DiPaolo, Ferrante and Campanaro Pin for the Pack

Childhood buddies Michael Campanaro and Michael Ferrante, and Wolfpack pioneer Marisa DiPaolo, racked up pins for the Pack in an action-packed week of wrestling. DiPaolo excelled as the first WMC wrestler in girls tournaments, as the boys team struggled with empty lineup slots as new starters gained valuable experience.

DiPaolo, the junior fencing captain, landed four pinfalls in a dominant week.

Ferrante (113 lbs., 4-2 record), the junior region qualifier, recorded two pins on the week, as sophomore co-captain Campanaro (120, 4-2) recorded a pin and a major.

Patrick Stetz (195), Michael Hare (106, 4-2), Henry Frayne (220, 3-3) and Dean Muttart (132) also landed pins as the Pack fell to 0-6 with losses to Mt. Olive, Montville and Pope John.

“The boys have been very positive and invested in improving this year,” said Coach Ken Rossi. “As usual, our schedule is very tough and we are taking it one match at a time. I am extremely proud of the work ethic and resilience of all the boys.”

One Powerful Girl

Wolfpack girls wrestling pioneer DiPaolo continued to excel, rising to 8-2 on the season.

DiPaolo took no prisoners at the Vernon Jamboree on 3/27, dominating her bracket. She went 4-0, with three pins and an injury forfeit. She decked Lacey Hums from High Point – a returning NJSIAA medalist (5th place at 215) – in just 36 seconds.

What inspired DiPaolo to wrestle?

“I was originally inspired by my father, who wrestled in high school and encouraged me to compete in various combat sports,” she explained.

“I am very excited and proud that I am the first girl to wrestle for WMC. My hope is that it will inspire other girls to join and to one day have a full girls team."

While Kingsway sent 13 girls to compete, Vernon 11, High Point eight, Newton five, Kittattinny three, and Morris Hills two -- DiPaolo competed alone from WMC.

At the Newton Jamboree 3/24, DiPaolo advanced twice, including an impressive 0:50 second pin versus Vernon Township. Following her BCWCA Girls Wrestling Invitational silver medal earlier in the month, the WMC junior is certainly launching Wolfpack girls wrestling on a positive note.

Mt. Olive Mashes

WMC gave the state-ranked Mauraders a 36-0 head start with six forfeits, but Mt. Olive was solid on the mat as well, winning 59-14 on 3/23. They had big wins from Jack Bastarrika, Charlie McVicar and Tyler Bienus. Frayne pinned for the Pack, as freshman Sam Rizzuto (126, 3-3) and Campanaro delivered bonus points for Coach Ken Rossi.

Stetz, Muttart and Ferrante Shine, But Montville Prevails on Forfeits

With WMC forfeiting six bouts (one a double-forfeit), the Pack couldn’t overcome Montville’s 30-point head start, and fell 45-24 on 3/25.

Stetz won his first bout for the Pack in dramatic fashion, with a first period pin by cradle. Hare, Ferrante and Dean Muttart also delivered big pins for WMC.

Powerhouse Pope John Prevails Despite Shepard, Ferrante and Campanaro

Co-captain Malachi Shepard delivered a 15-0 tech fall, and Ferrante and Campanaro pinned for the Pack.

Rossi was impressed with Ferrante’s pin of Jason Athey, a Pennsylvania transfer. According to the Coach, “Ferrante got taken down early but escaped, and got his own takedown for back points. He used his conditioning to wear him down and secure the fall.”

While five bouts were forfeits, this time the Pack received two of them, netting six for Pope John in a 51-29 loss on 3/27. Henry DeFrance (138, 1-0) made his first appearance, taking home six for WMC with a forfeit.

It Can Only Get Easier

Hare starts the season 4-2 with the distinction of losing only to the top-two 106 lb. wrestlers in the state, according to the latest NJ.com rankings, Bastarrika of Mount Olive, and Delbarton’s Daniel Jones. It can only get easier from here!

Based on RankWrestlers.com, Shepard has faced two top-five wrestlers. Two of Frayne’s three losses have come to top-10 wrestlers (including #1). Campanaro’s only losses are to #2 and #16. Rizzuto has faced a #1.

According to Rossi, “Many of the freshmen are showing promise and increasing their skills and knowledge at a rapid rate. Running two cohorts because of COVID protocols has allowed us to run a more instructional practice for them which has allowed them to focus on finer points of technique instead of battling to survive the intensity of our high-paced practice.”

Next Up

While the schedule could be open to change, the team is scheduled 3/30 @ Sparta, 4/1 @ High Point, 4/3 at Roxbury, 4/10 at WMC vs. Warren Hills, 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 a coaches will select and seed approximately three wrestlers per District for each weight. Top four placers will advance to the NJSIAA State Championship Tournament April 25-26 at Phillipsburg.

Girls Regions are scheduled for 4/3, and the NJSIAA 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.