Buena wrestlers Inman, Brestle set for regional meet
They are seasoned seniors, participants in more than 100 varsity bouts, veterans of countless hours in the wrestling room. "These guys want to go every day and twice on Sunday," Buena coach George Maxwell said of Justin Inman and Mason Brestle.
They are seasoned seniors, participants in more than 100 varsity bouts, veterans of countless hours in the wrestling room.
"These guys want to go every day and twice on Sunday," Buena coach George Maxwell said of Justin Inman and Mason Brestle.
They know their sport. They know its demands. They know its challenges.
They know the thing with wrestling is that sometimes, it knocks you down. The key is to get back up.
So when adversity hit Inman and Brestle at the District 31 tournament at Delsea on Saturday, they were disappointed but not debilitated. They knew how to react.
"It happens all the time in this sport," said Brestle, Buena's 152-pound standout. "You have to be prepared for something like that every time you take the mat. You have to deal with it."
Inman and Brestle were counting on winning District 31 titles. They were counting on a bye on Region 8's first night of action.
They have been among the best wrestlers in South Jersey at their respective weights. Inman entered the districts with a 26-1 record at 126. Brestle began with a 23-2 mark.
Both athletes suffered close losses to quality opponents in District 31 action, and so both will be on the mat when Region 8 competition begins Wednesday night at Egg Harbor Township.
"It's OK," Inman said. "It's a new season. It's a new tournament."
South Jersey wrestlers will compete in Region 8 as well as Region 7 at Robbinsville. Action continues with quarterfinals on Friday, with the semifinals, third-place bouts, and finals set for Saturday.
The top three finishers in each weight class in each region advance to the state tournament March 4-6 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
For Inman and Brestle, the regionals offer an additional challenge: They must show they can bounce back from a disappointing district result.
"It's a little frustrating not to win districts senior year," Brestle said. "But I can't let it bother me anymore. It's over. Now I have another chance."
The scenario is similar to last season for Brestle. As a junior 145-pounder, Brestle lost in District 31 action to Delsea's Lorenzio Ruggiero but turned the tables the next weekend and emerged with the Region 8 title.
Last weekend, Brestle lost a 4-2 decision in overtime to Ruggiero in the District 31 final.
"I've been through this," said Brestle, who is the No. 3 seed in Region 8. "I know I can do it again."
The situation is new for Inman. He lost a tough decision to Woodstown's Travis Layton in the semifinals of the District 31 tournament after building a five-point lead.
Inman bounced back to win the third-place match and also is the No. 3 seed in Region 8.
He can draw some inspiration from his classmate.
"I know Mason did it last year," Inman said. "The coaches talk about that, bouncing back."
Maxwell said Inman and Brestle understand that adversity is part of the sport.
"We talk about it all the time," Maxwell said. "This happened, now how are you going to react to it?
"You see it all the time, guys finish third in the district or third in region and they end up on the podium at states.
"They both wanted to be districts champions. But it didn't happen. They got right back to work and now they have another chance."
@PhilAnastasia
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