a lopsided loss suffered at the hand of New Jersey last year, Pennsylvania destroyed the Garden State 52-6 in the PIAA Wrestling Officials Delaware Valley Chapter Meet of Champions All-Star Challenge Wednesday night, March 16 at Archbishop Wood High School.
“Last year, P-A lost pretty badly to New Jersey,” commented Pennsbury senior Connor Joyce, who posted a 7-5 decision win over Montgomery’s Terence Rohmeyer. “We all agreed this year, P-A would come back and really take it to New Jersey.”
Boy, did they ever. While New Jersey outpaced Pennsylvania in the meet last year, 35-11, the Keystone State won 13 of the 15 bouts this time around, including a girls exhibition matchup.
Council Rock North senior Josh Shalinsky (170 pounds) started the night with an 8-4 decision over Carteret’s Farhan Khan while Manville’s Jeremy Nurmberger (160) finished it off by recording one of only two wins for New Jersey in a 6-3 decision over Quakertown’s Tanner Seislove.
In between, CR South senior Lucas Martoccio (145) pinned South Brunswick’s Nick Daza, Hatboro-Horsham’s Nick Guiliani (120) pinned Hillsborough’s Austin Schimmel and CB South’s Kyle Murphy (132) pinned Montgomery’s August Rohmeyer.
Big Bruce Graeber (285), of Neshaminy – fresh off capturing a third-place medal in the PIAA Class AAA Tournament March 10-12 at the Giant Center in Hershey – was on his way to a tech fall when his opponent, Manville’s Michael Tyle, suffered an ankle injury, giving Bruce and the Keystone State the six points via injury default.
“It’s the last time I’m going to be on a high school mat for a little while,” said Graeber. “I wanted to have a little fun, show everybody that I could tech somebody.”
“He’s the only heavyweight I ever saw that can put someone in a cradle,” added Joyce, who is teammates with Graeber at Apache Wrestling.
With the Keystone State leading 48-3, Truman senior Dustin Stone recorded the last victory for Pennsylvania when he majored Hopewell Valley’s Austin Roskos, 12-3.
“We work hard and we’re tough kids. P-A is one of the hardest states out there,” commented Stone. “We all wrestle hard, we practice hard. It’s dedication, I guess.”
Tim McCall (Father Judge), Charles Wallace (Archbishop Ryan), Colin Devlin (Upper Dublin) and Anthony Piscopo (LaSalle) also won decisions for Pennsylvania.
Hillsborough’s Anthony DelGuercio earned the other win for New Jersey, a 5-3 decision over Hatboro-Horsham’s Kyle Beck.
Mary Nicols, of Kennett High School, posted a 5-2 decision win over Hillsborough’s Leyla Hirsch in an exhibition matchup.
Halfway through the event, the scholarship winners were announced. This year, they went to George Frattara (Archbishop Wood), Colin Devlin (Upper Dublin), Zack Clarke (Pennsbury) and Austin Schimmel (Hillsborough).
Wood was nominated the Most Improved Team and Stone received the Jack Donohue Memorial Sportsmanship Award. Afterward, Stone surmised as to the reasons for his nomination.
“I’m an advocate for the sport. I help kids, help my teammates if they need it. I help with tournaments – if anybody needs help with anything, I’m there.
“I’m thrilled that I won it. I didn’t know that I got it until tonight. I was surprised actually.
“It was exciting to get it – it’s a good award. It shows a lot about your character, the kind of person that you are and what you do for the sport.”
A two-time regional medalist and state qualifier, Stone recently finished his varsity career with over 130 wins. He went 33-9 in this, his last season on the mat, taking both Suburban One League and District 1-AAA titles at 145 pounds. At SOLS, he was named Outstanding Wrestler.
Justin plans to take his game to the next level. As to where that might be, Stone is currently undecided though he is considering Kutztown, York College and Bridgewater.
NOTES: Referee Bob McCarney organized the Pennsylvania team. Brian West, a former grappling star at Pennsbury, organized the New Jersey team … Wood coach Vic Stanley and Upper Dublin coach Joe Stabilito were named honorary coaches on the Pennsy side … Stabilito, who coached last year at Neshaminy, is being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Pennsylvania Chapter April 24 at Hershey Lodge.
Contact the author at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
Delaware Valley Wrestling Officials Meet of Champions All-Star Challenge
SE Pennsylvania 52, Central & Southern New Jersey 6
(March 16 at Archbishop Wood)
106 — Tim McCall (Father Judge) dec. Jonathan Ahorrio (Manville), 1-0
113 — Charles Wallace (Archbishop Ryan) 7-6 dec. Mohammed Dhillo (Carteret), 7-6
120 — Nick Guiliani (Hatboro-Horsham) pinned Austin Schimmel (Hillsborough)
126 — Connor Joyce (Pennsbury) dec. Terence Rohmeyer (Montgomery), 7-5
132 — Kyle Murphy (CB South) pinned August Rohmeyer (Montgomery)
138 — Colin Devlin (Upper Dublin) dec. Tanner Johnson (Hillsborough), 4-3
145 — Lucas Martoccio (CR South) pinned Nick Daza (South Brunswick)
152 — Dustin Stone (Truman) maj. dec. Austin Roskos (Hopewell Valley)
160 — Jeremy Nurmberger (Manville) dec. Tanner Seislove (Quakertown), 6-3
170 — Josh Shalinsky (CR North) dec. Farhan Khan (Carteret), 8-4
182 — Anthony DelGuercio (Hillsborough) dec. Kyle Beck (Hatboro-Horsham), 5-3
195 — Anthony Piscopo (LaSalle) dec. Max Rhoen (South Brunswick), 4-3
220 — Gavin Caroff (Quakertown) won by forfeit
285 — Bruce Graeber (Neshaminy) won by injury default Michael Tyle (Manville)
* Match started here
