Pack Punishes Pope John & Jefferson, Borgia Bests Knolls Tourney Again

12/22/24

By David Yaskulka
Photos from Jen Sheppard and Sheryl Reed

West Morris Central wrestling topped powerhouse Pope John and Jefferson, as junior co-captain Tommy Borgia (HWT) successfully defended his title at the Morris Knolls Tournament (MKT) in the team’s first full week of wrestling. Freshmen Chris Kowalik (190 lbs.) and Deacon Frayne (175) put their elders on notice, taking silver and bronze respectively while facing only seniors. Brody Neill (120, 2nd) and Michael Borgia (215, 3rd) also medaled at the 10-school MKT Dec. 21 in Roxbury.

Coach Chris Marold’s squad starts the season 2-1 in advance of the historic John Goles Holiday Tournament Saturday Dec. 28 at Warren Hills.

“Frayne, Kowalik and Mikey Borgia really impressed me,” said MKT champ Borgia. Those guys have shown huge improvement, and were outstanding.” He pointed out that it was Frayne and Kowalik’s first varsity tournament, and that his brother Mikey “put on a show against some good competition.”

Sophomore Jacob Harrison (138) and freshman Jake Reed (106) won big bouts for the Pack, placing fourth at the Morris Knolls Tournament.

Gold Again

Half of the finals ended early with techs or pins, but none earlier than Borgia’s.

One of the most talented wrestlers at the tournament, Borgia almost appeared frustrated competing in one of its weakest brackets. Borgia nemesis and state medalist Rocco Salerno was among Seton Hall starters at Beast.

In quarterfinals, Borgia took down and released his opponent four times before pinning, all in 76 seconds. Borgia’s 18 second semifinals pin was utterly dominant, topped only by his eight second pin in the finals. He plowed through this nine man bracket in about a half a period combined.

More Hardware for WMC

“I was honored to take second in my first high school tournament,” said Kowalik. He pinned South Plainfield senior Jacob Billian in quarterfinals before facing the top-seeded 28-win Sparta senior in semifinals.

“My favorite moment was trailing the whole match in semifinals, but then gassing my opponent and taking him down to win,” said Kowalik, using wrestling slang for emptying the opponent’s gas tank, exhausting him.

A scuffle nearly broke out after it appeared Kowalik's frustrated opponent attacked him after time expired.

In the finals, Kowalik faced NJ #16 ranked Montville senior Dominick Kraemer, again coming from behind but falling just short, 11-8.

Frayne topped #76 ranked South Plainfield senior Emmanuel Torres in quarterfinals before tasting his first defeat of the season at the hands of eventual champion and Brearley senior Alan Walczak, who was 25-5 last season.

“It was great to medal at my first high school tournament. The best part of the day was in the third place match when I bounced back from a loss,” said Frayne.

“When he [Montville senior Matt Chmielewski] tried to switch me with time running out, I trapped his arm and was able to secure the pin” for bronze.

Neill took silver in possibly the most brutal bracket, ultimately falling to Warren Hills Augie Szamereta (ranked #11) in the finals to continue their epic back-and-fourth rivalry. The bracket was so stacked that Mark Montuore got caught by the #47 ranked six-seed. Neill, who topped #14 ranked eventual bronze medalist Cameron Kolakowski in semis, took gold last year.

Mikey Borgia (215) topped #68 ranked Watchung senior Joseph Richardson in quarterfinals with an explosive pin for possibly his biggest win. Montville 25-win senior Sean Ellsmore, ranked #15, majored Borgia in semis, while pinning every other opponent on the way to the championship.

Borgia defeated second-seeded Warren Hills senior David Kocsor by 11-4 for bronze.

Placing fourth were underclassmen Jacob Harrison (138) and Jake Reed (106). While contributing a big pin in quarterfinals, Harrison looked especially sharp in semis, falling 7-5 to #15 ranked 32-win Sparta junior Ryan Hrenenko. Reed pinned Sparta’s Digioia to place in his first tournament.

Additional victories contributing to the Wolfpack team score came from Jacob Fahmi, John Garcia (157), Jonathan Cabarle (144), and Kurt Beyer (150).

Gotta’ Wear Shades

How bright is the Wolfpack future? Of the seven placewinners, five are underclassmen, including three freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors (coincidentally born on the same day), and no seniors.

No Repeat for WMC

WMC placed fourth, unable to defend its 2023 championship. South Plainfield won solidly with 148.5 team points behind middleweight champions Anthony Mateo (144), Ryan Balent (150), and Jose Rodriguez (157). It was neck and neck for the next tier as Warren Hills scored 128 with champions Augie Szamerata (120), Charlie Piccione (126) and Davey Rhineheart (132); Montville 125.5 behind champs Luke Manieri (106) and Dom Kraemer (190); and WMC 125. They were followed by Brearley, Sparta, Morris Knolls, Watchung Hills, Hackettstown, and powerhouse Seton Hall Prep, which sent their varsity squad to the Beast of the East Tournament, and dominated JV here.

Morris Knolls JV Tourney

Sophomore Jack Sheppard (190) and freshman Nick Galvin (106) excelled for the junior Pack, taking bronze medals in full brackets. Seamus Buckley took fourth, falling to friendly fire from Sheppard. Galvin is also 1-2 bumping to 113 to help fill the need on the varsity squad.

