Atlantic City Press 2/12/09: Delsea wrestling tops Buena
Buena wrestles admirable match but falls to top-seeded Delsea
By AARON BRACY For The Press
(Published: Thursday, February 12, 2009
)
FRANKLINVILLE – Top to bottom, Delsea Regional HighSchool was just too tough.
That was Buena Regional’s feeling after its gutsy performance came up short in a 46-21 loss to the host Crusaders on Wednesday night in the South Jersey Group II semifinals.
“They’re a balanced team with good wrestlers at every weight,” Buena coach Doug Castellari said of the defending sectional champs. “Getting here was an accomplishment for us.”
Fifth-seeded Buena (14-12), which avenged a regular-season loss with a 52-27 win over Lower Cape May Regional on Monday to earn a spot in the semis, was the victim of a fast start by top-seeded Delsea (17-3) on Wednesday. With the match beginning at heavyweight, the Crusaders opened with a pair of pins, a major decision and a forfeit to jump to a commanding 22-0 lead just four bouts in.
Even when the Chiefs finally got on the scoreboard, things didn’t exactly go their way, as Paul Pierson’s last-second escape gave Buena’s Dan Renner a 10-3 victory – one shy of a major decision and an extra team point.
Josh Owens’ pin at 130 pounds upped Delsea’s advantage to 28-3 and it was 31-3 after Buena’s Zach Bergohf wrestled tough but lost an 8-3 decision to defending state champ Luke Fedechko at 135.
Tommy Breder, at 140, and Justin Castellari, at 145, were bright spots for the Chiefs, with a pair of wins. But Delsea, No. 9 in The Press’ Elite 11, clinched the match and a berth in Friday’s sectional final two bouts later when Scott Kronberger pinned at 160. Delsea will face second-seeded West Deptford in the final.
“Things didn’t start well and we’ve wrestled better, but they have no holes,” Castellari said. “They’re a good team.”
That sentiment was echoed by Breder.
“They’re tough, they keep wrestling,” Breder said of the Crusaders, who beat Buena 50-21 in a regular-season match last month. “We knew we were going to have to wrestle tough.”
Breder did just that at 140 in a physical, tightly contested match with Eric Reger. The Delsea wrestler, who lost to Breder by a point in their previous match, held a 5-4 lead with 0.6 seconds left and looked on his way to avenging the earlier defeat. But Reger was hit with a second caution after a false start in the top position, and was penalized a point to make it 5-5 after regulation.
Breder took advantage of the break with a quick takedown in overtime to earn an unlikely victory.
“I was thankful for the caution and felt confident going into the OT,” Breder said.
Improving to 23-7, Breder is building momentum toward the individual portion of the postseason.
“Every win is a confidence booster,” said Breder, who was third in districts and regions last year and hopes to place in states this year. “This time during the season it becomes, ‘Go big, or go home.’ ”
Breder’s thrilling victory gave the sizable visiting contingent a chance to cheer, and Castellari kept the Chiefs fans on their feet in the ensuing match.
Castellari joined 171-pounder Josh Gamble as the two Chiefs who won by pin.
103-Dela D p Anthony Lopez 2:15; 112-Jillard D md Rich Kelly 10-2; 119-Hennelly D forfeit; 125-Dan Renner B d Pierson 10-3; 130-Owens D p Jarrett Kelly 1:23; 135-Fedechko D d Zach Berghof 8-3; 140-Tom Breder B d Reger 7-5 OT; 145-Castellari B p Asroff 3:59; 152-Saunders D d Merrill 8-4; 160-Kronberger D p Jamar Martinez :34; 171-Josh Gamble B p Reddon 1:06; 189-Eric Hensel B d Anderson 11-9; 215-Lahn D p Noah Repko 2:36; *285-Walker D p Dom Hinrichsen 5:02.
Records-Delsea 17-3; Buena 14-12.
*match began at this weight
“I didn’t start well but I came back and put him in a near-side cradle,” said Castellari, who pinned Dave Asroff in 3:59. “It’s always great to get a win, but I’d rather have won the whole match in general.”
