(above) The Cranford PAL Youth Wrestling Team finished a historic season which saw them win both their regular season league title – finishing with an undefeated 15-0 record – and the team title in the end-of-season league tournament.
Cranford Central Jersey Youth Wrestling Team
Submitted by Joe Uglialoro
The Cranford Wrestling program is no stranger to success. From the PAL Youth program all the way to the High School Varsity team, there is little Cranford Wrestling has not accomplished. Yet this year’s Central Jersey Youth Varsity team did something special that has been matched only once in the program’s esteemed history – they won both the Central Jersey Youth Wrestling League regular season title with a perfect 15-0 record and captured the first place team title in the end-of-season conference tournament.
The Cranford CJ Youth Team, coached by Pete Scholz and Pat Daly, and consisting of Cranford wrestlers from Kindergarten through 6th grade, powered through their regular season schedule with 9 impressive victories of over 50 points. Even so, the regular season title came down to the final dual meet of the season when the 14-0 Cranford team faced a 13-1 Woodbridge team looking to repeat as league champions in a loud, packed, and heated Cypress Recreation Center in Woodbridge. Energized by dramatic wins by Eli Glover (85 lbs) and Owen Woodruff (95 lbs), and sealed with pins by Luke Scholz (100 lbs), Joe Acinapura (110 lbs), and Christopher Uglialoro (HWT), Cranford overcame an early deficit and walked away with a 54-36 victory, an undefeated regular season, and the league title.
5 days later the Cranford team looked to make history in the annual Central Jersey League Tournament held at Brearley High School in Kenilworth. This league tournament features over 230 wrestlers from all 15 Central Jersey Teams competing for the title in 19 weight classes. Cranford has won both the regular season title and this end-of-season tournament team title only once before. This year, the Cranford grapplers did not disappoint. After a long day of intense wrestling, Cranford made history, earning the team title with first place finishes by Ryder Conners (73), Luke Scholz (102), Joe Acinapura (110), and Christopher Uglialoro (HWT), and with many additional Cranford wrestlers finishing in the top five of their weight class.
A very special season built upon countless hours of practice, lots of sweat and tears, and a commitment to the Cranford Wrestling family is now over. What remains are the special memories and close relationships the boys have developed and a very bright future for the Cranford Wrestling program.
The Cranford Central Jersey Youth Wrestling Team by weight class is: Peter Scanielo (45), Oliver Goldblatt (50), Kellen MCabe (53), RJ Cordero (57), DJ Torsone (60), Logan Murray (63), Caleb Goldblatt (67), Joe Riccio (70), Ryder Connors (73), Michael Daly/Michael Valenza (77), Jared Acinapura (80), Eli Glover (85), Anthony Dispensa (90), Owen Woodruff (95), Luke Scholz (102), Joe Acinapura (110), Christopher Uglialoro (Heavyweight 1), and Tommy Norton (Heavyweight 2).
A very special thanks to Cranford Youth Wrestling Coaches Peter Scholz, Pat Daly, Kevin Murray, Gary Jones, and Gary Urbanski for the time, attention, and care they gave to boys.
