Timber Creek Trio Still Alive for State Titles After Day One

Immediately after winning their respective Region 8 titles, Brandon Keller and Robert Shade spoke of the future. Neither was satisfied with winning a region title. Both wrestlers spoke of regions simply being a step towards the ultimate goal of placing at states.

Friday night each wrestler took another step forward by advancing into the quarterfinals of the State Wrestling Tournament in Atlantic City.

Keller, a No. seed at 132, scored an early takedown of Bishop Ahr’s Brian McCrystal and led 2-1 after the first period. After a second takedown and a near-fall, the lead blossomed to 7-2 midway through the second. He eased home from there advancing into today’s quarterfinals with a 10-3 win.

Shade (No. 5 at 170), meanwhile, went tooth-and-nail with No. 4 seed Joey Balboni, of Brearley, picking up a 2-1 victory to reach the quarterfinals. Shade’s win was a form of redemption as he lost to Brearley in late December, 5-3, at the Mustang Classic. Shade will next take on No. 1 seed Ryan Harrington, of Mendham.

After placing second at regions, Ricky Carter made a statement on the opening night of states, winning a pair of matches to reach today’s quarterfinals. Carter opened his tournament with a 3-0 decision over Anthony Rosamilia, of Bishop Ahr, in the round of 32. The win set him up for a matchup with Hopatcong’s Joe Cruz in the round of 16. Carter wasted no time jumping out to a 2-0 lead and never looked back, recording a 7-1 win. He will face No. 2 Troy Heilmann, of South Plainfield.

Carter will be looking to avenge a dramatic loss to Heilmann in the team state semifinals. The match was tied 3-3 after regulation and Heilman managed a two-point move in overtime to score the sudden victory.

Lightweight John Amato entered the tournament on the heels of his dramatic win in the region finals that saw him come back from a 7-1 third-period deficit. There would be no stirring comeback for Amato this time as Camden Catholic’s Tyler McBride defeated him in the round of 16.

McBride, a No. 4 seed, scored a first-round takedown and Amato, a No. 5 seed, managed an escape to find himself down 2-1 after the first. After a scoreless second period, McBride started the third period on the bottom and managed an escape to take a 4-1 lead. He would hold on and defeat Amato, 4-2.

Bryce Shade, a No. 6 seed, competed in a shootout against Roxbury’s Dillon Artigliere, a No. 3 seed. Shade started strong, gaining a 4-3 lead in the first period, but it was downhill in the second period as Artiglire built an 11-4. Shade battled back but was unable to get over the hump, losing 14-12.

Shade and Amato will compete in wrestlebacks today as they look to work their way up to third place.

Dominick Ruggerio’s season came to an end in the opening round against South Plainfield’s Corey Stasenko. Ruggerio was coming off of a third-place finish at Region 8, but could not muster enough offense in a 5-2 loss to Stasenko.