Bordentown nips Allentown in CJ Group III
BORDENTOWN » The Bordentown High wrestling team advanced in the Central Jersey Group III sectionals with a thrilling 36-33 win over Allentown Monday night and it can largely thank Sean Pederson along with a questionable Redbird decision for that.
To set the stage, it all came down to the last bout at 152 pounds with the two teams tied at 33all and the winner earning a berth into the semifinals on Wednesday night at defending state champion South Plainfield.
Following a scoreless first period, the Allentown coaching staff told Anthony Heinz to take top, which can really backfire if it goes overtime and the first point of the bout comes into play.
It almost worked when Heinz put in a cradle, but Pederson was able to post a hand and get out of trouble. Even better, Pederson then escaped to take a 1-0 lead into the third period.
This time it was Pederson who took down and this time Heinz never came close to turning the Scottie wrestler. Pederson then scored a reversal with 36 seconds left and rode Heinz out for a match-clinching 3-0 victory as the Bordentown bench and fans exploded with delight.
“At first I wasn’t, but now I am,” replied Pederson when asked if he was glad it came down to him.
Echoed Bordentown coach Matt Benedetti when asked about choosing down to start the third period: “It was gut check time. We had confidence Sean wouldn’t get turned.”
These teams actually met during the regular season with Bordentown prevailing in the first meeting, 36-34. In the first match, Bordentown’s Joe Levach beat Nolan Pecci, 15-10.
As such, when Pecci reversed that loss by pinning Levach in the second period at 170 pounds and Liam McDermott followed with a pin for his 100th career victory, the Redbirds had a quick 18-0 lead and looked like they might be on their way.
Instead, Bordentown stormed right back with a forfeit win as well as pins by Ryan Brazill and Jahuan Hayes to quickly tie the score at 18-all. You just knew it was headed to another photo finish from there and once again it was the Burlington County team that found a way to get it done.
Bordentown 36, Allentown 33
160: Paskal Miga (ALLE) over Usama Badshah (BORE) (Fall 2:51) 170: Nolan Pecci (ALLE) over Joe Levach (BORE) (Fall 3:08) 182: Liam McDermott (ALLE) over Jason Baldorossi Jr. (BORE) (Fall 1:44) 195: Ryan Brazill (BORE) over Daniel Schweitzer (ALLE) (Fall 0:28) 220: Billy Costner (BORE) over (ALLE) (For.) 285: Jajuan Hayes (BORE) over Harrison Hill (ALLE) (Fall 1:50) 106: Sebastiano Nini (ALLE) over Andrew Ambrose (BORE) (TF 17-2 5:05) 113: Joseph Lamparelli (ALLE) over Colman Ermi (BORE) (MD 15-2) 120: Robert Guarino (BORE) over Kevin Marks (ALLE) (MD 14-5) 126: Billy Moore (BORE) over Gino Giacolona (ALLE) (TF 18-3 5:40) 132: Nicholas Golden (ALLE) over Sammy Mazzella (BORE) (Dec 3-0) 138: Matthew Potash (BORE) over Gino Giacolona (ALLE) (Fall 2:15) 145: Mattew Paglia (ALLE) over Austin Ryanor (BORE) (Dec 7-2) 152: Sean Pedersen (BORE) over Anthony Heinz (ALLE) (Dec 3-0)