LODI – Dom Salvatore and Chris Caban roll around the Lodi wrestling room just like any other workout partners in any other wrestling room in the state roll around.
They throw shots at each other, practice a couple of takedowns and work on their defense.
But midway through, the tone changes a little as they go at each other, banging into walls, neither one willing to give an inch. It’s obvious these guys live for the competition.
It’s what makes this time of the year special.
The Rams as a whole, and Salvatore and Caban each go into the District 6 wrestling tournament beginning tonight with something to battle for.
Salvatore is looking to regain the title he won as a sophomore in 2013 while Caban will likely have to go through rival Jordan Robinson of Garfield, who has beaten him twice this season, to defend the title he won as a freshman last year.
“They embrace that,” Lodi coach Mark Maggio said. “That’s what makes high school sports what it is, the rivalries.”
Lodi has finished second in the district each of the past two years to Ridgewood and will look to finally get over that hump in what will likely be a three-team race with the Maroons and Garfield.
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/wrestling/battle-tested-1.1275021
