Kittatinny wrestling continues strong legacy in sectional title win over Emerson/Park Ridge

HAMPTON — Star wrestlers don't win sectional titles, but depth certainly does.

The Kittatinny wrestling team proved the strength of the middle of its lineup as it won seven of eight bouts after falling behind by 12 points in the early going.

The Cougars claimed the North 1, Group 1 title with a 39-27 win over Emerson/Park Ridge on Wednesday night at Kittatinny High School.

"We’ve got a great lineup," senior Ty Eldred said. "Going forward, I think it’s imperative that we don’t give up pins and all we do is pick up bonus points across the board."

Kittatinny's 36-3 run in the middle of the match was bookended by forfeits to hammers Shane Nelson and Steven Dalling at 120 and 165 pounds, respectively.

In between, the Cougars' grit and fight shined through. In pivotal matches down low, Jacob Savage used a first-period takedown to emerge with a 3-1 decision over Jake Farrington.

And after two scoreless periods working to get Emerson/Park Ridge's Kenny Brouwer to his back, Kittatinny's Chris Casale picked up a reversal early in the third and a late takedown to notch a 4-1 decision at 132 pounds, tying the match, 12-12.

The Cavos' Louden Mazzeo was a big favorite in the next bout at 138 pounds, but Kittatinny's Avery Yeager made things interesting. After Mazzeo built an 8-2 lead, Yeager was able to escape and score a takedown in the second. The Kittatinny 138-pounder notched a reverse early in the third and settled for a 10-7 loss.

"I’ve got to give Avery kudos," Kittatinny coach John Gill said. "You think on paper, coaches are penciling in six and they only get three. That’s huge. When you look at scores like this, the momentum really starts swinging. He fought, he got stronger as it went on. He had a great third period, so I’m really proud of him."

The strength of the Cougars' lineup has been the middleweights. They provided a critical lift when Kittatinny was trailing, 15-12.

Reece Smith scored a pin in 42 seconds at 144 pounds, Bryce Coesfeld picked up a first-period pin in three more seconds at 150 and freshman Ethan Dalling used his top position to deck the Cavos' Anthony Paino in 3:16 at 157.

"I’m good on top and knew I had to get some points from the top and turn him," Ethan Dalling said. "I’m good with cradle, so went to that, it wasn’t there, so I put a twist in and put him to his back."

A forfeit win from his brother, state medalist Steven, built Kittatinny's advantage to 36-15.

Back on top

Every season, it seems Kittatinny and Emerson/Park Ridge enter as the prohibitive favorites to win a sectional title.

In the last eight seasons with a sectional title, the two programs have only not finished on the top of the section once. EPR also won a Group 2 crown in 2016.

Wednesday's victory provided a little bit of payback for Kittatinny, which has faced Emerson/Park Ridge in the last three North 1, Group 1 finals. In 2020, the last time the two sides squared off, the Cavos won, 36-28.

It also sealed the Cougars' 23rd sectional crown.

"It’s a rivalry. Every year, it’s always Emerson/Park Ridge and us," Casale said. "I feel like we needed this one bad from the last couple of years taking the loss. I feel like we needed this one as a team."

Now, Kittatinny will turn its attention toward trying to claim its ninth state title and first since 2008. They will host North 2, Group 1 champion Roselle Park in a Group 2 semifinal at 6 p.m. on Friday.

"We already beat (Delaware Valley), which might be in the group finals," Ethan Dalling said. "We’re coming in with a really good team, wrestling really good right now."

Emerson/Park Ridge closes its campaign with an 11-6 record.

Hold on

A 21-point deficit with four bouts to go meant Emerson/Park Ridge needed major bonus points to come back.

Cole Hughes provided a third-period pin over Kittatinny's Tyler Holste at 190 pounds, but decision wins from Jacob Shannon and Ayden Giacomelli were not enough to get the Cavos over the hump.

Even in a loss to Giacomelli, Cougars senior Jay Martin got the job done for his team. Martin is a "beginner wrestler," according to Gill, but after falling behind 6-1 midway through the second period, he stayed off his back and scored a late takedown in the third period to clinch the win.

"We're two wins away (from a state title). You never know. Every win's closer," Gill said. "You start Nov. 22 and you don't know what's going to walk through the door. I had a beginner at (215) and he's a hero tonight. He lost, but he was hero by not getting pinned. Jay Martin did a nice job."

Ty Eldred, who was forfeited against last time the two teams faced off in 2020, got to leave his mark at 285 pounds. He used an escape and pair of stalls on Alex Sanmartin to grab a 3-1 win in the final bout.

"If you’re going to have a match coming down to winning or losing or tying and you’re at the mercy of the tiebreaker page – I don’t even have it memorized — as it’s coming down, I finish with three seniors," Gill said. "One got pinned, one gave up a decision and one won a tight 3-1 match. That’s who should be carrying the weight."

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: NJ wrestling: Kittatinny wins sectional title over Emerson/Park Ridge