JANUARY 28, 2016
BY ED MILLS
STAFF WRITER | THE RECORD
POMPTON LAKES – Owen Ross was a bit taken aback at first, but he surely proved up to the challenge.
Wrestling on the road before a loud crowd, Ross earned a big come-from behind win to start the night and lead Cresskill past Pompton Lakes, 42-25, in an NJIC Division 3 match Wednesday.
The freshman came back from a 2-0 deficit to edge Brian Fego, 3-2, in overtime at 106 pounds, helping spark a run of four straight Cresskill victories to begin the match. That gave the Cougars an 18-0 lead right off the bat against their Passaic County rivals.
“It was a real crazy environment with all the screaming and yells and hoots. I was a little scared there for awhile, but I got my confidence back in the middle of the bout and I was able to maintain my composure until the end,” said Ross. “In the second period I got the reversal for the 2-2 tie, and then in overtime the ref called the stall for the one point to end it.
“I’m just happy to put up the three points on the scoreboard and help my team in any way I can.”
Ross, Cresskill’s regular at 113, changed slots with freshman Kenny Spadaccini, who competed at 113 instead of 106 because seventh-year coach Nick Calandrino believed that switch would benefit his team.
Spadaccini pinned Caleb Tucker in 2:25 at 113 before victories by junior Wyatt Ross (Owen’s brother) at 120 (8-6 over Justin Juchnewich) and Mike Chambers at 126 (pin in 3:23 over Luis Herrera) put Cresskill up by 18.
Cresskill (13-1), which has lost only to Queen of Peace, also received wins from Dan Garzino at 145, Brendan Coffey at 152 and Conn O’Rourke at 160. Grant Barone pinned Nate Tucker in 46 seconds at 170 to put the Cougars, No. 12 in The Record Top 25, up 36-10 and clinch the victory with four bouts remaining.
