Wrestlers of the Week

Week #1:
ASIM ZAMAN Raritan Valley Asim wrestled an impressive match against Franklin on 01/05/02, defeating his opponent by Technical Fall, 16-1, in the 77-lb. weight class.	JOSEPH VEGA Central Jersey In his debut as our 50-pounder on the Central Jersey Team, first year wrestler Joe Vega won both matches, a 4-2 decision victory over his opponent from Scotch Plains-Fanwood and a 1:40 pin win over his opponent from Watchung Hills.	NICK BRANDOFINO Central Jersey 63-pounder Nick Brandofino was one of two Central Jersey wrestlers to win both matches by fall at the season opener tri-meet on Saturday. He pinned his opponent from Scotch Plains-Fanwood in 2:31 and won his second match against Watchung Hills with a pin in 0:29.
Week #2:
MIKE FISCHER Raritan Valley Mike wrestled two impressive bouts against Flemington on 01/12/02. He pinned his first opponent in 2:12 and defeated his second opponent in a come-from-behind match, tying his man 4-4 at the end of regulation time and then scoring a takedown to win 6-4 in a sudden death overtime period.	BRETT HOPPEL Central Jersey 80-pounder Brett Hoppel wrestled a tough match against Flemington on Saturday, 01/12/02. After taking his opponent down, his man escaped to make the score 2-1 at the end of the 1st period. His opponent escaped in the 2nd period. With 2-2 tie score going into the 3rd period, Brett secured an escape in the final 15 seconds of the bout and held his position to win the match 3-2.
Week #3:
DYLAN REILLY Raritan Valley 53-pounder Dylan Reilly wrestled an impressive match against his opponent from Branchburg on 01/19/02. After being taken down at beginning of his match, he scored a reversal and 2-pt. near fall, held his opponent scoreless during the 2nd period, and scored a reversal in the 3rd period, thereby achieving a come from behind decision win by a score of 6-2.	JON FRIEDMAN Central Jersey 4th grader Jon Friedman currently holds a season record of 4 wins 1 loss in his Central Jersey matches. His only loss has been to a placefinisher in last year's Kids State Tournament. This week, Jon defeated another state placefinisher from South Plainfield in a well wrestled match by a 5-0 decision, pinned his opponent from Roselle Park in 0:29, and scored a 8-0 major decision against his opponent from North Plainfield.	WAYNE HAMPTON Central Jersey 90-pounder Wayne Hampton continues to dominate his opponents and dazzle fans with his wrestling ability. He is currently undefeated with 6 wins & no losses. This week he defeated his opponent from South Plainfield technical fall, and pinned both of his opponents from Roselle Park and North Plainfield. As a 6th grader, Wayne also wrestles for the middle school team where he is 8-0 on the season.
Week #4:	Raritan Valley Honorable Mention
MICHAEL NOBREGA Raritan Valley 4th grader 90-pounder Mike Nobrega continues to show great improvement over last season. Although he lost his season opening match 12-10 against a tough wrestler from Franklin in overtime, he bounced back with a fall in 0:29 against his opponent from Branchburg on 1/19/02 and pinned his opponent from Bound Brook in 0:44 this past Saturday. Mike also took 3rd place in last Sunday's novice tournament at Middlesex.	DYLAN REILLY - Our previous Wrestler of the Week continued his winning ways by placing 1st in the Middlesex Novice Tournament last Sunday and by scoring a third period fall against his opponent from Bound Brook this past Saturday.
	Central Jersey Honorable Mention
ANDREW HAMPTON Central Jersey 110-pound 5th Grader Andrew Hampton went 4-1 this week on the Central Jersey team. He pinned his opponent from Middlesex, scored a major decision against his opponent from Cranford, and won 2 matches by forfeit.	Several of our previous Wrestlers of the Week have continued to make valuable contributions to the overall success of our competitive season: JON FRIEDMAN - Went 5-0 this week, scoring 30 team points with 4 wins by pin and 1 win by forfeit. WAYNE HAMPTON - Went 5-0 this week, scoring 27 team points with 4 wins by pin and 1 win by decision. BRETT HOPPEL - Went 4-1 this week, scoring 21 team points with 2 wins by fall, 1 win by technical fall, and 1 win by major decision. JOE VEGA - Went 4-1 this week, scoring 19 team points with 1 win by pin, 1 win by major decision, 1 win by decision, and 1 win by forfeit.
