BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer

TOMS RIVER - When Scott Winston showed up at Jackson Memorial High School in his freshman year, Jaguars wrestling coach Scott Goodale realized he was getting a quality athlete.

A gifted wrestler with superb technique, quickness and strength, Winston lived up to his billing as one of the premier wrestlers in the state.

Winston raised his overall high school record to 97-0 last weekend by capturing the NJSIAA Region VI 152-pound weight class championship with a 12-4 major decision over Southern Regional High School's Keith Dillard.

"He has been a tremendous performer here at Jackson," Goodale said. "He is a top-notch wrestler with an incredible work ethic. He is the kind of kid that helps promote the program. He works hard every day in the room and puts forth 110 percent every time he steps on a mat."

Dillard actually darted off to a quick lead in this bout, but Winston remained composed and put forth a workmanlike performance to dominate the rest of the way. Winston scored a takedown at the end of the first period to take a lead.

Winston now takes on the task of winning his second consecutive state championship when he travels to Atlantic City March 2-4. Winston, who is being recruited by all the top college wrestling programs, is the No. 1 seed this weekend. He has his work cut out for him if he is to capture his second straight.

"He has incredible talent," Goodale said. "He is going to be very difficult to beat. If he remains focused and continues to wrestle the way he has in the past, he has a great shot at it."

As the top seed, Winston will face Old Tappan's Matt MacLean (35-4) in the first round on Friday.

Winston wasn't the only Jaguar to win a Region IV title last weekend. Derrik Russell defeated Freehold Township's Gene Accardi 6-2 to win the 103-pound weight class crown.

In the opening minute of the bout, Russell registered a takedown and rode Accardi for the duration of the period to take an early lead. He improved his lead to 4-0 with a reverse at the start of the second period. He never looked back en route to winning the title.

"Russell has had a great season," Goodale said. "He is a hard worker who is getting the success he deserves. We're happy for him."

Russell (28-3) got the fifth seed in the bottom bracket for this weekend's action, and will open up against Newton's Kevin Churchill (37-2).

Jackson will also be sending Kyle Kinchen, Sean Byrnes, Ken Carney and Dan Hopkins down the Garden State Parkway on Friday, since all three advanced with top three finishes in the Region VI tournament.

Kinchen (35-2) took third at 112 and will take on Belleville's James Soprano (36-9), the fifth seed in the top bracket, on Friday. Byrnes (30-7), who lost to Southern Regional's Luke Lanno, 6-0, in the Region VI semifinals before coming back to win his consolation match via pinfall, faces Scotch Plains' Pat Mineo (34-1) on Friday night. Mineo is the third seed in the bottom bracket. Lanno is the top seed at 145.

Carney (33-3) took third at 160 over the weekend and will take on Kingsway's Matt Gattuso (31-9), the seventh seed in the bottom bracket, on Friday, with the winner to get Juan Vega (37-2) of St. Mary-Rutherford, the fourth overall seed.

And Hopkins, who fell 5-1 to Southern's Glenn Carson in the Region VI 215-pound final, gets Elizabeth's Richard Tabor (23-5) Friday night, with the winner to face Hightstown's Kenny Amponsa (38-1).

Also heading to A.C. this weekend is New Egypt's Tom Morton (35-5), who got the fourth seed in the bottom bracket of the 112-pound weight class, and will take on South River's Adam Mongelli (31-2) in the first round on Friday. The winner gets Edison's Mike FrancoBandiero (31-3) in the next round.

Accardi, Langel lead five Freehold District wrestlers to Atlantic City

For the most part, it was carnage for area wrestlers at last weekend's NJSIAA Region VI Wrestling Tournament.

Several of the Freehold Regional District's best saw their goal of advancing to the state championships in Atlantic City dashed in what was surely one of the most talented regions in the state.

Wrestlers like District 21 championships Justin Morello and Tom Tuminelli of Howell and Freehold Borough's Ben Ostner aren't going, and neither is someone like Corey Biscaha of Jackson, who was a returning champion. That tells you how stacked each and every weight class was at the Ritacco Center in Toms River.

But five other area wrestlers did survive and they will be competing this weekend. None were crowned a champion, with Freehold Township's Gene Accardi (103) and Howell's Joey Langel (112) the only finalists.

The 103 region final was a replay of the District 21 championship match between Jackson's Derrick Russell and Accardi. This time the Patriot went the distance, losing by a decision, 6-2. Next up for Accardi is a match-up with Hasbrouck Heights' Dan Davenport (32-8), with the winner to get Hackettstown's Corey Kozimor (28-8). Langel lost 7-2 to Toms River East's Vinnie DellaFave. Langel did have the pleasure of reversing the District 21 final in his semifinal match when he beat Jackson's Kinchen, 5-2. Kinchen had beaten Langel in the District final, 4-3.

Langel also got to the Region VI final last year, losing to DellaFave. He will face St. Augustine's Justin Rivera (34-5) on Friday, with the winner to get Millburn's Greg Pollack (38-5).

Howell's Cody Fobes (125), Marlboro's Charlie Frankel (103) and the Pats' Mitch Berger (119) each punched their tickets to A.C. by winning their consolation matches and finishing third. The top three finishers at the eight different regions throughout the state qualified for the state championships.

Frankel won a squeaker, 1-0, over Toms River North's Taylor Kau in his third-place match, and meets Ryan Down (25-7) of St. Peter's Prep on Friday, with the winner to get top-seeded Kenny Knapp (38-1) of Brearley.

Berger won a rematch with Jackson's Rob Swan, proving his District triumph wasn't a fluke, beating Swan again, 9-4. Next up for Berger is a meeting with St. Augustine's Jose Matos (38-1).

Fobes scored a 17-2 technical fall win over Wall's Ryan Wilson at 4:57, and will face Bergenfield's Chris Rankin (26-6) on Friday, with the winner to face top-seeded Kris Sigafoos (28-2) of Delaware Valley.

The NJSIAA Wrestling Tournament runs from Friday through Sunday.