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It’s been another exciting season on the mat, filled with highlights and great performances. Here are the Home News Tribune's All-Greater Middlesex Conference 2024-25 selections.
Wrestlers are slotted based on weights at which they competed in the postseason, meaning the start of the district tournament.
More: Wrestling: Handy index of postseason links from the team tournament to All-Area honors
More: Vote: Readers' Choice 2024-25 Boys Wrestler of the Year poll
The first criterion is earning a state medal (Top 8). Then, other factors are weighed such as postseason advancement, quality wins and head-to-head matches with each weight decided on a case-by-case basis after evaluating the whole body of work.
Additionally, wrestlers who compete in the postseason and qualify for the state tournament are given preference against wrestlers who miss the postseason.
There are three teams and an honorable mention.
106 – Kyle Capodanno, Monroe, Fr.
30-9, 1st GMCT, 3rd District 18, 5th Region 5
Capodanno had a breakout rookie season and the fearless freshman boosted Monroe’s lower weights on its run to the Central Group 5 title. He went 4-0 as the Falcons reached the Group 5 semifinals. Capodanno captured a Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament title and qualified for the region tournament, a match away from reaching the state tournament.
113 – Gavin Young, Old Bridge, So.
34-7, 1st GMCT, 2nd District 17, 4th Region 5
Young cranked out 20 wins as a freshman but missed the region tournament with an injury. A healthy Young reached Atlantic City and scored a memorable 4-0 win over St. Joseph’s Julian Arango in the first round to avenge an SV loss in the region third-place match. The sophomore had a dominant run in winning the GMCT with four technical falls. He also won titles at the Ron Mazzola Memorial Wrestling Tournament and the Hunterdon Central Invitational.
120 – Nico DeRado, St. Joseph, So.
28-10, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 2nd Region 5
DeRado showed he was primed for a big season after winning the John Goles Tournament and getting named the Outstanding Wrestler on Dec. 28 by beating two returning state qualifiers. He followed that up by impressively taking a GMCT title with two pins and two tech falls. DeRado captured his second district title and fell in UTB in the region final and won a match in the state tournament.
126 – Ivan Rego, St. Joseph, So.
28-13, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 4th Region 5
While Rego showed glimpses as a freshman with 14 wins, he fully emerged in a starring role for the Falcons. Rego captured a GMCT title as St. Joseph earned its third straight team championship. Rego also won a district title with three falls. He then surpassed his No. 5 seed in the region with a fourth-place finish to reach AC, which included a win over a returning state qualifier in the quarterfinals.
132 – Zach Beadling, St. Joseph, Sr.
29-10, 2nd GMCT, 1st District 19, 2nd Region 5
Beadling has been a four-year staple in the Falcons lineup earning four district titles in the lower weights and surpassing 100 career wins. He reached his second straight region final this season and placed in the top three in each of the GMCTs he wrestled in.
138 – Anthony Caponegro, Monroe, Jr.
35-8, 1st GMCT, 1st District 18, 3rd Region 5
Caponegro was driven to have a strong season after a knee injury stopped a promising sophomore season in January. He delivered. The junior won GMCT and district titles and placed third in the region with a win over a returning state qualifier. In Atlantic City, he won a consolation match.
144 – Fernando Avellan, Edison, Jr.
39-2, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 5th Region 5
Avellan entered the region tournament undefeated in another outstanding season. In fact, he was voted the GMCT Lower Weights Outstanding Wrestler for the second season in a row after he took the title with two pins and two tech falls. He also won district, Mike Dessino Invitational and East Brunswick Bear Invitational championships.
150 – Sebastian Blumberg, St. Jospeh, Sr.
28-9, 1st GMCT, 2nd District 19, 6th Region 5
Blumberg kicked off a stretch of hammers in the second half of the Falcons’ lineup. He earned nearly 60 wins over the last two seasons and won a GMCT title with two major decisions, a pin and a tech fall. Blumberg reached the fifth consolation round of the prestigious Beast of the East and wrestled just about everyone tough, falling to the state runner-up by a point.
157 – Sean Love, Piscataway, Jr.
