The following is from Hopatcong Youth Wrestling.

Hopatcong Youth wrestlers captured a huge Tri-County Wrestling League victory on 12/9/11 over Phillipsburg 46-45.

Off to a slow start, the Hopatcong wrestlers forfeited 50 lbs. Loses by Frankie Mastroeni at 55 & Mikey Mastroeni at 65 and another forfeit at 60lbs had the team down 24-0.

Brandon Olmstead at 70 got the team on the board with a huge Tech Fall to cut the lead 24-5.

Mason Veron at 75 was pinned to push the lead back up to 30-5. But what happened afterwards was a huge run by the Hopatcong wrestlers. They went a roll as they won 8 of the next 10 bouts to secure the win.

80lbs Anthony Mastroeni got it going with a pin. 85lbs Ray Smaha scored a major decision. 90lbs Anthony Smaha scored decision win. 96lbs Anthony Rodriguez received a forfeit. 102lbs Bart Yaros got a big pin to push the score tied 30-30.

11 lbs was forfeited by Hopatcong and 118lbs Jake Wilkerson lost a tough decision to put the score to 39-30 Phillipsburg.

126lbs Scott Prior may have had the match of the night. Prior a 1^st year wrestler was losing 11-2, Prior avoided getting pinned on 2 occasions. Late 3^rd period and his opponent was wearing down, Prior caught him for a pin and a victory. The entire Hopatcong bench and fans all went into hysteria realizing that the win cut the lead to 39-36 with only 3 matches remaining.

136lbs Brayan Rodriguez won via forfeit and Hopatcong takes the first lead 42-39. 146lbs Dylon Frazier won a tough battle that went into OT and Hopatcong is leading now 45-39. 165lbs was forfeited by Hopatcong to make the score 45-45.

The referee and the coaching staff all huddle around the scoring table to see who the winner would be. In an event of a tie the criteria to find a winner is who won the most head to head matches. Well Hopatcong won 9 out of the 17 matches and were awarded the 1 point for criteria and the victory 46-45.

Next match is against perennial powerhouse Hanover Park on 12/20/11 at Hanover Park. Good luck boys!