Sayreville wrestling coach looks back at season
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
Through triumph and tragedy, the Sayreville High School wrestling team truly has become a family.

JEFF GRANIT staff Sayreville's Ramon Santiago has control of Pascack Hills' Taylor Trumbetti during their 140-pound bout in the NJSIAA wrestling tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

This season the Bombers soared to become one of the top teams in the state. Sayreville posted a team record 24 wins against just three losses, won the NJSIAA North 2 Group III tourney and advanced to the finals of the overall Group III tournament before bowing to High Point. Sayreville also won the District 20 championship and Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) tournament, as well as its second White Division championship in as many years. In addition, the Bombers amassed a 20-match winning streak.

Along the way, 10 wrestlers posted 20 or more wins and two more reached 19 victories. In all, 13 of the 14 Sayreville starters had winning ledgers. Twelve Bombers placed in District 20 and nine more placed in the Region 6 competition. Ramon Santiago (140), Mike DeLuco (152) and Mike Knight (189) all won their respective weight classes at the district competition.

Santiago and Knight both took second in Region 6, and went on to the state individual tournament last weekend in Atlantic City.

By any stretch, it was a remarkable season, and even more so considering all that has happened in the past year.

A year ago, Mike Knight's father passed away, and twins Nick and John Boulton also lost their father. Last summer, Scott Poore's mother passed away. Poore was one of the team's top competitors last year, and his 105 career wins place him second in team history.

In February, coach John Denuto's father and mother passed away within a week of each other. Denuto's dad, also John, was a big fan and a longtime fixture at Sayreville matches.

Finally, the season ended with Knight suffering a torn MCL late in a prequarterfinal match on Friday at Boardwalk Hall. Knight, who was leading 6-4 at the time, had to default and withdraw from the individual tournament.

The gritty senior had suffered a torn ACL to his other knee while competing over the summer. He worked hard to rehab it in order to compete in his final varsity campaign. Knight came back well ahead of schedule and posted a 24- 3 record.

"It really seems unfair after everything Knight has done for this team," Denuto said. "He's a captain and a great team guy. Everyone was pulling for him."

Denuto has been running on adrenaline since the death of his parents. The coach, who is a father figure to many of his players, credited his wrestlers with helping to keep him going and for not letting down. The day after the senior Denuto's funeral, Sayreville won the District title.

"Obviously, this team could have used a lot of excuses after all the things that have happened, but they never did," Denuto said. "They just kept pressing on, working together and being there for each other. This is an outstanding group of kids."

He also credited team parents.

"The parents have been amazing," he said. "After my parents passed away, they really helped me and my brothers out. They were taking care of the little details and they came over the house to cook and clean. The reason these kids are the way they are is because of their great parents."

Clearly, the Bombers kept things together. Santiago finished with a team record 38 wins, including 21 pins, which tied Poore's team record, and the junior finished fifth in the state individual event.

John Boulton (135) posted 29 wins, while DeLuco and heavyweight Manny Santiago had 28 victories apiece.

Manny Santiago also recorded 20 pins. Freshmen Kyle Anderson (103), who had 18 pins, and Noel Santiago (119) shared a freshman record for wins with 25 each.

Pat Ronan (125), junior Dan Bergfeldt (112) and Nick Boulton (130) all had 20 plus wins, while Jared Christensen (171) and Rhett Fischer (171) both ended up with 19 triumphs. Bryan Miksiewicz (215) had 15 successes and sophomore Chris Pearson (140) posted 12 wins. Gene Schifano, a 152-pound sophomore, put up a 3-3 record, and played a key role in Sayreville's win over Ocean in the Group III semifinals.

"It's been an unbelievable year from start to finish," said Denuto, who was named both District 20 and Region 6 coach of the year. "We've faced so many things together that we'll always be family. That's how I feel. We're all family."