Here are some local super stars a week leading up to the Super Bowl.
Nick Schutzenhofer of Christian Brothers Academy delivered the Shore Conference Tournament to the Colts’ wrestling team when he decisioned Howell’s Darby Diedrich, 2-1, in overtime to clinch the 34-28 victory. This was CBA’s first-ever SCT crown.
CBA led 31-28 going into the final match. Had the match ended in a 28-28 tie with a Diedrich victory, Howell would have won the match by criteria (most pins).
Schutzenhofer avenged his regular-season loss to Diedrich, also in overtime, 2-0.
During the SCT, Howell’s Anthony Gagliano joined the exclusive 100-career wrestling victory club. The senior went 5-0 on the week as the Rebels reached the SCT final.
At the Greater Middlesex Conference Wrestling Championships, Edison High School’s Robert Clearly, who wrestled at 132 pounds, was named the Most Outstanding Lower Weights Wrestler and Woodbridge’s Bryan McLaughlin was the tournament’s Most Outstanding Upper Weights Wrestler. McLaughlin wrestled at 160 pounds.
Old Bridge’s Nezzar Dimes (138) won the Most Pins in Less Time Award. The Knight pinned three opponents it a total of 3:12.
Jackson Memorial High School’s Anna Francisco broke the meet record for the 100-yard backstroke at the Shore Conference Swimming Championships at the Ocean County YMCA in Toms River. The Jaguars’ wining time of 56.58 took .09 off the old mark set by Freehold High School state champion Emily O’Neill five years ago.
Francisco also swam on the Jaguars’ victorious 200 Medley Relay team that included Kaitlin Idank, Gabby Wilkson and Annalise Giuliano. Their winning time of 1:50.62 was a state qualifier.
David Alston of Matawan High School had the best high jump of the conference’s indoor track and field season, 6-8, in capturing the event at the Shore Conference Championships at the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.
St. John Vianney’s girls’ 4×400-meter relay team, anchored by Monica Heil, edged Ocean County champion Southern, to win the Shore Conference title. The Lancers’ were first in 4:07.43 and the Rams second in 4:07.78.
Katie DiFranceso, Ashley Omoregie and Olivia Wojtowicz ran the first three legs for SJV.
Mike Parfitt scored both Woodbridge goals in the Barrons’ 2-1 ice hockey victory over Old Bridge at the Old Bridge Arena.
The victory extended Woodbridge’s unbeaten streak to 14 games, The Barrons are 12-1-2.
Anthony Gallicchio had a goal and four assists as state-ranked Howell defeated Freehold Borough-Raritan, 8-2, in a Shore Conference ice hockey game at Howell Ice World.
Middletown South High School’s Stephanie Karcz had a triple-double, 32 points, 16 rebounds and 11 steals as the Eagles routed Marlboro, 63-36, in a Shore Conference A North Division game in Marlboro. The victory all but clinched the division title for the defending champions who are two games up on Marlboro (9-0 to 8-2) with three games left to play. Overall, the Eagles are 14-1.
