Brick Memorial Edges Toms River South to Reach SCT Semifinals

The pain was evident on Cliff Ruggiero’s face.

The Brick Memorial wrestler was twisted beyond natural flexibility, his right knee touching his ear, unable to move, completely at the mercy of his opponent, B.J. Clagon of Toms River South.

But the pain turned to anger, and Ruggiero exploded, breaking free of Clagon’s hold and putting the Indians’ junior on the mat, earning a reversal and firing up the crowd at Brick Memorial High School. He got out of the bout against Clagon, a state finalist last year, giving up just a major decision, and four bouts later Tyler Richardson put South's Anthony Ravallo to his back in 37 seconds, lifting Brick Memorial to a 32-24 victory on Thursday night and advancing the Mustangs to the semifinals of the Shore Conference Tournament.

The Mustangs have won the SCT 12 times, their last title coming in 2008. Brick Memorial had advanced to the quarterfinal with a 47-12 victory over Freehold Township in the Round of 16 earlier in the night, while Toms River South beat Jackson Liberty, 50-11.

When Ruggiero took the mat against Clagon at 138 pounds, there was an air of nervousness in the gym. Brick Memorial was leading 23-12 at that point, after Alec Donovan, a freshman, fought off Matt Theobold and only allowed him to win by decision, 8-2. Clagon, who was a state finalist last year, and the two wrestlers following him for Toms River South, Garrett Applegate at 145 and Ken Theobold at 152, were expected to make it a very close match.

“The last time I wrestled him, I got teched,” Ruggiero said of their meeting at The College of New Jersey Pride tournament in December, where Clagon scored a technical fall against him. “I wanted to do better.”

The moment when Clagon forced his knee to his ear, holding Ruggiero there, fired him up.

“I was really mad,” Ruggiero said. “I was calling for injury time and they didn’t give it, so I was mad. It gave me energy.”

And it gave his teammates energy, too. His brother, Sam, was trailing 12-3 late in his bout against Applegate when he surprised Applegate and caught him as he tried to force Sam Ruggiero to his back. Sam Ruggiero twist and put Applegate on his back for a two-point reversal, eliminating the bonus points. Evan Berti stayed off his back against Ken Theobold, losing 5-0.

Then Nick Costa rallied from a 6-2 deficit with less than 20 seconds left at 160 pounds, scoring a takedown and a two-point nearfall to overcome Nick Osborne, 8-6, giving Brick Memorial a 26-20 lead, setting up Richardson for the dramatic ending. It was was made more dramatic when Toms River South had two team points deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct after the coaching staff argued with the officials while Cliff Ruggiero was seeking assistance during injury time against Clagon.

“We were happy with the score after 106,” said Toms River South coach Ron Laycockm whose team trailed 16-6 at that point with its strongest wrestlers yet to take the mat. “We didn’t give up bonus points at heavyweight or 195, like we did the last time,” referring to the Jan. 4 meeting between the teams, which Brick Memorial won 36-27.

“This is one of the pros and cons of wrestling teams twice,” said Brick Memorial coach Dan O’Cone, who had tried to pull out of the SCT this year for that reason, but was refused permission. “You have to give them credit,” O’Cone said. “They came with a totally different game plan this time, the perfect gameplan.”

O’Cone said his team responded well to the challenges presented by the changes Toms River South put up, citing Ruggiero, Connor Maliff (126) and Alec Donovan, who limited Matt Theobold to a decision at 132.

“They’re tough kids,” O’Cone said. “They’re competitors. Not giving up bonus points against big-time guys was huge.”

They will need to be tough competitors on Saturday, when Brick Memorial faces Jackson Memorial in the SCT semifinals at Long Branch High School. O’Cone said the Mustangs want and hope to win, but at the same time they are focused more on the state team tournament, which begins Feb. 4.

“For us, this is a repeat (of an earlier match),” O’Cone said. “We’re here to win, but our focus is on states.”

In the Round of 16:

Brick Memorial 47, Freehold Township 12: Brick Memorial opened the match against Freehold Township with three straight pins by Tyler Richardson (170), Anthony Miller (182) and Matt Moore (195) and never looked back in knocking the Patriots out of the tournament.

Sean Stephenson at 120 and Cliff Ruggiero also pinned for the Mustangs in the match, which gave coach Dan O’Cone his 200th career win.

Toms River South 50, Jackson Liberty 11: Mike Russo’s 2-0 decision over the Indians’ Brandon Murray at 106 was the last one for the Lions, as Toms River South won the remaining eight bouts to cruise to the victory.