Pack Punishes Pope John Behind Big Wins from Neill, Frayne and Kowalik

Coach Marold masterminded a 42-26 victory over Pope John, jockeying his lineup to perfection. His wrestlers delivered in a big way against the perennial powerhouse parochial, in front of the Pack home crowd Dec. 18.

Marold move number one: bump up Jacob Harrison to 144 lbs to start the match. The sophomore 138 pounder delivered a 22-5 takedown clinic for the tech fall.

After three Lions pins, freshmen Frayne and Kowalik turned the tide back Packwards with signature wins, respectively besting senior district champion #59 Kevin Wilson 9-5, and coming from behind to top junior #89 David Thomson 15-8 for two of the three best wins of the night.

The Borgia boys kept up the momentum, as Michael delivered his own come-from-behind victory 12-7. Unlike the Pack’s three prior hard-fought, tooth-and-nail wins, Tommy Borgia delivered a speedy six – in 11 seconds.

With an upset victory in his sights, Marold moved his chiseled chess pieces again. He put out Nick Galvin to take a forfeit at 106, and bumped up Jake Reed to 113, where he delivered a 32 second pin. Count six W’s in a row for the Pack.

Neill, in his first action of the season after taking ill, showed no lingering effects as he dominated fellow state medalist Jake Holly 10-0 for the biggest win of the night.

Mark Montuore guaranteed the victory with a first period pin of his own, giving his Pack nine victories on the night. In the early going, no one had gone the distance against Montuore or Tommy Borgia, or Jacob Harrison. All started 3-0.

Even in the final two bouts, the Pack valiantly saved some bonus in Lion wins. Mason Vazquez lost an especially well fought battle to #79 Frankie Spagnola by 10-5, and then Jacob Fahmi prevented the pin against NJ #2 ranked state bronze medalist Dalton Weber.

Pack Tops Jefferson 42-37 Behind Cabarle and Kowalik’s 1st W’s, Frayne and Harrison’s 2nd Pins

On Dec. 17 at Jefferson, Jonathan Cabarle and Christopher Kowalik earned their first high school victories by pin, while fellow freshman Deacon Frayne and sophomore Jacob Harrison stayed perfect on the season with their second pins. The rebuilding Falcons lost 10 starters to graduation, and still won six of the 11 bouts wrestled. With Jefferson strategically forfeiting to WMC hammers Mark Montuore, Tommy Borgia and Brody Neill, it was ultimately the bonus-saving losing efforts by Mason Vazquez, John Garcia and Jacob Reed that saved the Pack five team points – exactly the margin of victory.

PJ History

Last season Pope John dominated WMC by 40 points. In fact, the last time WMC defeated Pope John was January 16, 2019. PJ was ranked #6 in NJ, and Kaya Sement was the #6 wrestler in the state, but both fell that night to Eli Sheppard and the Wolfpack, 45-20. Then-coach Ken Rossi said at the time, “I do not recall ever beating a top-10 team before.” Current PJ assistant coach and state champion JoJo Aragona won that night.

MKT Last Year

Last season, Brandon Dean, Neil and Tommy Borgia won Morris Knolls gold. Montuore, Sam Rizzuto and AJ Codella took silver. Mason Vazquez and Robert Fazzino won bronze, as WMC won the team title. For Borgia, it was his first gold medal (of many to come) despite reaching the state championship his freshman year.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/pack-wins-knolls-behind-neill-dean-borgia-gold-medals

Next Up

The John Goles Tournament is Dec. 28. Goles’ degree of difficulty could ramp up a notch if powerhouse Southern (one of the nation’s top-ranked public schools, and #1 in NJ) brings their varsity squad this year.

Goles 20 schools: Butler, Columbia, Del Val, Dover, Hackettstown, Hamilton North Nottingham, Hoboken, Hopewell, Kearny, Lyndhurst/North Arlington, Newton, Northern Highlands, Paramus Catholic, Passaic Co Votech, Ramapo, Southern, St. Joseph Metuchen, Verona, Warren Hills, WMC

Powerhouse Caldwell visits WMC Jan. 3, 2025 with #5 @ 106 Carmine Sipper (the only grappler to top Neill twice), #13 @ 190 Andrew Fonseca, #19 @ 175 Nicholas Mignone and #20 @215 Michael Mignone.

The Del Val quad is Jan. 4 with Kittatinny and Morris Knolls. WMC visits NJ #1 Delbarton Jan. 7 which could feature a rematch between nationally-ranked PJ Terranova, and Neill (who pinned Terranova last match). While WMC will not face Delbarton at the Morris County Tournament (Delby is going elsewhere), Pack District medalists will no doubt find Delbarton combattants as the Green Wave enters WMC’s Region 3.

About David Yaskulka

David began living his sportswriter dream to avoid concession duty when his sons Noah and Ben began wrestling for the Wolfpack in 2012. He is a passionate sustainability advocate and pet industry executive, serves as Board Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, Board Director at Greater Good Charities; and Board Advisor at Arch Pet Food, rePurpose Global plastic action platform, and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

He invites all WMC wrestlers and their families to connect with him (and with each other!) on LinkedIn.