Record-setting Middle leads county effort at district wrestling tournaments

The Middle Township High School wrestling team enjoyed the finest regular season in program history this winter.

The start of the postseason sure isn’t bad, either.

The Panthers crowned three champions and qualified a total of seven wrestlers for the Region 8 Tournament in the program’s best-ever showing at a district tournament Saturday.

Romeo Rodriguez (126 pounds), Gary Nagle (170) and Austin Cominsky (195) each earned championships at the District 30 Tournament at Clearview Regional High School. In addition, Karl Giulian (160) placed second and Carson Haas (145), Giovanni Berardis (182) and Kyle Matthews (220) all placed third. The top three place winners in each weight class qualify for regions.

There were individual records set as well. Nagle became the first career 100-win wrestler, picking up the milestone victory with his 9-2 win over Mark Mansour of Egg Harbor Township in the 170-pound title bout. He won a district championship for the second straight year. And Rodriguez set a new program record for victories in a season, improving to 38-2 after his win by fall in 3:43 over Cristian Smith of EHT. Rodriguez had trailed by as many as six points before a reversal led to his pin.

Four other Cape May County wrestlers have advanced to the Region 8 Tournament. Lower Cape May, which also competed in District 30, has sent three wrestlers through. Dominic Robertson (113) and Josh Antorino (Hwt.) each lost in the title bout in their respective weight classes to finish second. And Wesley Tosto (106) won by fall in the third period in the third-place bout.

Ocean City had one wrestler advance out of the District 29 Tournament, which was held at Kingsway. Nick Sannino (195) lost in the championship bout to finish second.