Winchester, Marsteller, Rivera win featured bouts in Battle on the Banks card in New Jersey
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Jacarra Winchester is interviewed by Anthony Ashnault after Winchester’s technical fall win in the Main Event at the Battle on the Banks. Video capture from Mobbin’ Media.
METUCHEN, N.J. – World champion Jacarra Winchester of the Titan Mercury scored a first-period technical fall, closing out 13 exciting matches in the Battle on the Banks card held Saturday at St. Joseph High School.
Winchester scored two takedowns and three turns to finish a 10-0 technical fall in 1:11 over Koral Sugiyama of the Twin Cities WC. Winchester took down Sugiyama and hit a quick gut wrench to lead 4-0. Using a cradle, Winchester got a takedown and added a turn, then finished with a high gut wrench to end the match.
“I felt really good. I have been working on cradles and other turns. My goal is to finish everybody in the first period. I am pushing myself. It was a short show, but I put on a show,” said Winchester.
In a close battle at 175 pounds, Chance Marsteller held off Tommy Gantt of the Wolfpack WC, 3-2. Marsteller led 1-0 at the break, on a point after Gantt couldn’t score on the shot clock. In the second period, with Gantt on the shot clock again, Marsteller scored a spin behind takedown to lead 3-0. Gantt scored a takedown with one minute left, but could not score again in the closing moments.
“I feel good. I know how I trained. Nobody can keep up with me. Nobody can wrestle the way I do. I am working on things mentally, also,” said Marsteller.
In his first match since returning to his native New Jersey, Rutgers’ star transfer Sebastian Rivera got his offense untracked on the way to a 13-3 technical fall over Shelton Mack of the NYC RTC at 143 pounds. Rivera, a three-time All-American for Northwestern who is finishing his career with Rutgers, led only 2-1 at the break then trailed 3-2 at the start of the second period. Rivera scored the next 11 points, with two takedowns, two turns and three step outs to close out the victory.
“I was so excited to wrestle. It’s my first time back in New Jersey. I don’t think I wrestled that well. I put it on in the second period. For lots of us, it’s our first match in seven months. We’re putting it together,” said Rivera in his post-match interview.
In another great Senior-level battle, with a counter head-pinch turn on the buzzer, Scarlet Knights WC’s Kamol Begakov edged Ethan Lizak of the Pennsylvania RTC, 4-3 at 143 pounds. Begakov, who competed for Tajikistan before moving to the USA, trailed 3-0 at the break. He closed the score to 3-2 early in the second period with a takedown, then won it with one second left on the head pinch.
Along with Rivera, three other current Rutgers wrestlers who competed for the Scarlet Knights WC won their bouts on the card
Rutgers’ Michael Van Brill won his 157-pound bout with a dominant 10-0 technical fall over Duke’s Brandon LaRue of the Blue Blood WC in 4:28. Van Brill scored three first-period takedowns, and added four more points in the second to close down the match.
At 160 pounds, Rutgers’ Robert Kanniard got his offense going and scored a 15-4 technical fall over Tony Tolbert of the Pennsylvania RTC at the 5:10 mark. Kanniard got a strong start, with a takedown and three turns, leading 8-2 before being reversed. Up 11-4 at the break, Kanniard scored two second period takedowns for the technical fall. Tolbert, who competes on the Senior level, was a late replacement on the card.
Rutgers’ starter Billy Janzer was dominant in his 11-0 technical fall over Penn’s Max Hale of the Pennsylvania RTC at 197 pounds. Janzer opened the action with a four-point toss on the edge, and led 7-0 at the break. Janzer added two more takedowns in the second period for the victory. Hale was a late replacement on the card.
The other matches involving Rutgers wrestlers representing the Scarlet Knights WC were won by their opponent.
In a heavyweight college battle, Rider’s Ethan Laird of the Bronc WC scored a takedown with 10 seconds left to defeat Rutgers’ big man Christian Colucci, 3-2. The other points were all from shot clock violations, with Colucci getting two points after passivity and Laird getting one.
At 134 pounds, Penn wrestler Ryan Miller of the Pennsylvania RTC defeated Rutgers’ Dylan Shawver, 7-3. Shawver led 2-1 at one point, but Miller scored two takedowns and a turn in the second period.
At 177 pounds, Quentin Perez of Navy-Marine Corps RTC scored four counter tilts to defeat Rutgers’ Joseph Grello of the Scarlet Knights,, 8-5. Perez led 2-0 at the break, and kept taking advantage of Grello’s shots for three turns in the second period. Perez was a star at Campbell before going onto the Senior level.
Senior-level talent CJ Brucki of the New Jersey RTC scored a 12-2 technical fall over Rutgers’ John Poznanski in 4:50 at 190 pounds. Brucki led at the break, 6-2, with a takedown and two turns. In the second period, he had two takedowns and an ankle lace to finish it off. Brucki works for The College of New Jersey’s program.
