Top local wrestlers fall in opening matches

The problem with wrestling is that unless you win a state championship, you usually finish your season on a losing note.

Sayreville's Ramon Santiago (top) wrestles Brick Memorial's Steve Santos during their 152-pound championship bout in the NJSIAA wrestling tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City March 8. Santos went on to win the match by a score of 8-4. So it wasn't shocking that Monroe Township High School's Sam Emburgia (125 pounds) and Marc Tyson (189 pounds), as well as South River's Adam Mongelli (135 pounds), were defeated in the state finals this past weekend in Atlantic City. What was disappointing for each was the fact the end came rather abruptly. Each dropped their opening matches, thus bringing to a halt any hopes of winning a title.

Emburgia, who earned a firstround bye to the prequarterfinals by capturing the Region 5 title, was attempting to at least place in the 125-pound class. He brought a 40-1 record into the tournament and had been named the Region 5 Tournament's most outstanding wrestler. However, Emburgia met up with St. Augustine's A.J. Fisher and absorbed a 7-3 loss. He competed in the firstround wrestlebacks, but dropped a 6-2 decision to Frank Acosta of St. Peter's to end his bid to place.

Sam Emburgia brought a 40-1 record into the state finals and has been named the Region 5 Tournament's most outstanding wrestler. Emburgia, a junior, finishes the season with a 40-3 record.

Tyson, who will also return next season, gained entrance to the state finals by virtue of his third-place finish in the Region 5 Tournament. As a result,

he competed in the opening round match, losing to Juan Velasquez of St. Peter's, 2-1, thus ending his season.

South River's Mongelli, who became the Rams' all-time career match record holder a few weeks ago, was the only wrestler of the three who managed to win a match. That came after he had dropped a 9-3 decision to Cesare Antista of Matawan in the prequarterfinals. Moving on to the first-round wrestlebacks, Mongelli advanced to the next round with a 15-10 win over Sal Mastriani of Don Bosco. However, Mongelli's hopes for of placing at 135 pounds ended when he dropped a 5-1 decision to Luke Fedechko of Delsea.