Jackson is team to beat in District 21

It is still Jackson Memorial High School's championship to lose. The Jaguars will be shooting for their 12th consecutive team championship at the NJSIAA District 21 wrestling tournament this weekend at Manalapan High School.

JEFF GRANIT staff Howell High School's Joey Esposito (with dark headgear), seen here in the grasp of an Allentown High School wrestler during an early season dual meet, will be one of the Rebels seeking to win a District 21 wrestling championship this weekend at Manalapan High School. Esposito will wrestle in the 119-pound weight class for the Rebels. Jackson Coach Doug Withstandley has another powerhouse squad that has been ranked as high as No. 4 in the state this season. The Jaguars will remain the team to beat until another squad proves otherwise.

District 21 action will begin Friday with the preliminaries at 5 p.m. and the quarterfinals at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the action on the mats will begin at 10 a.m. with the semifinals. The consolation third-place matches will begin at 1 p.m., to be followed by the district finals at about 2:30 p.m.

Jackson Memorial's dominance in this tournament is even more impressive when you take into account just how good District 21 has become. The district was the best in the state last year, with five wrestlers eventually reaching the state finals in Atlantic City. Jackson Memorial's Tyler Biscaha (103), Howell's Joey Langel (112), and Jackson Memorial's Sean Byrnes (152) and Scott Winston (160) each won a state championship. Howell's Harry Turner (heavyweight) was a state finalist.

Once again Jackson Memorial, winners of the Shore Conference A South Division crown, has a star-studded lineup. Biscaha (112), Zachary Huxford (119), B.J. Young (125), Derrick Russell (130), Doug Hamann (140) and Tyler Wilton (135) are all capable of winning a district title for the Jaguars. Young, Russell and Wilton were all district champions in 2008, while Biscaha and Justin Georgiano (215) were runners-up. Huxford finished third.

Brad Royle (103), Josh Baker (135) and Devin Biscaha (152) could also get into the medal picture for Jackson Memorial at the District 21 tournament.

If there is any worry for Jackson Memorial as far as defending its team championship, it could be that there are a couple of holes in the lineup that have not been there before. But when it comes to getting wrestlers through to the semifinals and finals, the Jaguars are loaded.

Howell has been the Jaguars' rival in recent years and Coach John Gagliano's Rebels would like nothing more than to turn the tables on Jackson Memorial. A district team title could help remove the sting from the Rebels' 25-23 loss in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV state team tournament on Feb. 11.

This Howell team does not have the star power of last year's Rebels' squad that included Langel, Turner and Cody Fobes (a state runner-up in 2007), but it does have more balance. Howell won its fourth straight Shore Conference A North Division crown this season.

The Rebels could make a run at the Jaguars and challenge for the district team title if they can get more wrestlers through Friday night's opening rounds and score bonus points.

Dru Thomas (103), Joey Esposito (119), Brian Wilson (125), Mike Shaughnessy (130), Jesse Holzhauer (152) and Joe Melon (189) have all won at least 20 matches for the Rebels. Kevin Pantaleano (135), Matt Reed (140) and Dominick Carnevale (215) have the potential to go far in the district meet.

One team looking to do well at the district meet is host Manalapan. The Braves enjoyed a fine comeback year, going 17-9 in dual meets. That marked a big improvement over last year's record of 12-13.

"The kids have done a great job improving, which is just great," said Coach Scott Pressman." It bodes well for the future. They did a really good job putting in a lot of work in the offseason. Our young wrestlers have grown."

Pressman used Reggie Hodge-Grant (112) and Brian Beloff (189) as examples of the improvement made by his young grapplers. Beloff won five matches last year and will take an 18-8 record into the district tournament, while Hodge-Grant improved from seven wins in 2008 to his current record of 16-7.

Vinny Signoriello (130), Ryan McGilvray (135), Joe Mammallelo (152) and Beloff are Manalapan's best candidates to get to the finals of the District 21 tournament. McGilvray is one of six returning district champions who are expected to be in action this weekend.

Wrestling at home could give the Braves an emotional lift.

"Being at our school, this (District 21) is our focus," said Pressman. "It's the pinnacle of our season. The kids want to make a good showing. They are obligated to do well."

During the season, Freehold Township High School's Gene Accardi became the first Patriots grappler to win his 100th career match and the senior would like to add a District 21 crown to his résumé. He was a state place-winner in 2007). He is wrestling at 125 pounds this winter and has a 20-2 record. He lost last year's district final to eventual state champion Langel.

Ken Brophy (119) has won 23 matches for the Patriots. Phil Caracappa (112) and Kyle Kasten (171) could do well this weekend, as well.

Once again Freehold Township wrestled a difficult non-division dual meet schedule that has the Patriots prepared for tournament competition.

Colts Neck's Tyler Fraley, third in the district as a freshman, is a solid choice to ring up his first district title. Of all the Freehold Regional High School District wrestlers, Fraley has the best chance to win a medal at the state tournament in Atlantic City. He is ranked seventh in the state in the 103-poind weight class with a 26-1 record.

Other Cougars who could make their presence felt are Anthony Anzalone (112), who is 23-3, Ryan King (145) and Billy Somma (189).

Marlboro's Vinnie Leone (112), Adam Ramadan (119) and Paul Saravia (135) have each won more than 20 matches. Saravia is 25-2. Greg Doukas (160) and Mitch Siegel (215) are potential place-winners at the district tournament.

Freehold High School has a returning district champion in Josh Davis. He is wrestling at 215 pounds and has a 24-1 record. Tom Post (145) was a district runner up in 2008 and is sporting a 24-2 record. Also bearing watching from Freehold are David James (heavyweight) and freshmen Tom Nulty (103) and Zach Mostowsky (112).

Matawan, St. John Vianney, Jackson Liberty and Holmdel complete the District 21 field and have some talented wrestlers.

St. John Vianney's Mike Kevlin is a returning champion (171) and is undefeated at 25-0. The Lancers also have Mike Murcia (112), who is 24-1, and Rob Cigna (119), who is 21-4. Nick Proto (130), Jordan Gilpin (140) and Ryan Skinner (130) are also contenders for a medal.

Matawan's Cesare Antista (135) will carry an undefeated record into the district tournament. Chris Howley has the most wins of anyone in the heavyweight division (22-6), as does Johnny Short (125) in his weight class. He is 24-2. Jordan Long is 24- 2 in what is shaping up as a loaded 145- pound weight class with Saraiva and Post. Thomas Dillon (119) and Chris Carillo (152) will also take the mats for Matawan.

Jackson Liberty High School is the youngest school in District 21. This is just the third year for the program, yet the Lions qualified for a spot in the state team tournament. They would like to crown their first district champion and they have contenders in Brendan Kahle (heavyweight), Jason Nowakowski (189), Keenan Sayers (171), Chris Zak (125) and Joe Bartolini (135).

Holmdel's best chances for a medal are with heavyweight Dylan Moschella, Jimmy Ilvento (140) and Vinny Zoccolo (171).

While the district tournament will crown the final team championship on the 2008- 09 wrestling calendar, this tournament's real significance is that it is the first step toward the state tournament in Atlantic City. Every wrestler's dream of state glory starts at the district meet.