Howell Predators cap perfect season with wrestling league title

Howell Predators cap perfect
season with wrestling league title

The Howell Predators junior wrestling team left no stone unpinned, completing a perfect 30-0 season in 2003-04.

The Predators I were 17-0 during the dual-meet season and tacked on 13 more wins in tournaments, including the Jersey Shore Junior Wrestling League championships.

At the JSJWL post-season tournaments, the Predators finished first in the Individual Tournament and first in the team championship tournament.

Dru Thomas, Blaise Supczynski, Joey Langel and Cody Fobes won individual league championships for the Predators.

Those making up the Predator JSJWL championship team were: Michael Bonfig, Seth Bonfig, Alex Brown, Jarrod Burdge, Chris Chibbaro, Jeremy DeSena, Anthony Duhigg, Jason Eckloff, Joey Esposito, Fobes, Rob Hoyt, Kyle Kasten, Langel, Joe Manney, Brendan McSherry, Nick Melon, Mike Morales, Colin Murphy, Thomas Post, Emanuel Puglisi, Sean Robinson, Joey Schultz, Supczynski, Brett Tave, Dru Thomas, Devlin Thomas, Harry Turner, Brian Wilson and Matt Woodward.

Howell Predators II team went 4-11 in dual meets, but had several wrestlers who distinguished themselves individually.

Those on the Predator II team were: Nick Angelo, Jared Anicic, Sean Bell, Zach Bohm, Jacob Bonfig, Alex Bonfig, Ryan Burdge, Phil Caracappa, Thomas Carner, Michael Clement, Daniel Dahl, Chris Fraley, Ryan Gergely, Zak Gergely, Connor Gibbons, Kyle Grimes, Craig Hatch, Rocco Hernandez, Brenden Hodel, Dylan Joyce, Brenden Joyce, Michael Kevlin, Tim Lamirande, Kyle Lamirande, Stephen Manny, Joe Rice, Michael Shaughnessy, Nate Sheridan, Dean Smith, Shane Smith, Erik Trapani and Martin Traphagen.

Eight wrestlers from the Predator program placed at the state tournament. There were: Mike Morales (second), Thomas Post (seventh), Langel (second), Fobes (seventh), Jason Ecklof (fourth), Harry Turner (sixth), Martin Traphagen (fourth) and Supcyzynski (second).

At state qualifying tournaments, the Howell wrestlers were outstanding.

At Toms River, Joey Schultz (first), Phil Caracappa (second), Harry Turner (third) and Supczynski (second) were the qualifiers.

At Northern Burlington, Jacob Bonfig (second), Dru Thomas (first), Mike Morales (first), Brian Wilson (second), Kyle Kasten (first), Thomas Post (first), Jason Ecklof (second) and Michael Bonfig (second) were the Predators who advanced to the state championships.

Qualifiers at Edison were Martin Traphagen (first) and Fobes (first). At Highland, Nate Litowski moved on with a second place. Langel (second) qualified at Union and Colin Murphy (third) at Lodi.