2018-2019 Season

2018-2019 Varsity Records by Wrestler



2019 State Championship Place Winners:
Kyle Jacob - 195 - 2nd Place
Tony Asatrian - 160 - 3rd Place

2019 Region 2 Place Winners:
Aaron Ayzerov - 138 - 2nd Place
Tony Asatrian - 160 - 2nd Place
Kyle Jacob - 195 - 2nd Place

2019 District 5 Place Winners:
Aaron Ayzerov - 138 - 1st Place
Tony Asatrian - 160 - 1st Place
Kyle Jacob - 195 - 1st Place
Thomas Casey - 120 - 2nd Place
Ray Dellosa - 126 - 3rd Place
Christian Carmichael - 152 - 3rd Place

2018 Caldwell Tournament Place Winners:
Aaron Ayzerov - 138 - 1st Place
Steven Ciambrone - 113 - 2nd Place
Kyle Jacob - 195 - 2nd Place
Thomas Casey - 120 - 3rd Place
Matt Field - 126 - 4th Place
Anthony Ferraioli - 160 - 5th Place

BCCA Tournament Place Winners:
Eric Freeman - 113 - 4th Place
Aaron Ayzerov - 138 - 5th place
Thomas Casey - 120 - 6th Place

All North Jersey:
2nd Team, 160, Senior, Tony Asatrian
2nd Team, 195, Junior, Kyle Jacob

All Bergen County:
1st Team, 160, Senior, Tony Asatrian
2nd Team, 195, Junior, Kyle Jacob
Honorable Mention, 113, Frosh, Eric Freeman
Honorable Mention, 138, Sophomore, Aaron Ayzerov

All Conference:
1st Team, 113, Eric Freeman
1st Team, 120, Thomas Casey
1st Team, 138, Aaron Ayzerov
1st Team, 152, Carmichael
1st Team, 160, Tony Asatrian
1st Team, 195, Kyle Jacob

2nd Team, 126, Ray Dellosa
2nd Team, 132, Matt Field

The 50 top pound-for-pound wrestlers in New Jersey
By High School Wrestling Staff | Posted March 13, 2019 at 06:52 AM | Updated March 13, 2019 at 10:48 AM
There were 14 state champions crowned at Boardwalk Hall just over a week ago and 112 medalists. We picked out the top 50 pound-for-pound wrestlers in the state of New Jersey regardless of weight class. Check out the list below as we count down from 50 to 1.
Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
47-Tony Asatrian, Paramus
Weight: 160
Grade: Senior
Record: 25-2
State finish: 3rd

Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
22-Kyle Jacob, Paramus
Weight: 195
Grade: Junior
Record: 22-6
State finish: 2nd

Wrestling
Cardenas, Jacob wins semis, set up region final rematch for 195-pound final
By Matt Chando | For NJ Advance Media
on March 01, 2019 8:50 PM
Kyle Jacob had the experience. His win Friday night now gives him the opportunity.
The 195-pounder from Paramus sealed his spot in the state final with a 3-0 victory over sixth-seeded Jacob Anderson of Middletown North during Friday night's semifinal round of the NJSIAA/Rothman Orthopaedics Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall.
Jacob (22-5), the second seed, advances to take on top-seeded Jacob Cardenas(40-2) of Bergen Catholic who defeated fourth-seeded Luke Niemeyer (39-2) of South Plainfield via technical fall (15-0, 2:07). Niemeyer took fifth at 195 last season.
"I wrestled (Cardenas) in the (Region 2) final, and it's definitely amazing to make it to the state final my first time here and get to wrestle him again," Jacob said. "We both know what the other does, so I'll be ready to wrestle him again."To set up the final, Jacob controlled Anderson in the first and third periods of their semifinal match. He scored the match's first points with a first-period takedown. After an escape in the second, Jacob rode out Anderson for the entire third period -- a skill that will definitely come into play in the final against Cardenas.
"In the (region final), neither of us scored on neutral," Jacob said. "He got out when I was on top and he rode me out. I know I have to be ready for that kind of match again. Riding out (Anderson in the semifinal) is a big confidence booster."
Cardenas marched to his first state title last year in impressive fashion, securing the necessary five wins with two major decisions, two technical falls, and a pin. In this season’s tournament, Cardenas has been equally impressive with three technical falls and a major decision heading into Saturday's final.
Cardenas won his second career region title in mid-February with a 1-0 victory over Jacob, one of his closest victories of the season.
"It was a good match (in the region final) and I'm excited for this one," said Cardenas, a senior. "I've looked at that match a couple of times, and I think I can beat him by way more this time. It's one last match in my high school career so I'm just going to give it all I got."

