Hanover Park wins Group 2 Finals

by Donald J. Brower

Last year at this time, the wrestling team at Hanover Park High school riding an emotional rollercoaster. Up 23 points with four matches left to go and about to celebrate the first team wrestling championship in school history against the mighty High Point Regional, the team was poised to celebrate the victory. The wheels fell off as the Wildcats pinned out to take the title way from the Hornets. The squad was devastated and disappointed. A lot of teams would let something like that break their resolve. Not the Hornets.

Led by the dominant effort of its senior class, Hanover Park defeated Lenape Valley, 48-18 to capture the Group 2 championship yesterday in Trenton.

"This is a great feeling," Coach James Lavalle, a three time state champion while a student at the school, said. "I know the kids were let down last year. They trained hard for this moment and took advantage."

One of those seniors, Christian Bassolino started the match off for the Hornets with a technical fall to give them a 5-0 lead.

"I knew I had to set the pace." said Bassolino, a star quarterback for the football team. "Lenape Valley is a tough team and we didn't want them to get on a roll."

The Patriots took the next match to cut the lead. A pair of decisions by Hanover Park juniors Anthony Oliveri (5-1) and Mason Sangillo (3-0) over senior captains Joseph LaBell and DJ Barrett however signaled it was going to be a long day for the Stanhope squad.

Hanover Park won eight of the next 10 matches to run away with the title. Marco Zecca's pin at 2:53 started the celebration.

"We knew we had to step up," Senior Anthony Cefolo, a two-time state champion, said. ""Last year hurt alot but we trained to fix it this year. We did and are champions because of it."

Despite losing in the finals, Lenape Valley head coach Doug Vetter was proud of his squad.

"We never gave up," Vetter said. "This team fought for everything this year and they showed a lot of heart. We lost to a great team in Hanover Park so I feel there is nothing to be ashamed of."

Hanover Park defeated Buena in the semifinals, 47-18 while Lenape Valley beat Delaware Valley 36-30 in the other one.