High School Wrestling:
Eastern Downs Lenape in Semi-finals

Tuesday, February 15, 2000

By Vincent Lewis
SJSports Staff Writer

The first day of the NJSIAA wrestling playoffs began today with the South Jersey Group 4 pairings held at Eastern High School. All anticipation of a Lenape versus Eastern rematch came true when the Indians got past Brick Memorial in the quarterfinal action. An early start by the Vikings was enough to hold down Lenape and spoil any hopes of Eastern losing twice to the Indians. Eastern will host the Group 4 finals against Washington Township on Thursday.

The stands were filled with fans, both sides having the confidence that their team was ready to defeat one another in chase of that group championship. Lenape got a taste of victory when they defeated Brick, 37-30, in the quarterfinal match. Forty minutes later, they were going up against a well rested and determined Vikings wrestling team in the quarterfinal match.

With the 135-lb matchup being the featured match, Lenape's Chris Roswell going up against Eastern's Jordan Hicks. There were five other matches that led up the meeting between the two. Clinton Hicks gave Eastern a 9-3 lead after he pinned Anthony Massey with just fifty-five ticks off the clock in the second period. Now holding a 16-3 lead after Sean Giberson's major decision over Zach Worrell, Roswell and Jordan Hicks were on the mat.

The junior wrestler from Lenape owns an impressive record in his wrestling class. Right behind him was the sophomore Hicks who managed to take an early 2-0 lead after the first period. But the two evenly matched wrestlers knew it was still anyone's meet. The match between the two ended with Hicks holding on to a 3-2 decision over Roswell and sent the Vikings bench leaping out of their seats.

The Vikings went on to pin down the victory, 37-19 and advance to the finals. Eastern's Greg Wrenn pinned Matt Gaskins to end the meet. Next, the Vikings will host the championship against the Minutemen, which looks to be an excellent Olympic conference match.

Photos by Art Redd