Pack Grapplers Seek Their Own Goles Legacy Tuesday

by David Yaskulka
12/23/22

For this writer, the historic John Goles Invitational Tournament has an important legacy within WMC wrestling coverage this past decade – and a missing piece the last two years. One of the nation’s longest-running holiday wrestling tournaments, Goles will take place at Warren Hills High School Tuesday Dec. 27.

In 2019, now senior tri-captain Michael Campanaro was the first Wolfpack freshman to gain Goles gold, but hasn’t had the chance to defend that title. Nor did he get the chance to join Wolfpack and Goles legends Shane Metzler and Marco Gaita as three-time champions.

But Campanaro will get a chance to forge his own unique legacy. Could he be Goles’ first undefeated two-time gold medalist – following his X-Calibur gold last weekend?

Based on RankWrestlers.com (RW) ranking of participants, he could have a strong chance. Though wrestlers’ weight classes can (and likely will) change prior to the event --and RW rank is NOT the same as seeding -- Campanaro is the top-ranked 132 pounder entered – though it could be a three-man race for Goles gold, including defending champ Josh Lee.

Fellow senior captains Henry Frayne (285), ranked number one, and Michael Hare (120), number two, highlight an impressive Wolfpack squad. Hare is just about equally ranked with the top-seed and the three-seed (defending Goles champ Charlie Piccione) so it could be a great bracket.

In 2019, Frayne took fourth, with Hare and Dean Muttart both taking sixth – auspicious showings for their rookie seasons.

Pursuing Metzler, Gaita and Campanaro Legacies

Sophomores Mark Montuore (106) and Brandon Dean (144) didn’t get the chance to match Campanaro’s freshman feat – though they could still catch Metzler and Gaita. Montuore is ranked number one at Goles, and is a fairly strong favorite among those listed. Dean is fourth, with three top-20 state ranked wrestlers ahead of him including defending Goles champ Michael Melillo – but no one would be surprised if Dean placed higher.

This season’s freshmen, including X-Calibur finalist Tommy Borgia (215), and placewinners AJ Codella (285), Jacob Fahmi (113) and Michael Borgia (175), have a chance to start their Goles legacies from the beginning.

Fahmi is ranked fourth, and Tommy Borgia seventh. Tommy Borgia could have the chance to ascend the rankings against strong wrestlers who are not named AJ Fricchione (ranked #1 in the state, and Borgia’s only loss).

Juniors Sam Rizzuto (150) and Vincent Caruso (126) are ranked second and fourth respectively in their weight classes. Only defending Goles champ Chris Colasudro is ranked above Rizzuto.

Senior Dean Muttart (144) is ranked fifth.

Juniors Henry DeFrance (157) and Lucas Barisonek (190) both rank 10th; Patrick Stetz (215) and AJ Codella (285) rank eleventh – all potentially in a position to add team points for the Wolfpack.

Brendan McBride (157) and Neil Lertola (175) could add points for the Pack as well.

Will the Wolfpack Win?

Can the Wolkfpack make its own legacy by placing first? They’re trending that way, placing fourth in 2015, then third in 2016 and 2017, and second in 2018 and 2019, the last two times it competed.

Based on RW, Delaware Valley, with five top-ranked competitors (among nine in the top-three, and 12 top-five), and Warren Hills with four top-ranked (and nine top-three, 11 top-five), present the toughest competition.

WMC has three top-ranked wrestlers among six top-three and nine top-five.

Host team Warren Hills has the three highest ranked wrestlers overall in the tournament, with seniors Jaret Pantuso (215) #10 in NJ, Michael Drazek (175) #12 and Shawn Redfield (138) #14. Campanaro is next at #16.

The host Blue Streaks dominated last year’s tournament. Del Val took second. WMC was among three teams that dropped out due to Covid issues in 2021, while the entire tournament was canceled in 2020, for the same reason.

Colts Neck, Ewing, Hopewell Valley, Montgomery, Newton, Secaucus, Verona and East Stroudsburg Area North of Pennsylvania round out the field for this year.

Goles History

Donald J. Brower does a terrific job reflecting on John Goles storied legacy on his site, GardenStateHSWrestling.com.
https://gardenstatehswrestling.com/john-goles-invitational-tournament-history-story/

According to Brower, “In 1958, Goles started an annual tournament to help his wrestlers gain experience … Originally called the Christmas Tournament, he started it to try and promote wrestling in the area. It is the second-longest holiday wrestling tournament in the state of New Jersey and one of the longest in the country.”

Wolfpack Goles History

For those who care to stroll the Wolfpack Goles memory lane, below are the headlines and leads from the team’s most recent performances.

Next Up

The 12/27 John Goles Tournament at Warren Hills and the team’s home opener 12/30 vs. High Point will close out the 2022 schedule before visiting Hackettstown 1/3/23. Next is a home quad vs. Delaware Valley, Morris Knolls and Kittatinny on 1/7, visiting Morristown on 1/11 and Sparta 1/13, then another home quad on 1/14 vs. Cranford, Livingston andSt. Thomas Aquinas.

About David Yaskulka

David began living his sportswriter dream to avoid concession duty when his sons Noah and Ben began wrestling for the Wolfpack in 2012. His day job is Senior Vice President Corporate Social Responsibility for Mid America Pet Food, whose family of brands is led by VICTOR Super Premium Pet Food and Nature’s Logic. He also serves as Board Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, and as Board Director at Greater Good Charities.

History of Goles Articles

2019-20

Loughney, Campanaro, Ferrante and Shepard Golden at Goles Tourney

Bohr, M. Shepard, Borgia, Frayne and Battaglino help lead WMC to silver at prestigious holiday wrestling tournament.