Week #5:
NOLAN MEADE Raritan Valley Nolan wrestled an aggressive match against Manville on 02/02/02. Leading 5-0 after a 1st period takedown and 1-point escape + 2-point takedown in the 2nd period, Nolan pinned his opponent with a fraction of a second remaining on the clock. Nolan is currently 2-1 this season as a 50-pounder in the Raritan Valley League.	ERIK MEADE Raritan Valley 63-pounder Erik Meade showed great finesse as he dominated his opponent from Manville on Saturday. After achieving a comfortable 8-2 lead, Erik pinned in his opponent in 2:29. Erik is 2-2 this season as a wrestler on the Raritan Valley Team.
Week #6:		Raritan Valley Honorable Mention
BRIAN ROBBINS Raritan Valley 5th Grade 100-pounder Brian Robbins wrestled the heavyweight bout in Saturday's match against Somerville and won by decision, 6-2. At the Piscataway Tournament, Brian placed 3rd at 100-lbs. He won his first match by an 11-10 decision, lost his second match in overtime by an 8-6 decision, and came back to win his consolidation bout by an 11-3 major decision.	JONATHAN ROCHE Raritan Valley 5th Grader Jon Roche wrestles in the 80-lb. weight class for the Panther Raritan Valley Team. Yesterday he defeated his opponent in the Somerville match by fall in 1:10. At the Piscataway Tournament today, Jon placed 4th at 80-lbs. After losing his initial match, he competed in the wrestleback round and defeated both of his opponents, winning each bout by fall.	Two of our previous Wrestlers of the Week on the Panther Raritan Valley Team have continued to demonstrate their strength and skill as quality wrestlers on our team: DYLAN REILLY - Pinned his opponent in 0:35 at the Somerville match and placed 1st in the Piscataway Tournament, scoring two wins by fall and one win by tech fall. ERIK MEADE - Pinned his opponent in 0:59 at the Somerville match and placed 2nd in the Piscataway Tournament.
		Central Jersey Honorable Mention
MATT D'OVIDIO Central Jersey 5th Grader Matt D'Ovidio wrestles in the 95-lb. weight class for the Bridgewater Panthers. Most recently has shown improved strength as a competitor and team member on our Central Jersey Team. Matt went 3-0 in dual meets last week, showing good form as his pinned his opponent from North Hunterdon and in defeating his opponent from Del. Valley by a score of 11-4. Matt also placed 2nd in the Piscataway Tournament at 97-lbs., winning two of his matches by fall.	ERIK WILLIS Central Jersey 6th Grade 77-pounder Erik Willis went 3-0 in dual meets last week, winning two of his matches by fall and raising his Central Jersey season record to 9-5. In addition, Erik competed in the middle school league tournament today and won 1st place in the "B" division.	Five of our previous Wrestlers of the Week on the Panther Central Jersey Team have continued to demonstrate their strength and skill as quality wrestlers on our team: JON FRIEDMAN - Went 3-0 this week in dual meets and placed 1st in the Piscataway Tournament at 84-lbs. Jon pinned all three opponents on his way to winning the championship. WAYNE HAMPTON - Went 3-0 this week in dual meets raising his Central Jersey season record to 14-0. Wayne competed in the Raritan Valley Middle School League "A" Tournament today and as a 6th grader, placed 3rd in the 90-lb. weight class. BRETT HOPPEL - Went 2-1 this week in dual meets and placed 1st in the Piscataway Tournament. Brett pinned all three opponents on his way to winning the championship. JOE VEGA - Went 2-1 this week in dual meets and placed 1st in the Piscataway Tournament. Joey won one of his bouts by fall and two of his bouts by major decision on his way to winning the championship. NICK BRANDOFINO - Went 3-0 this week in dual meets winning two bouts by fall and one bout by decision. In addition, Nick placed 2nd at 63-lbs. in the Piscataway Tournament.
Week #7:
BRYAN DEABRANTES Raritan Valley 3rd Grade 67-pounder Bryan DeAbrantes wrestled an impressive match in Saturday's meet against Hillsborough. After losing the initial takedown in his bout, Bryan came on strong and established an 8-4 lead prior to pinning his opponent in 2:53. Two weeks ago, Bryan wrestled in the Kenilworth Pee Wee/Bantam Tournament and placed 4th in the Bantam Division 67-lb. weight class.	KJ O'SULLIVAN Central Jersey 2nd Grader KJ O'Sullivan is a third year wrestler and competes in the 53-lb. weight class for the Panthers. In the Voorhees match on Thursday, KJ was in complete domination over his opponent, winning 13-0 before concluding his bout with a pin in 2:53. This win brought KJ's dual meet record for this season to 9-6. Last Sunday, KJ competed with other Panther teammates in the Piscataway Tournament and placed 2nd in the 56-lb. weight class.