By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer
TOMS RIVER -- It is one of the hardest things to accomplish in high school sports. Many enter with high hopes and few leave having realized the goal they set before themselves. Winning a state title is the ultimate goal, but some may argue that winning an NJSIAA Region VI title is even harder. On Saturday at the Ritacco Center on the campus of Toms River North, 14 Shore Conference wrestlers stood tall on the medal stand and 28 others punched their tickets to Atlantic City, the promised land of New Jersey high school wrestling. Jackson senior Scott Winston highlighted the 2008 Region VI Tournament by winning his third straight title and improving his career record to a staggering 133-0. In the process, he also passed current Jackson head coach Doug Withstandley to become the Jaguars' all-time wins leader and was named as the Region VI Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Other memorable performances included Brick Memorial's Karon Reid getting redemption over Long Branch's Jon Robertson to capture his second straight Region VI title. Toms River North's John Morano battled all the way from the No. 7 seed to win his first region title at 125 pounds, and Colts Neck's Jimmy Somma because the first wrestler in school history to win a region championship.
Long Branch head coach Dan George was named the Region VI Coach of the Year for the second straight season. The Green Wave went 26-0 and won the Shore Conference Tournament, the Central Jersey Group II Tournament and the Group II title all for the first time in school history.
Below you will find the complete Region VI results from each round along with stories on each champion and video highlights from each round.
Scroll to the bottom for more photos courtesy of Larry MurphyNJSIAA Region VI Wrestling Championships.
Video Highlights
Click here for Finals
Click here for Consolation Finals
Click here for Semifinals
Click here for Quarterfinals
Click here for Pre-Quarterfinals
CLICK BELOW FOR STORIES AND VIDEOS FROM ALL THE FINAL MATCHES:
103: Until We Meet Again - Tyler Biscaha (Jackson) d. Charlie Frankel (Marlboro) 6-1.
112: On a Mission - Joey Langel (Howell) d. Mark Maestry (Toms River South) 9-3.
119: Three for Three - Vinnie DelleFave (Toms River East) d. Mike Morales (Brick Memorial) 3-1 (OT).
125: The Hard Way - John Morano (Toms River North) d. Derrik Russell (Jackson) 4-2.
130: Too Coulas - Zac Coulas (Ocean) d. Mike Tancredi (Wall) 8-3.
135: Somma-ch for the Favorites - Jimmy Somma (Colts Neck) d. Nick Maugeri (Southern) 5-2.
140: Reid's Redemption - Karon Reid (Brick Memorial) d. Jon Robertson (Long Branch) 7-2.
145: Byrnes Baby Byrnes - Sean Byrnes (Jackson) d. Steve Santos (Brick Memorial) 1-0.
152: Slick Nick - Nick Menditto (Ocean) d. Brian Broderick (Southern) 7-2.
160: 133-and-WOW - Scott Winston (Jackson) tf. Jason Ecklof (Howell) 25-10
171: He'll Take It - Dan Seidenberg (Raritan) by forfeit over Skylar Engelken (Point Boro)
189: Hello Newman - Brian Newman (Toms River North) d. John Battista (Brick) 9-3.
215: Glennzilla - Glenn Carson (Southern) md. Kevin Docherty (Brick Memorial) 17-6.
HWT: Heavy Medal - Harry Turner (Howell) d. Ameer Washington (Long Branch) 13-7.
Results
Finals
103: Tyler Biscaha (Jackson) d. Charlie Fankel (Marlboro) 6-1.
112: Joey Langel (Howell) d. Mark Maestry (Toms River South) 9-3.
119: Vinnie DelleFave (Toms River East) d. Mike Morales (Brick Memorial) 3-1 (OT).
125: John Morano (Toms River North) d. Derrik Russel (Jackson) 4-2.
130: Zac Coulas (Ocean) d. Mike Tancredi (Wall) 8-3.
135: Jimmy Somma (Colts Neck) d. Nick Maugeri (Southern) 5-2.
140: Karon Reid (Brick Memorial) d. Jon Robertson (Long Branch) 8-2.
145: Sean Byrnes (Jackson) d. Steve Santos (Ocean) 1-0.
152: Nick Menditto (Ocean) d. Brian Broderick (Southern) 7-2.
160: Scott Winston (Jackson) tf. Jason Ecklof (Howell) 25-10.
171: Dan Seidenberg (Raritan) by forfeit (Skyler Engelken (Point Boro) injured in semifinals)
189: Brian Newman (Toms River North) d. John Battista (Brick) 9-3.
215: Glenn Carson (Southern) md. Kevin Docherty (Brick Memorial) 17-6.
Hwt: Harry Turner (Howell) d. Ameer Washington (Long Branch) 13-7.
