Here are local stars who shined with post-season tournaments going on at full blast
Nick Ciaccia (132), Anthony Gagliano (138) and Kris Lindemann (145) registered consecutive pins as Howell High School beat Old Bridge, 34-16, to win the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group V wrestling championship in Howell. It was the Rebels’ second Central Jersey crown in the last three years.
Tanner Kelly’s 5-1 decision over Long Branch High School’s Pete Wersinger at 182 pounds clinched Jackson Memorial’s 28-24 victory over the Green Wave in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV wrestling final in Jackson.
It was the Jaguars’ eighth state sectional championship.
Rumson-Fair Haven High School’s Brendan Barry scored a school-record 50 points in the Bulldogs’ non-division 71-49 victory over Middletown North. The 6-2 senior guard connected on 19 field goals including four threes in his record-setting outing.
Earlier this season, Barry became the school’s all-time leading male scorer.
Tom O’Reilly (19) and Lloyd Daniels (17) combined for 36 points as the Colts Neck High School boys’ basketball team clinched the Shore Conference B North Division championship outright defeating Wall Township, 66-35.
Ryan Weise canned four clutch free throw in the finial two minutes to help the Allentown High School girls’ basketball team hold off a Ewing rally to win the Colonial Valley Conference tilt, 57-52.
Weise netted 17 points for the Redbirds, who improved their record to 15-5.
Woodbridge High School’s James Stoveken rolled the high series, 779, at the NJSIAA Central Jersey Bowling Championships held at Carolier Lanes in North Brunwick. Stoveken’s teammate Kyle Bilawsky had the third best series 751, as the Barron boys rolled to the Group III sectional championship with a team score of 3,351.
Freehold Township High School’s Ciara Roche, who will be running the Girl’s High chool Mile at the Feb. 20 New York Roadrunners Millrose Games, won the 800- (2:16.15) and 1,600-(5:08.20) runs at the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River.
Desirae Osley won the 400-meter dash (58.71) and ran on South Brunswick High School’s winning 4×400-relay team with Briana Araque, Latisha Witherspoon and Chloe Hypolite (4:07.93) at the Central Jersey, Group IV indoor track meet.
South Brunswick captured the team championship with 74 points.
Sayreville High School’s Benjamin Aidoo won both the 55-meter dash (6.58) and 55 hurdles (7.51) at the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Rey Rivera of Old Bridge High School captured the 800 (1:54.98) and 1,600 (4:19.64) double at the CJ IV track championships helping the Knight boys win the team championship with 60 points.
In Central Jersey, Group I, Metuchen High School’s Ariana Santo Pietro won the 55-meter dash (7.53) and Shore Regional’s Sarah George the 800 (2:22.13) at the girl’s track and field championships.
