Combined Clipdogs score first-round win

The combined Clayton/Glassboro wrestling team rallied to win the last two bouts, capped by Vinnie Ferretti's clinching pin, and knocked off visiting Highland, 34-31, last night in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 team tournament.

The teams alternated wins through the first 11 bouts until Highland got back-to-back wins from Joe Grisko with a 48-second pin at 215 pounds and Deshawn Williams with a 4-3 decision at 285 to take a 31-25 lead.

Clayton/Glassboro's Ray Zieger closed the gap by outlasting Chris Giambri, 6-3, at 103 pounds, setting the stage for Ferratti's second-period pin of Anthony Casella.

The win put the third-seeded Clipdogs in tomorrow's semifinals at No. 2 seed West Deptford at 7 p.m.

South Jersey Group 3.

Hammonton whipped visiting Lacey Township, 47-14, as Jimmy Butler (171) had a decision, Dan LeConey (189) win by pin and Tom Pangia (285) followed with a technical fall to give the Blue Devils a 14-0 start.

South Jersey Non-Public A.

Paul VI, seeded last in the six-team field trailed third-seeded Christian Brothers by just 23-22 with three bouts left before host CBA added two decisions and a pin for a 35-22 quarterfinal win.

For Paul VI, Ryan Mitzel (215) had a 17-2 technical fall, and Sean Laughlin (189) and Matt O'Donnell (103) nailed down pins.

Central Jersey Group 1.

Bordentown cruised past visiting Metuchen, 78-3, and earned a semifinal berth at Robbinsville. For the Scotties, Max Bohannan (160) had a 45-second pin and Jason Cassidy (130) posted a 51-second pin among 11 Bordentown pins.

New Egypt also advanced via a 40-27 triumph over visiting Point Pleasant Beach.

Decisions by Anthony Wahler (135) and Alex Hinger (140) in the last two bouts sealed the win, and Don Hopkins (285) and Andrew Milligan (112) provided key pins.

Central Jersey Group 2.

Back-to-back first-minute pins from Matt Gasper (130) and Keith Robinson (135) punctuated Delran's 42-21 win over visiting Hopewell Valley.

The Bears, who will face Raritan tomorrow, also got close decisions from Ben Swezey (145) and Patrick Lodge (152).

Burlington Township defeated Burlington County League rival Cinnaminson, 45-26, in the other semifinal. The Falcons used pins in the lower weights from Kevin Devoy (103), Terrance Scotton (112), Eriq Morris (125) and Todd Weaver (130).