WEST ORANGE, NJ – For the first time since they started wrestling at the Morris Knolls Tournament in 2003, the Seton Hall Prep wrestling team captured its first team title in the season opener on Dec. 16.
In 2003 and 2016, the Pirates were the runner-up. But this year they scored 205 points to out distance Watchung Hills and South Plainfield.
The highlight of the tournament was at the 113-pound weight class when freshman Connor Decker, head coach Jack Decker’s nephew, captured the title, pinning Colby Sellitto from Passaic Valley in 3:18. He also defeated top seed Joseph Pacheco from Perth Amboy, who was ranked No. 9 in New Jersey, 6-2, in the quarterfinal round and Austin Jack from Jefferson, 4-2, in the semifinals.
After receiving his first place medal, Decker said, “It feels real good. I have been working very hard in practice every day, getting my strength up. I was mentally ready for today and I believed in myself.”
Decker was selected the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
Other champions for SHP were sophomore Michael Massa, 152-pound weight class; and sophomore Alex Garcia, 160.
Second-place finishers were sophomore Larry Melchionda, 106; senior Charles Cunningham, 132; senior Danny Young, 160; and junior Niko Diakides, 285.
Senior Maguire Pecci took third place at 138. The fourth-place finishers were freshman Jack Wilt, 145; and sophomore Zach Merlino, 182, while freshman Cole Carroll, 126, took fifth place.
After being awarded the Championship Plaque, Head Coach Jack Decker said, “I anticipated a good tournament, but we did better than that. We have a solid lineup with tough kids in every weight class. We had a good tournament and it looks like we’ll have a good dual meet team. I think we’ll have our share of state qualifiers, if not state-place winners.”
SHP has a tough dual meet week with Don Bosco Prep, Irvington, and Bound Brook, and Raritan.
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