Wrestling Team Looks to Continue Last Year's Success

How can Westfield High School's wrestling team follow up last year's milestone
season?   

Head coach Glen Kurz, who enters his 12th season, said it will be tough to match his team's 16-2 season, one which included the Blue Devils' first North 2 Group IV playoff win since 1990 and first District 11 title since 1994. The Blue Devils also sent seven wrestlers to the Region III tournament, including the graduated senior 130-pound star John Barnes, who qualified for the state tournament in Atlantic City by taking second in the regions. Barnes, now a freshman at West Point, was one win shy of placing at the states.

The team also lost graduated district 125-pound champ Nick DeFreitas, district runnerups Joe Panarese (140) and Rob Granstrand (160) and third-place district finishers Sam Reichbach (152) and Joe Kania (heavyweight). But there's reinforcements coming.   

"Our turnout was the best we've ever had,'' said Kurz, adding that 42 wrestlers
showed up for practice. "Everybody wants to part of a winner. Last year was huge for us.''   

Kurz is eager to see how this team develops, the Blue Devils scrimmaged Somerville Wednesday afternoon at home, then at North Plainfield Saturday morning.

The Blue Devils will open the season in the Nutley Tournament Dec. 19 before opening the dual meet season at Rahway Dec. 23. The team will be led by junior Christian Barber, a fourth-place region finisher and district champ at 135. He'll be at 140 this year.   

"We expect him to go to Atlantic City this year,'' said Kurz. "Christian is wrestling as well or better than anybody I've ever had in my (wrestling) room.''   

Barber recently went 6-2 in the rugged Super 32 Tournament in Pennsylvania.   

"He has lived on the wrestling mat since last year,'' Kurz said.   

Other returners will be sophomore Mike Kalimtzis, who was a light 103-pounder last year. He was a runner-up at 103 where he will be once again.   

"He's about 107 now,'' Kurz said.   

Another district runnerup -- sophomore Troy Skibitsky, second at the district at 112, is up at 125. Senior Ryan Jennings, who'll be at 135, couldn't crack the tough lineup last year will be at 135. He was 12-6 as a sophomore, placing fourth in the county. Senior Brian Henry, a district runner-up at 145, will be at the same weight.  

"I think we're going to be tough from 125 through 145,'' Kurz said.   

Senior Bill Kim was an important contributor last yesar, and played a big part in the
the team's playoff win over Piscataway. He bumped up to 189 in that match, but limited his opponent to a regular decision win. That went a long way in the Blue Devils' 35-28 conquest. He'll be at 171.   

"We expect him to pick up some points for us,'' Kurz said. "Bill's a hard worker.''   

Senior Chris Tomasso and sophomore Mike DeLouisa will contest for the 160 spot.

Sophomore Kevin Cascillo has a lot of ability, the coach said.  Junior Eric Godzdieski is another of the younger Blue Devils up from the junior
varsity.   

"We have a lot of kids up fron the junior varsity who'll work their way into the lineup,'' Kurz said. "We might have holes at 112 and 119, but we have some kids who could fill in there.''