Ocean Spartan Wrestlers Capture 3rd Straight Title
Coaster Photo
Pictured are Ocean Township wrestlers (left to right) Greg Plotts, Chris Bannon, Gaetjens Lezin, and Maverick Nunes-Vais.
By ANDREW CANGIANO
With a dominating win over Wall in the Central Jersey Group III title match at home last Thursday night, Ocean Township High School secured its third straight group championship.
Head Coach Ken Hoff called the 47-20 win the best of the three titles his teams have earned, as this years Spartans have had to overcome injuries and a slow start to the season.
Weve been through a lot, Hoff said, noting that at one point the team had a record of 4-6, before going on a tear and winning 13 of its next 14 matches.
Hoff said one of the big victories for the Spartans in their match against Wall was Chris Bannon winning a decision against Steve Bower in the 160 pound weight class.
For me, personally, it was huge, Bannon, a senior, said.
He said he really wanted to win his final match in his home gym, while facing his schools biggest rival.
I wasnt going to settle for anything less, Bannon said. I had to beat this kid [Bower].
The finale against Wall mirrored the Spartans season, as Ocean fell behind early in the contest, before storming back and finishing strong.
In the first match, the Knights Anthony Cappiello defeated Oceans J.P. Palandrano at 119 pounds to give Wall a 5-0 lead.
Wins by Nick Menditto at 125 pounds, Danny Lopes at 130 pounds, and Andrew VanDyk at 135 pounds put the Spartans back in control.
Then Ocean really turned up the heat as Joe Falco (140 pounds) and Maverick Nunes-Vais (145 pounds) won their matches by pin, giving the Spartans a 22-5 advantage.
Gaetjens Lezin won his match at 152 pounds and Bannons victory at 160 pounds all but sealed the deal for Ocean.
A pin by Chris DEsposito at 189 pounds and two forfeit victories assured the final tally would not be close.
When the match officially ended, the Spartan wrestlers celebrated by dumping the contents of the teams water color on Hoff, before the soak coach accepted the trophy for the Group III title once again.
It feels real good, said sophomore Andrew VanDyk about the victory, who gave credit for the teams success to Hoff.
He is the best coach Ive ever wrestled for, VanDyk said.
Ocean reached the finals of Central Jersey, Group III, by earning a first round bye and then defeating fourth seeded North Burlington 48-18.
On Sunday, the Spartans fell to South Plainfield, the winner of Group III in North Jersey section II, 34-31 on Sunday at the Rittaco Center in Toms River.
The Spartans will compete in the district meet on this friday and saturday at Middletown South High School.
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