After Friday's pre-quarterfinal round, Madison wrestling head coach Steve Healey proclaimed, "We're going to come in focused tomorrow and get the job done."
Well his wrestlers got the point as three of the five that advanced to Saturday's round wrestled in the finals, two taking home Morris County titles.
Starting things off was sophomore 103-pounder Patsy Davis. Davis, who defeated No. 1 seed Gennaro Cuccolo of Hanover Park in the semifinal round, faced fellow sophomore Jan Rosenberg of Morris Knolls in the finals.
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After a scoreless first period, the second showed much of the same as Rosenberg took the bottom position but did nothing from there. Davis tried his best to turn his opponent with a ball and chain, but was unsuccessful as the inactive Rosenberg was called for stalling.
"I just kept sticking with the ball and chain and I kept pushing because I knew he wasn't going to be able to get up with my pressure on him," Davis explained after the match.
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Davis took the bottom position in period three and was able to escape fairly easily taking a 1-0 lead. That lead would be all he needed as he took home his first county title.
"I knew I could escape in the third period. I knew he was going to try and throw legs right away and I saw it coming," Davis added. "I feel great."
And he should, as impressively, Davis was unscored upon throughout the tournament.
Up next was 145-pounder Ryan Colwell who after defeating Mark Fleming of West Morris, headed to a rematch of last year's county final–a match that Colwell lost– facing Rob Smith of Randolph.
"Colwell asked me what weight Smith was going this year and that he wanted to be seeded in that weight class so he could have a shot at him again," Healey said.
And he wrestled like it as he controlled the match from the opening whistle.
In the first period Colwell was able to take a 2-0 advantage from his feet using a knee tap that almost ended in putting Smith on his back.
In the second period Smith was able to escape from the bottom position but again, Colwell used a knee tap to take Smith down. This time, Smith went to his back and the Dodger secured a 6-1 lead.
In the third period with the score 6-2, Colwell took the bottom position and easily escaped. For much of the third period Colwell limited Smith's opportunities in the middle of the mat, showing great mat awareness.
Smith was able to get a takedown, but Colwell was just too strong to be stopped, walking away with the 8-4 win.
"He took care of the job," Healey said.
Also in the finals was senior 152-pounder Christian Mazzocchi, who surprised everyone as he dominated No. 1 seed Ryan Harrington of Mendham, 10-5, in the semis before facing Mike Intile of Montville in the finals.
"It was impressive enough just that he got to the final with who he beat. He pinned Vasile of Jefferson, who's a very good wrestler and Harrington. ... A lot of people came up to me after that match saying how impressed they were with his wrestling," Healey said
It looked like Mazzocchi was ripe for yet another upset as he took a 2-0 lead going into the third period.
Intile took bottom in the third and escaped making the score 2-1. Mazzocchi did his best to avoid a takedown for the rest of the period but with less than 10 seconds remaining and the two wrestlers tied up, Intile used a modified duck under to get a last second 3-2 victory.
"Intile is a quality wrestler and he had him beat," Healey said. "Unfortunately, he came up with that last takedown."
Also placing for Madison was 160-pounder Anthony Costa (sixth).
