St. Augustine wins mat duals title

Justin Embler has a soft spot in his heart for team wrestling tournaments.

The Cinnaminson senior heavyweight may be closing in on the program's individual standard, but for now his thoughts are geared toward the Pirates' team success.

"We've been really wrestling tough as a unit," Embler said after St. Augustine rallied for a 34-33 victory over Cinnaminson in the finals of the Region 7 & 8 Duals yesterday at St. Augustine Prep. "I like team tournaments because it brings all of us together. We had a couple of big matches Friday against Hightstown and Shawnee, and today we had Cherokee, a big Group 4 program.

"We know how it feels to lose by one point, but I think this loss will make us a better team."

While his team saw the Hermits rally to win the Super Duals for the third straight year, Embler enjoyed a stellar weekend, winning all four of his bouts (three falls and a forfeit). He took home the most valuable wrestler award, and the victories raised his individual record to 13-1 this season, with the lone loss coming at the hands of a North Carolina grappler.

At 94-30 for his career, Embler not only has the century mark in his sights, but also the Cinnaminson career win record of 116 set last season by Jerry DeSanto. But for the moment, it will take a while for the sting of the Hermits' comeback to wear off.

"We knew we had some good matchups and that it would be a close one," Embler said.

St. Augustine (4-2) can thank the DiGalbo brothers for the final-round drama. Ranked No. 6 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, Cinnaminson (9-1) led 27-5 following the 103-pound bout, but the Hermits stormed back on the strength of a pin by A.J. Fisher at 125, Nick DiGalbo's 18-2 technical fall at 135, and a trio of major decisions.

Nick DiGalbo put his team ahead, 28-27, only to see Cinnaminson's Justin Pencock respond with a fall at 140 pounds and a 33-28 Pirates lead. But Mike DiGalbo thrilled the partisan home crowd by flattening Cinnaminson's Jeff Jones in 1:09 at 145 pounds to lift the Prep.

"I knew I had to put up six on the board. Losing is not an option," Mike DiGalbo said. "No major decision, no technical fall. I had to get the pin. The key is wrestling under pressure and pulling through when your team needs you the most."

Nick DiGalbo admitted he didn't want to see the final come down to how he performed.

"Before my match, coach said we needed five points at the minimum," he said. "Knowing my brother was behind me really helped."

St. Augustine coach Keith Hoover felt his team put itself in a hole early on, but pointed to the critical 103 bout that saw the Hermits' Tom Huesser avoid getting pinned late in the second period. Huesser lost 5-3 to Cinnaminson's Pat Cosentino, but a fall would have given the Pirates a win.

"We survived the storm and came through with some big matches," Hoover said.

Notes.

Eighth-ranked Schalick took third place with a 38-29 win over Cherokee. The Cougars (10-1) host Tri-County Conference stalwart Delsea tomorrow.

St. Augustine 34,

Cinnaminson 33

152:

C.Kaighn (C) dec. Piotrowicz, 8-4;

160:

Breder (C) dec. Grazel, 3-2;

171:

Hess (C) pin Bowden, :20;

189:

White (SA) tech. fall. Haines, 23-7;

215:

Wojcik (C) pin Baumgardner, :37;

Hwt:

Embler (C) pin Ferraro, 1:35;

103:

Cosentino (C) dec. Huesser, 5-3;

112:

O'Brien (SA) maj. dec. Verbaro, 14-5;

119:

Conley (SA) maj. dec. DeLuca, 24-10;

125:

Fisher (SA) pin Kearns, 1:49;

130:

Conger (SA) maj. dec. J.Kaighn, 14-3;

135:

N.DiGalbo (SA) tech. fall Murden, 18-2;

140:

Pencock (C) pin Schroeder, 1:29;

145:

M.DiGalbo (SA) pin Jones, 1:09.