BLUE DEVILS ROTTER SECOND AT 120, ZEMSKY 3RD 190
Cranford High School junior Jordan Chapman and sophomore Mike Daly each won their class at the Region 4 Wrestling Championships in Union on February 24, while Westfield senior Max Rotter placed second and sophomore Jake Zemsky placed third to punch their tickets for the NJSIAA Tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (AC). Also qualifying for the trip are AL Johnson Crusaders Joey Ortega (144-lbs) and Zach Belverio (113-lbs), along with Cougar Luke Scholz (132-lbs).
Daly came in as the third seed at 106-lbs and after receiving a bye, he pinned Jaeczar Evans (Rahway) in 4:20 in the quarterfinal round. Daly explained, “I did a back tackle. Shot a single, I shelved it and I back tackled.”
Next, Daly had a tight bout with second-seeded Ryan Sherlock (Hunterdon Central) but prevailed. Daly recalled, “I won 3-0. It was 0-0 going into the third period and I got the takedown.”
His title bout was against 32-5 Tanner Connelly of Ridge. After a scoreless first period where each took shots, Connelly escaped in the second period then Daly escaped in the third period to set up the sudden death overtime. Daly came through with the takedown to grab a 3-1 victory and the crown.
“I was trying to score but he was shooting and trying to score too. He made some attacks. I defended them. We escaped and I got the takedown in the end,” Daly explained.
On his overtime takedown Daly described, “I knew I was in better shape. I decided to go after him and I got it done. I’m excited! I’m ready!”
Last year Daly missed qualifying for AC but that did not hinder his attitude, “I was confident. I knew I would get here. I was sixth last year.”
Seeded seventh at 120-lbs, Blue Devil Max Rotter exceeded expectations. First he defeatedALJ’s Keegan Parkhill, 5-0, then he stunned second- seeded Ryan Goldstein (Immaculata), 12-5, to reach the semifinals where he edged third-seeded Matteo Littman (Pingry). In the title bout he ran into a real buzz saw with undefeated 38-0 Anthony Rossi (Hunterdon Central), who staged a clinic of nearfalls with single grapevines, far arm hooks, Jacobs hooks and a tight waist/arm bar to claim a 15-0, 1:38 technical fall.
Seeded third at 190-lbs, Jake Zemsky pinned Nehemiah Bugash (Hunterdon Central) in just 39 seconds then he pinned Cougar Joey Acinapura in 1:02 to reach the semifinal where he lost to second-seeded Fabian Acuna (Somerville). Zemsky came back in the wrestleback to pin AndrewAvent (Rahway) in 1:36 then he went to work on Kevin Taylor (Ridge) to earn a 9-2 decision. Zemsky started with a takedown in the first period.
“I knew he was going to take a shot and I knew how to stuff it and defend. First two points means a lot in a match,” Zemsky said.
But the real bout decider was when Zemsky nailed Taylor with a fivepoint pancake in the second period. Taylor never could counterattack.
On his five-point pancake maneuver, Zemsky explained, “Once I hit that, I knew he was gone mentally. Going down by five late in the second period it’s hard to come back from that.”
Additionally, Zemsky was very tough from the top position and wore Taylor down. “Top was my main struggle last year and I just learned grabbing the wrist means a lot. It stops them,” Zemsky explained.
Last year, Zemsky placed third in the district but was defeated in the early round of the region so was qualifying for AC ever a thought? “Honestly no! I knew I had a lot of work to do. I did it in the off-season.”
Now that he is making the trip, Zemsky expressed, “It means a lot to me. I worked really hard. I think I deserved to go to Atlantic City. I earned my trip.”
With the top seed at 165-lbs, Chapman made it a smooth ride through with a bye and a pair of falls to reach the title bout with John Quinones (Paramus Catholic) where he recorded a 19-4, technical fall in 2:42 to up his record to 38-1.
Cougar Luke Scholz earned his ticket when he defeated Nate Keller (Immaculata), 3-1, for third place. Scholz began his journey with a 16-0, 3:19 technical fall over Max Shaferman (Watchung Hills). Scholz advanced to the semifinal round with a 4-2 decision over John Whitacre (St. Joseph Metuchen) then lost a 3-2 squeaker to eventual winner Nick Pallitto (Paramus Catholic). Scholz also won his first wrestleback, 8-4.
Cougars Eoghan O’Hara (144) and Ryder Connors (126) just missed their ride to AC by placing fifth.
