WMC Wrestlers Prep to Step Up for 2013-14

“Season of opportunity” for new Wolfpack starters 

Teddy Roosevelt said a man “can put himself in such shape that when or if the opportunities come he is ready.”  The 26th president (who wrestled at Harvard) could have been speaking of the 2013-14 West Morris Central High School wrestling team.

Following last season’s historic achievements, reigning Daily Record Coach of the Year Coach Ken Rossi will give opportunities to as many as nine new starters. 

Rossi looks to seniors Jesse Windt (31-9 last year) and John Schade (22-13) to lead the Wolfpack. Last year, Windt was the NJSIAA District 1 and Morris County Champion. Schade took District 1 silver.

The team will miss its once-in-a-lifetime 2012-13 senior class, which included WMC’s four all-time winningest wrestlers Nick Matthews, Brandon Carcuffe, John Sickles and Cory Fleming; state qualifier Adam Kratch; and WMC Tournament medalists Scott DeBoey and Zach McGuire.

The team may also be without two juniors with 41 combined wins last year: District 1 silver medalist David Migliaccio (28-12), expected to miss at least part of the season recovering from a serious snowboarding injury, and Kevin Sears (13-18).

Rossi and assistant coaches Jim Balella, Chris Marold, John Barnett and Jeremy Adickes will give opportunities for new starters to step up – starting with this week’s tough workouts by Barnett and strength coach Chris DelPreore.

Parents Club president David Migliaccio spoke to an optimistic season kick-off dinner crowd last Monday night, thanking the coaches, officers Connie Stoll, Beth Schade, Doug Stanzione, and all the parents. The elaborate potluck buffet was followed by team introductions.

Seniors

 Aldo Cammalari (9-19) joins Windt and Schade as the returning senior lettermen. Cammalari finished strong last season, and will be counted on for wins at 182. Nick Stanzione (2-1), the defending WMC JV Tournament champ, will compete for 113. Second-year wrestler Greg Ierokomos, a JV tournament place winner, and Anthony Rivera (0-1) will vie for 145 and 120 respectively. Anthony Fallick re-joins the team, and could start at 170.

Juniors

 Juniors Dylan Luciano (21-16) and Michael Oros (12-9) look to improve on winning records. Luciano, a District 1 bronze medalist with 53 career wins, wrestled at 113 last year. Oros was strong in his first year as a starter, and is expected to excel in a middle weight class. WMC Tournament silver medalist Thomas Stoll (6-7) is expected to bounce back from an injury-shortened year to contribute upper-weight wins.  Ben Piraneo (4-14) and Mike O’Rourke will also compete for spots. Migliaccio would have immediate impact if he can return.

Sophomores

 Sophomore Caleb Isemann (3-9) stepped up and earned a varsity letter last year, and will be counted on for wins at 138 or 145. Ben Yaskulka (2-3), dominant at JV with gold or silver in every tournament, looks to step up at 152. Noah Yaskulka, second only to his brother in team JV wins, along with JV tournament place winners Michael Brown and Shea Owens, will contend for middle weight slots.

Freshmen

 NJ Scholastic State Championship runner-up Shane Metzler could have immediate impact as a freshman at 106.  Tri-County League runner-up Taylor Parkinson-Gee hopes to start at an upper weight class.  Kade Loughney, 4th in Tri-County, will vie for 113, while Grade School League Award winner Christian Trimarchi could compete for 132. Jake Congdon, Jack Dunn, Ryan Finlay, Austin Gast, Louis Mautone, and Dylan Zinkulka round out the first-year pack.

Next Up

 The West Morris Central Tournament will kick off the season on December 21 at home.

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