Region reflections

Nice to see former state champ Tony Siragusa (David Brearley, heavyweight 1985) at the Region 3 tournament Saturday in Union. Tony was one of those guys who proved that you could be an outstanding wrestler AND football player. He also has a Super Bowl ring as a member of the Baltimore Ravens.

Region 5 has one of the more unheralded wrestlers in the state in my opinion -- senior 152-pounder Frankie McLaughlin of Hillsborough. McLaughlin won his second region title Saturday. He won at 160 last year and went on to place sixth in the state. McLaughlin should improve on that place by a few rungs this weekend at Atlantic City.

McLaughlin beat Bridgewater-Raritan junior Wayne Hampton in the region final. He also beat Hampton in the District 18 final last week.

"It gets more difficult each time because he naturally has to get better, it's kind of like taking the SATS over and over again," said McLaughlin of seeing the same opponent several times during the season. "It also makes it easy for me because my confidence is good because I've already beaten him. The thing about wrestling it's not like other sports. It's all individuals. If you don't make any mistakes you shouldn't really lose. In a team sport like basketball, you can do everything perfectly, but the four other guys can screw it up for you. There's always a chance you can get caught (in wrestling), or your opponent can come in with a better strategy. But it's really all you."

McLaughlin used a low single to score on Hampton.

Once again there was talk at Region 5 about moving the tournament from Hunterdon Central to another venue. Hunterdon Central has a great wrestling community that comes out every year to support and work the tournament. The problem is logistics -- the way the gymnasium is shaped -- the way the mat is "floated" for the finals -- doesn't work. People are tripping on the mats as they walk to and fro alongside the mat. Again, this isn't about the people who run it or the school. The sight lines are much better at Region 3 at Union.

Who would take it? How about using the support group as the meet makes a transition move to say Franklin? Just a tought.

Bishop Ahr sophomore 140-pounder Joe McAuley from Dunellen was the Outstanding Wrestler at Region 5 and deservedly so. The weight class was stacked with District 17 champ Nick LaFevre of Delaware Valley, District 18 champ Dan Liss of Bridgewater-Raritan and District 18 runner-up and returning region runner-up Rob Bolomey of Somerville.
"It was pretty stacked," McAuley said. "I was pretty set on not going to wrestlebacks. I really concentrated on my semifinal because I know I didn't want to be in the wrestlebacks. When I got to the finals I knew I already was going to A.C., so I just wrestled."

McAuley, second in District 19 to J.P. Stevens' junior Greg Zannetti, beat Hillsborough senior CHris Ambrose 14-7, pinned Bolomey in 49 seconds, edged Liss 4-3 in the semis then pinned eighth-seeded Will Buchan of Woodbridge to win it.