DiPaolo Punches Ticket to States as Team Eyes Post-Season

By David Yaskulka. Photos by Laura Ferrante.

4/4/21

Junior phenom Wolfpack wrestler Marisa DiPaolo punched her ticket to the NJSIAA Girls Wrestling Championships in Union Saturday. She pinned her way to the North Region finals, placing second.

In a week with more forfeits than wrestled matches, West Morris Central boys succeeded on the mat while falling to 0-8 as a team with losses to Sparta and Roxbury. The Wolfpack won nine of 13 contested bouts. But with 15 forfeits – 12 of them by WMC – the team could not overcome the 54 points given-away to opponents.

How does the team handle that frustration?

“We set four team goals - stay healthy, stay open, improve individually, and prepare individually for the post-season,” explained Hall of Fame Coach Ken Rossi.

“We are pursuing those goals through our matches. It is tough knowing that winning as a team is nearly impossible, but that adversity will either break us or make us tougher. I like to think it is making us tougher.”

Standouts included Dean Muttart (132 lbs., 3-5) and Henry Frayne (220, 5-3, #92 by RankWrestlers.com). Each went 2-0 with two pins. Malachi Shepard (138, 4-4, #76) also went 2-0 on the week.

Pioneer DiPaolo Keeps Breaking New Ground

WMC’s first Girls Wrestling competitor is now the school’s first Region qualifier, first Region silver medalist, and first State Championship qualifier.

“Marisa is agile, strong, and aggressive. These three things along with her judo background have helped her beat opponents with more experience,” explained Rossi.

DiPaolo pinned her quarterfinals opponent in nine seconds, and then pinned High Point senior Lacey Hums in 55 seconds – the second time DiPaolo has pinned the returning NJSIAA fifth place medalist.

“She is improving quickly, and I believe she can place in the top three at the state tournament,” said Rossi. Proving his point, Rossi noted that Bloomfield’s Gina Faura pinned DiPaolo earlier in the season. Facing off again in the Region North finals, the bout was much closer, with Faura prevailing 3-0.

“If we iron out a few things at practice this week we can create a game plan to be highly competitive with her.”

Hare Impresses; Muttart, Shepard, Frayne and Moore Win Vs. Sparta

WMC dominated on the mat, winning five of six bouts wrestled, but Sparta prevailed over WMC 39-36 on 3/30 on the strength of six forfeits (netting 24 points after WMC received two forfeits of its own). On the mat, WMC’s team score was 24, versus 3 for Sparta.

Pack sophomore Michael Hare (106, 5-3, #32) wrestled impressively, taking highly ranked freshman Peter Donnolly to his back in an expeditious 53 seconds.

Muttart dispatched his opponent in just 42 seconds, and Shepard took care of business with a 9-3 win to stake the Wolfpack to an early 27-3 lead.

Then WMC’s donut hole was exposed, forfeiting six consecutive weights from 145 to 195.

WMC’s final two wrestlers prevailed, with Frayne pinning in the second period, and Kevin Moore (HWT, 3-4) gutting out a dramatic 2-0 victory.

Junior Michael Ferrante (113, 4-2, #26) was solid in WMC’s only loss, falling 6-3 to Sparta’s best, the undefeated #25 ranked Jack Nauta.

Ferrante, Muttart, Shepard and Frayne Prevail Vs. Roxbury

Once again WMC prevailed on the mat, winning four of seven contested bouts. But with seven forfeits (six the Pack), the Gaels took the match 49-28. For the bouts wrestled, the team score was a grueling, back-and-forth 22-19 in favor of the Wolfpack – reminiscent of the keen competition for which these rival squads are known.

Ferrante started the match with a bang, decking a previously unbeaten Gael in the first period.

But Roxbury’s best, Region champ and NJSIAA sixth place medalist Luke Stanich pinned Michael Campanaro (120, 5-3, #41). Wrestling Full Circle ranks Stanich #1 in New Jersey. Roxbury’s Frank Mazza and Christian Castro, both ranked top-20 in New Jersey, also beat two of WMC’s best – including Castro’s overtime victory over Hare.

Muttart, Shepard and Frayne all delivered bonus points for the Pack – Muttart by pin (his second of the week), Shepard with a 20-6 major decision, and Frayne with a 50-second pin (also his second). Moore accepted a forfeit, giving the Pack nine team points for the week.

Mat Leaders

Shepard has won three in a row. Muttart has won three of his last four bouts. Ferrante leads the team with a #26 ranking from RankWrestlers.com, followed by fellow “Michaels” Hare and Campanaro. Campanaro, Hare and Frayne are tied for the team wins lead with five.

Next Up

While the dual meet schedule could be open to change, the team is scheduled 4/10 at WMC vs. Warren Hills, and 4/12 at Mendham. There are two final home matches (likely only for those not qualifying for States), 4/20 vs. Parsippany Hills, and 4/22 vs. Morris Knolls. Region tournaments are scheduled for April 17-18, for which a committee of coaches will select and seed approximately three wrestlers per District for each weight (announced on 4/11). Top four placers will advance to the NJSIAA State Championship Tournament April 25-26 at Phillipsburg.

Girls State Championships are 4/10, also in Phillipsburg.

Contributing writer David Yaskulka’s day job is CEO of Nature’s Logic 100% Natural pet food. He’s also Board Chair of Greater Good Charities, and a Pet Sustainability Coalition Board member.