ERIC SUCAR staff Matawan freshman Ryan Berg performs a wrestling drill during a recent scrimmage against Red Bank Regional High School. The Huskies will open their season on Saturday by hosting the Matawan Icebreaker Invitational Tournament. After putting up a 15-14 record in what was a rebuilding year, the Matawan High School wrestling team is looking to contend for the Shore Conference’s Class A Central championship. Coach Andy Lasko said his team has set the bar high in a division that also includes the likes of Raritan and St. John Vianney. Nevertheless, the Huskies mentor believes Matawan will be a contender for its first division title. “Our primary goal is to be competitive every night and we have the wrestlers on board who can do that,” Lasko explained. “We’re setting the bar high because we think this group can really gel. Most of them have been together since middle school; they know each other and they support each other.” Having six grapplers back who won 20 times or more a year ago is a huge plus. Matawan also has time before its regular season starts on Jan. 3 with a quad match that includes Red Bank Regional, RBC and Monmouth Regional. In the meantime, the Huskies will host their annual Icebreaker Invitational Tournament on Dec. 20. Leading the returnees is Johnny Short, who will compete at 130 pounds. The junior won 36 matches last winter, took second place in the District 21 competition and fourth in Region 6. Cesare Antista, who moves up to 135 pounds, enters his fourth varsity campaign with 90 career victories — a very nice average of 30 wins per season. The 189-pounder, Rob Rivera is coming off of a 25-win campaign and a second-place showing in District 21. Juniors Chris Carrillo (152) and Charlie Cook (160), along with sophomore Tom Dillon, also posted 20 victories and Lasko is expecting even more from all three of them. Lasko also has high expectations for heavyweight Chris Howley, who missed most of last season after suffering an injury during football season, and junior Jordan Long (145), a gritty competitor who finds ways to win. The rest of the Huskies lineup includes John Kozman (140) and Ed McCarthy (171); juniors Jimmy Alvarez (215) and Devon Rust (119); sophomores Andre Hodge (215), Michael Lawrence (160/171), Patrick O’Donnell (112), Zeke Vega (125), and McArthur Underwood, III (140); and freshman Francis Palumbo (215). “Our experience will certainly help us— the guys learned a lot last year,” Lasko said. “Right now we’re just working hard and focusing on the fundamentals. In the end, that’s what wins matches.” The coach reported that of the 51 grapplers in the program, 28 are freshmen—many of whom are graduates of the middle school program, which bodes very well for the Huskies’ future. “That shows that kids are getting into the wrestling program in town and sticking with it,” Lasko added. “I was very pleased to have so many experienced freshmen come out.” BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer 
