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Friday, January 18, 2013

T H E D A I LY J O U R N A L

Could weight loss be cut by moving up weigh-ins?

ts an all-too-common scene that has left a black eye on the sport of wrestling for decades. Immediately following weigh-ins, wrestlers break out jugs of Gatorade or even Pedialyte and chow down on whatever they can find like theyre a ravenous animal that missed its feeding time by days. Once a wrestler has officially weighed in for his match, these athletes typically have upwards of two hours to rehydrate and fill their stomachs in hopes of being better prepared to compete. The problem is, most wrestlers were cutting weight for days before, practicing and walking around the hallways severely dehydrated and hungry. While the NJSIAA has taken steps in recent years to help limit the extreme weight-cutting with hydration testing and weight-descent plans, one solution has remained off the table, yet is a topic of conversation in the wrestling world the matside weigh-in. The idea is, if wrestlers weigh in at the scorers table immediately before stepping onto the mat for a match, extreme weightcutting would likely be eliminated. Wrestlers would want to be hydrated for matches to achieve better performance, so they would be less likely to shed the extra five pounds the night before only to put it all back on in the short time before a weigh-in. I think its better for the kids health, Vineland coach Dave Homiak said. I think its going to stop a lot of stuff where kids are cutting too much weight. I dont see anything wrong with weighing in right before matches. Dehydration is the biggest risk with any extreme weight-cutting method. When wrestlers are certified before the season, they must pass a hydration test, but thats the only time an athletes hydration is checked all year. The idea behind a matside weigh-in is that wrestlers

1. Camden Catholic 2. Timber Creek 3. Delsea 4. Clearview 5. Shawnee 6. Paulsboro 7. St. Augustine 8. Millville 9. Clayton 10. Buena 11. Cherokee 12. Cinnaminson 13. Collingswood 14. Northern Burlington 15. Woodstown

6-1 7-5 15-0 12-4 11-0 9-2 6-5 11-2 11-1 8-0 10-2 6-0 12-4 5-0 9-2

The New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Statewide Top 20. First place votes in parenthesis follow by total points. 1. S. Plainfield (16-0) (17) 34 Last week: (1) 2. Bound Brook (13-1) 321 (2) 3. Berg. Catholic (9-1) 305 (3) 4. Phillipsburg (5-0) 291 (5) 5. Toms River S. (10-2) 263 (17) 6. Brick Mem. (11-2) 243 (4) 7. St. Peters Prep (5-2) 240 (6) 8. Delbarton (5-2) 222 (8) 9. Camden Cath. (6-1) 200 (10) 10. Southern (3-4) 183 (7) 11. Kittatinny (9-1) 177 (11) 12. Jackson Mem. (9-3) 162 (9) 13. High Point (8-3) 128 (13) 14. Howell (13-1) 122 (12) 15. Warren Hills (8-3) 114 (14) 16. Timber Creek (4-3) 75 (15) 17. Deslea (14-0) 67 (16) 18. Long Branch (4-2) 46 (19) 19. Don Bosco (4-3) 30 (18) 20. Hunterdon Cent. (6-0) 24 (20) Others receiving votes: Roxbury 9, St. Joseph-Montvale 4, Voorhees 2, Shawnee 1, Watchung Hills 1.
Points are awarded to teams in descending order with 20 points going to the No. 1 team and one point to the No. 20 team on each ballot. Teams are ranked based on the total number of votes they receive from the associations 17 members. Records through Wednesday.

*Records through Wednesday.

106
1. Patrick DArcy, Holy Spirit 2. Tyler McBride, Camden Catholic 3. Ferdinand Mase, Eastern 4. Louis Arensberg, Audubon 5. Griffin Bonner, West Deptford 18-3 11-5 16-0 14-3 14-1

Vinelands Tiawahn Cosby wrestles at 182 pounds against Buena on Jan. 8. It was the first time Cosby weighed in at 182. He slowly dropped in weight according to a state-mandated weight loss schedule. Matside weigh-ins could be an alternative for weight management. STAFF PHOTO/CODY GLENN the opposite effect. Youre just going to have two sucked-down kids wrestling each other, Millville coach Scott Stay said. I think it would make the sport worse. Instead of having kids losing a little bit of weight and then eating and wrestling the match comfortably, youre going to have kids wrestling tired. Youre going to have more injuries and less exciting matches. Wrestling is the oldest sport in the world. They need to quit messing with it. According to Stay, the major change in policy wouldnt make a major difference in the sport. I know they want to keep kids safe, but I dont think it would change much, Stay said. Instead of losing 10 (pounds), theyre going to lose five and itll be the same thing. The kids that dont do it right arent going to. The kids who do do it right and are successful, its not going to change anything. Stay also thinks the institution of weight cutting has changed over the years and is continuing to evolve into something safer. It falls on the coaches, Stay said. And I think youll see a little bit of a change as you start losing some of the older coaches and start getting more of the guys who grew up with hydration testing. The NJSIAA is happy with the results of hydration testing and other measures that have been in place over the last few seasons. I think the hydration and the weight management program our wrestlers (have) is a major step, Timko said. Before hydration weight management, I think we had seen a decline in wrestling throughout the state and throughout the country. Now, since we put in these measures, the numbers have bounced back.
Patrick Buganski covers high school wrestling for The Daily Journal. Contact him at (856) 563-5255 or pbuganski@thedailyjournal.com.

