Batista, Buchan emerge with District 19 titles
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

WOODBRIDGE - Two-time District 19 champion Craig Batista heads the list of grapplers the Woodbridge High School wrestling team is sending to Region V action this week at Hunterdon Central High School.

Batista dominated his weight class over the weekend with pins in the quarterfinals and semifinals, followed by a 20-3 major decision over Gary Repke of J.P. Stevens in the finals. Batista heads into Region V action with 91 career wins in just his junior year.

"Craig took third in Region V last year at 152 pounds, so he knows what it takes to get to the states," Woodbridge head coach Ed Braunsdorf said. "He won a match last year down in Atlantic City so hopefully he can get there again and do some damage this time."

The other champion on this year's Woodbridge team came at 130 pounds. Junior Matt Buchan took home his first District 19 title as the tournament's No. 3 seed.

"For some, it was an unexpected result, but our coaching staff strongly felt Matt would win from the beginning of the tournament," Braunsdorf said. "He notched a nice pin in the semifinals before winning his class with a 7-3 decision."

Senior Jose Gonzalez and sophomore Will Buchan also qualified for Region V with second-place and third-place finishes respectively. Gonzalez is making his first trip to the marquee event thanks to a strong run through his bracket as the No. 3 seed. He fell short of winning the district title at 215 pounds losing to JFK's Vin Maglione 7-0 in the title match.

"All of the guys in the 215 class are so close that anything can happen at regions," Braunsdorf said. "It was nice to see Jose reach the finals."

Will Buchan is making his second trip to Region 5 with his second consecutive third-place finish at District 19. Last year he made the journey at 119 pounds but is currently competing in the 140 weight class.

"We'd like to send a couple of guys down to Atlantic City, but there are no guarantees at this level of competition," Braunsdorf said. Hopefully our underdogs can make the upsets happen and our favorites avoid the upsets. It's all about qualifying at this stage."

For Gonzalez and Will Buchan, Region V action began Tuesday night at Hunterdon Central. Wins will advance them to Friday's action with champions Matt Buchan and Batista. Gonzalez was scheduled to square off against Hillsborough's Max Borisenko while Will Buchan drew Mike Conway of Old Bridge in Tuesday's bout.

This week the Woodbridge wrestlers will work out along side JFK's grapplers headed to Region V. A third-place finish in the team competition, JFK is sending a school-record of eight wrestlers to this year's regional tournament.

Three-time champion Pete Simon at 171 pounds and two-time champion Vin Maglione at 215 head the list of Mustangs looking to make the trip south next month.

Another JFK champion Anthony Howard at 145 pounds appears to be one of the favorites to advance. For second place finishers Tommy Hogan (103) and Dustin Rudy (152) and third-place finishers Matt Hart (119), Pete Buttitta (125), and Rich Bonhomme (189) Region 5 action began Tuesday.