Aidan Monteverdi. File photo by Rich Morris/courtesy of SHP.
ROCKAWAY, NJ – The Seton Hall Prep varsity wrestling team participated in the Morris Knolls Tournament for the 14th consecutive year in the season opener last weekend in Rockaway. The SHP Pirates had an outstanding tournament as they finished in second place in the team standings to South Plainfield. This is the second time since their first year (2003) they were the runner-up in this tournament.
They entered 13 wrestlers and nine of them placed first through fourth to earn a medal as 10 teams entered this year’s tournament. Head Coach Jack Decker, entering his eighth year as the head coach and his staff, were very pleased with how the team performed. The place winners were:
First place:
132 pounds: Charles Cunningham, junior.
170: Aidan Monteverdi, senior.
Second place:
120: Maguire Pecci, junior.
152: TJ Calas , senior.
Third place:
103: Lawrence Melchionda, freshman.
160: Danny Young, junior.
Fourth place:
138: Jake Smith, senior.
145: Alex Garcia, freshman.
195: Ben Halligan, junior.
Following the tournament, Cunningham was asked how it felt to win the tournament. “It feels pretty good,” he said. “I took second last year, and as the top seed this year I wanted to wrestle to my expectations and I feel I accomplished that.” Monteverdi added: “I finished second my freshman and junior years and it was my goal this season to win this great tournament to start the season. The next thing I want to do is concentrate on the dual meet season ahead of us. I feel this team has a lot of veterans and some great youth to do some great things this season.” Top freshman finisher Lawrence Melchionda said, “It feels great to place in my first high school tournament. My teammates backed me up when I lost in the semifinals and I was able to pin my next two opponents to take home a third place medal. I am really looking forward to the next part of the regular season.”
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