VAN DYK HELPS SHORE SWEEP 145 - NJSIAA Wrestling Medal Winners

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

    ATLANTIC CITY -- Ocean senior Andrew Van Dyk was crushed after losing to Brick Memorial's Steve Santos in the semifinals at 145 during the NJSIAA Individual Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall, but he knew he still had a chance to set this season apart from the previous three.
    "I don't think I got all the emotions out until two minutes before my (consolation semifinal) match," Van Dyk said. "I was really dying there but I knew I had to come out and win because I didn't want to be in the 5th/6th match for the fourt year in a row."
    Van Dyk was able to advance to the consolation final on Sunday and defeat Kingsway's Rich Bushby, 1-0, to finish third in the state at 145. Third is the highest finish for the four-time state place-winner.
    "It's a successful season, I felt I left everything on the mat," Van Dyk said. "One thing I always wanted to do was to end my career with a win."
    Van Dyk's third-place finish means Region VI took the top three places at 145 with Jackson's Sean Byrnes defeating Brick Memorial's Steve Santos in the final.
    "Region VI is real tough in our weight class," Van Dyk said. "Actually, everyone is really tough."
    Van Dyk isn't kidding. In addition to having a conference-record seven state champions, the Shore Conference had 15 other wrestlers place including Van Dyk. Also taking third was Marlboro's Charlie Frankel at 103. Frankel lost his semifinal bout to Eastern's Rob Deutsch, but was able to win his next two bouts for a third place finish. Frankel finished seventh last season at 103 and is just the third Marlboro wrestler to place in the state tournament.
    "It's a great accomplishment," Frankel said. "It means I'm the third best in New Jersey, so that's definitely a great accomplishment."
    After losing in the semifinals, some wrestlers have a tough time rebounding and often fall into the lower-place matches. Frankel knew he had to regroup quick if he wanted to end his season on a high note.
    "That was hard after the loss," Frankel said. "I was down low after that but my coaches and the rest of the Shore kids got me through it. I feel a lot better now. I was seeded No. 1 so I wanted to come back and get the highest place possible."
    A senior, Frankel will remember his final trip to Atlantic City fondly.
    "After the quarterfinals when I knew I was going to place," Frankel said. "That was so much fun, I was so excited after that."
    A second-place finish is obviously better than finishing third, but the feeling of losing in the state final often initially takes away from a fantastic individual achievement. Five Region VI wrestlers finisehd as state runners-up, with three of them losing to fellow Shore Conference wrestlers. Ocean senior Mike Berardesco had his amazing run to the state final halted by Howell's Joey Langel, but it was still a memorable tournament for a wrestler who had to scratch and claw his way out of the region tournament. At 145, Santos Lost to Byrnes, who was the only one to defeat him (three times) this season. The Mustangs junior had one of the best seasons ever for a Brick Memorial wrestler and is the school's highest finisher since Nick Angen won a state title in 1996.
    Raritan's Dan Seidenberg lost a heart-breaker to Watchung Hills' Brendan Ard, 3-1 in overtime. It is the second, second-place finish for the Rockets junior, who was undefeated heading into the state final. He should no doubt rebound and be a title contender once again next season. The most surprising loss for a Shore Conference wrestler came at 215, where heavy favorite Glenn Carson of Southern lost to David Brearley's Jesse Boyden, 3-1. Carson, who also finished second last season, was taken down for the first time in months in the first period and could not take down Boyden, who he had defated in the Beast of the East Tournament. Carson is also a junior and should make a run at a state title again next season. Finally at heavyweight, Howell's Harry Turner lost to Manchester's Jimmy Lawson, 4-3. Turner was undefeated heading into the state final and was visibly distraught after the loss. He should soon realize that the defeat does not take away from a marvelous season that saw him become Howell's fifth runner-up in school history. Rebels head coach John Gagliano commented earlier in the season that Turner improved the most over four years of any wrestler he has coached.
    Placing fourth at 119 pounds was Brick Memorial sophomore Mike Morales, who was defeated by Belleville's Filberto Colon, 7-3. Fifth-place finishers were Point Boro sophomore Jordan Beverly at 125, Ocean senior Zac Coulas at 130, and Christian Brothers Academy's Joe Favia at 160. Favia battled bck to defeat Don Bosco Prep's Nick Vetterlein, who many predicted would reach the final, for the fifth-place medal. Toms River South's Mark Maestry was sixth at 112, as was Colts Neck's Jimmy Somma at 135. Jackson's Derrik Russell was seventh at 125 and Brick Memorial's Karon Reid was seventh at 140.
    Region VI once again had strong showing at the NJSIAA Individual Tournament. Aside from having seven champions crowned, the Shore showed its depth with 17 others getting medals. The 22 total place winners makes up 20 percent of the total medalists.

Email: badders@digitalsports.com