36-4, 2nd GMCT, 1st District 19, 2nd Region 5, State 5th
Love upped a strong sophomore season into superstar status as a junior. He went from 0-2 in the state tournament to reaching the podium, including a thrilling, late comeback to win 12-11 in the blood round. Love also won titles at the Mike Dessino Invitational and the A-Nice Invitational. He had a memorable series with St. Joseph’s Morgan Schwarz, in which he held a 2-1 edge, as well as a medical forfeit win in the state fifth-place match.
165 – Tyler Whitford, St. Joseph, Jr.
36-6, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 1st Region 5, State 5th
Whitford made a splash in his first two seasons by reaching Atlantic City twice and setting St. Joseph’s single-season win record as a sophomore. He continued his ascent this winter by placing fif th in the state, winning his blood round match in sudden victory. Along the way, he won region, district and GMCT titles.
175 – Andrew Bouchard, St. Joseph, Sr.
31-7, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 1st Region 5
Bouchard’s memorable senior season included a last-second takedown to win a Region 5 title avenging two earlier defeats against St. Peter’s Prep’s Anthony Verdi. The senior captain also claimed GMCT and district gold medals along with a John Goles Tournament championship.
190 – Bryce Bouchard, Sayreville, Sr.
32-5, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 5th Region 5
Bouchard followed up on his good junior season by making a leap as a senior. He captured a GMCT title with three pins and a 4-2 win in the final. Bouchard, also a top football player, earned medals in the Ron Mazzola Memorial Wrestling Tournament and the Minuteman Classic.
215 – Noah Berlin-Langston, Highland Park, Sr.
38-4, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 1st Region 5
As a sophomore, Berlin-Langston earned five wins in his first season wrestling. He dedicated himself to year-round wrestling and jumped to 33 wins as a junior and went 1-2 in the region tournament. This winter, the senior excelled and captured GMCT, district and region titles.
285 – Kacper Trzeciak, Sayreville, Jr.
32-6, 1st GMCT, 3rd District 19, 6th Region 5
Trzeciak continued Sayreville’s tradition of great heavyweight wrestlers by cranking out 32 wins in his first season as a fulltime starter. He captured a GMCT title and advanced to the region with a third-place district finish. Trzeciak beat three state qualifiers during the season.
Criteria: Any region qualifier (Top 3 each district) or Top 6 GMCT finisher not on the first three teams
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Wrestling: Home News Tribune 2024-25 All-GMC selections
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Wrestlers are slotted based on weights at which they competed in the postseason, meaning the start of the district tournament.
More: Wrestling: Handy index of postseason links from the team tournament to All-Area honors
More: Vote: Readers' Choice 2024-25 Boys Wrestler of the Year poll
The first criterion is earning a state medal (Top 8). Then, other factors are weighed such as postseason advancement, quality wins and head-to-head matches with each weight decided on a case-by-case basis after evaluating the whole body of work.
Additionally, wrestlers who compete in the postseason and qualify for the state tournament are given preference against wrestlers who miss the postseason.
There are three teams and an honorable mention.
FIRST TEAM
106 – Kyle Capodanno, Monroe, Fr.
30-9, 1st GMCT, 3rd District 18, 5th Region 5
Capodanno had a breakout rookie season and the fearless freshman boosted Monroe’s lower weights on its run to the Central Group 5 title. He went 4-0 as the Falcons reached the Group 5 semifinals. Capodanno captured a Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament title and qualified for the region tournament, a match away from reaching the state tournament.
113 – Gavin Young, Old Bridge, So.
34-7, 1st GMCT, 2nd District 17, 4th Region 5
Young cranked out 20 wins as a freshman but missed the region tournament with an injury. A healthy Young reached Atlantic City and scored a memorable 4-0 win over St. Joseph’s Julian Arango in the first round to avenge an SV loss in the region third-place match. The sophomore had a dominant run in winning the GMCT with four technical falls. He also won titles at the Ron Mazzola Memorial Wrestling Tournament and the Hunterdon Central Invitational.
120 – Nico DeRado, St. Joseph, So.
28-10, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 2nd Region 5
DeRado showed he was primed for a big season after winning the John Goles Tournament and getting named the Outstanding Wrestler on Dec. 28 by beating two returning state qualifiers. He followed that up by impressively taking a GMCT title with two pins and two tech falls. DeRado captured his second district title and fell in UTB in the region final and won a match in the state tournament.
126 – Ivan Rego, St. Joseph, So.
