Hopewell pounds DelVal
BAPTISTOWN » The last time we checked in with the Delaware Valley wrestling team, the Dogs captured a seventh group state title and junior Kyle Lightner won the 195-pound state championship in Atlantic City.
Fast forward to Tuesday night when Hopewell Valley came to town and faced a DelVal team that’s not even a shell of the squad it had last year.
The result was a rare victory for Mercer County over a Hunterdon County school as Hopewell Valley crushed depleted Delaware Valley, 46-19.
It was the second time Hopewell (2-0) got the better of DelVal with the first win coming in 2013.
“I was happy with the way the whole team wrestled and competed,” said Hopewell coach Mario Harpel. “This is always a great match for us. I have a lot of respect for Delaware Valley and all they have done.”
The fact DelVal is very young after getting rocked by graduation is not Hopewell’s problem. Nor was the fact Delaware Valley was missing several starters.
At the top of the list of DelVal wrestlers who weren’t on the mat was Lightner, who underwent knee surgery after committing to Rutgers during the off-season. When he will return is unclear, but the bottom line is even the senior upperweight could not have saved DelVal in this match.
Hopewell Valley got off to a good start when freshman Justin Venezia pinned in the match-opening 113-pound bout and sophomore hammer Chris Lanciano (fourth in the region last year) followed with a 7-1 decision.
DelVal came back to take a 15-9 with three straight wins, including a pin by standout AJ DeRosa at 132, but it didn’t take long to see DelVal was running out of bullets.
The result was a big Hopewell Valley run as the Bulldogs swept 145 through 195 to put the match away early.
The key win in there was Tray Lauricela’s 3-2 victory over Joe DeSanto at 160 pounds. DeSanto was repeatedly in on in Lauricella’s left leg, but couldn’t finish off a takedown. Lauricella, meanwhile, scored the winning points on a takedown after DeSanto overextended on a shot midway through the third period.
Throw in falls from Justin Venezia (145) and Tyler Sobel (170) as well as a close decision by Amos Barnes (152), and it was enough to propel Hopewell to a 27-15 lead.
From there, Max Ronollo won by the score of 5-3 at 182 and Ben Markulec clinched the match jn style by simply bear hugging his opponent to the mat in 31 seconds to give Hopewell Valley a 21-point lead with just three bouts to go.
All in all a good win for a Hopewell Valley team that is looking to maintain its long-time domination of Mercer County wrestling after also graduating much of last year’s team.
As for DelVal, it won’t get easier from there because after wrestling Warren Hills Wednesday the Dogs will have the dubious “honor” of traveling to Phillipsburg Friday on a throw-back night in which a match for the first time in two years will be held in the infamous “Pit.”
Hopewell Valley 46, Delaware Valley 19
113-Justin Venezia (HV) p. Stephen Em, 2:21; 120-Chris Lancianio (HV) d. Corey Crater, 7-1; 126-Tommy Schlittler (DV) t-fall Dan Amon, 19-4; 132-AJ DeRosa (DV) p. Heath Trainor, :51; 138-Gage Crater (DV) d. Aaron Longo, 12-4; 145-Justin Venezia (HV) p. TJ Horn, 4:31; 152-Amos Barnes (HV) d. Anthony DeRosa, 3-1; 160-Tray Lauricella (HV) d. Joey DeSanto, 3-2; 170-Tyler Sobel (HV) p. Alex Harris, :51; 182-Max Ronollo (HV) d, Kyle Karney, 5-3; 195-Ben Markulec (HV) p . Brandon Helper, :31; 220-Eli Kalfaian (DV) Nick Padalino, 9-1; HvyTim Coleman (HV) p. Matt Ruchak, 5:18; 106-Christian Micikas (HV) d. Derek Schepens, 10-0.