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There can be no doubt that this year's wrestling sectionals in North 1, Group III will always be remembered for a controversial decision that knocked out the top seed. But on this Friday night at Montville High School, few people were thinking about controversy. Instead the packed house was enjoying a tremendous performance by the #2 seed Mustangs as they won their first-ever sectional crown, knocking off fourth seed Paramus 46-25.
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Montville made its first appearance in a sectional final one to remember. Taking advantage of the random draw which started the matchup at 130 pounds, the Mustangs would win eight of the first nine bouts and ice the victory before the strongest part of the Spartans' wrestling lineup could take the mat.
After Cody Phillips started Montville off with a decision at 130 pounds, Mike Intile delivered a third-period pin at 135. That was the first of five falls for the Mustangs, who came up with bonus points in all but one of their victories.
With Montville up 13-4, Vinnie Lizza recorded the next big win for Montville at 152. Despite wrestling with an injured shoulder that made it difficult to do anything on the mat, Lizza used a fireman's carry to take Doug Bucci to his back for a second-period pin. "He just left his arm out there and I just sucked it in and ended up getting the pin right on the edge of the mat," Lizza said.
After Shane Parcel's tech fall at 160, Paramus needed one of its best wrestlers to come through. And 171-pounder Anthony Mordaga started well, taking Doug Barnish down for a five-point move early. But Barnish fought off his back, and nearly pinned Mordaga early in the second period. About a minute later, Barnish took Mordaga to his back again and this time finished the job, a huge pin that led to an explosion by the huge crowd.
"Everyone said he was one of the studs on the team," Barnish said. "I just had to get the win, I guess."
A short time later, it was all over. Taylor Bernstein needed just 1:24 to record a pin at 189 pounds, and then 215-pounder Billy Mulligan clinched the victory with a first-period fall of his own. "It was crazy," Mulligan said. "I didn't know until I got off (the mat) and then I looked at the score and said, 'Wow, we won.'"
"The momentum was ours from the beginning," said Montville coach John Krip. "I think our guys just fed off it as the match went on."
Of course, the absence of the section's top seed, High Point, helped pave the way for this victory. The Wildcats, the defending Group III champions and favorites to win the state title again this year, were disqualified from the tournament for violating a state sports association rule on the number of matches wrestled against out-of-state opponents. High Point would have been a prohibitive favorite to beat the Mustangs. But that fact did little to temper the post-match celebration at Montville, which included an ice-water bath for coach Krip.
"I don't think it all has set in yet, but it's a great feeling and I'm glad I did it with this team," he said.
The Mustangs are expected to face Central winner Brick Township in the Group III wrestling semifinals Sunday morning at the Ritacco Center in Toms River. The winner will meet the Phillipsburg/Hammonton winner in the group final that afternoon. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now
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