Tony Asatrian places third at NJ states
Sean Farrell, North Jersey Record 
ATLANTIC CITY – Tony Asatrian's high school career ended with a trip to the Boardwalk Hall podium.
The Paramus senior took third in the state at 160 pounds on Saturday after an impressive showing at the NJSIAA wrestling championships. Asatrian (25-2) concluded the tournament with a 10-5 decision over West Deptford's Corey Fischer in a consolation match. The only wrestler to beat him was the No. 1 seed and finalist Robert Kanniard of Wall, who won an 11-4 quarterfinal match.
For Asatrian, this was the second year he competed in Atlantic City, but the first as a medalist. He previously qualified in 2017 while at Bergen Catholic, going 1-2.
Asatrian, who lives in Paramus, won district championships at Bergen Catholic his freshman and sophomore years. But after a series of disagreements during his junior year over his status on the team with Bergen Catholic's coach, David Bell, Asatrian was dismissed from the squad in January 2018. Asatrian left Bergen Catholic and enrolled at Paramus.

Robert Kanniard of Wall, left, and Tony Asatrian of Paramus wrestle in a 160-pound bout on Day 2 of the NJSIAA state wrestling tournament on Friday, March 1, 2019, in Atlantic City. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)
Two months later, he filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court, charging Bell with sexual abuse, harassment and assault. Bergen Catholic tried to ban Asatrian from wrestling this season, claiming he sought an "athletic advantage" by transferring to Paramus. But in January, the NJSIAA chose to allow Asatrian to wrestle for Paramus.

Alvarez, the St. Joseph senior from Garfield, will meet friend Robert Howard for the 126-pound state wrestling title at Boardwalk Hall.
“I’ve learned a lot from him. I’m pretty sure he has too,” Alvarez said. “We both know our strengths and weaknesses. We have been partners. We just know each other very well and the best man is going to win.”
The 126-pound final is one of two North Jersey vs. North Jersey head-to-head match-ups in the finals. We will also see Kyle Jacob (Paramus) against Jacob Cardenas (Bergen Catholic) at 195-pounds.
Region 2 rematch at 195 pounds
The 195-pound final is a rematch of the Region 2 final a week ago. It’s hard to state how good Bergen Catholic senior Jacob Cardenas has been in Atlantic City, so let’s let the numbers show it. In his four matches so far, the combined score is 65-6. He earned a tech fall win in Friday’s semifinals 16-0 in 2:08. That’s in the state semifinals.
The only person to slow down the Cardenas freight train has been Jacob, the Paramus junior. Cardenas beat Jacob 1-0 in the Region final, and while this match-up may not have the buzz of Alvarez/Howard, it’s one to look forward too.
“When I was young I would come to states and I would see the wrestlers get to the state finals, it was a dream,” Jacob said. “Now that I made it, it’s amazing.”
While Jacob’s numbers aren’t as eye-popping as Cardenas, he’s only allowed one point this whole tournament and has been extremely tough on top.
He said he’ll have a good plan for Cardenas.
“Last time I wrestled him I know what I did wrong,” Jacob said. “I have a good game plan for when it comes to wrestling come. Definitely staying low, be physical and heavy hand fighting. I’ll be ready.”
Don't miss a thing

Boys & Girls Wrestling Championships: Semis hot takes & finals tales of the tape
By By NJ Advance Media HS Wrestling Staff | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com | Posted March 01, 2019 at 10:45 PM

Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media195-pound final a Region 2 rewind
Kyle Jacob had the experience. His win Friday night now gives him the opportunity.
The 195-pounder from Paramus sealed his spot in the state final with a 3-0 victory over sixth-seeded Jacob Anderson of Middletown North during Friday night's semifinal round of the NJSIAA/Rothman Orthopaedics Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall.
Jacob (22-5), the second seed, advances to take on top-seeded Jacob Cadenas (40-2) of Bergen Catholic who defeated fourth-seeded Like Niemeyer (39-2) of South Plainfield via technical fall (15-0, 2:07). Niemeyer took fifth at 195 last season.
To read about how it became a Region 2 rematch in the state championship bout, click here.
195 final: Tape of the tape
1-Jacob Cardenas, Bergen Catholic (40-2) vs. 2-Kyle Jacob, Paramus (22-5)
Path to Finals
Cardenas: first round - 16-1 tech fall over 32-Ian Gaburo, Northern Highlands; pre-quarterfinal - 16-0 tech fall over 16-Robert Damerjian, Moorestown; quarterfinal - 17-5 major decision over 9-Anthony Franden, Eastern; semifinal - 16-0 tech fall over 4-Luke Niemeyer, Souther Plainfield
Jacob: first round - fall in 1:50 over 31-Matthew Mauricio, Kearny; pre-quarterfinal - 6-1 decision over 18-Tommy Goodwin, Pequannock; quarterfinal - 6-0 decision over 10-Drew Bowker, Rancocas Valley; semifinal - 3-0 decision over 6-Jacob Anderson, Middletown North
Previous Places
Cardenas: 2018 - 195 pounds, 1st place
Jacob: First time medaling
History
Cardenas topped Jacob in the Region 2 championship with a 1-0 decision

