Amato Gearing Up for Another Postseason Run

After pulling off a tremendous come-from-behind win in the 106-pound final of the Region 8 wrestling tournament last spring, John Amato was on top of the world. The Timber Creek High School grappler had achieved his goal of becoming a region champion and was on his way to show the rest of New Jersey what he was all about at the state tournament.

That part of the equation didn’t work out too well.

“I went to states and I went downhill,” said Amato. “I went 0-2 and I wasn’t expecting it.”

Amato’s short stay at the state meet stuck with him for much of the offseason. While he was happy to have earned a chance to compete at that level, he also knew he was capable of more. So he intensified his training in the offseason, gained a little weight and set out on a mission to not only get back to states, but show well there.

“It kind of fueled me to get those wins this year,” said Amato, who recorded a 16-2 major decision over Cherry Hill West’s Dylan Segrest on Wednesday. “I didn’t get to wrestle a full season (due to injury last year), so I was hungry to get out there, do my thing and try to win a state title.”

Amato has thrived this season, losing just once in 22 matches. Of his 21 wins, only two have come by decision. The rest have come in dominant fashion with 10 pins, six tech falls and three major decisions.  

“I feel like I am wrestling well,” Amato said. “I did a lot of work in the summer time and I am hoping it pays off this year and I go to states and do well.”

Amato has bounced between 113 and 120 this season and says he feels comfortable in either position.

“At 120 there is more strength to go up against, but at 113 I feel like I’m stronger,” Amato said.

The Chargers came out on a mission Wednesday night, jumping ahead 27-0 before West even had a chance to know what hit them. Brandon Virgilio opened with a pin and Brandon Keller and Dom Ruggerio followed up by doing the same. A decision by Keith Bauberger and a pin by Bryce Shade had the match put away early, helping the Chargers make a statement after a rare setback to Shawnee in a quad meet over the weekend.

“Shawnee is tough, but our coach was pretty upset (about the loss),” Amato said. “He wasn’t going to sit there and let us dwell on it. He said we had to come out here and get the job done. He told us to use that match as motivation to work harder.”