Three Middletown South Wrestlers
CAPTURE DISTRICT TITLES
TheJournalNJ.com | APRIL 2020 17
For the rst time in six years, Middletown South wrestlers have captured a
total of three individual titles at the District 19 championships. Soaring for
the Eagles were David Hussey (120), Owen Fitzgerald (152) and Jack Zaleski
(106). The three wins brings the number of District champs in the school’s
history to an even 100. South hosted the tournament and nished second in
team scoring to Delaware Valley.
Hussey, a freshman, was the rst to claim a title when he defeated junior
Lee Rubin, of Matawan, via a 3-1 decision in the 120-pound bracket nale. The
bout may have invoked an aura of déjà vu for both as they clashed in 2017
during their middle school careers. On that occasion, both wrestlers reached
the nal of the Shore Conference Middle School Wrestling Tournament. Hussey
prevailed in that meeting as well.
Fitzgerald captured the 152 crown with a 10-2 major decision over 31-
bout winner Mike Malucelli, of Marlboro. The junior started his day with a
quarternal pin of Delaware Valley’s Ben Brown at 4:16. He followed this up
with an 8-2 decision over Connor Johnson in the semi to advance to the nal.
Zaleski navigated through the 106-pound brackets via a pair of rst-period
pins. In the quarternal, he put Perth Amboy’s Jayden Hernandez on his
BY LES PIERCE
David Hussey in the 120 nal against Lee Rubin
Owen Fitzgerald controls Marlboro’s Mike Malucelli.
back at just 1:09. He logged in just 1:31 of mat time before pinning Richard
Gomez, of Matawan, in the semi to advance to the nal.
In the championship nal, Zaleski grasped the crown with a 4-0 shutout
decision over 34-bout winner Harrison Gordon, of Marlboro. Zaleski and Hussey
are both members of the freshman class. Prior to their victories at this tourney,
the last South freshman to win a District title was Blair Tugman in 1995.
The Regions are the next level of competition, where District champions
and medalists compete. Zaleski went on to strike gold at the Region 5 tournament
as well. He pinned District 18 champion Henry Wilkinson, of Hunterdon
Central, promptly at 1:13 in the quarternal. He then shutout Dylan Acevedo,
of Sayreville, in the semi by a 6-0 tally. In the Region 106-pound nal, he was
matched again with Marlboro’s Harrison Gordon, this time prevailing via a
14-5 major decision. Zaleski is the rst South wrestler to take a Region title
since Nick Herring achieved that feat in 2012.
Eagles garnering bronze medals at the Districts were Michael Holland
(132), Nick Holland (145), Sean Fitzpatrick (170) and Jack Willi (182).
/TheJournalNJ.com
/oakhillacademy.com