KIRCHNER

Somerville senior 125-pounder Jimmy Kirchner continued his great run in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Wrestling Tournament Saturday morning with a 4-2 overtime win over Bergen Catholic's defending state champion Joe Trause.

Kirchner becomes the first Somerville wrestler since Allan Van Ness in 2003 to reach the semifinals

"I just kept driving him and driving him,'' said Kirchner, who lost to Trause in the pre-quarterfinal round last year.

Trause scored a takedown off a high single early in the first period but Kirchner escaped with 47 seconds left. Trause got in deep with another single late in the period, but Kirchner was able to keep his feet and the period ended 2-1.

Kirchner rode Trause out for the entire second period to keep it tied, then got out in he third to tie it at two.. He then scored a takedown in overtime to win it.

"He tried to do it again (the second single in the first period), but I controlled that one side,'' Kirchner said. "I tried to control that one side because I knew he'd try to shoot that way.''