Wrestling: Dramatic finishes highlight Central Jersey Region 4 performances

UNION TWP. – Seconds left, breaths heavy, tied matches – neither one wanted to wrestle overtime.

So they didn’t.

Hunterdon Central’s Thomas Brunetti and Plainfield’s Josue Cordoba each scored thrilling takedowns in the closing seconds to secure Region 4 titles as their fan bases erupted.

That was just part of Saturday’s exciting tournament, in which the top four finishers in each weight class advanced to the state tournament at Boardwalk Hall at Atlantic City on Feb. 29 and March 1 and 2. The first mission was qualifying, but capturing a region gold medal is always meaningful.

Hunterdon Central’s Anthony Rossi beats Westfield’s Max Rotter in the 120 lb. weight class in the Region 4 Wrestling Tournament Finals on Feb. 24, 2024 afternoon at Union High School in Union.

More: Region 4 wrestling tournament live results from Union

More: Complete list of all 448 NJ wrestling state tournament qualifiers

Coaches voted Brunetti as the Outstanding Wrestler after he beat two defending region champions. Hunterdon Central had two other champions in Anthony Rossi (120) and Rhett Washleski (150), while Voorhees’ Logan Wiecoreck (157) outscored opponents 26-1 in finishing first.

Somerset County had champions in Watchung Hills’ Anthony DiAndrea (113) and Bernards’ Nick Villani (144).

Just like under the lights

Josue Cordoba is used to making big stops as an all-state defensive tackle.

Saturday, the Kent State football-commit had another key one, this time it was on the wrestling mat in the closing seconds of a heavyweight tussle.

Ridge’s Christopher Oliver escaped in the final 10 seconds to tie the championship match 3-3 as Cordoba’s hold on his left leg slipped away. Cordoba fell forward on his stomach and Oliver dove ahead in the opposite direction. As he turned around and stood up, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound Cordoba suddenly darted forward with both hands around Oliver’s legs, as if he was attacking a running back on a Friday night.

The buzzer-beating takedown gave Cordoba the 5-3 win as the Plainfield fans jumped up and down.

It was February madness.

“He got out, I’m like, ‘six seconds left I just got to go for it,’” Cordoba said. “It’s now or never and as you saw the end result, I got the two (point) takedown with two seconds left at the end and won the match. … My football instincts kicked in at the last second going for that diving tackle and I just got it done.”

Cordoba (27-0) proudly noted he was Plainfield’s first region champ since Dawud Hicks won in 2011, and it was one that the Cardinals fans won’t soon forget.

Brunetti tops tough division

All roads were tough, but look at Brunetti’s bracket. The senior pinned returning region champ and undefeated Michael Feliciano of Colonia in the semifinals. In the finals, he topped Paramus Catholic returning state placewinner Edward Terreri, 5-4.

The bout was tied 3-3 when Brunetti lunged for the leg as Terreri collapsed down with under 10 seconds remaining for the 5-3 lead. Terreri had a late escape but it was too late.

Brunetti, who qualified for the state tournament two years ago but took fifth in the region last season, said his mindset changed this season and he’s simply having fun.

One sign of keeping things light – he listens to Katy Perry before matches. He added, “So if that doesn’t say much, then I don’t know what does.”’

The loose Brunetti improved to 39-0 with his win and should be a tough out at Boardwalk Hall.

Hunterdon Central claims two more champions

The Red Devils won two more gold medals – but with a tad less drama. Senior 120-pounder Anthony Rossi competed like a machine. He had a 19-3 win, a pin in 1:02 and a 15-0 tech fall in the finals in 1:38.

Rossi has been able to compete with the state’s best wrestlers, but fell short of a region title. Last winter, he lost to eventual state champion Logan Roman in the Region 5 final, a wrestler he beat earlier in the season.

Saturday, there was no stopping him.

“Right now, I’m just like firing on all cylinders and I’m believing in my training,” Rossi said. “I’m not even like looking to win out there. I’m just looking to score points and have fun – and winning just comes second-hand with that.”

At 150, sophomore Rhett Washleski captured his second region crown. He didn’t give up a point all tournament with wins of 8-0 and 3-0 and then a pin in the final in 2:51 via a tight cradle.

Now, he said, it’s time to “refocus for Atlantic City, ready to go. Trying to make some things happen down there and have some fun. Score a lot of points. That’s the goal.”

Villani keeps going

Bernards Nick Villani continued his amazing season by winning 20-5, 9-1 and 3-1 in the final over A.L. Johnson’s Joseph Ortega. The senior is now 38-0, but don’t expect him to marvel at his stats – at least not until early March.

“My coaches are instilling in my head that it doesn’t matter that I’m undefeated,” Villani said. “Every match is a new record.”

DiAndrea claims gold

No matter how accomplished you are, there’s so many talented wrestlers in the postseason that a close bout can pop up at just about any time.

In Friday’s quarterfinals at 113, Watchung Hills’ top-seeded Anthony DiAndrea edged eighth-seeded Aiden Yarussi, 3-2. The bottom line – he moved on to the next round.

“Aiden’s a great wrestler,” DiAndrea said. “I thought I didn’t wrestle the way I should have, but it’s about surviving and advancing in these postseason matches. So I was able to win and kind of dominate the rest of the tournament.”

DiAndrea, who finished third last season en route to a state medal in his freshman year, won his semifinal match 10-0 and prevailed 12-1 in the finals over No. 2-seeded Zachary Belverio (A.L. Johnson).

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Wrestling: Dramatic finishes highlight Central Jersey Region 4 performances