Phil Anastasia: Camden Cath.'s Walsh no lightweight on mat
Taylor Walsh is a junior wrestler for Camden Catholic. Walsh, who lives in Cherry Hill, won the Region 8 title last season at 119 pounds. He advanced to the state finals, losing in overtime.
Taylor Walsh is a junior wrestler for Camden Catholic.
Walsh, who lives in Cherry Hill, won the Region 8 title last season at 119 pounds. He advanced to the state finals, losing in overtime.
Walsh will wrestle most dual meets at 135 pounds this season but likely will drop down to 130 pounds for the individual state tournament. Walsh won the Neptune tournament Saturday at 135 pounds.
Question:
What was it like to lose in overtime in the state finals in Atlantic City last season?
Answer: It was tough. You work so hard and to finish like that, it inspires you to try to work harder and make it all the way.
Q:
Do you have a hard time cutting weight?
A: I never had to do it much when I was a kid, but just about everyone cuts in high school. It's not too bad. You just have to cut out the junk food, drink a lot of water and work out hard. The weight usually comes off.
Q:
What's the toughest part?
A: Sometimes the day before a match when you know you're going to get weighed, you really feel it. I also really miss drinking Gatorade.
Q:
What do you like best about wrestling?
A: Just the competition of it. It's just you and the other guy. I like winning, too.
Q:
How long have you been wrestling?
A: Since I was 9.
Q:
Many kids today begin wrestling when they are around 5 or 6. Why the late start?
A: My dad didn't want me to get burned out when I was in high school or college, so he held me back for a couple of years.
Q:
Do you participate in any other sports?
A: Golf. I played for the Camden Catholic team as a freshman, and I'm going to play again this spring. I play as much as I can.
Q:
Best round?
A: Probably something in the high 70s or low 80s.
Q:
What do you think of all those guys transferring to Eastern?
A: It was strange. I used to wrestle on this team called the New Jersey Eagles. Now all those guys are on the Eastern team.
Q:
What's your favorite subject in school?
A: Science. It used to be math, but now I really like science.
Q:
Got a favorite food?
A: Buffalo chicken cheesesteaks.
Q:
But not in season, right?
A: Not in season. I eat them all the time out of season.
Q:
What's your favorite TV
A:
House.
Q:
What kind of music do you listen to?
A: Rap.
Q:
Got a favorite artist?
A: New Era.
Q:
What's the outlook for the Camden Catholic wrestling team this year?
A: We've got pretty much the whole team back except for Dakota Moore (who graduated) and Jackson Brady (who transferred to Eastern). We're pretty much the same team that beat Southern last year. We're going to go far.
Three things about last week
1.
Awesome opener Friday night at Cherokee. Eastern was down all game but battled back and won, 64-63, when senior Shumeek Scott, who scored 24, hit both ends of a one-and-one with eight-tenths of a second on the clock.
2.
It's doesn't get a lot of publicity, but Overbrook-Lindenwold is a great rivalry. The schools played boys' and girls' basketball Saturday, and the two games were decided by a total of five points.
3.
Tip of the hat to the Paulsboro wrestling program for hosting the Border Battle duals at Rowan this past weekend and finishing second in the team scoring. Junior Joe Duca went 5-0 at 125 and looks poised for a big season.
Three things about this week.
1.
Nice inter-county clash of Group 4 powers tonight in boys' basketball as Williamstown visits Rancocas Valley at 6:30 p.m. The Braves are looking for across-the-board respect in Group 4 competition and get their early-season shot against the Red Devils, the defending state champions.
2.
Eight teams, including Washington Township, Timber Creek, Willingboro (which has some great individuals) and the host Panthers, will get together for the Collingswood wrestling tournament Saturday.
3.
Boardwalk Basketball Classic tips off at Wildwood Convention Center on Friday. Intriguing girls' game at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday: Sacred Heart vs. Washington Township. The Lions' Ashley Durham is a big-time offensive threat, but she'll be challenged by Minutemaids' sensational senior guards, twins Dana and Shawna Wert.
Super Seven power rankings
The top seven teams in South Jersey, regardless of sport.
1. Eastern wrestling
. On paper, this team rivals those loaded Highland, Paulsboro and Absegami teams as the best in South Jersey history.
2. Camden Catholic boys' basketball.
This program could win close to 60 games over the next two seasons while playing a challenging schedule.
3. Rancocas Valley boys' basketball.
Perhaps the state's best backcourt in 6-foot-6 Mike Bersch and 6-4 Kendall White.
4. St. Augustine boys' swimming.
Facilities reflect the commitment in Richland. That pool, part of a $22 million complex that includes a new gym, is something special.
5. Washington Township girls' basketball.
Big-time Olympic American battles this season with Eastern, Cherokee and Lenape.
6. Camden Catholic wrestling.
New coach Jerry Boland is an Irish alumnus who knows what it takes to get it done in that wrestling room.
7. Haddonfield girls' swimming.
Ohio State-bound Emily Creran leads the Bulldogs, who face a big division challenge from Cherry Hill West.
Under consideration:
Eastern girls' basketball, Cherry Hill West boys' swimming, Camden Catholic girls' basketball, Delsea wrestling.