2/17/2011 - Hats Off To Cats
The expression on Nick Francavilla’s face said it all.
In a photo on the front page of the Star-Ledger sports section Monday, Francavilla’s Cheshire cat smile, index fingers indicating No. 1 and his arms spread open embracing the moment summed up the wild team season that was 2010-2011 for the High Point Wildcats.
Francavilla, in true superstar style, capped the Wildcats’ come-from-behind victory over then-No. 1 South Plainfield with a solid 6-3 decision over Tyler Hunt to propel the Wildcats to a 30-28 win in the Group 3 title match before a packed house at the Poland Spring Arena in Toms River.
Although Hunt almost ruined the party with a quick takedown at the buzzer, it was High Point’s day, and good for the Wildcats, as they locked up their second state title in four years and second No. 1 ranking in the state during that span.
In an earlier blog this season, I wrote about the tremendous pressure the ‘Cats were under as the No. 1 team in the state and that head coach John Gardner and his staff were the right people to guide this group to the pinnacle of high school wrestling in New Jersey.
Despite a setback down in Jackson, the Wildcats showed tremendous courage and heart to go along with their amazing talent en route to the crown. Only the people in that talented wrestling room up in Wantage truly know the sacrifice and hardships the Wildcats had to endure to raise that trophy down at Toms River.
High Point (20-2) came into the season with a target on its back and the Wildcats stood up to the challenge and then some. Many people (yes, you the “experts” on nj.com’s forum) counted out the Wildcats after the loss to Jackson. High Point was battling injuries and the once-mighty Wildcats had some holes in their lineup.
But I remember Gardner telling everyone after the loss that the season was not over and that the Wildcats would get back to work. He pointed out correctly that it wasn’t the last match of the season, like last year when HP fell to South Plainfield in the final, and that their goals had not changed.
That’s one of Gardner’s many outstanding attributes as a coach. He sees the big picture and can convey that message with unparalleled clarity when the team needs it the most.
High Point made the trek down the Parkway with one goal in mind and that was the Group 3 title.
It didn’t matter to the Wildcats what their final ranking was (although they must of known a win in the final would bring them back to the top spot), they wanted to erase that bitter memory of losing to South Plainfield and it took every bit of energy and the luck of the opening flip to get it done.
High Point was able to get the matchups it wanted and received points where it needed it from its studs. But it was kids like Jason Snider, who despite hurting his hip against Jackson, Alec Alvino, Jon Hagan and John Torppey who limited the Tigers and kept High Point in the match setting up the final two matches for hammers Billy Hagany and Francavilla.
Hagany, who suffered a tough loss in the Jackson match, came through with one of the biggest wins in High Point history as he kept the dream alive with a dominating 9-0 major over Dylan Painton at 125 pounds to cut the Tigers’ lead to 28-27 with one bout to go.
It was then Francavilla, who was pacing on the sidelines like Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who came out and sealed the deal just like Mo has for the Yanks over his brilliant career.
It was quite a scene to behold and the Wildcats deserved all the adulation.
This group of seniors entered high school as the most heralded group of wrestlers to come through the doors at High Point and they didn’t disappoint. Two state titles, two No. 1 rankings, and according to Mugs Media wrestling guru Mike Weilamann, a stellar 98-9 mark in four seasons.
Incredible.
Now it is time for the individual portion of the postseason and the Wildcats are sure to rack up some more wins and medals with the likes of Francavilla, Hagany, Billy Smith, Ethan Orr, Drew Wagenhoffer, Joe Gaccione, Buddy Mallon and Justin Bellis.
But without the team success this season, this group would have been remembered as a team of stars but no depth.
Yes, the hammers on this team will enjoy their individual success, but years from now what they will remember the most will be that feeling down at Toms River when it was kids like Hagan, Snider, Alvino, etc. that made this Wildcats group a true team and true champion.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
BOYS AND GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS
(Tourney gets under way Feb. 28)
BOYS
NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 1
GROUP 4
16-Morristown at 1-Livingston. 9-Bloomfield at 8-Paterson Eastside. 12-Union City at 5-Hackensack. 13-North Bergen at 4-Roxbury. 14-Ridgewood at 3-Memorial. 11-Montclair at 6-Vernon. 10-Paterson Kennedy at 7-Morris Knolls. 15-Passaic at 2-Passaic Tech.
GROUP 3
16-Wayne Hills at 1-Tenafly. 9-Morris Hills at 8-Passaic Valley. 12-Wayne Valley at 5-West Milford. 13-Demarest at 4-Old Tappan. 14-High Point at 3-PascackValley. 11-Sparta at 6-Mount Olive. 10-Bergenfield at 7-Ramapo. 15-Indian Hills at 2-Teaneck.
GROUP 2
16-New Milford at 1-Pascack Hills. 9-North Warren at 8-Englewood. 12-PomptonLakes at 5-Hopatcong. 13-Westwood at 4-Elmwood Park. 14-Newton at 3-Mountain Lakes. 11-Ramsey at 6-Manchester Reg. 10-Lenape Valley at 7-WallkillValley. 15-River Dell at 2-Pequannock.
GROUP 1
16-Hasbr. Heights at 1-Wood-Ridge. 9-Palisades Park at 8-Emerson Boro. 12-Leonia at 5-Saddle Brook. 13-Sussex Tech at 4-Wallington. 14-West Caldwell T. at 3-Cresskill. 11-Midland Park at 6-Bogota. 10-Becton at 7-Park Ridge. 15-Ridgefield at 2-Verona.
NORTH JERSEY
NON-PUBLIC A
9-Bergen Catholic at 8-Paramus Catholic, winner at 1-Seton Hall Prep. 12-St. Joseph (Mont.) at 5-Queen of Peace. 13-Union Catholic at 4-Pope John. 14-Pingry at 3-St. Peter's Prep. 11-DePaul at 6-Delbarton. 10-Immaculata at 7-Roselle Catholic, winner at 2-Don Bosco Prep.
GIRLS
NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 1
GROUP 4
16-Paterson Eastside at 1-North Bergen. 9-Clifton at 8-Ridgewood. 12-Roxbury at 5-Randolph. 13-Hackensack at 4-Paterson Kennedy. 14-Montclair at 3-Vernon. 11-Livingston at 6-Union City. 10-West Orange at 7-Passaic Tech. 15-Memorial at 2-Morris Knolls.
GROUP 3
16-Indian Hills at 1-High Point. 9-Sparta at 8-Wayne Hills. 12-Old Tappan at 5-Ramapo. 13-Bergenfield at 4-Jefferson. 14-Paramus at 3-Lakeland. 11-Wayne Valley at 6-Northern Highlands. 10-Tenafly at 7-Pascack Valley. 15-Passaic Valley at 2-Teaneck.
GROUP 2
16-Englewood at 1-Pascack Hills. 9-Kittatinny at 8-Lenape Valley. 12-Manchester Reg. at 5-Glen Rock. 13-Kinnelon at 4-New Milford. 14-Newton at 3-Dumont. 11-Mountain Lakes at 6-Pequannock. 10-Pompton Lakes at 7-Mahwah. 15-WallkillValley at 2-River Dell.
NORTH JERSEY
NON-PUBLIC A
16-Immaculata at 1-Immaculate Heart. 9-Pope John at 8-St. Vincent. 12-Union Catholic at 5-Holy Angels. 13-Mount St. Dominic at 4-Pingry. 14-Mother Seton at 3-Roselle Catholic. 11-Paramus Catholic at 6-Kent Place. 10-DePaul at 7-St. Dominic. 15-Queen of Peace at 2-Mount St. Mary.
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