28-13, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 4th Region 5
While Rego showed glimpses as a freshman with 14 wins, he fully emerged in a starring role for the Falcons. Rego captured a GMCT title as St. Joseph earned its third straight team championship. Rego also won a district title with three falls. He then surpassed his No. 5 seed in the region with a fourth-place finish to reach AC, which included a win over a returning state qualifier in the quarterfinals.
132 – Zach Beadling, St. Joseph, Sr.
29-10, 2nd GMCT, 1st District 19, 2nd Region 5
Beadling has been a four-year staple in the Falcons lineup earning four district titles in the lower weights and surpassing 100 career wins. He reached his second straight region final this season and placed in the top three in each of the GMCTs he wrestled in.
138 – Anthony Caponegro, Monroe, Jr.
35-8, 1st GMCT, 1st District 18, 3rd Region 5
Caponegro was driven to have a strong season after a knee injury stopped a promising sophomore season in January. He delivered. The junior won GMCT and district titles and placed third in the region with a win over a returning state qualifier. In Atlantic City, he won a consolation match.
144 – Fernando Avellan, Edison, Jr.
39-2, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 5th Region 5
Avellan entered the region tournament undefeated in another outstanding season. In fact, he was voted the GMCT Lower Weights Outstanding Wrestler for the second season in a row after he took the title with two pins and two tech falls. He also won district, Mike Dessino Invitational and East Brunswick Bear Invitational championships.
150 – Sebastian Blumberg, St. Jospeh, Sr.
28-9, 1st GMCT, 2nd District 19, 6th Region 5
Blumberg kicked off a stretch of hammers in the second half of the Falcons’ lineup. He earned nearly 60 wins over the last two seasons and won a GMCT title with two major decisions, a pin and a tech fall. Blumberg reached the fifth consolation round of the prestigious Beast of the East and wrestled just about everyone tough, falling to the state runner-up by a point.
157 – Sean Love, Piscataway, Jr.
36-4, 2nd GMCT, 1st District 19, 2nd Region 5, State 5th
Love upped a strong sophomore season into superstar status as a junior. He went from 0-2 in the state tournament to reaching the podium, including a thrilling, late comeback to win 12-11 in the blood round. Love also won titles at the Mike Dessino Invitational and the A-Nice Invitational. He had a memorable series with St. Joseph’s Morgan Schwarz, in which he held a 2-1 edge, as well as a medical forfeit win in the state fifth-place match.
165 – Tyler Whitford, St. Joseph, Jr.
36-6, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 1st Region 5, State 5th
Whitford made a splash in his first two seasons by reaching Atlantic City twice and setting St. Joseph’s single-season win record as a sophomore. He continued his ascent this winter by placing fif th in the state, winning his blood round match in sudden victory. Along the way, he won region, district and GMCT titles.
175 – Andrew Bouchard, St. Joseph, Sr.
31-7, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 1st Region 5
Bouchard’s memorable senior season included a last-second takedown to win a Region 5 title avenging two earlier defeats against St. Peter’s Prep’s Anthony Verdi. The senior captain also claimed GMCT and district gold medals along with a John Goles Tournament championship.
190 – Bryce Bouchard, Sayreville, Sr.
32-5, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 5th Region 5
Bouchard followed up on his good junior season by making a leap as a senior. He captured a GMCT title with three pins and a 4-2 win in the final. Bouchard, also a top football player, earned medals in the Ron Mazzola Memorial Wrestling Tournament and the Minuteman Classic.
215 – Noah Berlin-Langston, Highland Park, Sr.
38-4, 1st GMCT, 1st District 19, 1st Region 5
As a sophomore, Berlin-Langston earned five wins in his first season wrestling. He dedicated himself to year-round wrestling and jumped to 33 wins as a junior and went 1-2 in the region tournament. This winter, the senior excelled and captured GMCT, district and region titles.
285 – Kacper Trzeciak, Sayreville, Jr.
32-6, 1st GMCT, 3rd District 19, 6th Region 5
Trzeciak continued Sayreville’s tradition of great heavyweight wrestlers by cranking out 32 wins in his first season as a fulltime starter. He captured a GMCT title and advanced to the region with a third-place district finish. Trzeciak beat three state qualifiers during the season.
