Delaware Valley repeats as Group I state champ
PISCATAWAY >> Just call it mission accomplished for Andy Fitz and his Delaware Valley High School wrestling team.
Although the final score was a bit closer than many people expected, Delaware Valley again delivered the goods on Sunday afternoon by beating Paulsboro, 34-31, in the NJSIAA Group I championship match.
With the victory, Delaware Valley moved into the sixth spot (fourth among public schools) with the most group championships as it has now won 10 of them in its illustrious history.
It also marked the first time DelVal went back-toback at groups since it actually won four straight from 1987 through 1990. Fitz was part of those titles as well as a starter for DelVal in his junior and senior seasons.
“Our kids know the tradition of DelVal wrestling and want to continue it,” said Fitz after his team defeated Paulsboro in the Jersey Mikes Arena. “They know what it means to wrestle for DelVal.”
The biggest individual victory for Delaware Valley was turned in by Matt Roche, who used a reversal late in the third period to top one of Paulsboro’s top wrestlers Logan Sichelstiel by the score of 2-1 at 126 pounds.
Roche’s win gave Delaware Valley a 16-6 lead and provided what proved to be critical points at the end.
“I knew my match would be tough and I knew it was important that I win,” said Roche. “I kept telling myself to be patient. I could feel him (Sichelstiel) getting a little shaky on top and was able to hit it (the reversal). We all wrestle for each other as a team.”
“That was a huge win for Roche,” agreed Fitz. “I told people at the beginning of the year to watch out for him. Everyone knows who he is now.”
Paulsboro, which had picked up a big win from Hayden Holmes over Jake Taylor at 113 pounds, was able to stay in the match when Chase Bish beat Jackson Bush, 8-1, at 138 pounds and Robert Onorato pinned at 157 to cut the DelVal lead to 28-21.
It was not enough because DelVal’s undefeated destroyer Garrett Tettemer then pinned in a quick :29 at 165 pounds to give his team an insurmountable 34-21 lead with just two bouts remaining and set off a celebration on his team’s bench and among the Terrier fans in the crowd.
Also recording pins for DelVal (18-3) were Anderson Olcott (215) in the first bout of the match, Ben Levy (144) and 150-pound hammer Chris Colasurdo. In addition to Roche, winning by decision were Owen Kucharski (106) and Jaden Perez (120).
“It’s the first time we have won two straight in 33 years,” said Fitz, whose team had advanced to groups by winning its 21st sectional title last week. “I’m very proud of these kids and what they were able to do. Our program has a great tradition and these kids wanted to be part of it.”
There are just a few teams in the entire state that have done it better over the years than Delaware Valley. 215: Anderson Olcott (DVR) over Jared Hazel (PHS) (Fall 0:49) 285: Jordan Eli (PHS) over Kyle Cooke (DVR) (Dec 11-6) 106: Owen Kucharski (DVR) over Derrik Horton (PHS) (Dec 7-0) 113: Hayden Holmes (PHS) over Jake Taylor (DVR) (Dec 6-4) 120: Jaden Perez (DVR) over Aundre Hill (PHS) (MD 12-2) 126: Matt Roche (DVR) over Logan Sichelstiel (PHS) (Dec 2-1) 132: Kyare Harvey (PHS) over Michael Hasson (DVR) (Fall 2:33) 138: Chase Bish (PHS) over Jackson Bush (DVR) (Dec 8-1) 144: Ben Levy (DVR) over Sean Daniels (PHS) (Fall 3:23) 150: Chris Colasurdo (DVR) over Sawyer Cabanas (PHS) (Fall 1:46) 157: Roman Onorato (PHS) over Brayden Schneider (DVR) (Fall 4:28) 165: Garett Tettemer (DVR) over Doug King (PHS) (Fall 0:29) 175: Luke Metz (PHS) over Kevin Roman (DVR) (Fall 2:00) 190: Austin Willetts (PHS) over August Savacool (DVR) (MD 15-4)