Season Ends for Parsippany, Par Hills Wrestlers

The and  entered Day 2 of the Region 3 Tournament at Union High School Saturday with a combined four wrestlers vying for a top-three finish and a ticket to the New Jersey High School Wrestling Tournament in Atlantic City.

At the end of the day, both teams saw their seasons end as all four wrestlers were eliminated in the consolation wrestlebacks.

For Parsippany High, seniors Patrick Fales (189 pounds) and James Morgan (171) each lost in the consolation semifinals, while fellow senior Phillip Tomaro (140) saw his season end in the consolation quarterfinals.

“I think they all wrestled well, but we came up a little short,” Parsippany head coach Fred Piotrowsky said. “The competition is really tough here this year. I think it’s even better than it’s been over the past five years.”

Fales, who compiled a 26-10 record this season, rebounded from a quarterfinal round loss to Roselle Park’s Connor Gabriel to stop Westfield’s Kieran Cline with a second period pin in the consolation quarterfinals.

In the consolation semifinals, Fales wasn’t as successful as he dropped an 8-5 decision to Elizabeth’s Maurice McCullers, ending his season.

“Seeing where Fales was starting and knowing his ability level prior to this, I think he had a real good senior year,” Piotrowsky explained. “He came up a little short there against a kid that’s a pretty tough wrestler.”

Morgan followed the same path as Fales, as he came back from a loss in the quarters to Boonton’s Marlon Duque to stop Summit’s Anthony Iarussi in the consolation quarterfinals.

Morgan's season though ended in the consolation semifinals when he fell to Governor Livingston’s Shane Haddad.

“We thought he would do exactly what he did today,” Piotrowsky said. “He gives you 100 percent, but again, that weight class is pretty tough.”

Tomaro lost his final two matches, as he dropped a quarterfinal-round match to  Brearley’s Nick Lospinoso, followed by a 6-0 loss to Watchung Hills’ Mike DeVito in the consolation quarters.

Par Hills saw its one remaining wrestler’s season end in the consolation quarterfinals, as senior Mike Alessandra dropped a 6-0 decision to Millburn’s Gabe Gordon early on Saturday.

Alessandra found himself relegated to the consolation wrestlebacks after he lost an 8-0 decision to Cranford’s JP Christiano in Friday’s quarterfinals.