SECOND TEAM
- 106 – Noah Perez, Woodbridge, Fr.
- 113 – Julian Arango, St. Joseph, Jr.
- 120 – Nicholas Campaneilli, Edison, Fr.
- 126 – Armani Maglione, J.F. Kennedy, So.
- 132 – Jahir Aguilar, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr.
- 138 – Robert Fritz, Sayreville, So.
- 144 – Nicholas Irizarry, South Plainfield, Sr.
- 150 – Josh Shumsky, Monroe, Sr.
- 157 – Morgan Schwarz, St. Joseph, Jr.
- 165 – George Crostewitz, East Brunswick, Jr.
- 175 – Tyler Boelhower, Woodbridge, Sr.
- 190 – Giovanni Spallino, St. Joseph, Sr.
- 215 – Zach Florio, Old Bridge, Jr.
- 285 – Caden Sternlieb, St. Thomas Aquinas, Jr.
THIRD TEAM
- 106 – James Gonzalez, New Brunswick, Sr.
- 113 – Tyler “Candie” Northern, Edison, So.
- 120 – Hudson Platt, Colonia, So.
- 126 – Joshua Parks, Colonia, Jr.
- 132 – Jeremy Negron, Edison, Jr.
- 138 – Jake Gujski, East Brunswick, Jr.
- 144 – Mason Atkins, St. Joseph, Jr.
- 150 –- Lukas Valentin, Woodbridge, So.
- 157 – Jake Tenebruso, Old Bridge, Sr.
- 165 – James Bermingham, South Plainfield, Jr.
- 175 – Emanuel Torres, South Plainfield, Sr.
- 190 – Dominick Paulino, Old Bridge, Sr.
- 215 – Danny Internoscia, St. Joseph, Sr.
- 285 – Yexon Mercado, North Plainfield, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Criteria: Any region qualifier (Top 3 each district) or Top 6 GMCT finisher not on the first three teams
- East Brunswick: Dominick Lezark (126), Shawn Riley (144), Devan Monahan (175), Jose Rosado (215)
- Edison: Sean Eagle (126), Caleb Gluchowski (150)
- Colonia: Mazen Marghany (132),Anthony Reinoso (144),Brandon Crespo (165),Matheus Da Costa (190), Joseph Figueira-Oyola (215)
- Highland Park: Jacob Quiros Porras (157)
- J.F. Kennedy: Sheraj Salman (175)
- J.P. Stevens: Adolfo Malabanan (126), Isaiah Dennis (285)
- Metuchen: Nate DeCoite (138),Daniel Montemurno (175), Ben Michaliszyn (190)
- Middlesex/Dunellen: Dominick McQuone (126), Jack Griffin (175)
- Monroe: James Verderami (113), Nick Cavallo (120), Matt Shumsky (157), Luke Pawliczak (165), Jayden Badillo (190), Hayden Cannon (215), Anthony Marcos (285)
- North Brunswick: Jayko Luna (106), Antonio Pizza (113), Joldin Miranda (157), John Colon (215), Jaime Andino IV (285)
- North Plainfield: Joel Pinzon (106), Jordaniz Quinonez Guerra (150), Alexander Kruszczynski (190)
- Old Bridge: David Peoples (106), Viktor Ilnytskyi (120), Lorenzo Granato (120), Griffin Nugent (138), Aiden Roman (144)
- Perth Amboy: Fernando Grande (285)
- Piscataway: Aiden Wallace-Rodriguez (120), Jonathan Monasterio (165), Vincent Williams (285)
- Sayreville: Logan Skulski (126),Carmine Galante (144), Michael Zaunczkowski (175)
- South Brunswick: Garv Sen (150)
- South Plainfield: Logan Stoeckel (106), Alex Pigna (113), Justin Culver (132), Joseph Stanzione (138), Ryan Balent (150), Jose Rodriguez (157)
- South River: Filipe Granadeiro (190)
- Spotswood: Malcom Ballard (113)
- St. Thomas Aquinas: Nikolas Rivas (113), Reed Kerstetter (157), Jonathan Howarth (190), Anthony Pasquale (215)
- Woodbridge: Lucas Perez (113), Leonidas Morales (132), Zackaryus Guzman (175)
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Wrestling: Home News Tribune 2024-25 All-GMC selections
Continue reading...
