It’s Montuore’s Century as Neill and Borgia are County Champions

1/26/25
Photos from Jen Sheppard, Sheryl Reed

“It was a surreal moment,” said West Morris Central wrestler Mark Montuore on achieving his 100th career wrestling victory, as teammates Brody Neill and Tommy Borgia won Morris County Tournament (MCT) championships Saturday, Jan. 25.

“I couldn’t be happier, surrounded by friends, family coaches and teammates who all helped me reach this goal,” said Montuore after pinning his first opponent Friday on his way to MCT bronze. Coach Chris Marold’s squad won team bronze, behind host Mt. Olive and Hanover Park. Twenty-one schools competed.

“Mark’s accomplishment is absolutely amazing for the team, and holds a special place in my heart,” said Borgia. “Mark has been one of my best friends since I was in kindergarten and he was in first grade. Over 13 years, I’ve seen the dedication he’s poured into the sport. It couldn’t have been anyone better.”

Freshmen bigs Deacon Frayne (175 lbs.) and Chris Kowalik (190) also dazzled at MCT, nabbing bronze and fourth respectively. Jacob Harrison (132) took fifth and Michael Borgia (215) sixth in 20-man brackets.

Montuore (113), now at 102 wins, becomes only the 11th member of WMC’s Century Club, and the first since Michael Campanaro in 2023.

With under a half minute to go before a likely overtime, Neill reversed McGinty to take the lead, and quickly took the Parsippany Hills senior to his back for the pin with 19 seconds to spare. Neill told NJ.com that McGinty tried to repeat a move from earlier in the bout. “Once I saw it again,” Neill said, “ I pinned him.”

Neill had the most pins (4) and team points (32) of any of MCT’s 263 wrestlers.

Last season, then-freshman Neill’s only MCT loss was to eventual state champion Cameron Sontz of Delbarton, placing third.

All I See is Gold: Tommy Borgia

Borgia steamrolled his way through the tournament, pinning all three opponents in the first period, including Morristown senior Greydon Carcich (who was 19-5) in 1:26. Carcich was aggressive, which energized Borgia to reprise his acclaimed defensive tackle skills to take his opponent down, and cradle him for the pin seconds later.

“It feels great,” said Borgia after winning his first county title. “There is a little bitter sweet taste in your mouth that Delbarton wasn’t there, especially for me this year. But it feels great to get a county title after coming up short the last few years. And getting it done in-front of my friends and family is something I really value and appreciate.”

Borgia’s only loss this year was an upset at Delbarton, which he may get to avenge at Regions. Delbarton, which chose to compete elsewhere this week, won their 14th consecutive MCT title last season, crowning 11 Morris County champs mostly from outside the county.

Last season Borgia lost the Morris County championship finals 9-4 to eventual state champion and Duke freshman starter Vincent Lee of Delbarton, who was not a Morris County resident.

Morris County Glitter: Frayne and Kowalik

For freshman upper-weights, Frayne and Kowalik’s placements were near unique in WMC history (non-Borgia division). Both rookies fell only to seniors, and placed behind only seniors.

Frayne pinned two seniors before getting within a takedown of eventual champion senior 26th-ranked Rinaldo DiGiacopo in semifinals. Frayne’s dramatic 31 second pin of Morris Hills Frank Dimarzio won bronze to match Borgia’s freshman placement.

Frayne’s three pins in four minutes combined was seventh best (of 263) in the tourney, and his bronze medal pinfall was 10th fastest overall.

Kowalik’s best match was a gutty, heart-stopping overtime loss to 19th ranked (RankWrestlers.com) Morristown senior Henry Saxon in the bronze medal match, 9-6 – after which Kowalik helped his opponent up, one of the best scenes of the tournament.

Prior, Kowalik gutted out an 11-10 victory over Montville senior Dominic Kraemer in quarterfinals.

Kowalik, the only freshman in his bracket, was teched in 90 seconds in semis by Hanover Park senior Princeton commit Vincenzo LaValle, ranked #6 in the nation (Flo). LaValle was named Most Outstanding Wrestler after steamrolling his bracket. Opponents lasted 15 seconds in prelims, 50 seconds in quarters, and in the finals Mount Olive’s Tyler Cummings lasted 63 seconds before LaValle pins.

Montuore impressed even beyond his 100th win, falling only to eventual champion Francesco Demary in semis before gutting out an inspiring 14-13 victory over Jefferson Frank Figel for bronze. It was Montuore’s fourth and best MCT medal.

Jacob Harrison and Michael Borgia Shine; Beyer, Vazquez, Reed and Hurst Win

Sophomore Harrison only lost once (quarterfinals), but then continued ending his opponents’ days early with two pins to go 3-1 on the day.

