WRESTLING: Paulsboro gets by Colls
COLLINGSWOOD - On the final day of the Colonial Conference schedule, the rivals each accentuated the positives.
Paulsboro, a 32-22 road winner over Collingswood, gladly took its 14th victory and another Colonial Conference title.
The Panthers (17-5) were glad to have wrestled better than they did in Wednesday’s 33-25 home loss to Haddonfield.
“That’s the best they’re wrestled that I’ve seen,” Red Raiders’ coach Paul Morina said of Collingswood. “They did a nice job. I thought they wrestled well.
“I didn’t take ’em lightly. I just think they’re tough in spots.”
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While the Panthers grappled with grit all night, an early lack of bonus points at upper weights – the meet started at 195 – put Dechlin Moody’s club in a bind.
“The bonus points killed us,” Moody said. “We needed scores there and they did a nice job fighting us off.”
The Mat Pack’s fourth-ranked team in Paulsboro (14-1) did what it’s done forever – stayed off its back.
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Josh Bailey held Nick Barnes to a 7-3 decision win at 195. After Dashon Burdett got a 13-3 major over Jake Medica at 220, Frank Mooney kept Ryan Harper at a decision with an 8-2 final at heavyweight.
Eighth-ranked Collingswood didn’t get out to the early jump it wanted with just a 10-0 lead. The Red Raiders capitalized.
Morina’s group won five of the next six bouts. They nabbed bonus points at 106 from a Matt Marcucci pin in 67 seconds and at 132 as Anthony Duca majored Aaron Carter, 16-8.
Paulsboro’s 19-13 lead shrunk to 19-16 after Christian Dolan’s 2-0 win over Sam Giordano at 145.
Then, two freshman cousins gave some cushion for the stretch run.
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Anthony Morina’s 12-1 major against Billy Plianthos at 152 set up the finish. Santino earned a hard-fought win at 160 with a 5-1 decision over Colin Lex.
“I felt I was more composed,” Santino said. “He was real good, real strong. I just had to work on what would make it better on my side.”
His uncle Paul saw the bout as a huge swing.
“Santino was clutch,” the coach said.
Zach Richard, one of two seniors in the lineup, pinned at 170 with two seconds left in the second period to seal the deal.
“My coach told me before the match, 'You don’t give up a pin and we win,'” Richard recalled of the win against Sean Miles, in which he held Miles down for a while before the final call. “I was trying to put the kid down and just trying my best to get there.”
After the same path in the rough-and-tumble Colonial, the squads left with vastly different roads ahead. In Group 1, the Red Raiders will be prohibitive favorites in South Jersey.
“I gotta work on ’em this week,” Paul Morina said of his young team after admittance he didn’t address he playoffs this week. “We’ve got a shot (at a state title), but we’ve got to get out of South Jersey.”
Collingswood gets a bye in the first round of Group 2 and could face the Bulldawgs again on Wednesday in the semifinals. Haddonfield faces Clayton on Monday.
Moody addressed his team in the wrestling building and broke them down. He offered motivation in the form of a challenge – no more losses.
“I love these tough matches – they keep us prepared for the playoffs,” Moody said. “We know us, West Deptford (No. 2 seed), Cinnaminson (No. 3) and Haddonfield (No. 4) are in the mix for Group 2.
“We saw that at the beginning of the year.”
Mark Trible (856) 486-2424; mtrible@gannettnj.com
PAULSBORO 32
COLLINGSWOOD 22
- Man of the match: Paulsboro freshman Santino Morina fought off Colin Lex at 160 pounds with three points in the final period to earn a 5-1 win and push the lead to 10 points with two bouts left.
- Bout of the night: The Red Raiders got a 6-5 win from Rick Eli at 126 over Will West in a bout that was tied 4-4 with 90 seconds left.
- Well said: “We’ve got a shot (at a state title), but we’ve got to get out of South Jersey.” -- Paulsboro coach Paul Morina
