Wolfpack Honors Bohr, Loughney, Shepard & Entire Wrestling Squad

By David Yaskulka

Coach Ken Rossi, Parents’ Club President Mike Campanaro and the West Morris Central wrestling community celebrated the Wolfpack’s 2019-20 season March 12 at the Black Oak Golf Club.

Robert Bohr, Eli Shepard and Colin Loughney won the night’s major awards. The senior captains are among greatest wrestlers in WMC history.

Rossi and Campanaro expressed gratitude for the team’s community, including administrators, coaches and their spouses, parents, the wrestlers themselves, and more. In particular, they thanked the team Manager-Statisticians Jordyn LeMay, Gianna Balella, Amanda Nowickii, and Olivia Montuore.

And the winners are…3 captains

Bohr was honored with the Coach’s Award. He’s a two-time District champion and state qualifier. His 55 career falls rank 2nd all-time to Dylan Luciano’s 58, and his 95 career wins rank 12th. Bohr is also seventh in dual meet points (Shane Metzler is first).

Shepard received the Blue and Gray Award, given for hard work, character, and dedication to the team. He finished top-12 in the state, is a two-time District champion, a Goles champion, and two-time Region finalist advancing to Atlantic City. He was also given the prestigious Cholish Scholarship.

With 97 career wins apiece, Shepard and Loughney are tied for 10th in school history

Loughney was named team MVP. He’s lifted the Wolfpack onto the Atlantic City podium for the sixth consecutive year, won two District and two Goles championships; placed second, third and fourth at County, qualified twice for the State Championship, culminating in his NJSIAA No. 8 finish.

Sophomore Brian Ramos took home the JV Award presented by coaches Chris Marold, Jim Balella, Tom Borgia and Mike Flammer. Ramos dominated the JV circuit with 17 wins – all by pin – two tournament championships, and just two losses.

All-Conference

Rossi also announced the extremely prestigious All-Conference honors. With six out of seven NJAC American Division schools sporting winning records – including three top-20 squads, no doubt wrestlers from this division beat up on most everyone else.

Kevin Ramos (285) was named 1st team All-Conference. Campanaro (106), Malachi Shepard (126), Eli Shepard (145), and Loughney (170) are second team, and Bohr was named honorable mention in a division featuring two of the top-three state place winners (132, with No. 1 Joey Olivieri and No. 3 Simon Ruiz).

High School’s Toughest Letter

Rossi reflected on each varsity letter winner, emphasizing the importance of celebrating what may be the toughest letter in sports. To win one, you generally need to the school’s best at what you do (wrestle at a given weight), or just close enough that Rossi puts you in the starting lineup strategically. The only exception is a graduating senior will (at long last) finally receive a letter for being a key part of the team.

Hard-to-Replace Upperclassmen

Nick Kaltenhauser (with 2 varsity letters) joined Bohr, Shepard and Loughney (4 each) as senior captains who will be hard to replace. He was cited by multiple speakers for his work ethic, supportive leadership, and sartorial style.

Matt Borgia (2), Jorge Montenegro (2) and Kevin Ramos (3) all depart as repeat Region qualifiers, with Ramos making it to Atlantic City.

First year wrestler and Region qualifier Mike Battaglino and Omero Guerrero were recognized for their grit and athleticism, as well as courage for joining the team as upperclassmen.

This senior class delivered nearly 200 wins for the Pack this season, which will be nearly impossible to replace.

Next year’s squad will be exceptionally young, with junior Nick Chisari (2) the lone returning upperclassman.

Super Sophomores

State qualifier Malachi Shepard and region qualifier Michael Ferrante won their second varsity letters after outstanding seasons. They’ll be looked to for leadership next season. Classmate Ricardo Guerrero, an athletic new wrestler, won his first letter.

Phenomenal Freshmen

Three standout freshmen received their first letters.

Michael Campanaro (106, 37-9) had arguably the best rookie season in school history. culminating in a Boardwalk Hall victory.

Henry Frayne (182, 12-20) is one of the first-ever freshmen upper weights to crack the starting lineup, and performed impressively, including District bronze.

Michael Hare (106, 14-6) was the team’s most dominant “15th man” in memory, somehow managing to rank sixth on the entire team in plus/minus points (a measure of team contribution).

JV Squad

After Brian Ramos’ (220) utterly dominant JV season, look for him to take his brother’s place on the big side of the varsity lineup.

Freshmen Dean Muttart (113, 11-1 with nine pins and a gold) and Stefano Montella (195, 17-12 with 15 pins and two tournament medals), and sophomore Joe Goldovsky (195, 10-8, eight pins, two medals) especially stood out on JV. They will be top candidates to fill the eight starting lineup slots vacated by seniors.

Freshmen Ethan Fox (106) and Angel Bruton (113) both took home tournament medals in their first year of action. Sophomores Antoni Kaplinski (160, with a tournament silver), Matthew Noonan (170) and Kevin Moore (HWT) added solid years on the mat, giving Rossi additional upperweight options.

Hare (18-1 with two championships and 15 pins), Ricardo Guererro (14-11 with one medal) and Omero Guererro 7-14 with one medal) also stood out for the JV Pack, but went home with the higher honor of varsity letters.

Season Stat Leaders

Wins: Campanaro 37, Loughney 33. Falls: Loughney 18, Bohr and Campanaro 12. Decisions: Ramos and Campanaro 17. Tech Falls: Eli Shepard and Loughney 5. Majors: Campanaro 7, Bohr 5. Team points for: Loughney 108, Bohr and Eli 87. Take downs: Eli 87, Campanaro 71. Net take downs: Eli 61, Campanaro 54. Near falls: Eli 86, Malachi 66. Reversals: Borgia 25, Eli 22. Escapes: Ramos 36, Chisari 31.

Plus/minus (net team points, or total team contribution): Loughney 92, Bohr 72, Eli 69, Campanaro 65, Ramos 61, Hare 46, Malachi 28, Borgia 27.

Next Up

What might the starting lineup look like next season? For one, it will be a team with just one senior. Here’s a way-too-early look, with admitted guesses on weight class. Returning lettermen in bold. No rising freshmen are included (yet).

106 - Hare

113 - Campanaro, NJ24

120 - Ferrante, D3

126 - Muttart

132 - Shepard, R4

138 - Chisari

145 – 160 ?

170 - Guerrero

182 - ?

195 – Frayne, D3

220 – Montella or Goldovsky

285 - Ramos

Credits

Photos by Laura Ferrante

Contributing writer David Yaskulka was inspired by his wrestling sons to live out his high school dream of being a sportswriter. He’s also the CEO of Nature’s Logic 100% natural pet food, based in Lincoln, Nebraska.