Windt is WMC’s First 2-Time County Champion

Schade, Loughney, Metzler and Migliaccio also excel in Morris County Tournament

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic,” General Colin Powell said.  No magic was needed for West Morris Central senior Jesse Windt to win his second consecutive Morris County Championship Saturday, raising his season record to 27-1. As Powell said, “it takes sweat, determination and hard work” – qualities for which Windt is known.   

He is the ninth County Champion in WMC history, and the first-ever to accomplish the feat twice. Previous WMC county champs were Chris Pierson and Dave McAllister in 1987, Tim (1990) and Mike (1991) Mulrooney, Scott Cummins and Brian McGuire (1993), Daren Carfaro (1995), and Dillon Landi (2006).

WMC – ranked outside the County’s top-10 teams going in, captured 8th place at the tournament.  Delbarton won its 6th straight title.

Top-seeded Windt defeated Parsippany Hills 2-seed Steven Hill 12-1 in the finals, leaving little doubt who is the top-ranked 220 lb. area wrestler. Full Circle Wrestling recognized Windt as #8 in New Jersey. In fact, a top-8 finish in Atlantic City’s State Championships is the dream for which Windt is working so hard.

John Schade, Kade Loughney, David Migliaccio and Shane Metzler were also outstanding at the Morris County Tournament (MCT).

Schade avenged his Thursday night overtime loss to ParHills’ Aric Imhoff by defeating him 7-3 in the MCT quarterfinals, securing 4th place. Schade’s only losses were to the top-two 120 lb. wresters in the state, Anthony Cefolo and A.J. Vindici.

Loughney, a freshman, pinned Chatham’s 5th-seeded junior Emanuel Rodriguez for the second time this season to secure 4th place before falling to top-seeded Zach Kovacs of Parsippany. Kovacs was then shocked by Jefferson freshman Mark Bohn, a 10-seed who spectacularly pinned his way through quarterfinals, semis and finals to earn MCT Outstanding Wrestler honors.

Migliaccio almost defeated his nemesis Anthony Fano of Montville, but fell in overtime. Fano defeated Migz twice in last year’s Regions – the second bout sending Fano to Atlantic City, 3-2.  Saturday, Migz wrestled back to take 5th in the County, defeating Morris Knolls’ Kyle Weiss (who had just defeated state place winner and 3-seed Jake Legotte).

Metzler also placed 5th, but might have placed higher had he be given more favorable seeding. The 8-seeded 106 lb. freshman dominated 9-seed Anthony Antonek 11-1 before falling to Delbarton’s Ty Agaisse.  Ranked #1 in NJ and #3 in the nation, Agaisse pinned every opponent in the shortest overall time of any MCT champion. Metzler was his toughest challenge, lasting almost twice as long as the 2-seed. Then Metzler dominated the 4th and 6th ranked wrestlers to finish 5th.

Taylor Parkinson-Gee, seeded 20th, scored the Wolfpack’s biggest upset of the tournament. He defeated 13th ranked Danny Colabella (10-6) of Mt. Olive in the preliminaries, 6-4.

Phillipsburg and Parsippany Hills

WMC fell to powerhouse 7th-ranked Phillipsburg 58-13 at “the Pit” Tuesday, highlighted by Migz’ thrilling ultimate tie breaker victory over 17-5 Corey Zinsmeister (ranked top-18 by NJ.com). Dylan Luciano and Windt also won.

 The Pack then lost a heartbreaker to county rival Parsippany Hills 36-34 Wednesday. WMC won most of the bouts wrestled, but 12 points from two forfeits gave the Vikings enough for the win.  Mike Oros, Metzler and Windt defeated winning-record wrestlers to pace the squad, as Loughney, Luciano, Migz and Aldo Cammalleri also scored points for the Pack.

Junior Varsity

Christian Trimarchi took home a gold medal at Sunday’s Newton JV Tournament to pace the Pack’s strong showing. Ben Piraneo, Michael Brown and Ryan Finlay won silver; Jake Congdon bronze; and Mike O’Rourke placed fourth.

Up Next: two home events, then Sectionals

WMC hosts High Point on Friday, then Hopatcong and Belvidere Saturday. Next week the team enters the North 2/Group 3 Sectional championships at home vs. Scotch Plains.