Wrestling
'There's a lot of horsepower now.' After 30-pound jump, Paramus' Jacob rolls into state quarters
By JJ Conrad | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on February 28, 2019 9:10 PM, updated March 01, 2019 4:52 PM
Last year, Paramus' Kyle Jacob was "just happy to be here," according to his coach, Chris Falato.
This year, Falato said, "he's here to win."
The second-seeded junior at 195 pounds, who went 2-2 at Boardwalk Hall one year ago at 160 pounds and reached the third round of wrestlebacks, cruised into the NJSIAA/Rothman Orthopaedics State Wrestling Championships quarterfinals with a pair of wins over Kearny's Matthew Mauricio in the first round and Pequannock's Tommy Goodwin in the pre-quarters.
He will meet Rancocas Valley's Drew Bowker in Friday's quarters.
"There's a lot of horse power now," Falato said. "He put on 30 pounds of straight muscle and he's just matured from last year. Last week, we saw a glimpse of what he was capable of. Beating [Joe] Daddario and wrestling [Jacob] Cardenas as tough as he did [a 1-0 loss], he's starting to believe. As coaches, we've known how tough he was and if he wrestles like the way he can, there's no reason he can't get to the final."
PLUS: LIVE video, results, photos, brackets and more for 2019 NJSIAA State Championships
Should Jacob, also a standout running back on Paramus' football team, reach that final, it could potentially be a rematch of that aforementioned Region 2 final against Cardenas, the reigning 195-pound state champion who twice won by technical fall Thursday and "has been a level above mostly everyone this year," Falato said.
"Kyle's the kind of athlete that can give Cardenas a match, you just saw that," Falato said. "There's no reason he can't be a state champion if he believes in himself and wrestles hard."
Jacob, though, isn't looking too far ahead.
"I definitely feel like we're on a path to wrestle again," Jacob said. "But right now, it's match by match. I've got to worry about what's in front of me first. My mindset is completely different from last year. I got stronger, faster and better in the off-season."
If Jacob continues his run and reaches the podum at Boardwalk Hall, Paramus' run of state medalists would reach nine straight years.
"That's something we're tremendously proud of," Falato said. "The team aspect is very important to us. Getting medals as a program, it puts us on a very high pedastool."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx5ccjEPqAs

Wrestling: Reid Colella and Kyle Jacob show they've learned lessons at Boardwalk Hall
Darren Cooper, North Jersey RecordPublished 9:08 p.m. ET Feb. 28, 2019 | Updated 9:16 p.m. ET Feb. 28, 2019
Paramus 195-pound standout Kyle Jacob was a winner Thursday too, advancing to the quarterfinals, but his smile wasn’t as broad.

Kyle Jacob of Paramus went 2-0 Thursday at Boardwalk Hall. (Photo: Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network)
Jacob, a junior, struggled to get anything going against Pequannock sophomore Tommy Goodwin in the second round and led only 2-1 midway through the third period before pulling away to record a 6-1 win.
“I was on top and they kept giving me stall calls, so I worked to the side and I couldn’t get a move in,” said Jacob, the second seed. “I just had to toughen up, finish the match and get the win.”
Jacob’s story mirrors Colella in that he struggled in his first trip to Boardwalk Hall, finishing 2-2 and went home without a medal.
That experience taught Jacob that he needed to work harder and be tougher mentally, because close matches are the norm in Boardwalk Hall and you can’t lose your cool.
“Last year honestly I didn’t have confidence when I wrestled,” said Jacob. “This year I have been wrestling all year and getting strong and my mindset has really changed and I have a lot of confidence now.”
While it’s still too early to project finals, it is fun to think of a possible Jacob match against Bergen Catholic superstar Jacob Cardenas on Saturday. Cardenas, a defending state champ, has run roughshod over North Jersey this season, but only beat Jacob 1-0 in the Region 2 final.
Bergen Catholic's Jacob Cardenas, a defending state champion, went 2-0 Thursday at Boardwalk Hall. (Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/Northjersey.com)Jacob said he wasn’t looking ahead at all, because he’s learned that at Boardwalk Hall the only thing you really need to beat is the person in front of you.
“Maybe I will watch him a little,” Jacob said. “But you have to wrestle it match by match and worry about the kid in front of me and try to get the win.”
Bergen Catholic had one of the best days of any team, sending eight wrestlers through to the quarterfinals. St. Joseph Regional and DePaul advanced three. Don Bosco Prep and Emerson/Park Ridge had two make it through.
Friday should be unlike any day previous in Boardwalk Hall when the girls wrestling competition begins in the afternoon. It’s the first time New Jersey has held official NJSIAA-sanctioned girls state wrestling finals. The boys wrestlebacks will begin at 9 a.m.

