The WHB contingent of 5 wrestlers headed off to Brentwood early Saturday morning after a long week of preparation with hopes of attaining all-county status or perhaps even a county title. A Freshman, A Sophomore, a Junior, and 2 Seniors made the trek to "The Show". The Section XI Tournament is a grueling test of will in undoubtedly the most competitive county in the state. After competing in the toughest league in the county, simply being there was a testament to all the hard work and preparation put in by the participants, but simply being there is never the goal. Two Canes fell Saturday after some early success:
As a team, no Hurricane wrestler had a losing record in the tournament, and together they finished a very impressive 14-8 in the tournament!
Sophomore Jason Montagna (120) - Jason had a very nice tournament as he opened up with a win against an opponent he lost to earlier in the season and followed that with a win in his second match. Jason was then defeated in the quarter-finals and beaten again in the wrestle-backs and eliminated. It's key to note that his first loss was to the eventual 2nd place finisher, and his second loss was to the 4th place finisher. Another underclassman, I have no doubt Jason will be hungry for more in 2019.
Senior Tyler Skala (113) - Tyler also opened up the tournament with two wins before running into trouble. He had to face a defending state champion in his 3rd match and was defeated. In the wrestle-backs he lost a very tough 8-6 match to the eventual 5th place finisher and was eliminated, ending his wrestling career as a Hurricane. Tyler, a member of the Century Club had a great career as a Hurricane!
Three Hurricanes remained entering Sunday, one in the semi-finals, and two facing a do or die "blood match" pairing.
Freshman Gavin McIntyre (99)- Gavin received a bye in the first round after winning the League VI Tournament, advanced in his first match of the day before losing in his quarter-final match and being forced into wrestle-backs. In wrestle-backs, Gavin posted a win before being defeated in his blood round wrestle-back on Sunday which ended his tournament. It's important to note that the wrestlers he lost to wrestled each other for 3rd & 4th place. It was a very good year for the Freshman and I have no doubt he will be a force next year.
Senior Lucas Villareale (220) - Lucas, got a win in his first match Saturday before losing to the eventual 6th place finisher in his second. It was a elimination wrestling the rest of Saturday for Lucas, and he handled the pressure amazingly well. He eliminated two wrestlers, one being a county ranked opponent which earned him a chance to wrestle on Sunday! However, he ran into the eventual 4th place finisher in his blood round match where he was eliminated one win short of all-county status. While Lucas's Hurricane wrestling career ended on Sunday, it was a very nice run he had at the counties!
Junior Liam McIntyre (182) - Liam, won all three of his matches on Saturday putting him in the semi-finals. Having finished second in the League VI Tournament in his only loss of the season the week before, everyone was bracket watching as Liam and #1 Joe Franzese progressed through the tournament toward an expected rematch in the finals. Sure enough, when Liam won in the semi-finals, Franzese did the same and the finals were set. Liam would have his chance to avenge his only loss of the season against the undefeated and #1 ranked wrestler in the county.
182 POUND FINALS
You can see all of the division I finals by clicking on the link below, or if you'd prefer to just watch Liam's match, just go forward to the 126:40 mark for the start of the 182 pound final.
One important note about the match that the announcer got wrong: At the beginning of the 2nd period, Franzese won the toss and elected to be on top. Liam DID NOT elect down as indicated in the video. Liam then elected to take neutral to begin the 3rd period when it was his choice. I guess color commentators should pay more attention to the match they so they know what they are talking about.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FINALS ON NEWS 12 VARSITY
As a team, no Hurricane wrestler had a losing record in the tournament, and together they finished a very impressive 14-8 in the tournament!
Sophomore Jason Montagna (120) - Jason had a very nice tournament as he opened up with a win against an opponent he lost to earlier in the season and followed that with a win in his second match. Jason was then defeated in the quarter-finals and beaten again in the wrestle-backs and eliminated. It's key to note that his first loss was to the eventual 2nd place finisher, and his second loss was to the 4th place finisher. Another underclassman, I have no doubt Jason will be hungry for more in 2019.
Senior Tyler Skala (113) - Tyler also opened up the tournament with two wins before running into trouble. He had to face a defending state champion in his 3rd match and was defeated. In the wrestle-backs he lost a very tough 8-6 match to the eventual 5th place finisher and was eliminated, ending his wrestling career as a Hurricane. Tyler, a member of the Century Club had a great career as a Hurricane!
Three Hurricanes remained entering Sunday, one in the semi-finals, and two facing a do or die "blood match" pairing.
Freshman Gavin McIntyre (99)- Gavin received a bye in the first round after winning the League VI Tournament, advanced in his first match of the day before losing in his quarter-final match and being forced into wrestle-backs. In wrestle-backs, Gavin posted a win before being defeated in his blood round wrestle-back on Sunday which ended his tournament. It's important to note that the wrestlers he lost to wrestled each other for 3rd & 4th place. It was a very good year for the Freshman and I have no doubt he will be a force next year.
Senior Lucas Villareale (220) - Lucas, got a win in his first match Saturday before losing to the eventual 6th place finisher in his second. It was a elimination wrestling the rest of Saturday for Lucas, and he handled the pressure amazingly well. He eliminated two wrestlers, one being a county ranked opponent which earned him a chance to wrestle on Sunday! However, he ran into the eventual 4th place finisher in his blood round match where he was eliminated one win short of all-county status. While Lucas's Hurricane wrestling career ended on Sunday, it was a very nice run he had at the counties!
Junior Liam McIntyre (182) - Liam, won all three of his matches on Saturday putting him in the semi-finals. Having finished second in the League VI Tournament in his only loss of the season the week before, everyone was bracket watching as Liam and #1 Joe Franzese progressed through the tournament toward an expected rematch in the finals. Sure enough, when Liam won in the semi-finals, Franzese did the same and the finals were set. Liam would have his chance to avenge his only loss of the season against the undefeated and #1 ranked wrestler in the county.
182 POUND FINALS
You can see all of the division I finals by clicking on the link below, or if you'd prefer to just watch Liam's match, just go forward to the 126:40 mark for the start of the 182 pound final.
One important note about the match that the announcer got wrong: At the beginning of the 2nd period, Franzese won the toss and elected to be on top. Liam DID NOT elect down as indicated in the video. Liam then elected to take neutral to begin the 3rd period when it was his choice. I guess color commentators should pay more attention to the match they so they know what they are talking about.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FINALS ON NEWS 12 VARSITY
| 2018_-_section-xi-d1-brackets-final.pdf |
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