In the fifth place medal match, Harrison faced Morris Hills junior Josh Levins for the second time this season. This time, Levins was more game, but Harrison used his gas tank and skills to come from behind and land the pinfall with 20 seconds remaining to improve on last year’s sixth place finish.

Junior Michael Borgia came to work, going the distance in three of his four bouts, including an impressive 5-3 victory over Hanover Park senior Christian Carter in consolation semis to secure sixth, his first MCT medal. Borgia’s gutty 8-7 victory over Montville’s Sean Zamota was a Wolfpack highlight on day one.

Top-eight placer Kurtis Beyer (150), and top-16 finishers Mason Vazquez (126), Jacob Reed (106) and Haden Hurst (144) all scored critical points for the Wolfpack.

Beyer topped Whippany seniorAlex Birecki 8-4 for one of the biggest wins of day one – becoming one of only six wrestlers (out of 263) seeded 10 or below to reach quarterfinals.
Hurst came from behind to gas his opponent, and Reed scored the second-most match points (out of 263), and by far the most of any freshman, in his 22-16 victory.

100 Wins for the Record Books

Montuore’s 100th came via pin of his first opponent Friday night at Mount Olive High School. The pin was 1:01 into the match, perhaps symbolic for someone well-focused on the next goal (a win that would come the next day in quarterfinals).

“I want to thank my coaches, parents and teammates for my success,” said Montuore. “They all contributed to me getting where I am now. Wrestling has taught me lessons that will travel all through my life because there truly isn’t anything harder than wrestling.”

As Marold said before this season started, “Mark is a vital piece of us being a successful team. I know I can count on him when something needs to get done” – on and off the mat.

While the pin tied Montuore for second most in school history (with Dylan Luciano, five behind Henry Frayne), it’s Montuore’s all-time school record for dual-meet points (soaring past Metzler early this season) that might best define his legacy. Dual meet points are the best measure of one wrestler helping his teammates win.

Unofficially, Montuore stands at 377 dual meet points, having smashed Metzler’s record 343.
Volunteering alongside his parents Mark Sr. (Parent’s Club President) and Lisa, and sister Olivia (both team photographers) are additional measures of his character. With two years as captain, it’s hard to point to a better teammate in WMC history.

This season Montuore surpassed Henry Frayne (303), John Sickles (307), Campanaro (314), Nick Matthews (322), Luciano (338) and Metzler in dual meet points.

Wolfpack Tops Sparta 48-29 with Big Wins from Kowalik and Montuore, + Reed, Harrison and Frayne Pins

For the second match in a row, Montuore and Kowalik defeated top-100 wrestlers, leading the Pack to a 48-29 victory at Sparta Tuesday night (Jan 21).

Montuore bumped up to 120 to notch his 99th career victory, a third period pin over NJSIAA Girls State Champion Paige Weiss, ranked #76 overall. The two have sparred frequently in youth wrestling.

In a rematch, Kowalik once again came from behind to defeat District champion and state alternate Luke Brown, decking the senior 10 seconds before time expired.

Reed, Harrison and Frayne also delivered pins for the Pack.

Nicholas Galvin, Neill and Tommy Borgia added 18 points via forfeit, part of a six-bout streak (and eight of nine) with max points for the Wolfpack – versus just one for the Spartans.

In bouts wrestled (non- forfeits), WMC outscored Sparta 30-29.

John Garcia and Hurst stayed off their backs against Sparta’s best two wrestlers, district champs Logan (ranked #12 in NJ) and Ryan (#20) Hrenenko. Jonathan Cabarle, Kurtis Beyer and Michael Borgia did the same against Chase Broderson (#77), Sean Brown (#42) and Liam Hasloch (#73) respectively.

Cabarle’s match was highlighted by a beautiful escape after Broderson had Cabarle’s leg high in the air, nearly catching Sparta’s fellow freshman for what would have been an upset pin.

Avoiding pins in those four losses saved WMC seven team points.

Antonio Montella saw his second varsity action after valiantly saving WMC three team points last week against Passaic Valley.

Last season, a Neill pin in the ultimate bout sent the Pack home victorious over Sparta, 41-36.

Fazzino Season

Junior Robert Fazzino (165), a breakout outstanding contributor last season after transferring from Perth Amboy, may have had his season ended early once again, after an injury versus Mt. Olive. This season he was 8-10, facing the toughest top-10 opponents of anyone on the team, and bumping up two weight classes. He had won four straight before Mt. Olive.

Last season Fazzino was 23-12 and poised to qualify for regions before an ill-timed illness drained his strength at districts, falling to opponents he would normally dominate.

MCT History

Recent Wolfpack MCT champs include Brandon Dean (2023), Marco Gaita (2018), Metzler (2016 and 2017), and Jesse Windt (2013 and 2014).

