Tables Turned as Frayne Reigns at Morris Knolls Tournament

12/21/25
By David Yaskulka
Photos by Sheryl Reed and Jen Sheppard [more photos coming]

“I didn't do much differently,” said West Morris Central Deacon Frayne, about his preparation for a huge rematch in the Morris Knolls Tournament (MKT) championship.

“I just got my body warm and ready to wrestle.”

After a (literally) gut-wrenching 11-9 loss to Sparta’s Liam Hassloch Wednesday night (Dec. 17) before a packed home crowd including over 150 Long Valley youth wrestlers, Frayne had a rematch Saturday (Dec. 20).

Instant Karma

(nod to John Lennon)

Frayne turned the tables with style, dominating the 215 lb. finals from the starting whistle, pinning Hassloch in the second period.

It was Frayne’s first-ever high school gold, and the only MKT championship for the Pack.

“Emotionally and strategically I just said to myself to go out and wrestle my match and forget what happened the days prior and to do what I do best,” said Frayne.

That ability to forget was exemplified by baseball immortal Mariano Rivera, who excelled by “being fully committed to the moment, without any worries about the past.” If Rivera gave up a big hit on Wednesday night (very rarely), he’d still strike out the side on Saturday.

“The key was to never back up, never be scared, and never take the foot of the gas,” Frayne said. On Saturday, he punched out all three wrestlers he faced by pin.

Seniors Robert Fazzino (175) and Michael Borgia (HWT) nabbed silver medals at the 11-squad tournament.

Separate Ways

(nod to Journey)

With Frayne, Fazzino and Borgia their only medalists, WMC uncharacteristically placed seventh out of 11 squads.

Five of Coach Chris Marold’s starters did not wrestle. They included defending MKT champion Tommy Borgia, who was in Texas for a football showcase event, and Chris Kowalik (a 2024 MKT silver medalist) and Jacob Harrison at Beast of the East.

It's the first time WMC has split to compete in two tournaments.

Alex Dymnicki (215) and Grant Baker (150) contributed wins in their varsity debuts.

Ryan Tie (106), Lucas Harrison (132), John Garcia (157), Hayden Hurst (165) and Kurt Beyer (165) also contributed important wins for the Wolfpack.

Redemption Song

(nod to Bob Marley)

Michael Borgia, a returning district finalist, wrote one of the best scripts of the tournament. Sidelined this season, he stepped in for his twin brother, and made it all the way to the finals for silver.

“It may not be the ideal circumstances for senior year,” said Borgia, “but we have four solid upper weights and only three spots (190, 215, HWT).

“But I’m still doing everything I can in the room to help those guys get better every day. And I’m ready to step into the lineup whenever Coach needs me, and I’ll try to seize the opportunity to the best of my ability.”

And seize he did, decking Roxbury’s Ian McMahon in quarterfinals, and South Plainfield’s Aaron Everitt in semifinals, both by pin.

Against Everitt, “it was a hammerlock, which we go over in practice regularly,” shared Borgia. “I had an opening, and just remembered what we have been practicing in the room.”

The WMC senior, who has been accepted to Lehigh, took MKT bronze last year.

“I’ve wrestled in the Knolls tournament three times now,” he reflected, “and being able to make the finals was really nice after coming up short the last two years.”

Undefeated Sayreville HWT Kacper Trzeciak, ranked #10 in NJ (RankWresters) who was 33-6 last season, took gold.

Level Up

(nod to Ciara)

Fazzino’s trajectory has been one of the fastest rising on the squad. Last season, fighting injury, he did not place at any tournaments until districts, where he brandished bronze.

Then last week, in the year’s first tournament, Fazzino medaled again.

At MKT, he nabbed silver, and very nearly made it gold.

He dominated opponents from Sparta, with a quarterfinals pin, and South Plainfield, by putting on a takedown clinic after the bout got chippy. Fazzino delivered three after three after three for the 24-8 technical fall victory over Joe Ronzo.

Down 7-2 in the final period of finals versus state qualifier Luke Shivas from Morris Knolls (33-6 last season), Fazzino took him down, and released him to make it 8-5. Fazzino struck again with 36 seconds remaining to tie the score at eight, but Shivas escaped literally as time expired for the victory.