Wrestling Top 8 by weight: Big changes in all 14 classes heading to AC
By NJ Advance Media wrestling staff | Posted February 27, 2019 at 06:45 AM | Updated February 27, 2019 at 08:56 AM
160-POUND RANKINGS
1-Robert Kanniard, Wall, Sr.
2-Connor O'Neill, DePaul, Jr.
3-Vincent Andreano, Delbarton, Sr.
4-Corey Fischer, West Deptford, Sr.
5-Anthony Asatrian, Paramus, Sr.
6-Brian Soldano, High Point, Fr.
7-Michael Wilson, North Hunterdon, Sr.
8-Jacob Rodriguez, Clayton/Glassboro, Jr.
195-POUND RANKINGS
1-Jacob Cardenas, Bergen Catholic, Sr.
2-Luke Niemeyer, South Plainfield, Sr.
3-Luke Chakonis, Delbarton, Jr.
4-Kyle Jacob, Paramus, Sr.
5-Jackson Downey, Old Tappan. Sr.
6-Joe Daddario, Montville, Sr.
7-Zane Coles, Pitman, Sr.
8-Keevon Berry, Oakcrest, Sr.
NOTES: Jackson Memorial's Kyle Epperly is out after losing twice in Region 7. Chakonis and Downey moved up after winning regional championships. Berry and Daddario fell after losing in the regionals. Kyle Jacob entered the rankings after a 1-0 loss to Cardenas and a victory over Daddario in Region 2. Berry dropped No. 4 to No. 8.

Tony Asatrian, wrestler at center of Bergen Catholic lawsuit, clinches spot in states
Robert Aitken Jr., North Jersey RecordPublished 11:53 a.m. ET Feb. 23, 2019 | Updated 8:21 p.m. ET Feb. 23, 2019 
FLANDERS — Tony Asatrian wanted to focus on having fun on the mat.
After a lifetime of wrestling, the senior wanted to make sure to smile more. After a season filled with obstacles off the mat, Asatrian was all smiles on the mat Saturday, placing second at 160 pounds in Region 2 to clinch a spot at the NJSIAA championships in Atlantic City.
Asatrian won his semifinal by a 6-0 decision over Roxbury's Evan Vasquez to reach the region final at 160 pounds. Following his match, Asatrain climbed back into the stands with his Paramus supporters.
"I just went out there and had fun," Asatrian said Friday following his quarterfinal victory. "Lately, I feel like I've been putting a lot of pressure on myself. But I collected my thoughts and remembered why I started wrestling in the first place."
Anthony Asatrian of Paramus defeats Evan Vasquez of Roxbury in the 160-pound semifinal match at the Region 2 wrestling tournament at Mt. Olive HS on Feb. 23, 2019. (Photo: Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network)Asatrian, who lives in Paramus, won district championships at Bergen Catholic his freshman and sophomore years. But after a series of disagreements during his junior year over his status on the team with Bergen Catholic's coach, David Bell, Asatrian was dismissed from the squad in January 2018. Asatrian left Bergen Catholic and enrolled at Paramus.
Two months later, he filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court, charging Bell with sexual abuse, harassment and assault. Bergen Catholic tried to ban Asatrian from wrestling this season, claiming he sought an "athletic advantage" by transferring to Paramus. But in January, the NJSIAA chose to allow Asatrian to wrestle for Paramus.
Asatrian's win came in front of a large Bergen Catholic crowd cheering on the Crusader wrestlers competing in other weight classes at Region 2.
Anthony Asatrian of Paramus defeats Evan Vasquez of Roxbury in the 160 lb. semi final match at the Region 2 wrestling tournament at Mt. Olive HS on February 23, 2019. (Photo: Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com-USA Today Network)Asatrian fell short of a region title, falling 3-1 to DePaul's Connor O'Neil, a Rutgers commit, in the 160-pound final. Asatrian had an opportunity in the final moments of the third period against O'Neil. From a neutral position, Asatrian had O'Neil attempt a leg takedown while Asatrian tried to turn O'Neil's shoulders. Asatrian was not awarded a takedown of O'Neil and was not awarded back points for a near fall that would have tied the score.
The loss was Asatrian's first of the season. He is now 19-1