North 1, Group 1 final
EMERSON/PARK RIDGE 59, POMPTON LAKES 17
152: Jonah Schechtman (E/PR) p. Mike Kheyfets (PL) 0:56; 160: Connor Hughes (E/PR) d. Nate Tucker (PL) 1-0; 170: Ramone Hernandez (P) p. Eran Kinsey (E/PR) 0:37; 182: John Garda (E/PR) p. Logan Mahoney (PL) 2:26; 195: Zach Lewis (E/PR) p. Bishoy Yacoub (PL) 1:16; 220: Shane Carcich (E/PR) p. Frank Negrini (PL) 7:58; 285:Drew Flynn (PL) p. Randy Napolitano (E/PR) 0:36; 106: Ryan Almeida (PL) p. Danny Cerbone (E/PR) 1:34; 113: Nick Babin (E/PR) p. Allan Devies (PL) ; 120: Logan Mazzeo (E/PR) p. Brian Fego (PL) 0:42; 126: Caiden Brouwer (E/PR) m.d. Ilir Istrefi (PL) 9-0; 132: Matt Daub (E/PR) p. Caleb Tucker (PL) 1:48; 138: Luke Mazzeo (E/PR) p. Justin Johnstone (PL) 3:17; 145: David DiBella (E/PR) m.d. Nick Secor (PL) 11-3
story By Kevin Czerwinski, Special to NorthJersey.com
RIDGE – The Emerson/Park Ridge steamroller continued to blast its way toward a perfect season Friday night, putting forth another dominating effort against Pompton Lakes to capture the North 1, Group 1 sectional championship.
The top-seeded Cavos cruised to a 59-17 victory, earning the 10th sectional title in school history and first since 2016, the same year they earned their lone group title. Emerson/Park Ridge also extended its season-long winning streak to 28 matches and will look to cap off an unbeaten season on Sunday when it takes the mat for a 9 a.m. semifinal at Toms River.
“I don’t have to worry about this team [letting down],” said Woods, whose team lost in the North 1, Group 2 sectional semis last year. “Maybe some other teams but these guys are able to focus every match.
“This year, it would be a first [going unbeaten]. Usually we’re stopped by Paulsboro. I’d like one but this team has already achieved so much. If we didn’t get it, I’d understand. I certainly hope we can make it happen but I can’t be disappointed if we don’t. We’ve done so much, I just can’t be disappointed.”
The match started at 152 pounds, and after the Cavos picked up a quick-pin and a decision, it looked like the evening would be a repeat of last month’s meeting between the two teams. Pompton Lakes’ Ramon Hernandez earned a victory via a pin at 170 though, and it became clear that the Cardinals wouldn’t be dispatched so easily this time.
It wasn’t until the 220-pound bout when Emerson/Park Ridge’s Shane Carcich earned an overtime pin at 7:58 against Frank Negrini that the Cavos started to open up some distance. Still, that the Cardinals were able to hold EPR under 60 points was an accomplishment. The Cavos had scored 60 or more points 11 times this season.
“We knew coming in that they were looking to do better than last time,” Woods said. “They made some moves but they could only move so much. They moved away from Zach [Lewis at 195] to Shane but there’s not a difference there.”
EPR’s Nick Babin improved to 27-0 while teammate Luke Mazzeo pushed his record to 30-0. There were some highlights for Pompton Lakes, though. Heavyweight and Passaic County champ Drew Flynn improved to 31-0 with a 36-second pin of Randy Napolitano.
