OBHS wrestlers return experienced lineup

The Old Bridge High School wrestling team returns three competitors who posted 26 or more victories as the Knights look to improve upon last winter's 13-5 mark.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Top: Old Bridge High School's Conor Hayes (l) grapples with Colts Neck's Joe Iacono during a Dec. 15 scrimmage at OBHS. The Knights opened their season Saturday at the Matawan Icebreaker Invitational. Left: Old Bridge's Trevor Haughney (bottom) returns as the Knights top wrestler from a year ago. A year ago coach Bryan Garnett's team finished third in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division, behind South Plainfield and Perth Amboy. Old Bridge also finished second in the GMC tourney behind Sayreville. Three Knights placed first in their respective weight classes in the Region 5 tourney and three others took third place.

Key returnees include Conor Hayes, Trevor Haughney and Nick Orak. Hayes, a junior who will compete at 125 pounds, went 26-7 in the 103-pound slot a year ago, winning both the District 20 and Region 5 events. Haughney led the team with 31 wins, while finishing first in District 20 and third in Region 5. He will move up one class to 171 pounds this time around. Orak, a junior, returns in the 189-pound slot, where he went 26-12 with a fourth-place finish in the GMC.

"We have a good mix of experienced wrestlers and newcomers who don't have very much varsity experience," Garnett said. "Right

now guys are still challenging each other for positions and we're still settling in."

Garnett's newer grapplers began getting that experience on Dec. 20 when Old Bridge competed in the Icebreaker Invitational at Matawan High School. The Knights first dual meet was yesterday at Woodbridge with a nonconference match set for Saturday at Hunterdon Central.

Old Bridge will be looking for contributions from Phil Sandford (130 pounds) Jamie Bond (145), Steven Zafrani (160) and Dave Fitzgerald (119). Sanford, a sophomore, was a very competitive 17-18 a year ago wrestling at 125 pounds. Bond, a junior who competed at 140 pounds, went 15-13, while Zafrani and Fitzgerald posted seven and six victories, respectively.

The remainder of the Knights lineup will include seniors Nick McIntosh (140) and Tom Hunt (215), who went 26-0 on the junior varsity, pinning all of his opponents; juniors Sebastian Bea (135) and Justin Craig (152); sophomore Frank Butta (112); and freshmen Chris Conway (103) and Joe Suozzo (112).

"We have a proud wrestling tradition here at Old Bridge and our goal, as always, is to keep it going," Garnett said. "This year we have our share of talent but a lot will depend on how our newer, untested wrestlers do. If they perform like we think they can,

our team will be all right." Cliff Crowther, a former Knights competitor, has joined Garnett's coaching staff, which also includes Andrew Hopman and Mike Corrigan. Garnett also noted that Jan. 10 will be Alumni Night, with all former Old Bridge wrestlers, including those from predecessor schools Madison Central and Cedar Ridge, invited to attend. The opposition that night will be South

Brunswick and Montgomery, coached respectively by former Old Bridge stars Joe Dougherty and Kevin Jacoutot.

"We started the alumni night last year and it's really a great event for our program, and it's also our way of honoring the wrestlers who helped make the program what it is today," the coach said.