Most Oustanding Wrestler: Scott Winston, Jackson
Coach of the Year: Dan George, Long Branch
Consolation Finals
103: Sean Brand (Point Boro) d. Kyle McNulty (Toms River North) 5-1.
112: Mike Berardesco (Ocean) d. Gene Accardi (Freehold Township) 8-4.
119: BJ Young (Jackson) p. Scott Festejo (Long Branch) 1:08.
125: Jordan Beverly (Point Boro) d. Frank Labrusciano (Wall) 5-2.
130: Jason Walters (Southern) d. Johnny Short (Matawan) 5-3.
135: Justin Clarke (Long Branch) md. Don Miller (Brick Memorial) 10-2.
140: Charlie Croce (Middletown South) d. Matt Frank (Toms River East) 1-0.
145: Andrew Van Dyk (Ocean) p. Rob Semprevivo (Pinelands) 4:20.
152: Justin Molzon (Toms River East) d. Nick Visicaro (Long Branch) 1-0.
160: Joe Favia (CBA) d. Tom Kevlin (St. John Vianney) 5-3.
171: Justin Persico (Middletown North) md. Mike Kiley (Brick Memorial)
189: Billy George (Long Branch) d. Billy Miller (Brick Memorial) 3-0.
215: Curtis Kelly (Toms River North) p. Tim Tomaino (Middletown South) 5:45.
HWT: Jimmy Lawson (Manchester) p. Louis Brown (Lakewood) 0:11.
Semifinals
103
Charlie Frankel (Marlboro) md. Sean Brand (Point Boro) 11-0
Tyler Biscaha (Jackson) md. Kyle Casaletto (Lacey) 10-0
112
Joey Langel (Howell) d. Zach Huxford (Jackson) 2-0
Mark Maestry (TR South) p. Mike Berardesco (Ocean) 5:52
119
Vinnie DellaFave (TR East) tf. Scott Festejo (Long Branch) 24-7
Mike Morales (Brick Memorial) md. BJ Young (Jackson) 9-0
125
Derrik Russell (Jackson) d. Cody Mooney (Raritan) 5-4
John Morano (TR North) d. Frank Labrusciano (Wall) 2-1
130
Zac Coulas (Ocean) md. Johnny Short (Matawan) 8-0
Mike Tancredi (Wall) d. Ray Stathum (Long Branch) 7-3
135
Jimmy Somma (Colts Neck) d. Don Miller (Brick Memorial) 1-0
Nick Maugeri (Southern) p. Justin Clarke (Long Branch) 5:34
140
Jon Robertson (Long Branch) d. Bob Hornacek (Raritan) 3-2
Karon Reid (Brick Memorial) md. Matt Frank (TR East) 11-2
145
Sean Byrnes (Jackson Memorial) p. Rob Semprevivo (Pinelands) 3:43
Steve Santos (Brick Memorial) d. Andrew Van Dyk (Ocean) 2-1
152
Nick Menditto (Ocean) d. Nick Visciaro (Long Branch) 5-3
Brian Broderick (Southern) d. Chris Giannios (Brick Memorial) 4-1
160
Scott Winston (Jackson) md. Joe Favia (CBA) 19-7
Jason Ecklof (Howell) d. Cody Oliverio (Brick Memorial) 8-1 - Ecklof 100th career win
171
Dan Seidenberg (Raritan) tf. Mike Kiley (Brick Memorial)
Skyler Engelken (Point Boro) d. Justin Persico (Middletown North) 9-7.
189
Brian Newman (TR North) d. Billy Miller (Brick Memorial) 10-0
John Battista (Brick) d. Billy George (Long Branch) 4-0
215
Glenn Carson (Southern) tf. Dave Janssen (Wall) 15-0.
Kevin Docherty (Brick Memorial) p. Josh Davis (Freehold)
Hwt
Harry Turner (Howell) p. John Cassidy (TR North)
Ameer Washington (Long Branch) d. Jimmy Lawson (Manchester) 3-2.
Consolation Semifinals
103
Kyle McNulty (Toms River North) d. Kyle Casaletto (Lacey, 7-2.
Sean Brand (Point Boro) d. Christian Lippai (Pinelands) 3-1.
112
Mike Berardesco (Ocean) tf. D.J. Santos (Brick Memorial) 18-2, 3:39.
Gene Accardi (Freehold Township) d. Zach Huxford (Jackson) 2-0 (OT).
119
B.J. Young (Jackson) tf. Chris VanFechtman (Raritan) 16-0, 2:32.
Scott Festejo (Long Branch) d. Mike Tabasco (Freehold Township) 8-4.
125
Jordan Beverly (Point Boro) tf. Cody Mooney (Raritan) 18-3, 5:58.