Phil Anastasia: Gateway's Zeisloft working way at 112

GALLOWAY, N.J. - Chuck Zeisloft wrestled behind enemy lines this week.

It worked wonders for him.

As the only wrestler from Gateway still competing at the region level, Zeisloft needed workout partners. He found them in another Gloucester County wrestling room - one of the most fabled in the state.

"It was something I needed," Zeisloft said of working out at Paulsboro with the Red Raiders' wrestlers. "Those guys are intense. I needed that this week."

Zeisloft is the top seed at 112 pounds. He improved his record to 34-0 last night with a 5-1 victory over Jovanni Arroyo of Oakcrest in the quartefinal round at Absegami High School.

Zeisloft will face Hammonton's fifth-seeded Nick Pagano in this morning's semifinals. Paulsboro's Dymere Rappa and Delsea's Rob Jillard wrestle in the other semifinal.

"I've got a target on my back," Zeisloft said. "It doesn't mean that much to me to be undefeated. I know all that matters is the next match. But being undefeated, people are going to come after you."

It's not unusual for wrestlers from different schools to work out together during the week before regions, and also before the state championships in Atlantic City. The team season is over, and many programs only have a wrestler or three who still are competing at this level.

What's interesting about Zeisloft's situation is that he worked out in a room that included Rappa, who could be his opponent in the region finals.

"I didn't work out with him," Zeisloft said. "But I was able to work out with their other guys. Just to be in their room, see how hard they work, it was great for me."

Zeisloft got a special kick - in a true wrestler's kind of way - out of working with Paulsboro's Joe Duca, who is 36-0 at 119 pounds and used his weight edge to great advantage.

"Duca beat me up pretty good," Zeisloft said. "It was great."

Gateway coach Chuck Lucas said working out with the Paulsboro wrestlers was a great experience for Zeisloft.

"You can't beat that," Lucas said. "To be honest, during the season we don't have a lot of guys in our room that can give him a run for his money.

"But to go over there, it was great for Chuck. Those guys work you over. That's good for him."

Zeisloft can give as good as he gets. He's an accomplished wrestler who won the Region 8 title last season at 103 pounds and finished fifth in the state.

He's constantly wrestling in the summer, working at local clubs and also traveling to tournaments and showcases. This school year, he's dominated the competition at 112 pounds.

"He wrestles 24/7," Lucas said. "He would wrestle every day if he could. He would work out in our room during the season and then leave there and go work out with his club team."

Zeisloft struggled in last night's match with Arroyo, probably because his reputation preceded him. He must have taken 10 shots for every one by the Oakcrest wrestler, but wasn't able to score until registering two back points in the second period.

He added an escape and a takedown in the third period.

"He didn't give me much to wrestle," said Zeisloft, whose father, also named Chuck, also was a top wrestler for Gateway. "I don't think he even took one shot. I just had to be patient and do what I could."

Zeisloft knows better than to look past this morning's match. He's been wrestling long enough to know he has to focus on every moment of every period, and not look toward next weekend in Atlantic City.

But he also knows he has a chance to make his mark this season.

"I think think this might be my time," Zeisloft said.

It was a good night for Paulsboro, as Duca, Rappa, 103-pounder Anthony Knauer, 125-pounder Sean DiEmma, 171-pounder Jimmy Gentile and 215-pounder Zach Greenwald all advanced to this morning's semifinals.

With Zeisloft in the mix, it was an even better night for Paulsboro's wrestling room.