Emerson/Park Ridge wrestling storms back to win NJIC match over Hawthorne

By: Sean Farrell /NorthJersey.com

HAWTHORNE – Casey Allen isn’t used to getting the attention. Neither is Ayden Giacomelli.

They often live in anonymity as the starting center and right guard on the Park Ridge football team. It’s much easier to stand out when they trade in their helmets for headgear with Emerson/Park Ridge.

“Casey is a great leader,” Cavos wrestling coach Stan Woods said. “And Giacomelli has been paying his dues since his freshman year. It’s his time to shine.”

Both were pushed into the spotlight on Saturday when the eighth-ranked Cavos held off upstart Hawthorne, 36-27, in a crossover between two of the best NJIC teams.

The 17th-ranked Bears were closing in on an upset after winning six of the first seven bouts, including Declan Smith’s decision that spotted them a 21-6 lead. Instead, the Cavos rolled off six straight victories with Allen (195) and Giacomelli (220) capping the run with pins.

With the Cavos forfeiting the last round at heavyweight, Giacomelli needed to win his match to avoid losing on criteria.

“I kind of pushed the (circumstances) to the side. I just went out there and wrestled like I usually do,” Giacomelli said. “I guess you could say that there were less nerves than there usually are, especially when I was younger.”

What it means

Emerson/Park Ridge remains the team to beat in the NJIC. The Cavos have won four straight conference titles, while going undefeated against NJIC opponents in that span.

With no team tournaments held in 2021, matchups likes these will determine bragging rights on the small-school level.

“We know that there’s tradition here and winning is the standard,” said Allen, a Springfield wrestling commit. “There’s no real rebuild. It’s win now.”

The Cavos (2-0) are relying on several new faces after graduating the Mazzeo brothers – Luke and Logan – and school wins leader Nick Babin in the last two years.

The co-op also had to deal with a preseason shutdown that’s limited them to just a few practices.

“For a young team, I think their attitude is fabulous,” Woods said. “You have five or six freshmen starting. To have them step up the way they did is incredible.”

The Bears can also hold their head high after winning their first four meets by an average of 46 points. Hawthorne took seven of the 14 bouts on Saturday with Liam McAllister beating Louden Mazzeo, 11-6, in a high-profile battle at 138.

Few NJIC teams have even come close to beating the Cavos over the last few years.

Turning points

One of the biggest moments of the day came from an unlikely hero in Anthony Paino. The Cavos were down by a dozen when they sent out their first-year starter to face Ashton Navarette at 160 pounds. Trailing 1-0 in the third period, Paino scored on an escape and penalty point to stun the former 23-match winner.

A few weeks ago, Paino came home from practice and found out his mother passed away unexpectedly.

“I feel bad, but I think (wrestling) is probably the best thing for him,” Woods said. “I asked him the other day at practice, ‘do you need time?’ He said no coach, I’m better off here.”

The Cavos built a lead thanks to four straight pins, with freshmen Jacob Shannon (170) and Cole Hughes (182) fueling the comeback.

Up next

►Emerson/Park Ridge will visit Glen Rock on Monday.

►Hawthorne will head to Elmwood Park on Monday.

Last words

“Shout-outs need to be made to Jacob Shannon and Cole Hughes,” Allen said. “Two freshmen at 170 and 182. You don’t really hear freshmen at that weight doing well. They really pulled it out for us. They stepped up today.”

Sean Farrell is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app. Email: farrells@northjersey.com Twitter: @seanfarrell92

Emerson/Park Ridge wrestling storms back to win NJIC match over Hawthorne

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