The Hopewell Valley Junior Bulldog wrestling team began their season this week.
January 18, 2009
The Hopewell Valley Junior Bulldogs competed in Mercer County Youth Wrestling League Tournament last Sunday afternoon. For the third year in a row the tournament was held at Rider University and included a wrestling clinic for all attendees by the Apache Wrestling Club. Almost 300 individual wrestlers in grades K - 8 from Ewing, Hamilton, Hopewell Valley, Hightstown, Robbinsville, Trenton, and West Windsor participated in the event. “Wrestling in Mercer County continues to grow in both popularity and overall skill; today county wrestlers complete with some of the best programs in the Mid-Atlantic” said Rick Anderson league president.
Overall of Junior Bulldogs faired very well take 15 gold medals, 13 silvers, and 5 bronzes on the day. Eric Barbera got the Bulldogs started with an impressive first period pin of a Robbinsville opponent in rout to his gold medal. Experience wrestlers Mike Markulec, Ryan Dajczak, Sean Kent, Jacob Gordon, and Josh deDufour dominated their respective brackets, recording two pins each and earning gold medals for the team. In the most exciting match of the afternoon Ryan Norris battled back from a six point defect in the third period to best a tough West Windsor wrestler in his bracket final. Jacob Venezia, Martin Flory, Joshua Henderson, Jesse Meer, Eric Osterman, Justin Venezia, Chris DeClerico, and Brendan Murphy all also won gold for the Junior Bulldogs.
Next up for the Junior Bulldogs is a Delaware River League match verse Solebury and Trenton next Sunday, January 25th, at Trenton High School.
December 14, 2008
Junior Bulldog Wrestlers Open Season With A Win
The Hopewell Valley Junior Bulldog kicked off their 2008-09 season with a strong performance versus Council Rock Sunday morning. Veteran wrestler Josh deDufour got the Junior Bulldogs started with a pin of a tough Council Rock opponent in the opening match. Mark Gerstacker and Jacob Gordon each posted four solid victories pacing the Junior Bulldogs 50 – 48 record on the day. First year wrestlers Dylan Markulec and Tyler Sobel each recorded a pair of victories in their first league competition. In one of the most exciting matches of the day, 5th grader Sean Nyce fought back from an early deficit to win a hard fought 12 – 11 victory over a strong Council Rock wrestler in the closing seconds of the third period.
The Junior Bulldogs have a pair of matches this coming weekend; the experienced wrestlers will compete in the Southeast PA Team Duals Tournament in Neshaminy and the rest of the team will take on the Truman Rams next Saturday morning at Truman High School. Practices are held Tuesday through Thursday in the auxiliary gym at Timberlane Middle School, no experience is necessary to participate.