Sports
Monsignor Donovan's Anthony D'Anton Surprising Region VI Champion
The 103-pounder also was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler
The Shore Conference's finest wrestlers participated in the NJSIAA Region VI at the Poland Spring Arena in Toms River with the top 3 finishers qualifying for the states in Atlantic City beginning on Friday.
It was the Toms River wrestlers — from Toms River High Schools East, North, South, and Monsignor Donovan — who stole the spotlight.
Leading the way at the Shore Conference Region VI Tournament on Saturday was Monsignor Donovan senior 103 pounder Anthony D'Anton. D'Anton defeated Jackson Memorial's Alec Huxford, 9-7, in the tournament's most entertaining and exciting match.
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After taking down Huxford twice in the first period, D'Anton quickly lost his 4-1 lead in the second period. Huxford was able to escape and take D'Anton down to even the score at 4. After escaping from the bottom position, D'Anton chose down to begin the third period with a 5-4 lead.
He then began the third period with another escape to stretch his lead to 6-4 with 1:25 left in the third period. However, Huxford would not be denied as he earned another takedown to even the score at 6.
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D'Anton quickly escaped to his feet and with 3 seconds remaining in the period, earning his final two points on an outside single to make the score 9-6. That takedown sent D'Anton and the Monsignor Donovan fans into a frenzy as they were about to see something it had not seen in a long time: a Region VI champion.
With the win D'Anton became Monsignor Donovan's first region champion since Jeremy Denardo in 1996. Just last week, he was the first Griffins wrestler to become a district champion since 1985. It was only the third time in Monsignor Donovan history that the Griffins had a region champ. The other was in 1985 by Gordon Nelson.
After the match, D'Anton was speechless.
"There are no words to describe this feeling." D'Anton said. "All I know is this is my senior year, this is it."
With the win, D'Anton received the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, given to the best wrestler in the tournament as voted by the coaches of the Shore Conference.
He and 41 other Shore Conference wrestlers will represent the Shore at the states at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City beginning on Fiday and ending on Sunday.The top 3 wrestlers -- first-, second- and third-place finishers -- qualify for states.
Other Toms River wrestlers joining D'Anton in Atlantic City are Toms River South champions Kevin Corrigan, who defeated Danny Rodriguez of Toms River North 9-2 at 112, and B.J Clagon, who defeated Marlboro's Vinnie Leone 10-3 at 130. It was the first time since 1984 that Toms River South had a pair of region champions in one season.
The Indians also will be represented by Evan Tarver, who finished second after he was defeated by Marlboro's Mitch Seigel 6-5 at 215, and Kyle Kenny who finished third at 152 pounds.
Toms River East's lone representation in Atlantic City will be 119 pounder Rich Lewis, who defeated Matt Theobold of Manchester 3-1 in the championship match.In all, Toms River will be represented by 7 wrestlers. 4 from Toms River South, and 1 each from East, North, and Monsignor Donovan.