113
1. John Amato, Timber Creek 2. Ronray Harris, Middle Township 3. Jake Forsman, Eastern 4. Zach Firestone, Clearview 5. Mike Van Horn, Washington Twp. 15-1 6-0 17-1 15-1 18-2

120
1. John Gentile, Paulsboro 2. Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine 3. Marcus Miraglia, Delran 4. Nick Virgilio, Timber Creek 5. Alex Baider, Cherokee 15-1 16-3 15-0 6-1 13-4

106
Tom Carney, Delsea Josh Pineda, Vineland Hector Marrero, Cumberland 14-6 7-2 7-4 5-1 11-8 10-4 11-9 6-5 16-3 13-6 9-8 15-3 13-6 9-8 13-5 18-2 11-3 14-5 13-5 18-2 17-2 8-1 9-8 6-5 14-2 13-5 8-4 19-3 16-3 10-7 18-4 6-5 8-7 7-7 16-2 14-2 16-6 10-6 13-5 8-8 19-0 16-3 14-2 9-3 12-7 12-7 18-1 21-0 17-3 11-5 10-6 5-4 7-7 16-2 14-4 10-6 12-6

PATRICK BUGANSKI
would police their own hydration because the fear of being severely dehydrated would hinder their performance. I think kids are going to drop less weight, Homiak said. A kid is going to be losing 10 pounds right before the match then he has to get up on the scale and he cant rehydrate. Theyll be forced to (lose weight) in a way that I think is safer. But dont expect a move to matside weigh-ins any time soon. As much as its been discussed, theres never been a lot of movement on it, NJSIAA executive director Steve Timko said. Not everyone agrees matside weigh-ins would help the sport. In fact, some believe it could have

126
1. Billy Ward, Buena 15-3 2. Sam Morina, Paulsboro 16-1 3. Collin Mitchell, Eastern 5-1 4. Anthony Racobaldo, Williamstown 15-2 5. Dylan LaPalomento, Washington Twp.17-1

113
Zach Goranson, Millville Collin Donahue, St. Augustine Joham Garcia, Millville Luis Rivera, Buena Andrew DiJoseph

132
1. Isaiah DeGuzman, Timber Creek 2. Juan Rivera, Paulsboro 3. Joe Lemerise, Cherokee 4. Aaron Lambert, Burlington Twp. 5. Steve Passarella, Washington Twp. 14-4 13-3 14-0 11-2 7-0

120
Tom Gattinella, St. Augustine Sal Marandino, Buena Danny DeTetta, Vineland

126
Billy Ward, Buena Ed Donahue, St. Augustine Chad Kahn, Millville John Gallo, Schalick

138
1. Brandon Keller, Timber Creek 2. Ron Gentile, Paulsboro 3. John Van Brill, Clearview 4. Sean Pryzbylkowski, New Egypt 5. Brennan Humphrey, Shawnee 8-2 13-0 16-0 15-2 16-1

132
John Pierson, Delsea Newt Richardson, Schalick Chaz Bramble, Buena Jarred Hodges, St. Augustine

145
1. T.J. Miller, Camden Catholic 2. John Van Brill, Clearview 3. Maaziah Bethea, Trenton Central 4. Dillan Berghof, Buena 5. Branden Virgilio, Timber Creek 14-1 16-0 9-1 14-2 10-1

138
Rian Lamanteer, Delsea Keith Mahoney, Millville Jarett Pierotti, Buena Tayron Davis, Vineland Joe Roman, Cumberland

152
1. Chad Walsh, Camden Catholic 2. Wayne Stinson, No. Burlington 3. Ed Lenkowski, Clearview 4. Dom Ruggerio, Timber Creek 5. John Hennelly, Delsea 14-1 13-3 16-0 16-2 19-3

145
Dillan Berghof, Buena Deon Henry, Schalick Dom DeMarco, Delsea

152
John Hennelly, Delsea Rico Rivera, Millville Dylan Manno, Schalick

160
1. Bryce Shade, Timber Creek 2. Connor Donahue, Clearview 3. A.J. Nicholas, Cherokee 4. Kellen Whitney, Hammonton 5. Sonnieboy Blanco, Burlington City 14-1 16-0 13-2 14-2 13-1