Robert Cleary of the Jersey City WC, who competes for New Jersey City University, defeated Rutgers wrestler Jake Benner in a wide-open 12-8 decision at 154 pounds. Cleary hit a big four-point move to open the second period for an 8-2 lead, and held his own during a number of high-scoring scrambles to keep and take the win.
Penn star Michael Colaiocco of the Pennsylvania RTC was impressive in a 10-0 technical. fall over Rutgers’ Devin Britton in 2:03 at 139 pounds. Colaiocco scored a four-point hip toss, two takedowns and an ankle lace in the match. Britton was a late replacement on the card.
For the three athletes from the University of Pennsylvania, it was a chance to wrestle, since they will not have a college season this year, due to the Ivy League cancelling its winter season.
For the Rutgers wrestlers, their college season begins next weekend, when they host Michigan on Friday, Jan. 8.
The event was presented by the Scarlet Knights WC and Mobbin’ Media and broadcast on Rokfin. An undercard of youth matches was held before the Main Card.
BATTLE ON THE BANKS
At Metuchen, N.J., January 2
Main Card results
Match 1 (154 lbs.) - Robert Cleary (JCWC) dec. Jake Benner (SKWC), 12-8
Match 2 (157 lbs.): Michael VanBrill (SKWC) tech. fall Brandon LaRue (Blue Blood WC), 10-0, 4:28
Match 3 (Hwt) - Ethan Laird (Bronc WC) dec. Christian Colucci (SKWC), 3-2
Match 4 (160 lbs.): Robert Kanniard (SKWC) tech. fall Tony Tolbert (PRTC), 15-4, 5:10
Match 5 (134 lbs.): Ryan Miller (PRTC) dec. Dylan Shawver (SKWC), 7-3
Match 6 (177 lbs.): Quentin Perez (Navy-Marine Corps RTC) dec. Joseph Grello (SKWC), 8-5
Match 7 (190 lbs.): CJ Brucki (NJRTC) tech. fall John Poznanski (SKWC), 12-2, 4:50
Match 8 (197 lbs.): Billy Janzer (SKWC) tech. fall Max Hale (PRTC), 11-0. 3:37
Match 9 (143 lbs.): Kamol Begakov (SKWC-TJK) dec. Ethan Lizak (PRTC), 4-3
Match 10 (139 lbs.): Michael Colaiocco (PRTC) tech. fall Devin Britton (SKWC), 10-0, 2:03
Match 11 (143 lbs.) Sebastian Rivera (SKWC) tech. fall Shelton Mack (NYCRTC), 13-3, 5:57
Match 12 (175 lbs.): Chance Marsteller (Steller Trained) dec. Tommy Gantt (Wolfpack WC), 3-2
Match 13 (132 lbs.): Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Koral Sugiyama (Twin Cities RTC)
METUCHEN, N.J. – World champion Jacarra Winchester of the Titan Mercury scored a first-period technical fall, closing out 13 exciting matches in the Battle on the Banks card held Saturday at St. Joseph High School.
Winchester scored two takedowns and three turns to finish a 10-0 technical fall in 1:11 over Koral Sugiyama of the Twin Cities WC. Winchester took down Sugiyama and hit a quick gut wrench to lead 4-0. Using a cradle, Winchester got a takedown and added a turn, then finished with a high gut wrench to end the match.
“I felt really good. I have been working on cradles and other turns. My goal is to finish everybody in the first period. I am pushing myself. It was a short show, but I put on a show,” said Winchester.
In a close battle at 175 pounds, Chance Marsteller held off Tommy Gantt of the Wolfpack WC, 3-2. Marsteller led 1-0 at the break, on a point after Gantt couldn’t score on the shot clock. In the second period, with Gantt on the shot clock again, Marsteller scored a spin behind takedown to lead 3-0. Gantt scored a takedown with one minute left, but could not score again in the closing moments.
“I feel good. I know how I trained. Nobody can keep up with me. Nobody can wrestle the way I do. I am working on things mentally, also,” said Marsteller.
In his first match since returning to his native New Jersey, Rutgers’ star transfer Sebastian Rivera got his offense untracked on the way to a 13-3 technical fall over Shelton Mack of the NYC RTC at 143 pounds. Rivera, a three-time All-American for Northwestern who is finishing his career with Rutgers, led only 2-1 at the break then trailed 3-2 at the start of the second period. Rivera scored the next 11 points, with two takedowns, two turns and three step outs to close out the victory.
“I was so excited to wrestle. It’s my first time back in New Jersey. I don’t think I wrestled that well. I put it on in the second period. For lots of us, it’s our first match in seven months. We’re putting it together,” said Rivera in his post-match interview.
In another great Senior-level battle, with a counter head-pinch turn on the buzzer, Scarlet Knights WC’s Kamol Begakov edged Ethan Lizak of the Pennsylvania RTC, 4-3 at 143 pounds. Begakov, who competed for Tajikistan before moving to the USA, trailed 3-0 at the break. He closed the score to 3-2 early in the second period with a takedown, then won it with one second left on the head pinch.
