Eastern advances in Group 4 tourney

It was a different match for Jon Daddario and a different match for Eastern.

Daddario scored a late takedown to register a 3-2 decision over Karch Connor at heavyweight last night as Eastern trounced Washington Township, 50-14, in the opening round of the South Jersey Group 4 wrestling tournament.

Eastern (21-5) advances to face top-seeded Jackson on the road in tomorrow night's semifinals. Daddario had lost a 6-3 decision to Connor when Eastern beat Washington Township, 36-30, on Jan. 14.

"Last time, he turned me late and got late points," Daddario said. "This time, I was able to make a late move."

Eastern's dominance was clear from the start as the Vikings broke to a 26-0 lead. Dave Newcomer played a big part in the surge with a pin at 145, after Washington Township (14-4) opened the match by forfeiting to defending state champion Anthony Baldosaro at 140.

Eastern's Eric Dunnet won a tough match with a 3-1 overtime victory over Chalie Huff at 125. Washington Township's Anthony Curcio defeated Mike Crowley, 9-3, in a match of two top wrestlers at 130.

Eastern 50, Washington Township 14

140: Anthony Baldosaro, E, forfeit; 145: Dave Newcomer, E, pin Steve Ambrose, 2:38; 152: Jackson Brady, E, tech. fall Steve Swayze, 4:30; 160: Preston Keiffer, E, forfeit; 171: Damien Scott, E, dec. Chuck Everham, 6-3; 189: Colin Walsh, WT, dec. Anthony Micciche, 16-2;

215: Ryan Bartel, E, forfeit; Hwt.: Jon Daddario, E, dec. Karch Connor, 3-2; 103: Shane West, WT, dec. Jake Backal, 13-5; 112: Robert Deutsch, E, pin Matt Salera, 1:52; 119: James Higgins, WT, dec. Cal Stack, 5-0; 125: Eric Dunnet, E, dec. Chalie Huff, 3-1, OT; 130: Anthony Curcio, WT, dec. Mike Crowley, 9-3; 135: Hank Stinson, E, forfeit.