Beast of the East

Jacob Harrison and Chris Kowalik ventured to Beast of the East in Delaware, where every match is a feature match against top national competition. Each secured a victory.

Widely considered a top-three national competition during the wrestling season, Beast winners have included Olympic Gold Medalist Kyle Snyder, World Champion David Taylor, NCAA Champion Ed Ruth, and three-time NCAA All-American Mark Grey, as well as Anthony Knox (St. John Vianney), and NCAA Champion Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic).

Over 50 NJ schools sent representatives, to face nearly 200 schools and over 1,100 wrestlers. Ten of the nation’s top-40 (FloWrestling) squads were there – including five of the top-eight, and New Jersey’s USA #8 St. Joseph Regional, #29 St. John Vianney, #31 St. Peter’s Prep, and #38 Camden Catholic.

Most weight brackets were 80 or more top wrestlers.

Junior Varsity MKT

At MKT, Tobi Kolawole defeated teammate Andrew Dominguez 4-2 in the 190 lb. JV finals, securing gold and silver respectively for the Pack.

In the semifinals, Kowale was down 6-1, nabbed a big five point move, and then drained his Seton Hall Prep opponent’s gas tank for an 11-6 victory.

Julian Healey (144) and Ashton Babinec (175) won bronze.

Ryan Groel (138), Tristan Cooper (144), and Erik Forsbrey (157) also nabbed victories for the JV Pack.

With multiple top wrestlers from the junior squad wrestling varsity, the JV team placed seventh of eleven.

Last Season MKT

Missing his chance to three-peat this year, in 2024 Borgia won the MKT for the second time in a row, as Kowalik and Neill won silver, with Frayne and Michael Borgia bronze.

Rankings Update

WMC is well represented on ranking sites.

Full Circle Wrestling’s Dec. 16 update has Neill at #9 at 132 pounds, Kowalik #14, and Borgia falling to #4 after Anthony Jackson of Paul VI bumped to HWT after his NJ fifth place finish last season. Borgia might not see any top ranked wrestlers until states in March.

RankWrestlers.com (RW) as of Dec. 19 ranked WMC as the #121 tournament team in NJ (ranking based on likely state championship placements only), and the #24 dual meet team.

RW shows how deep the WMC lineup has become, with 14 wrestlers ranked above average (top 200), including 11 in the top 85 (on average, top 96 qualify for regions), and five in the top 23 (on average, top-32 qualify for states).

RW has Borgia #2, Kowalik #8, Neill #10, Frayne #21, J. Harrison #23, Fazzino #59, Cabarle #63, Beyer #65, Garcia #115, Tie #134, Reed #163 – all in the top half of the state rankings for their weights.

Last year’s fab-four freshman now rank especially highly among fellow sophomores, with Kowalik #1, Frayne #3, Cabarle #6, and Reed #47 at their weights among classmates.

In related news, Borgia was named NJAC wrestler of the week for his Caldwell Tournament championship, while Bergen Catholic star Mason Marck won his conference award for topping Frayne.

Here’s a cheat sheet explaining rankings.

Special thanks to team statisticians Adriana Georgiev, Alexa Moscotello and Kaylee Viera.

Next Up

WMC visits Hanover Park Dec. 23 for a tri-meet including Randolph. The John Goles Tournament is Dec. 29 at Warren Hills. The new year starts at a Kittatinny quad with Del Val and Morris Knolls Jan. 3, 2026, followed by dual meets at Mount Olive Jan. 6 and High Point Jan. 7. (Schedule based on Garden State HS Wrestling calendar). The Jan. 10 Roxbury quad includes Livingston and Holmdel. Jan. 17 competition is TBA. Mark calendars for WMC hosting Mendham Jan. 20, and the Morris County Tournament at Mt. Olive Jan. 24.

About David Yaskulka

To avoid concession duty when his sons Noah and Ben joined WMC in 2012, David revived his sportswriter dream, and still covers the Pack. He’s a sustainability advocate and pet industry executive, having served as CEO of Nature’s Logic, SVP of Mid America Pet Food, and Board Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition and Greater Good Charities. He currently advises Love, Nala cat food, Archway 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.