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Wrestling Picks Up Win At Central Jersey Open
November 14, 2007 | Wrestling
Freshman Tony Communale, a three-time placewinner in the Pennsylvania state wrestling championships, made his Princeton wrestling debut a memorable one this past weekend. The projected Tiger starter at 125 pounds won his weight class in the Central Jersey Open and highlighted several strong showings from the younger members of the 2007-08 Princeton squad.
Communale, a resident of Bangor, Pa., and a graduate of Pius X High School, won three matches to clinch the 125-pound weight class. After a 12-2 win in his opening match, he pinned Dan Hughes of The College of New Jersey in 1:15 to reach the final. He won the title with a tight 3-2 win over James Airey. Communale finished his high school career with an impressive record of 173-21.
Communale was one of six Princeton placewinners at the season-opening meet, which was mainly used to help the younger wrestlers gain experience. At 149 pounds, Justin Spain lost his opening match to fall immediately into the wrestlebacks. From there, he caught fire. Spain won three matches without giving up a point and recorded a fall in the fourth match. In the third-place final, he topped Darren Carrero 9-0. Spain went 166-11 at Bradley Central High School and won the 2007 Tennessee state title at 152 pounds.
Freshman Matt Katz, a two-time league champion from Harvard-Westlake High School, advanced to the semifinals of the 152-pound weight class before falling to eventual champion Charles Favia of Stevens Tech. Katz finished fourth overall and won three of five matches on the day.
A pair of Princeton wrestlers competed at 165 pounds, and both fell to the eventual champion. Travis Erdman, a freshman from Hunting Valley University School, is a former placewinner in the Ohio state championships. After winning two matches, he lost in the 165-pound final to TCNJ's Justin Bonitatus. That came after Bonitatus eliminated Princeton sophomore Mike Alvarez in the semifinal; Alvarez came back with a 6-0 win to clinch third place.
Former Florida state placewinner Anthony Salerno of Oviedo High School placed fourth at 184 pounds. He lost in overtime in his opening-round match but came back with a fall and a 9-4 win to reach the third-place final. A close loss to Chris Gandolfi sent him to fourth, but Salerno, who went 79-19 in his final two years of high school, could be another key young starter for Princeton this season.
Princeton will compete this weekend at the East Stroudsburg Open.