Middle takes Palmyra tournament title behind 4 individual champs

Four Middle Township High School wrestlers won individual titles at the Palmyra Holiday Tournament Friday, leading the Panthers to the team title. Pictured are (from left) Austin Cominsky, Romeo Rodriguez, coach Matt Wolf, Gary Nagle, Carson Haas, assistant coach John Mallett.

Coach Matt Wolf thought this season’s version of the Middle Township High School wrestling team had a chance to be one of the best in program history.

The results from Friday’s tournament at Palmyra High School certainly wouldn’t refute that idea.

Middle produced four individual champions and had three other wrestlers finish in third place en route to winning the 10-team Palmyra Holiday Tournament. Middle scored 140 points to finish comfortably ahead of Holy Cross (119), Pennsauken (108.5), Pemberton (100.5) and five other schools.

Middle senior Austin Cominsky took home the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler Award after winning the title at 195 pounds. He won by a 15-5 major decision in the championship bout over Pemberton’s Alex Cawley, a state qualifier last year.

Romeo Rodriguez (126), Carson Haas (145) and Gary Nagle (170) also won individual championships for Middle. It was the second tournament titles this season for Rodriguez, Nagle and Cominsky, who also won their weight classes at the George Maier Invitational at Haddon Heights on Dec. 16.

Cristian Cortes-Lopez (138), Gavin Gomez (152) and Karl Giulian (160) each posted third-place finishes for Middle. Giovanni Berardis (182), Kyle Matthews (220) and Ryan Nagle (Hwt.) each finished fourth.

The team championship is just the second in program history at an in-season tournament. Middle’s only other team title came at the Buc Classic at Red Bank Regional High School in 2013.

Friday marked the first time in program history that Middle produced four individual champions at the same tournament.

— Brian Cunniff