160
David Gresk, Delsea Kris Albert, Buena Carl Hitzelberger, Schalick Jose Soto, Millville

THE INSIDE STUFF

Buena Regional High School senior Ty Warren is off to a 13-4 start to the season despite not having wrestled since he was in sixth grade. The 220-pounder has been a big reason why the Chiefs are currently 8-0. Warren, who is also a starter for the football team, recently spoke with The Mat Pack about wrestling, his time away from the mats and a little football. QUESTION: Why didnt you wrestle before this year? ANSWER: Growing up, my dad was a big supporter of me wrestling, but we stopped talking and everything, so I just fell off of the sport. Then, Id go out (to watch matches), I knew every move, and it just inspired me to go out for my senior year. Q: What, ultimately, made you come back? A: Im close to all the wrestlers, and they were all hassling me. I told coach Brett (Aretz) right before I told my mom and he said, Youd better sit her down before you tell her. And I told her and she started crying. Q: Youre a senior, but youre a first-year wrestler. What is that like? A: I think some of the kids look up to me as a Billy Ward or a Dillan Berghof, a leader, because thats who I am. On the football field and on the mat, Im a vocal leader. But (as far as) learning new things, in practice, like new drills, thats about it. Q: Whats been the most difficult part of returning? A: Probably nerves. (Before), Id go out and Id be a total

TOP TWEETS

170
1. Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea 2. Austin Wetterau, Shawnee 3. Nick Elmer, Penns Grove 4. Tyler Sentman, St. Augustine 5. Steffen Rodriguez, Vineland 19-0 16-1 16-1 16-2 11-2

170
Tyler Sentman, St. Augustine Steffen Rodriguez, Vineland Victor DeFrance, Delsea Connor Dixon, Millville Joe Pyfer, Schalick Elijah Brown, Buena

TY WARREN
BUENA
Senior Weight: 220

182
1. David Williams, Hammonton 2. Brad Schwarze, New Egypt 3. Billy Leone, Kingsway 4. Alex Foley, Shawnee 5. Tiawahn Cosby, Vineland 19-0 17-0 9-2 14-3 14-2

182
Dylan Dobzanski, Delsea Erik Porch, Delsea Tiawahn Cosby, Vineland Cody Ruppert, Delsea Javier Colon-Rivera, Millville James Bennett, St. Augustine

195
nutcase, wrestling and trying to throw kids and everything, because when youre younger, thats all you needed to do. Now I have to start wrestling this year, settle down and learn more moves instead of a headlock and things like that. Q: Are you surprised by your success? A: Im really surprised actually. I was hoping to come back and be like a .500 wrestler, just anything to help the team. Now that Im doing more than just helping the team, I dont even know how to put it in words. Im really happy I came out. Q: What makes Doug Castellari such a good coach? A: His attitude. Everything about that man is positive. Everything is, get back at it, dont hang your head. Hes just such a positive guy. His speeches are the best speeches Ive ever heard in my life. Q: What do you think of the Eagles hiring Chip Kelly? A: I like Chip Kelly as a coach. Id like to see how wed do with that offense. I think itll give us something a little more to complain about than Andy Reid.
1. Rory Bonner, West Deptford 2. Joey DeChristofaro, Hightstown 3. Michael Robinson, Clayton 4. Ed Shockley, Millville 5. Cory Damiana, Lower Cape May 13-0 17-0 11-0 18-1 13-5

195
Ed Shockley, Millville

220
Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea Obi Kali, Millville Benjamin Henderson, Vineland Nick Caporale, Buena Nick Crisafulli, Schalick Justin Welsh, St. Augustine

220
1. Bryan Dobzanski, Delsea 2. Roy Lucas, St. Joseph 3. Nigel Toussaint, Egg Harbor Twp. 4. Jared Alwan, Camden Catholic 5. Cylas Dorety, Woodstown 21-0 17-0 16-1 5-2 14-1

HWT
Tom Lynd, St. Augustine Ty Warren, Buena Fred DeMary, Millville Ryan Cartwright, Schalick

HWT
1. Alex Thompson, Haddon Heights 2. Jeff Miller, Camden Catholic 3. Robert Frederico, Hammonton 4. Allan Westenberger, Gloucester 5. James Dever, Moorestown 14-0 10-1 17-0 14-2 19-2

ONLINE
DELSEA RECORD WALL
Top 3 in career wins Luke Fedechko Curt Delia Rob Jillard 142-23 141-20 131-31

*Wrestlers must have at least a .500 record and a minimum of eight bouts. All the records and rankings are based on information through Wednesday.

BLOG
South Jersey wrestling news, notes, rankings and more thedailyjournal.com/ matpack

NEWS AND NOTES

Collingswood celebrated its programs 700th victory with a 43-22 upset over previously unbeaten Audubon on Monday. The Panthers are just the third team in South Jersey history to reach the milestone number behind Paulsboro (1,066) and Highland (725). Vineland is closing in on becoming a member of the 600win club. The Fighting Clan beat Winslow Township Thursday and will wrestle Cedar Creek and Oakcrest on Saturday. If Vineland sweeps those meets, it will go for No. 600 on Wednesday against rival Millville. Haddon Heights heavyweight Alex Thompson is 14-0 with 13 pins and one forfeit. Nine of his pins are in the first period, including an 11-second fall on Wednesday against Collingswood. Hightstown 195-pounder Joey DeChristofaro is 17-0 with 16 pins, including 15 in the first period.

TWITTER
Updates, links and commentary on South Jersey wrestling @TheMatPack

100-match winners: 12 State champions: 7 (Chris

Ianacone 1973; Joe Alexander 1997, 1998; Larry Smashey, 1998; Don Fisch 2002, 2003; Anthony Baldosaro 2008)
Team district titles: 19 (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012).

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