Edward Kensik, Correspondent – Record Sports
HEIGHTS — The Hasbrouck Heights wrestling team has already been reaching the high expectations that were set for this season.
With only one wrestler graduating from the 2015-16 season, the Aviators were looking at collecting some titles with a lineup with quality wrestlers.
Hasbrouck Heights has already collected the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference Division 4 title after defeating Saddle Brook, 57-21, on Jan. 14 at home and earn a berth in the first NJIC tournament on Wednesday at Garfield High School. As of last week the Aviators will face Pompton Lakes with the winner taking on the victory of either Queen of Peace or Garfield facing Emerson/Park Ridge. As of last week the Heights dual match record was 9-3 with the three losses (North Bergen, River Dell and Westwood) were the difference of a total of six points.
“With only one wrestler graduating and a couple of wrestlers coming back, we had pretty high expectations,” said Hasbrouck Heights head coach Craig Messery. “We’re a little more solid this season…It’s always a goal (NJIC Division title).”
Hasbrouck Heights is also looking to go further in the state team tournament. The Aviators lost at Cedar Grove (46-24) in semi-finals. Cedar Grove would go on to win the North 2 Group 1 title. As of last week, the Aviators were second in the power points in the second, only behind Bound Brook.
“It’s going to be a tough road,” said Messery.
The two wrestlers back this season are seniors, Dylan Freschi and Jason Dal Cortivo. Both missed last season with injuries, Freschi with a knee injury and Dal Cortivo with a dislocated shoulder.
With those wrestlers returning and the top wrestlers coming back like senior Sean O’Malley, junior Mickey O’Malley and junior Matthew Dallara, who were named to the All NJIC first team, there were those expectations. Both O’Malleys medaled at last year’s state finals in Atlantic City with Mickey finishing second at 145 pounds and Sean coming in sixth at 195 pounds.
For this season Messery had experience to go with in seven seniors in Sean O’Malley, Freschi, Dal Cortivo, Peter Innis, John Iurato, Omar Abdalla and Christian Urena.
Last month, the Aviators started on a great note by winning a group at the Bergen County Tournament and finished fourth overall with 130.5 points as five Aviator wrestlers medaled at the holiday tournament in Dal Cortivo (third at 138 pounds), Dallara (second at 145 pounds), junior Mickey O’Malley (second at 160 pounds), junior Abdul Aksu (sixth at 170 pounds) and Sean O’Malley (second at 220).
In the 45-30 victory over Becton in the Jan. 18th NJIC crossover match, Sean O’Malley collected his hundredth career victory as he was handed a forfeit in the heavyweight division. O’Malley finished sixth in the state last season as a junior at 195 pounds and has been wrestling between 220 and the heavyweight division.
“It happens,” said Sean about his 100th win coming on a forfeit.
The senior 220/heavyweight wrestler will be hitting the mats at Drexel University and will be wrestling at heavyweight.
“I’m looking to pack on the pounds and be huge,” said Sean O’Malley who chose Drexel over Columbia University for his next level for school.
For Messery, Sean had plenty of wrestling ability and has gained more this season.
“I see more maturity in Sean this season” said the Hasbrouck Heights head coach.
Along with Sean O’Malley, Mickey O’Malley has moved up weight classes to 160 pounds and he hasn’t lost a step with the second place finish in the county tournament at 160.
“Mickey is pretty solid all around,” said Messery. “He just keeps getting sharper and stronger.”
One of the weaknesses for Hasbrouck Heights is the lack of depth and received a blow in the 34-32 defeat at North Bergen on Jan. 11. Dallara suffered a torn ACL in his right leg during the 152-pound bout. The junior Aviator wrestler would finish the bout in winning 7-3, but will probably be missing until the beginning of February.
“He’s very tough,” said Messery about Dallara. “He would run through a wall for you.”
One of the biggest surprises this season has been Aksu who has gone from a 1-15 record as a freshman to a .500 mark last season and to the sixth place finish in the county tournament.
“He’s worked very hard,” said Messery. “The one win in his freshman season was a forfeit so he has come a long way.”
