Obrusniak ready to wrap up stellar career

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Old Bridge’s Justin Obrusniak (r) sprawls with Region V champ Jeff Zannetti of J.P. Stevens during their final round match on Saturday at Hunterdon Central.

Old Bridge grappler heads to A.C.
for state tournament

BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA

Staff Writer

Justin Obrusniak will end his scholastic wrestling career this weekend at the NJSIAA state wrestling tournament, which begins on Friday in Atlantic City, looking to add to his successes.

The 119-pound Old Bridge High School senior owns a 29-3 mark and won the District 20 title for the third year in a row. He was runner-up in the Greater Middlesex Conference tourney in his weight class and also won the Southern Regional Invitational early in the season. Along the way, he helped the Knights to a 14-3 mark and the District 20 team championship, as well as a berth in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV finals.

Obrusniak is coming off a second-place finish in the Region V competition, where he lost to J.P. Stevens’ Jeff Zannetti (32-0) for the second time this season. The Old Bridge grappler had been winning what was a close match at the time.

"I got caught in a bad position and he [Zannetti] took advantage of it," Obrusniak said. "He made a good move and he just beat me."

Usually that’s the way it works for Obrusniak, whose tip-top conditioning and unwavering focus often wears down opponents.

"Justin is tough and he works extremely hard, and just never gives up because he has the kind of intensity you can’t teach," Old Bridge coach Ken Scott said. "It’s hard for me to say what his best move is. He normally creates openings for himself and he’s good enough to use whatever he needs, and Justin’s like a cat, he always lands on his feet. That makes him difficult to scout."

For the record, Obrusniak said he prefers being on his feet, and while he has always been intense on the mats, one defeat in particular made him even more so.

"Last season I was winning a match 15-1 and it was late," he said. "I let up and the other guy pinned me. I knew right then that it would not happen again."

It hasn’t.

"Every match, no matter what the score, I’m well aware that I can lose," Obrusniak added. "I don’t take anyone lightly and I’m going full speed all the way. I’ve also learned not to let anything affect me, whether it’s something someone says or something that happened. I’m there to win a match."

Obrusniak first took to the mats as a 4-year-old in the Matawan Mat Rat program, and after "rolling around for a while" he was hooked. Three years later he was in the Old Bridge program and he later competed in middle school.

He joined the Old Bridge varsity as a freshman, compiling a 25-9 ledger at 112 pounds and winning his first District 20 title, and taking second place in the regions. A year ago, Obrusniak, wrestling mainly at 112, went 27-8, again won the district, as well as the Hunterdon Central Invitational, and finished third in the regions.

Unlike many of his colleagues and opponents, Obrusniak does not wrestle year-round. While he concedes that he has to "catch up" with the other wrestlers at the beginning of the season, it’s more of an advantage for him than a disadvantage.

"I really love wrestling and I’m kind of afraid that if I did it year-round I would lose that love," he said. "I never want to look at anything as just another match. When I come back again after the summer and fall, I’m ready to go and I’m very motivated. So, during the season I give it everything I have."

Scott agrees.

"He works harder than anyone, and his record speaks for itself. But he’s also a good, conscientious kid. I wish I had 10 like him."

As for college, Obrusniak said he is planning to continue wrestling. At this point, he has several schools in mind, but has not picked one.

In the meantime, Atlantic City beckons.