For High School North, the 2004-’05 wrestling season — its fifth year as a program — is another step on its steady upward climb to becoming a power in the CVC. ##M:[more]##For High School South it’s a rebuilding year after the glory years of 2002 and 2003 when it won a share of the Mercer County Tournament championship and followed that up with a second MCT championship and a CVC Colonial Division championship.
Although both teams started slow, losing the first three matches of the season, each has rebounded into a respectable record. North, with a 7-2 conference record (7-5 overall) is in first place in the CVC’s Patriot Division. South, at 5-5 in the conference (7-8 overall) is in fourth place.
High School North
Wrestling is one of those sports, like tennis, in which individual achievement is highlighted, yet still remains a team sport. “I like the individuality of wrestling,” says Alex Ragucci, a senior at North who is rated as the CVC’s top wrestler in the 160 weight class. “It’s one-on-one, so if you win your match you feel like you accomplished something. But that works the other way too, because if you lose you can’t blame it on anyone else.”
Ragucci has the best of both worlds. With a 13-1 personal record this season, he has dominated most opponents all season. With the Northern Knights hoping to take the Patriot Division championship, he also has the team victories to be proud of. “For me wrestling is one of the biggest team sports,” says Ragucci, who is in his second season as the team’s co-captain (along with senior George Goldsmith and sophomore Jeff Rotella). “In order to really be successful we need to win as a team. I really want to see my teammates do well.”
Led by Ragucci, the Knights’ wrestling program, in its fifth season under Coach Bill Mealy, has continued to improve this season. But the season started out on a low note for the team — losing its opening three matches of the season on December 11 against South Brunswick, Livingston, and Saint John Vianny.
But it was a high note for Ragucci who won all three of his opening matches by pinning his opponent. “I think I am a better wrestler this year,” he says. “I’ve tried to expand my repertoire by building in more moves. I have four or five good moves now that I feel comfortable with.”
The high point of the season, so far, came on January 5 in a match against High School South in which the Knights beat the Pirates for the first time their history. Despite winning his matches each of the previous two years against South, Ragucci says it was difficult to celebrate because the team had always lost. While he won again this year, pinning his opponent in 10 seconds — the quickest pin in North’s five-year history — his teammates also put up enough wins to earn a 39-24 victory.
Sophomore Joel Kaye, wrestling in the 112 weight class, opened the match with a win by pin. Then freshmen Ted Hirt (119) and Matt Kalinowski (125) won their matches by decision. Rotella (130) followed by pinning his opponent (18-0). Then Ragucci’s quick win gave the Knights a commanding 36-9 lead. Despite winning some late matches, South could not catch up. “It was a great win,” says Ragucci. “It shows how much this team has progressed over the years.” Other Knight winners were Corey Simmons-Edler (135), Ramon Sanchez (140) by pin, and George Goldsmith (145).
Goldsmith, with an 12-3 overall record this season, is ranked among the CVC’s best this season, along with Simmons-Edler (7-4). Rotella is a sophomore sensation, winning his first four matches of the season. Freshman Brian Gallagher (103), along with fellow frosh Hirt and Kalinowski, seem to place North’s future in some very good hands.
Ragucci says that he couldn’t have asked for a better senior season. Born in Toms River, he has been a resident of Plainsboro since kindergarten. His father works as a purchaser and his mother is a homemaker. Ragucci’s older brother, James, is a junior at Montclair State University. “My brother was one of the first wrestlers at High School North,” says Ragucci. “He got me into it. My parents have also encouraged me along the way.” Although he has been wrestling since the seventh grade, he is uncertain if he will wrestle in college, perhaps at Rutgers or Temple University, where he will major in engineering.
North will compete in the Mercer County Tournament on Friday, February 4, at 5 p.m. and Saturday, February 5, at 9 a.m. at Trenton High School. North then faces Steinert and Notre Dame at home on Wednesday, February 9, at 4 p.m. and then Robbinsville at 6:30 p.m. North will be at Ewing on Saturday, February 12, at 10 a.m. and at home against Monroe on Wednesday, February 16 at 6 p.m.
High School South
Wrestling is one of the most democratic of sports. Because each wrestler only competes in his own weight class, an athlete weighing a mere 105 pounds who can chalk up the wins will be a big shot while his 250-pound underachieving teammate will have to wait for the football season to garner his glory.
Pirates’ co-captain Misha Esipov, a junior, is a case in point. Wrestling at the 152 pounds, he would be a mere wisp of a wide receiver on the football team, yet he is one of the main reasons for South’s return to respectability. So far this season he is 12-3, including four pins.
Last year Esipov went 7-6 for the Pirates, but an off season conditioning program — imposed by South’s second year coach Craig Wilson and including running long distances as well as sprints — has built up his stamina to the point that he is having a breakout year.
With only three seniors on this year’s team, the Pirates are building the program back with youth (losing last year’s standouts Vince Avery and Tim Woodhull to graduation). Although having a young team may mean South has the potential to develop into a powerhouse in forthcoming years, it also means that this year consistency has been hard to come by.
Like North, South opened its season losing early season matches, to Paul VI, 57-23, and to Holy Spirit, 42-25. The Pirates followed that up with a loss to Notre Dame on December 22, 54-20. While the loss to North was a low point with the Pirates falling behind early, there were some positives. Dan Fryer, Joe Everingham, Brian Morris, and Andrew O’Shaughnessy all turned in wins. But later in January, the Pirates sandwiched a loss to Piscataway (58-11) with convincing victories over Allentown, 54-29, and Hamilton, 36-31.
Esipov has been one of the bright spots this season, with loads of potential for next season. Other Pirates making a difference are sophomore Dan Fryer (8-7 at 140 pounds), Wil Despines, a junior (8-3 with five pins at 145), Everingham, a sophomore (10-5 with seven pins at 171), junior Morris (8-4 with six pins at 189), junior Adrien Schriefer (8-3 with six pins at 275) and O’Shaughnessy (275) a sophomore. In addition, senior Ali Jaffery (5-5 at 103) has turned in some big wins along with freshman Derek Delorenzo, with a 9-6 record so far this season.
The Pirates will compete in the county tournament at Trenton High School on Friday, February 4, at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 5, at 8 a.m. South then will finish the season with six away matches: North Brunswick on Wednesday, February 9, at 6 p.m.; Hightstown on Thursday, February 10, at 6:30 p.m.; Sayreville on Tuesday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m.; Monroe on Thursday, February 17 at 6 p.m.; and Timber Creek, on Saturday, February 19, at 11 a.m.
Hoop Girls
Despite some early season doldrums, the North girls basketball team has found itself in a position to take the CVC’s Patriot Division title. With a 10-5 record (7-3 in the conference), the Lady Knights faced defending champion Hopewell Valley on February 1.
After being outscored in the first quarter, 8-6, North came roaring back in the second. Liz Tang scored 10 second half points, while Claire Dysart and Samatha Yang played solid defense to shut down Hopewell while adding 12 points between them. Heading toward the county tournament and the NJSIAA sectionals, North has won five in a row, six out of its last seven.
North will play at Allentown, Tuesday, February 8, at 7 p.m. and at South Hunterdon, Thursday, February 10, at 7 p.m. The Mercer County Tournament begins on Monday, February 14 and runs through Friday, February 18. North will play at South for the regular season finale on Tuesday, February 22, at 5:30 p.m.
