Jackson Memorial wrestling makes coach Doug Withstandley prediction come true
BRICK - Jackson Memorial head wrestling coach Doug Withstandley saw what happened Wednesday night with his team dominant 40-19 win over Brick Memorial in the NJSIAA Central Group 4 championship match almost a year ago.
"This is the team I envisioned last March,'' Withstandley said. "I sat down and made a joke with the members of my phys-ed department and we put a quote up on the wall and we said, 'We will win the section next year'.
"They (his colleagues in the Jackson Memorial physical education department) were probably in disbelief and said, 'How could you know that far out?' I knew what we had coming back. I know the positivity and the culture of the room and I knew these guys would want to get better in the summer, and they did.''
There were some bumps in the road for the Jaguars to get there, especially in late December and early January.
"We've dealt with injuries, lineup changes, illnesses, everything you could imagine this year, we've dealt with it. '' Withstandley said. "To the guys credit, they've shown great resiliency. Every kid who was injured did what they had to do to come back. I couldn't be more proud of this team.''
Once the Jaguars (15-6) got all the pieces back in the lineup with the return of 2022 state qualifier Cael Huxford from an injury that had sidelined him since Dec. 17, Withstandley stepped out of character with his feelings to his team.
"I told them, 'Keep the ball in our court,'' Withstandley said. "I know they're (Brick Memorial) favored. I know they are the defending champs (Brick Memorial won the Central Group 4 championship last season on its way to the Group 4 championship match)'. But, in my head, we were favored the whole time. In my head, we were supposed to win this dual (dual meet).
"I know that sounds crazy, and that's not typical of me to be that confident. But, I have faith in this team and these kids. I really like them. I like their attitudes.''
Wednesday night, Jackson Memorial, after losing the first three bouts, won 10 of the last 11. The Jaguars were dominant on their feet and were able to get back points when needed. They outwrestled the Mustangs in every facet.
Jackson Memorial wrestled like a vintage Jackson Memorial team from the program's illustrious past.
"They're not as talented as the Group 4 championship teams that I've coached,'' Withstandley said. "But, they've go the guts. They've got the bravado. They wanted to listen. Anything I've challenged them with, they've shown resiliency and they've responded.''
WHAT IT MEANS
Jackson Memorial won the 11th sectional championship - all since 2004 - in program history and first since 2019. The Jaguars are two wins away from the fifth Group 4 championship in their history and first since 2011.
Jackson Memorial will wrestle at defending Group 4 champion Mount Olive (11-4) Friday night in the Group 4 semifinal.
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The winner of that match will meet the winner of the North Hunterdon-Shawnee semifinal Sunday at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena in the Group 4 championship match.
The Jaguars are probably not the favorite to win the Group 4 championship, but they are dangerous
"If we come in and wrestle like this, you've got to consider us in the mix,'' Withstandley said.
"Right now, we all feel great,'' said senior 132-pounder Lucas Lipari. "There's something about the way we feel. We have that fire in us.''
KEY BOUTS
There were several tossup bouts, and Jackson Memorial won all of them.
At 106, junior Joseph Weikel defeated freshman Michael Napolitano 11-6. A five-point move off a roll-through tilt gave Weikel an 11-4 lead in the final seconds.
"Weikel's tough. He's scrappy,'' Withstandley said.
Three bouts later, junior Jonathan Espinoza, a returning state qualifier, built a 7-1 lead over Jack Torre before pinning him with 18 seconds left to give the Jaguars a 22-13 lead after eight bouts.
"I have all the confidence in the world in Johnny,'' Withstandley said. "They're tough kids. (Espinoza and his brother Luis). They work hard. They listen and they're on time every day. Johnny is the kind of kid who is a slow starter, but gets better as the year goes on. We're only going to see our best wrestling to come out of Johnny.''
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Two bouts later, Lipari bumped up to 138 pounds and away from three-time state finalist and 2021 state 120-pound champion Anthony Santaniello and defeated returning district champion Brody Elk 6-2. Elk had recently dropped down from 144 to 138.
"He stuck to the game plan,'' Withstandley said. "At that point, they were getting desperate and trying to go upper body. He has a background in judo so he doesn't get thrown. That was absolutely huge.''
Sophomore Ryan Wolf ended all doubt about who was going to win when he defeated Tommy Prince 12-5. Prince had recently moved into the lineup when Brick Memorial rearranged its 126-144-pound wrestlers.
Jackson Memorial wound up winning three of the four bouts from 126-144 - a portion of the lineup that impressed in the Mustangs' 39-30 win over Long Branch Monday night in the sectional semifinal.
A CHANGED MINDSET
Jackson Memorial is not only the healthiest it has been all season. It is wrestling like a team with each wrestling feeding off the one that preceded him.
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''When we lost early on in the year to Lacey (a 37-28 defeat on Dec. 28), guys thought it was OK to roll to their back and get majored, pinned or teched,'' Withstandley said. "I told them, 'it's not always the guy who wins who's the hero. It's how you lose. You can be the hero by losing' "Our guys have brought into that.''
"Everybody is supporting each other,'' Jonathan Espinoza said.
JACKSON MEMORIAL 40, BRICK MEMORIAL 19
175: Trey Tallmadge (BM) md. William Kovacs 8-0.
190: Harvey Ludington (BM) p. Paul Novello :22.
215: Ben Szuba (BM) d. Justin Krosnicki 10-6.
HWT: Ryan Fischer (JM) p. Jordan Lizardi 1:54.
106: Joseph Weikel (JM) d. Michael Napolotano 11-6.
113: Jay Seda (JM) d. Gavin Martin 7-1.
120: Luis Espinoza (JM) md. Ryan Henderson 11-3.
126: Jonathan Espinoza (JM) p. Jack Torre 5:42.
132: Anthony Santaniello (BM) p. Nikko Rucci 2:34.
138: Lucas Lipari (JM) d. Brody Elk 6-2.
144: Ryan Wolf (JM) d. Tommy Prince 12-5
150: Cael Huxford (JM) d. Mason Pirnik 6-4.
157: John Calamia (JM) d. Max Wright 9-2.
165: Luke Hamann (JM) p. Christian Valanzola 3:47
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ Wrestling: Jackson Memorial wins Central 4 title in style
