Timber Creek Wrestling Wins Group 3 Title

If not for the lengthy bus ride, the Timber Creek High School wrestling team might want to consider making the William F. Dougherty Gymnasium at Toms River South its second home. After all, the Chargers keep proving they know how to win there.

No. 2 Timber Creek defeated No. 1 Toms River South for the third-straight year to claim the NJSIAA Group 3 South Jersey championship, Friday night. In what was an upset by seeding only, Timber Creek never trailed and clinched the win with three bouts still on the docket.

“Never gets old,” said Bryce Shade, who won by pin at 160. “We prepared hard for this tournament. This is what we wanted, to get to states.”

“It’s an awesome feeling,” said junior Isiah DeGuzman, who transferred from Pennsauken prior to the season. “The guys worked hard and really wanted this. Guys stepped it up big time.”

The match was tied at 8-8 four bouts in when Shade gave the Chargers a lead for good with his first-period pin. Toms River closed within 14-12 by winning by major decision at 170, but Robert Shade built the lead back up to five with an 8-1 decision at 182. Matt Kountz followed with a 7-3 win at 195 and Schalor Blackshear earned a 6-3 win at 220 to boost the lead to 23-12.

With Toms Rover in need of a win, it turned to heavyweight James Kearney against Timber Creek sophomore Joe Morett. The match was close throughout with Kearney getting a takedown with five seconds left in the third period to send the match into overtime. With his teammates on their
feet rooting him on, Morett locked in a headlock on Kearney, took him to the ground and recorded a pin just a few seconds into overtime. The pin caused an eruption from the Timber Creek fans that made the trip northeast.

“I knew that we were both tired, but I knew if I got a tighter headlock and got him over I would pin him,” said Morett.

Moments later, sophomore lightweight John Amato scored an 8-3 decision to clinch the match at 32-12 with three matches left.

Although the scoreboard suggested the win came easy, Timber Creek head coach Nick Cottone understood how important each and every win was.

“They have some state-caliber kids on this team and we could have lost this match easily,” said Cottone. “The heavyweight was definitely the swing match here. If he gets beat, it’s a whole other story.”

No one has come close to beating Timber Creek in weeks. The Chargers (20-4) prepared for this portion of the season by loading up its schedule with difficult matchups, including trips to Delaware and Virginia for prestigious tournaments. They also scheduled some of the top teams in the state, including Kittatinny South Plainfield.

Clearly the tough schedule has paid dividends.

“That all led up to this,” said Cottone. “Being in a gym an hour-and-a-half away, our guys are definitely conditioned for that.”

The Chargers will be plenty busy over the next few weeks as they compete for a state title as a team, while also working as individuals, starting Friday at the District Tournament.

As far as the Timber Creek wrestlers are concerned, the season is just beginning.

“The last few weeks we have been working hard in the room,” said Shade. “Coach has been telling us that we can win states and we have been pushing each other. The room is so intense and there’s still more to be done.”

Check back Sunday to read more about Morett's breakout moment.