Colin Loughney (6-1, 170 lbs.) successfully defended his John Goles Tournament crown Friday, as fellow senior captain Eli Shepard (6-1, 145), freshman Michael Campanaro (9-1, 106) and sophomore Michael Ferrante (4-2, 113) joined him as tournament champions.
Campanaro is the first West Morris Central freshman to win Goles in recent history.
https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/loughney-campanaro-ferrante-shepard-golden-goles-tourney

2018-19

Stefanelli, DeVito and Loughney Win Goles Wrestling Championships

LeMay, Ramos and Cherifi also shine at holiday tournament as Wolfpack places second. Long Valley youth Northwest team tops North Hunterdon.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/stefanelli-devito-loughney-win-goles-wrestling-championships
Three Wolfpack wrestlers grabbed gold medals Thursday at the John Goles Tournament at Warren Hills High School, as the team took silver. Luke Stefanelli, John DeVito and Colin Loughney won championships. The Wolfpack had 12 place winners.

2017-18

West Morris Central wrestler Gaita wins Goles gold again (again)

Marco Gaita 3-peats as John Goles Tournament champ as Eli Shepard, Justin LeMay, John DeVito, Luke Stefanelli and Robert Rosen nab silver

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/wolfpack-wrestler-gaita-wins-goles-gold-again-again
“Someone should wake Marco up,” suggested a voice from the stands, as the West Morris Central senior serenely sauntered to center mat, shaking his finals opponent’s hand. But Marco Gaita’s stoic exterior belies his intensity, which on Wednesday yielded his third John Goles Tournament championship.
Gaita (7-1, 170) decked Sparta senior Mason Minetti in 45 seconds to become Goles’ only reigning three-time champ, and the 38th in Goles’ 60 year history. Shane Metzler (2014-16) is WMC’s only previous three-peat champ.

2016-17

Caso, Metzler, Loughney and Gaita are champions as WMC wrestles to Goles Tournament bronze

Colin Loughney and LeMay take silver, Stefanelli bronze; Shephard and DeVito fourth at prestigious nine-team holiday tournament

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/caso-metzler-loughney-gaita-are-champions-wmc-wrestles-goles-tournament-bronze
West Morris Central continued its early-season success, leading the John Goles Tournament with six finalists on the way to a team bronze Saturday at Warren Hill High School. Mike Caso won his first career gold medal, joining Shane Metzler, Kade Loughney and Marco Gaita who successfully defended their championships.
“I felt proud because last year I placed third, and this year I won my first gold,” said Caso. Channeling a mantra of WMC coach Ken Rossi, the junior reflected, “It showed me how important the off-season grind is!”
Colin Loughney -- the first WMC freshman in recent memory to reach the Goles finals -- and Justin LeMay both took second place. Luke Stefanelli finished third, and both Eli Shephard and John DeVito earned fourth.

2015-16

Five Golden Rings For WMC at Goles Holiday Wrestling Tournament

Kaltenhauser, Isemann, Gaita, Loughney and Metzler win gold medals at the prestigious John Goles Holiday Tournament.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/five-golden-rings-wmc-goles-holiday-wrestling-tournament
Five – count ‘em – five WMC wrestlers took home gold medals at Monday’s John Goles Holiday tournament at Warren Hills High School. Alex Kaltenhauser (HWT), Caleb Isemann (160), Marco Gaita (152), Kade Loughney (138) and Shane Metzler (120) were champions. Michael Caso (113) took bronze, and Christian Trimarchi (145) fourth.Pope John, which also crowned five champions, won the team tournament with 218 points. WMC Coach Ken Rossi’s team took bronze with 155

2014-15

Wolfpack garners Goles silver as Metzler and Luciano gain gold

Coach Ken Rossi's West Morris Central wrestling team took second place at the prestigious John Goles Invitational Tournament.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/wolfpack-garners-goles-silver-metzler-and-luciano-gain-gold
Shane Metzler and Dylan Luciano stayed undefeated at Saturday’s John Goles Invitational Tournament, leading the Wolfpack to a second place finish at Warren Hills. North Hunterdon dominated with 213 team points, followed by WMC with 152. In its 57th year, the Goles tournament is the second oldest Christmas weekend tournament in the nation.
Kade Loughney and Kevin Sears took silver, both losing heart breakers in the finals by one point.

2013-14

Windt wins Goles gold, Luciano and Migliaccio silver

Windt follows WMC tournament gold with a John Goles Tournament championship.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/windt-wins-goles-gold-luciano-and-migliaccio-silver

West Morris Central wrestling team captain Jesse Windt stayed undefeated this week (6-0), taking gold in the prestigious John Goles Tournament on Friday. Dylan Luciano (4-2) and David Migliaccio (2-2) took silver, as Shane Metzler (4-3) and John Schade (4-1) wrestled back for bronze. Taylor Parkinson-Gee (3-3) and Kade Loughney (4-3) wrestled back for fourth.

The Wolfpack placed 5th overall.

2012-13

Matthews Stays Undefeated, Joins Sickles in Winning Goles Wrestling Tournament

Nick Matthews joined teammate John Sickles in winning the 10-team John Goles Tournament Friday at Warren Hills, improving his record for the wrestling Wolfpack to 9-0.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/bp--matthews-stays-undefeated-joins-sickles-in-winninab9bd7bd95

Nick Matthews joined teammate John Sickles in winning the 10-team John Goles Tournament Friday at Warren Hills High School, improving his record for the wrestling Wolfpack to 9-0. Matthews now has 98 career wins at West Morris Central. Sickles joined his teammate at the top of the podium, beating previously undefeated Eichtlin Kody of Delaware Valley for the gold.
Cory Fleming, Brandon Carcuffe and Jesse Windt all turned in impressive performances at the highly competitive Goles, earning silver. Freshman Caleb Isemann made his varsity debut, and gained his first varsity win.