It’s the first Wednesday of the regular season, and that of course means our first big slate of dual matches in the 2011-2012 season. There are always some huge opening-week matches and today is no exception. A pair of marquee Class A South matches are on tap for tonight as No. 1 Jackson Memorial visits No. 2 Brick Memorial and No. 5. Toms River South hosts No. 3 Southern. Other than the fact that my top 10 could be exploded by 9 p.m. tonight, I am certainly excited to see what both outcomes are.
No. 1 Jackson Memorial at No. 2 Brick Memorial, 6:30 p.m
Possible matchups
106: Alex Huxford (JM) vs. Sean Millea (BM)
113: Austin Clarke/Hunter Reese (JM) vs. Joe Ghione (BM)
120: Pete Rinaldi (JM) vs. Sean Stephenson (BM)
126: Brian Hamann (JM) vs. Connor Maliff (BM)
132: Brad Royle (JM) vs. Alec Donovan (BM)
138: Spencer Young (JM) vs. Cliff Ruggiero (BM)
145: Dylan McLaughlin (JM) vs. Rob Ruggiero (BM)
152: Randy Royle (JM) vs. Evan Berti/Nick Costa (BM)
160: James Langschultz/Daylan Wellstead (JM) vs. Nick Costa/Tyler Richardson (BM)
170: Dylan Harrington (JM) vs. Tyler Richardson/Jarred Eccles (BM)
182: Dallas Winston (JM) vs. Jarred Eccles/Anthony Miller (BM)
195: Ken Bradley (JM) vs. Anthony Miller (BM)
220: Mike Lopez (JM) vs. Tyler Poling (BM)
Hwt: Corey Johnson (JM) vs. Ezra Figueroa (BM)
Brick Memorial’s loss of junior 195-pounder Matt Moore due to a clavicle injury sustained in the TCNJ Pride Tournament unquestionably makes this matchup much more difficult for the Mustangs. If Jackson wins the coin flip it can get Winston on Miller and really make things difficult for Brick Memorial. Also, I think Ken Bradley is going to open some eyes this year and it wouldn’t surprise me if they let Bradley face Miller. Jackson could also bump Huxford up to 113 to face Ghione. The two split a pair of matches last season. If Randy Royle and Berti end up squaring off it should not only be a tremendous bout, but have serious implications. My guess would be that Eccles weighs in at 182 so there’s at least some flexibility there, but it’s going to be interesting to see what Mustangs head coach Dan O’Cone does from 145-195.
If the matches look roughly like what I have above I have Jackson getting bonus at 106, 126, 132 and 138 and Memorial getting bonus at 113, 120 and 160. With Moore out the Mustangs are going to need to win the coin flip and have some toss-ups go there way. The bouts at 220 and heavyweight are major toss-ups and could certainly swing the match. That being said, I just think Moore being out limits Brick Memorial too much and takes away points you need to have to beat the Jaguars. I also think Brick Memorial’s freshman foursome will be very solid by the end of the year, but have tough matchups this time around. These teams could see each other twice more, but this time I’ll go with Jackson, 34-23.
No. 3 Southern at No. 5 Toms River South, 6:30 p.m.
Possible matchups
106: Matt Wilhelm (S) vs. Brandon Muuray (TRS)
113: Kyle Davis (S) vs. Kevin Corrigan (TRS)
120: Zach Wilhelm (S) vs. Andy Manzano (TRS)
126: Matt Yostpile (S) vs. Matt Theobold (TRS)
132: Brian Bowker (S) vs. Garrett Applegate (TRS)
138: Jake Campana (S) vs. B.J. Clagon (TRS)
145: Chris Serpico (S) vs. Ken Theobold (TRS)
152: Steve Johns (S) vs. Matt Maroukis/Joe Salvato (TRS)
160: Cory Case (S) vs. Antres Clagon (TRS)
170: Connor Case/Steve Hodgson (S) vs. Nick Osborn (TRS)
182: Steve Hodgson/Jesse Bauta vs. Anthony Ravallo/Quenten DeCarlo (TRS)
195: Zeb Collins (S) vs. Mike Rutter (TRS)
220: Cody Smead (S) vs. Marvin Hayden (TRS)
Hwt: Josh Ghigliotty (S) vs. James Kearny (TRS)
Southern is going to need its balance to come through in this one, because Toms River South is stacked in the lowerweights with four heavy hitters than can throw down bonus points in a hurry. There seems to be a fair about of maneuvering both teams can do, especially in the upperweights. From 152 and up is where Southern has the advantage and is going to have to make it count. Down low, the Rams need to win at 106, get bonus from Wilhelm and limit the damage from the Four Horseman (hey, I’m running with it). The Indians inexperience up top worries me, and as we all know crazy things can happen with the big guys. Toms River South is going to have to pull out a toss-up or two with 106 being a key weight along with 152, 170 and 182. This is going to come down to the wire. I’ve been burned before picking against Southern so I’ll go with the higher-ranked Rams. Southern 28-24.
Also, Central and No. 9 Brick tangle in a key Class B South match at 5:30 at Brick.
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Tags: Brick Memorial, Class A South, Jackson Memorial, Southern, Toms River South
