ATLANTIC CITY — Cape May County wrestlers turned in their strongest performance in recent years during the State High School Wrestling Championships on March 3-5 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Lower Cape May Regional High School’s Brock Zurawski (165 pounds) placed eighth and Marcus Hebron (215) sixth among 32 competitors in their weight divisions. It was the first time the Caper Tigers had ever had two state medalists.
Middle Township’s David Guiliam placed sixth at 190 pounds. Lower coach Billy Damiana and Ocean City coach Dan Calhoun agreed there were many more District 32 wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament this year than in the past few decades and that 2022 was a great year for local wrestlers at states.
Lower’s Braydon Castillo (175) and Ocean City’s Charley Cossaboone (157) and Sam Williams (190) plus several wrestlers from St. Augustine Prep, Absegami, Egg Harbor Township, Oakcrest and Holy Spirit were part of the event.
For the Ocean City High School Red Raiders, Cossaboone, seeded 12th, lost a close 4-3 decision over Nick Alque (21) of Howell in his first match. In the wrestleback competition, he pinned Harry Liu (18) of Wachung Hills in 1:36 before losing another close decision, 3-2, to David Turner (6) of Morris Heights and being eliminated.
Williams, seeded 29th, was pinned in 1:25 by Danny DiGiovacchio (4) of Delsea and then lost 12-4 to Xavier Williams (13) of Paramus Catholic.
Calhoun was proud that his four seniors had made it to regionals and that two made it to states (Cossaboone and Williams).
“It’s great for our program. It’s bittersweet to make it to Atlantic City and then lose but we have to keep our season in perspective. We had an outstanding season and just participating in states is an unforgettable experience that the kids will remember for the rest of their lives,” he said. “We would have liked to have done better but they (Cossaboone and Williams) set a good example for our younger wrestlers to follow and they should be proud of their wrestling careers.”
They echoed their coach’s comments about their season and their experience at Atlantic City. Cossaboone called the atmosphere at Atlantic City “crazy and thrilling.” Williams called it “awesome, exciting and yet intimidating.” They agreed their experience would be a lifetime memory.
“It’s really rewarding to know I belonged there among the top wrestlers in the state. What a great experience,” Williams said.
Cossaboone said it was frustrating to lose two bouts by one point each, “but it is what it is and was still something that I’ll always remember and be proud of.”
For the Caper Tigers, Hebron (15th seed) won an 8-2 decision over Jake Klein (18th) of Jackson Liberty but was pinned by second-seeded P.J. Castle of Passaic Valley, an eventual finalist, in 42 seconds. He then went on a pinning spree in the consolation bracket, downing Carlos Angel (17) of Bound Brook in 2:18, Andy Marzetta (23) of Hawthorne in 1:32, Robert Canterino (5) of Christian Brothers Academy in 1:42 and Aiden Schlett (6) of St. Joseph Montvale in 1:57 to reach the medal round. There he was pinned by Bergen Catholic’s A.J. Friccione (3) in 1.34 and then lost 12-8 to Jack Stoll of Pope John (7), finishing in sixth place.
Zuwrawski’s path to his medal was equally grueling. Seeded seventh, he began by pinning Brad Zajac (26) of Colts Neck in 1:59. Next he won a 13-2 major decision over St. Peters Prep’s Tony Harris (10). He then lost a close 6-5 decision to Nick Fea (7) of Bergan Catholic who was a finalist.
In the wrestleback bracket, Zurawski began by pinning Colin Murray of Cranford (12) in 3:13. He then lost another close decision 3-2 to Roberto Padilla (6) of St. Joseph Maryvale. He was injured in that contest, forcing him to forfeit to Owen Disbrow of St. Thomas Aquinas and finish eighth.
Castillo, seeded 26th, had a tough tournament, first losing a 15-0 technical fall to Brick Memorial’s Harvey Ludington (7), the eventual champion, and then being pinned in 3:32 by North Hunterdon’s Luke Yeager (23) and was eliminated.
Damiana, Zurawski and Hebron, while initially disappointed with not doing even better at states, refused to let that dampen their enthusiasm for both an excellent tournament performance and season.
“Having two medalists on the podium is a first for us,” Damiana said. “It was a great end to a great season.”
He said Hebron, Zurawski and other seniors such as Brody Saltzman, Castillo, Nathan Stewart and Corey Achuff have helped rebuild the program.
“I’m proud of them and they should be proud of themselves,” he said. “They worked hard and were rewarded.”
By R.E. HEINLY/Special to the Sentinel
