Hawks, Crusaders Trip to Atlantic City Starts Tonight

For Connor Melde, Johnny Sebastian, Danny Lynch, Hunter Kiselick, Tyler Casamenti and Matt Mangini the long rode to Atlantic City begins tonight during the first round of the Region 2 wrestling tournament.

They are joined by DJ Tirelli, Troy Schaafsma, JP Ascolese, Cenzo Cariddi, Tyler Kallensee, Mike Kruklinski, Lukas Iorio, Nick Baranello, Christian Jenco, Lenny Smith and Carmine Goldsack as the Golden Hawks and Crusaders have wrestlers each in weight class.

Listed below are the first round pairings by weight class:

106 POUNDS

Tyler Casamenti, seeded third, will sit out the first match and watch as Paul Antonick (Westwood) and Joe Rocca (Elmwood Park) battle for the right to advance and face Casamenti.

113 POUNDS

DJ Tirelli, seeded first, and Troy Schaafsma, seeded seventh, will also be waiting on who their opponent could be. Tirelli will take on the winner of Andy Juarez (Bergenfield)/Michael Worthington (Pascack Hills) while Schaafsma awaits eithers Steven Hartofilis (Don Bosco) or Vincent Macaluso (St. Joseph Regional of Montvale).

120 POUNDS

Danny Lynch took the number sixth spot for a first round match against Justin Cochran (Paramus) - the winner takes on third seeded Brian Robinson (Garfield). JP Ascolese came in at seventh and has a tough fight on his hands against second seed Dean Piterski (Pascack Valley).

126 POUNDS

None

132 POUNDS

Connor Melde is the perennial favorite in this group as the top seed and returning champion. He will draw either Kenny Hayes (Ridgewood) or Chris Jacobsen (Glen Rock-Saddle Brook).

138 POUNDS

Ousted early last year, Cenzo Cariddi, fourth seed, has his eyes on Atlantic City and Fair Lawn's Austen Fisher will be the first to fall in his wake.

145 POUNDS

Matt Mangini, second seed, will have to overcome the winner of David Arrighi (Paramus)/Anthony Mobilio (Lodi) to get ahead for Friday's second round.

152 POUNDS

None

160 POUNDS

This is a loaded weight class with top seeded Johnny Sebastian and Tyler Kallensee. Sebastian is on a collision course to the finals after he knocks off either Jonathan Marrero (Bergenfield) or Brian Bandstra (Waldwick-Midland Park).

Kallensee has a rough ride ahead of him with Northern Highlands Brandon Latierno in the first round. If he wins, second seeded Matt Dickman (Glen Rock-Saddle Brook) stands in his way during the quarterfinals.

170 POUNDS

Coming in at fourth, Michael Kruklinski will look to stay on top over either Wallace Payne (Lodi) or Dylan Menze (Emerson-Park Ridge). 

182 POUNDS

If Lukas Iorio and Nick Baranello stay focused, both could be meeting in the finals as the top two seeds in this weight class. Iorio starts his run against the winner of Victor Trascu (Bergenfield)/ Joey Fisco (Emerson-Park Ridge) first round match. Baranello awaits either Kyle Wagner (Tenafly) or Michael Silano (St. Joseph Regional of Montvale).

195 POUNDS

Christian Jenco is sitting in fifth for a first round match against the winner of Sukmin Yoon (Ridgewood) vs. Robbie Maggiulli (Emerson-Park Ridge). 

220 POUNDS

Don't be surprised if you spot Lenny Smith, second seed, in the finals against Don Bosco's best, Zack Chakonis. These two met during the George Jockish County Tournament and are eyeing to renew their rivarly. On opposite sides of the bracket, Smith first has to knock off the winner of Alexander Capicchioni (Northern Highlands) vs. Ryan Woods (Ramsey).

Adding in to the mix will be fourth seed Hunter Kiselick and his first round against Ray Kim (Cresskill). Advancing, he would take on Daniel Delpercio (Garfield).

HEAVYWEIGHT

Picking up the second seed, Carmine Goldsack is in the best position to move forward to finals so long as he can overcome his first round opponent, the winner of Tyler Argott (Fair Lawn) vs. Neil Forrester (Ramsey).

The Region 2 tournament will be held throughout the week at Hackensack High School with the first round at 6pm tonight; the quarterfinals on Friday at 6pm; with a full round on Saturday with the semifinals and wrestlebacks at 10am, consolations at 4pm and the finals to follow.

At the end of the week, only the top wrestlers in each weight class from their respective Region will advance to the Championship in Atlantic City, March 2-4.