Along with Rivera, three other current Rutgers wrestlers who competed for the Scarlet Knights WC won their bouts on the card
Rutgers’ Michael Van Brill won his 157-pound bout with a dominant 10-0 technical fall over Duke’s Brandon LaRue of the Blue Blood WC in 4:28. Van Brill scored three first-period takedowns, and added four more points in the second to close down the match.
At 160 pounds, Rutgers’ Robert Kanniard got his offense going and scored a 15-4 technical fall over Tony Tolbert of the Pennsylvania RTC at the 5:10 mark. Kanniard got a strong start, with a takedown and three turns, leading 8-2 before being reversed. Up 11-4 at the break, Kanniard scored two second period takedowns for the technical fall. Tolbert, who competes on the Senior level, was a late replacement on the card.
Rutgers’ starter Billy Janzer was dominant in his 11-0 technical fall over Penn’s Max Hale of the Pennsylvania RTC at 197 pounds. Janzer opened the action with a four-point toss on the edge, and led 7-0 at the break. Janzer added two more takedowns in the second period for the victory. Hale was a late replacement on the card.
The other matches involving Rutgers wrestlers representing the Scarlet Knights WC were won by their opponent.
In a heavyweight college battle, Rider’s Ethan Laird of the Bronc WC scored a takedown with 10 seconds left to defeat Rutgers’ big man Christian Colucci, 3-2. The other points were all from shot clock violations, with Colucci getting two points after passivity and Laird getting one.
At 134 pounds, Penn wrestler Ryan Miller of the Pennsylvania RTC defeated Rutgers’ Dylan Shawver, 7-3. Shawver led 2-1 at one point, but Miller scored two takedowns and a turn in the second period.
At 177 pounds, Quentin Perez of Navy-Marine Corps RTC scored four counter tilts to defeat Rutgers’ Joseph Grello of the Scarlet Knights,, 8-5. Perez led 2-0 at the break, and kept taking advantage of Grello’s shots for three turns in the second period. Perez was a star at Campbell before going onto the Senior level.
Senior-level talent CJ Brucki of the New Jersey RTC scored a 12-2 technical fall over Rutgers’ John Poznanski in 4:50 at 190 pounds. Brucki led at the break, 6-2, with a takedown and two turns. In the second period, he had two takedowns and an ankle lace to finish it off. Brucki works for The College of New Jersey’s program.
Robert Cleary of the Jersey City WC, who competes for New Jersey City University, defeated Rutgers wrestler Jake Benner in a wide-open 12-8 decision at 154 pounds. Cleary hit a big four-point move to open the second period for an 8-2 lead, and held his own during a number of high-scoring scrambles to keep and take the win.
Penn star Michael Colaiocco of the Pennsylvania RTC was impressive in a 10-0 technical. fall over Rutgers’ Devin Britton in 2:03 at 139 pounds. Colaiocco scored a four-point hip toss, two takedowns and an ankle lace in the match. Britton was a late replacement on the card.
For the three athletes from the University of Pennsylvania, it was a chance to wrestle, since they will not have a college season this year, due to the Ivy League cancelling its winter season.
For the Rutgers wrestlers, their college season begins next weekend, when they host Michigan on Friday, Jan. 8.
The event was presented by the Scarlet Knights WC and Mobbin’ Media and broadcast on Rokfin. An undercard of youth matches was held before the Main Card.
BATTLE ON THE BANKS
At Metuchen, N.J., January 2
Main Card results
Match 1 (154 lbs.) - Robert Cleary (JCWC) dec. Jake Benner (SKWC), 12-8
Match 2 (157 lbs.): Michael VanBrill (SKWC) tech. fall Brandon LaRue (Blue Blood WC), 10-0, 4:28
Match 3 (Hwt) - Ethan Laird (Bronc WC) dec. Christian Colucci (SKWC), 3-2
Match 4 (160 lbs.): Robert Kanniard (SKWC) tech. fall Tony Tolbert (PRTC), 15-4, 5:10
Match 5 (134 lbs.): Ryan Miller (PRTC) dec. Dylan Shawver (SKWC), 7-3
Match 6 (177 lbs.): Quentin Perez (Navy-Marine Corps RTC) dec. Joseph Grello (SKWC), 8-5
Match 7 (190 lbs.): CJ Brucki (NJRTC) tech. fall John Poznanski (SKWC), 12-2, 4:50
Match 8 (197 lbs.): Billy Janzer (SKWC) tech. fall Max Hale (PRTC), 11-0. 3:37
Match 9 (143 lbs.): Kamol Begakov (SKWC-TJK) dec. Ethan Lizak (PRTC), 4-3
Match 10 (139 lbs.): Michael Colaiocco (PRTC) tech. fall Devin Britton (SKWC), 10-0, 2:03
Match 11 (143 lbs.) Sebastian Rivera (SKWC) tech. fall Shelton Mack (NYCRTC), 13-3, 5:57
Match 12 (175 lbs.): Chance Marsteller (Steller Trained) dec. Tommy Gantt (Wolfpack WC), 3-2
Match 13 (132 lbs.): Jacarra Winchester (Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Koral Sugiyama (Twin Cities RTC)
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