Seniors and Freshmen Stir WMC Wrestling Season Hopes

Returning senior class NJSIAA State Championship qualifiers Robert Bohr, Eli Shepard and Colin Loughney lead the West Morris Central High School 2019-20 Wolfpack squad that boasts an exciting mix of youth and experience.

For the first time, WMC has three returning wrestlers who have had their hands raised in Atlantic City.

And for the first time in years, the team welcomes a large influx of incoming impact, including NJ Grade School champ Michael Campanaro, state championship runner-up Michael Hare, and Grade School medalists Henry Frayne and Dean Muttart.

District Coach of the Year Ken Rossi gave us a preview of what his team might look like this year.

High Impact New Blood

Long Valley Youth Wrestling stars Campanaro (106, a 3-time NJ State Championship placer) , Hare (106) and Frayne (182) all have a chance to start right away. Angel Bruton and Ethan Fox (106), Muttart (113) and Stefano Montella (182) round out the team’s largest freshman class in years.

Campanaro became just the third Long Valley wrestler to win the NJ Grade School Wrestling League Championship. Both previous champs – Matt Liberato (who transferred to Hanover Park) and Justin LeMay became multi-year state qualifiers and D1 college wrestlers.

Frayne (3rd), Hare (4th) and Muttart (5th) were all on the NJGSWL podium. When returning starters Ferrante, Malachi Shepard and Bohr were in 8th grade, they each placed 6th while Loughney placed 3rd.

Also joining the team for the first time are senior football captain Mike Battaglino (195), sophomores Ricardo Guerrero (145), Antoni Kaplinski and Matthew Noonan (152), and Brian Ramos (195, Kevin’s brother). Joe Goldovsky (195) transfers from Par-Hills.

Potential Varsity Starters

Junior Nick Chisari, who had some big varsity wins last year, will compete with the incoming stars for starting time at 106.

Sophomores Michael Ferrante (113) and Malachi Shepard (120) promise to build on very successful 16-win seasons as starters.

Bohr (132) and Eli Shepard (138) and Loughney (170) are the returning hammers.

Junior Matt Borgia (152), seniors Nicolas Kaltenhauser (160), Jorge Montenegro and Kevin Ramos (220) return significant varsity success to the team.

The lineup (subject to change) could look like:

106 – Campanaro, Hare or Chisari

113 – Ferrante

120 – Malachi Shepard

126 –

132 – Bohr

138 – Eli Shepard

145 –

152 – Borgia

160 – Kaltenhauser

170 – Loughney

182 – Frayne

195 – Battaglino or Montella

220 – Montenegro

285 – Kevin Ramos

RankWrestlers.com lists eight starters in their top-100, and two more are close. That leaves at least four slots for new blood.

Reflections on Atlantic City

After Bohr secured his first NJSIAA Boardwalk Hall win, he said "Winning that match felt nice, but I'm not satisfied. It made me more hungry to make it to day three [for the medal rounds] next year. My goal is to place along with Eli and Colin.

"As a team, if we push each other, we can make it to Pine Belt Arena next year," he said, referring to the team championships.

"Robby, Eli, and Colin have been career wrestlers and have put a lot of time in," said Rossi at the end of last season. "They are going to be great role models. The next set of goals for them is to step on the podium."

Wrestling Full Circle pre-season ranking placed NYU recruit Loughney 5th and Eli Shepard 14th.

"Winning in Boardwalk hall is definitely very exciting and motivating for next year," said Loughney. "I am looking forward to being back with those two in AC and getting on the podium with my other teammates. I want to be a leader for the younger guys next year and be the best team we can be even after losing a large senior class."

Big Losses

The team did lose a lot of star power to graduation. State medalist Justin LeMay wrestles for Maryland, and John DeVito for Wilkes. Luke Stefanelli, A.J. Hill, Jack Lyden, Brian Cherifi and Dan Kern are among the big shoes the team will need to fill.

The team also will adjust to the loss of legendary Parents Club president Jeff Hill. But the booster squad is in good hands with Michael Campanaro taking the helm in his first year.

Next Up

This weekend the team returns to the season-opening Excalibur Tournament at Wilkes College in Pennsylavania. The John Goles holiday tournament is at Warren Hills 12/27. The team wrestles Southern, Paramus and home team Mt. Olive 1/4, visits Montville 1/7 and powerhouse Delbarton 1/9. The home opener is 1/11/20 vs. state ranked Hanover Park.