Cougars Stop Blue Devils on the Mat

Cranford High School's wrestling team stopped a party Friday night. Westfield had hoped to get head coach Glen Kurz' 100th win, and the program's 500th, but the Cougars pounced, beating the Blue Devils 42-22.

Cranford won its sixth straight dual meet, raising its record to 11-4.

"We've really put it together the last two weeks,'' said Cranford coach Darren Torsone, whose team is scheduled to wrestle Rancocas Valley and North Plainfield Saturday.   

Cranford won nine of 14 bouts led by freshman 112-pounder Mike Helmstetter, who stunned sophomore Mike Kalimtzis with a pin. Kalmtzis won the Union County Tournament at 103 pounds. Helmstetter has wrestled three varsity bouts -- and won by fall in each one.

Junior 130-pounder Kyle Markovitch, who recently returned after missing most of the season with a broken hand, won his third straight bout with a 7-0 victory.   

"He wrestled the Rahway match, but we held him out of the county meet because we didn't think he could go four matches (in one day),'' Torsone said.   

His return has bolstered the Cougars, who were coming off an impressive third-place finish at the county tournament.   

"It makes a huge difference, having him back,'' Torsone said.   

Senior Errol Petgrave beat Bill Kim 3-1 with a late takedown at 189 pounds.   

"It's the best I've seen Errol wrestle all year,'' Torsone said.   

Senior Carmine Pellino had a technical fall win at 130 pounds and sophomore 160 pounder J.P. Christiano added one at 160 to raise his record to 19-4. Westfield forfeited the last bout  of the match to senior 215 pounder Julian Campo.