Despite One SP-F Win, Strong Performances Overall at UCT Wrestling Tournament

With one individual winner among a number of standout performances, Scotch Plains-Fanwood head coach John Scholz was pleased with how his grapplers performed at Saturday's 35th annual one-day Union County Wrestling Tournament at the Louis J. Rettino Gymnasium at Union High School.

After placing third the past two years at 119, senior Tristan Bundy pinned opponents from Brearley and Linden before downing top-seeded Dan Pisauro 9-4 in the 125 pound final to capture his first county championship.

Although the second-seeded Bundy was the only Raider wrestler to reach the finals, others also performed quite well.

"It's a good team we have all together," Scholz said.

The Raiders placed eighth among the 13 teams with 72 points. Brearley won the crown for the fifth straight year, garnering 273.5 points behind six champions. Roselle Park, which had one champion, scored 221 points to finish second for the seventh straight season.

"We had (sophomore) Luke Vuono take fifth at 152 and (sophomore) Mike Steinfeld placed sixth at 140," Scholz said. "Andrew Jacobs (another sophomore) took fifth at 215 and (sophomore) Sean Cannon took fourth at 130."

Scholz has been with the program for 11 years and this is his eighth year as the head coach. He guided Scotch Plains to its only UCT title in 2004.

This year's squad is young, but very promising.

"On our roster, I have 20-something sophomores," Scholz said. "The guys who placed, besides Tristan, were all sophomores."

Bundy, who is now 20-1 this year, on a 17-match winning streak and is 91-33 lifetime, placed third in the Dec. 29 John Goles Tournament and first in the Jan. 16 Union City Tournament. He is nine wins away from becoming the sixth Scotch Plains wrestler to win 100 matches.

Jacobs also finished first in the Union City Tournament.

Scotch Plains will continue its dual-meet season with a home match against state-ranked Brearley Wednesday night at 7. The Raiders are then scheduled to wrestle at Rahway next Friday night at 6.

Other matches that are scheduled before next month's two-day District 11 Tournament (Feb. 19 and 20) at Westfield include Elizabeth, Linden, Westfield, Roselle Park, Chatham, Edison, Howell, Monroe, Watchung Hills and Middlesex. 

2009-2010 SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD RAIDERS

WRESTLING, WITH RECORDS BEFORE UCT:

103 – Lucas Cinafonte, freshman, 5-6

112 – Dan Cardoza, sophomore, 1-6

119 – Devin Ausbon, junior, 3-1

125 – Tristan Bundy, senior 17-1

130 – Sean Cannon, sophomore, 10-6

135 – Jawan Gaines, senior, 8-3

140 – Mike Steinfeld, sophomore, 12-6

145 – Josh Foote, senior, 13-6

152 – Luke Vuono, sophomore, 7-8

160 – Jon Devia, sophomore, 5-11

171 – Brian Laspe, senior, 3-10

189 – Mike McFarlane, sophomore, 4-5

215 – Andrew Jacobs, sophomore, 11-7

HWT – Anthony Tefaro, freshman, 3-9

Head coach: John Scholz  

2009-2010 RESULTS/schedule (5-6):

Dec. 18 (H) Bridgewater-Raritan 43, Scotch Plains 23

Dec. 22 (H) Madison 52, Scotch Plains 22

Dec. 23 (A) New Providence 55, Scotch Plains 24

Dec. 29 John Goles Tournament at Watchung Hills

Jan. 6 (A) Scotch Plains 55, Plainfield 21 – at Plainfield

Jan. 6 (A) Gov. Livingston 61, Scotch Plains 12 – at Plainfield

Jan. 8 (H) Scotch Plains 44, Union 13

Jan. 9 (A) Cranford 61, Scotch Plains 9 – at Piscataway

Jan. 9 (A) Piscataway def. Scotch Plains – at Piscataway

Jan. 12 (H) Scotch Plains 47, Parsippany Hills 24

Jan. 16 Union City Tournament

Senior Tristan Bundy first at 125.

Sophomore Andrew Jacobs first at 215.

Jan. 19 (H) Scotch Plains 41, J.P. Stevens 24

Jan. 20 (A) Scotch Plains 65, Johnson 12

Jan. 23 Union County Tournament at Union

Senior Tristan Bundy champ at 125, wins first UCT title.

Scotch Plains 8th with 72 points.

Jan. 27 Brearley, 7 p.m.

Jan. 29 at Rahway, 6 p.m.

Jan. 30 at Elizabeth and also vs. Linden and Westfield, 9 a.m.

Feb. 3 at Roselle Park, 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 Chatham, 6 p.m.

Feb. 6 at Edison and also vs. Howell and Monroe, 11 a.m.

Feb. 13 at Watchung Hills and also vs. Middlesex, 9 a.m.

Feb. 19-20 District 11 at Westfield, 7 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Feb. 23 Region 3 at Union, 7 p.m.

Feb. 26-27 Region 3 at Union, 7 p.m., 9 a.m.

March 5-7 NJSIAA Tournament at Atlantic City