Delaware Valley 30, Hanover Park 28 – NJSIAA Group 2 wrestling championship – Rapid Recap
As Terrier head coach Andy Fitz said, “they’ll be partying like it’s 1999” in Frenchtown, Holland Township and the rest of the towns that make up the Delaware Valley sending districts after the Terriers snapped an 18-year state championship drought with a dramatic and hard-fought defeat of the Hornets at the Pine Belt Arena on the campus of Toms River North Sunday afternoon.
“To me this means the world,” said Del Val senior Matt Kolonia, who posted a technical fall at 138 pounds that erased an early Hanover Park lead. “My sophomore year we made Groups but we were huge underdogs. Last year we came here and had a good shot and we lost by a point (to Emerson/Park Ridge. As seniors this was all we talked about winning in our last chance.”
Delaware Valley captured its first state title since 1999, its eighth overall, and the first for Fitz, whose father Vince won six as head coach; Paul Petro was coach in 1999. The Terriers (23-3) also set a single-season school record for wins at 23.
But the Terriers couldn’t be certain of their triumph over the North 2 champions (17-5) until sophomore AJ DeRosa clinched the match with a 3-1 decision over Michael Rubin at 120 pounds to make the score 30-22 and allow Del Val to forfeit harmlessly to Hanover Park’s Escape the Rock champion Nick Raimo at 126 to account for the final score.
Like many of the Terrier triumphs Sunday DeRosa took the bout over in the third period. Trailing 1-0 and taking defense to start the period, DeRosa escaped immediately, went right after Rubin and took him down 15 seconds into the period. DeRosa controlled the rest of the bout on top, surrendering a harmless stalling point late in the bout.
DeRosa was happy to deliver but it wasn’t a role he relished in a match that started in a spot (132 pounds) he didn’t prefer.
“To be honest with you, no, I don’t like being the last one,” he said. “Starting at 120 would have been ideal for me, wrestle the first match and then sit back and cheer for my teammates. But once we got through the upperweights the way we did I knew it would come down to me. Before the match, yes, I was nervous, but I tried not let it get to my head and stay calm. I knew if each of us did what we were supposed to do, we had a good chance of winning.”
And they did – meaning there will be no calm in northeastern Hunterdon County Sunday night.
“I can’t wait to get back to Delaware Valley,” Kolonia said.
To party like it was 1999, no doubt.
Turning point: The up-and-down, roller-coaster bout that saw each team grab momentum and then lose it and then regain it again shifted permanently in Delaware Valley’s favor at 285, the 10th bout. There, senior Josh LaDuca, wrestling at 285 despite really being a 220-pounder due to the Terrier shortage of upperweights, pulled out a 2-1 decision over Giancarlo Dellanno that moved Del Val to the verge of victory. “Once Josh won I knew then all we needed was for AJ to win,” Fitz said. LaDuca’s relentless forward motion on his feet kept Dellano moving backwards and eventually drew the decisive stalling warning with 16 seconds to go. “I knew he’d get tired if I kept pushing the pace and I knew I could pull it out in the end,” said LaDuca, who was giving up almost 60 pounds in weight. “I think I am better shape than most heavyweights.”
Top performers: Like Nazareth in its Hershey glory Saturday, take your pick. Not many Terriers didn’t contribute to the triumph. “This was an absolute total team effort today,” Fitz said. “Today was all about the team,” LaDuca said. It seems almost against the Terrier ethos to single out wrestlers, but here’s three: DeRosa, obviously; senior Sean Lessig, whose sizzling third period (three takedowns and some powerhouse riding) produced a major decision at 170; and senior Connor Mills, who fulfilled his trademark role of taking on a top foe and limiting damage, held Hanover Park’s Lou Raimo to a 9-2 decision in the opening bout at 132 to deny the Hornets momentum and necessary points in what was ultimately a two-point match. That is no easy task to do night after night – but Mills does it as well as anybody.
What it means: Delaware Valley breaks through the state group barrier for the first time in the 21st century. The Terriers staked a clear claim to a top-10 spot in the state. One of the most-team oriented programs around claims the reward it treasures most of all. It means that Del Val adds another rich chapter to its already glorious history.
Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @bradwsports. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.
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