Scott Cummins and Brian MacGuire were the last WMC teammates to win County championships in 1993. Prior, Chris Pierson and Dave McAllister won in 1987. Neill is the first 120 title winner since Metzler in 2016, and Borgia the first HWT since McAllister.

Neill and Sam Rizzuto nabbed bronze last season (2024). Neill’s only loss was to eventual state champion Cameron Sontz of Delbarton. Rizzuto’s only loss was to eventual state champ Jayden James of Delbarton. Of the three Delbarton champs, only Sontz is a Morris County resident. Sophomore AJ Codella and Montuore took fifth, and freshman Jacob Harrison (6th)
In 2023, sophomore Brandon Dean became WMC’s first County Champion since Marco Gaita in 2018. Borgia won bronze, Montuore was fourth with Jacob Fahmi and Sam Rizzuto finishing top-eight. Wolfpack legend Michael Campanaro won silver, falling to Luke Stanich.
In 2022, Dean led the team with bronze. Montuore, Campanaro, Henry Frayne, Michael Ferrante and Malachi Shepard all took fourth. Hare placed fifth, and Dean Muttart top-eight. Dean and Montuore’s accomplishments were unprecedented among WMC rookies. The team took public bronze.

There was no Morris County Tournament in 2021 due to Covid.
In 2020, WMC placed third among public schools, with Campanaro placing fifth in a legendary bracket, in which three wrestlers who placed above him went on to become state finalists, including two champions. Colin Loughney and Eli Shepard took silver, Kevin Ramos and Malachi Shepard bronze, Robert Bohr fourth, Matt Borgia and Jorge Montenegro sixth.

In 2019, WMC placed third among public schools, highlighted by silver for Eli Shepard and Justin LeMay, and bronze for John DeVito and Luke Stefanelli.
Prior to 2023, the last champion for the Wolfpack was Gaita in 2018, as the team won the public school crown for the second time. Prior, Shane Metzler won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, on his way to two of his three NJ state medals. In 2013 the team won public gold for the first time, as Jesse Windt was WMC’s first champion since Dillon Landi (2006), who was the only champ in the 18 years between Darren Carfaro in 1995 and Windt.

Century Club History

Metzler is WMC’s all-time wins leader with 144, followed by Nick Matthews (131, the first centurion) and Gaita (124), numbers likely out of Montuore’s reach. But with 7-10 dual meets, Districts, Regions and States ahead, the WMC captain may have the opportunity to surpass Campanaro (117), Kade Loughney (112), Dylan Luciano (111), Brandon Carcuffe and Justin LeMay (110), David Migliaccio (107) and John Sickles (105). Montuore is at 102 and counting.

Who’s the next centurion? We may not have to wait long as Tommy Borgia (unofficially) sits at #16 with 93 wins, and the same potential range of eight to 20+ bouts left this year. He recently passed Mike Caso (86, after being blocked from starting freshman year by Metzler), Mark Fleming (87), Brandon Dean (88, in less than 2.5 years), #16 Marc Villano (91), #15 Cory Fleming (92). Next, #14 Jesse Windt (94), and #13 Robby Bohr (95) well in site. Borgia is on track to challenge Matthews and Metzler for the most WMC wins ever.

Next Up

WMC returns home to face High Point Wednesday Jan 28, and Immaculata Feb. 1.

The team visits Mendham Feb. 4, and the Randolph quad is Feb. 15 with Becton and Hillsborough.

Sectional (team) playoffs are February 10-16 for schools that qualify.

All schools’ starting wrestlers compete in the district individual championships Feb 22, with WMC in District 11 at Nutley, also facing Belleville, Glen Ridge, Governor Livingston, Kearny, Livingston, Montclair, Verona and West Orange.

D11 medalists (top-3) will compete in the Region 3 Championship Feb 28- Mar 1.

Top-four finishers from each of the eight regions advance to the NJSIAA State Championship in Atlantic City Mar. 6-8 where Wolfpack legends including (this century) Brandon Dean, Marisa Di Paolo (Girls States, twice), Colin Loughney, Justin LeMay, Marco Gaita, Shane Metzler (thrice), Nick Matthews, Dillon Landi and most recently Brody Neill climbed the podium in hallowed Boardwalk Hall.

About David Yaskulka

David began living his sportswriter dream to avoid concession duty when his sons Noah and Ben began wrestling for the Wolfpack in 2012. He is a passionate sustainability advocate and pet industry executive, serves as Board Chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, Board Director at Greater Good Charities; and Board Advisor at Arch Pet Food, rePurpose Global plastic action platform, and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

He invites all WMC wrestlers and their families to connect with him (and with each other!) on LinkedIn.