Timber Creek Wrestlers Begin Quest for State Title Today

The state wrestling tournament starts Friday in Atlantic City and features several Timber Creek competitors.

Four Timber Creek Wrestlers Compete for State Titles

Brandon Keller received a top seed for the NJSIAA state wrestling tournament, March 8-10 in Atlantic City.

Four Timber Creek Regional High School wrestlers will grapple for a state title beginning this week in Atlantic City. The wrestlers learned their seeds Monday morning, NJ.com reports. Appearing in the state tournament are: 113 pounds, bottom bracket: John Amato (No. 5) 138 pounds, bottom bracket: Brandon Keller (No. 1) 152 pounds, top bracket: Dom Ruggierrio (No. 4) 160 pounds, top bracket: Bryce Shade (No. 2) The state tournament will unfold at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall March 8, 9 and 10. The final wrestler standing in each weight class will be crowned a state champion. Tickets are on sale via ticketmaster.com for the tournament. For the full wrestling state tournament seeds, visit NJ.com’s coverage.

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Keller's Fourth Title Highlights District 30 Tournament

Brandon Keller is a four-time District 30 Wrestling Tournament champion.

Brandon Keller has had the same vision ever since he emerged as a standout wrestler his freshman year at Timber Creek Regional High School. He sees himself as standing on the top of the podium in Atlantic City, crowned as a state champion. “You have to (have that vision). If you are not picturing yourself on the top of that podium, then you are not going to be on the top of the podium,” Keller said. “As a freshman, I pictured myself at the top when I placed and every year I have done that. It doesn’t matter who is in front of you, if you step on the line and wrestle your match, you can beat anyone.” Keller took the first step toward achieving that goal Saturday, claiming his fourth District 30 Wrestling Tournament championship. Keller …

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Sean McCullen

1:53 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

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District 30 Wrestling Seeds Released

Timber Creek has six No. 1 seeds in the tournament.

The Timber Creek Regional High School wrestling team has made the District 30 Wrestling Tournament its own competition the last two years, capturing 13 individual titles. The Chargers are hoping this year provides more of the same. The NJSIAA released the District 30 brackets Thursday and, as expected, there are plenty of top-seeded Chargers on the list. Timber Creek has six wrestlers who earned the top slot in their weight class: John Amato, Isiah DeGuzman, Brandon Keller, Brandon Virgilio, Dom Ruggerrio and Bryce Shade. All expect DeGuzman and Virgilio are defending district champions. Standing in their way will be a host of wrestlers from Highland and Triton who have their own title aspirations. Highland's Martel Harrison is the No. 3 …

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Amato Gearing Up for Another Postseason Run

John Amato strives to not only make it back to the state tournament, but find success there.

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 …

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Chargers, Tartans Provide Friday Night Thriller

The Timber Creek wrestling team got all they could handle from Highland in a 31-22 victory.

When a final wrestling bout of Friday night’s match between Highland Regional High School and Timber Creek came to a close, fans of the victorious Chargers rose to their feet to applaud a hard-fought victory. At the same time, fans of the Tartans also stood up and let their wrestlers know that only on the scoreboard was Friday night’s match considered a loss. Timber Creek reaffirmed its place as the area’s dominating wrestling team with a 31-22 victory over Highland, while the Tartans proved that youth doesn’t mean weakness in a valiant effort. On a night filled with drama, excitement, loud crowd noise and even a few bursts of temper, just about everyone left Timber Creek satisfied. “I love these kids,” Highland coach Mike Davidson said. “…

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Timber Creek Trio Still Alive for State Titles After Day One

Robert Shade, Brandon Keller and Ricky Carter advance to the quarterfinals, while Robert Shade and John Amato fall into wrestlebacks in the state tournament.

Immediately after winning their respective Region 8 titles, Timber Creek’s 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, …

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Timber Creek Wrestlers Find Out State Matchups

Brandon Keller is a No. 2 seed at 132 pounds.

The bright lights and big stage of Atlantic City are waiting for a half dozen Timber Creek wrestlers and now those wrestlers know which opponents are also awaiting. The NJSIAA’s seeding committee held a meeting Monday morning in Robbinsville to decide what the brackets will look like for this weekend’s State Wrestling Tournament in Atlantic City. The Chargers’ Brandon Keller (32-5) is the highest seed of the Timber Creek group, earning a No. 2 seed in the bottom bracket at 132. He will face No. 7 seed Brian McCrystal (34-4), of Bishop Ahr. At 170, Robert Shade (34-3) is a No. 5 seed in the top bracket and will face No. 4 Joey Balboni (31-5), of Brearley. Robert’s brother Bryce (32-5) drew one slot lower and will be a No. 6 seed in the …

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Amato's Resilience Carries Him to Title

Timber Creek sophomore Jon Amato pulled out a thrilling win at the Region 8 Wrestling Tournament.

Long after John Amato graduates from Timber Creek High School, the story of his championship match at the Region 8 Wrestling Tournament will be used as a teaching tool for young wrestlers. It has to be. Amato epitomized the never-give-up attitude that coaches all across the country preach day in and day out to their kids. Amato reminded fans who had accepted defeat for the Charger that a wrestler is never finished until his shoulders are pinned to the mat or the clock runs out. He reminded everyone that sometimes the old adage of "where there's a will, there's a way" does really ring true. To be clear, Amato’s story isn’t one of an underdog. He was a No. 2 seed at the 106-pound weight class and it was hardly unthinkable that he could upset…

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