Princeton duo leads CVC charge into Region V semis

FRANKLIN TWP. >> From a Mercer County perspective, everything went pretty much as expected with four quarterfinal round winners at the Region V Wrestling Tournament at Franklin High Friday night.

From a Hunterdon Central viewpoint, it did not go as well as hoped as the Red Devils were able to win only six of 10 bouts.

Advancing into Saturday morning’s semifinals were Princeton’s Dan Monahan (126) and Alec Bobchin (138), Hopewell Valley’s Justin Venezia (145) and West Windsor South’s Brandon Murray (120). Meanwhile, six other Mercer wrestlers got sent into Saturday morning’s wrestle-backs.

Murray was the first to get his hand raised from the Mercer contingent when he posted a wild 10-9 decision over Matawan’s Kamrin O’Neill. It looked like the West Windsor South senior (28-10) might be in trouble when he fell behind early, but he came on strong in the third period with three takedowns, including the winner with :05 remaining in the bout.

“We had it as a toss-up going in and it was a fun bout,” observed Pirate coach Warren Gerstacker. “Brandon really turned it up in the third period.”

Murray will now take on a tough customer in South Plainfield’s top-seeded Anthony White (120).

Monahan and Bobchin both advanced in dominating style. Improving to 29-5, Monahan cruised to a 9-4 win over Connor Platt of Spotswood while the top-seeded Bobchin won by technical fall over Aaron Longo of Hopewell Valley.

Next up for Monahan is fourtime district champion Jack Bauer of Hunterdon Central. Bobchin (33-2) will face Alex Amato of South Plainfield and should the seeding hold up, he would then take on Manalapan’s Alex Baran (40-0) in the finals. Bobchin pinned Baran at states last year and is attempting to become Princeton’s first two-time region champ.

“I’m 100 times mentally tougher than last year,” said Bobchin. “I’m also much quicker and much stronger.”

After watching his younger brother and 113-pounder Jacob Venezia lose in the quarters, Justin Venezia (33-6) convincingly took care of business by pinning Princeton’s Dominic RiendeauKrause in a time of 4:18. The Hopewell senior will now take on a real hammer in Hunterdon Central’s Pasquale Vizzoni (25-2).

Although Hunterdon Central was able to advance wrestlers in the first four weights as well as at 145 and 152, it suffered a blow when freshman standout Tanner Peake was pinned by Edison’s Michael O’Brien at the 5:54 mark. This was a wild bout in which Peake had O’Brien on his back in the first period.

Hunterdon Central also suffered tough losses at 138 where Anthony Romaniello came up one point short and at heavyweight where Ryan Joyce fell to St. John Vianney’s Paul Liseno in overtime.

Delaware Valley had two winners, including top-seeded AJ DeRosa at 132 pounds. Group II Group state champion led the way by placing an impressive eight wrestlers into the semifinals of one of the tougher regions in the state.