Thompson Wrestling Completes Season
in Challenging COVID-19 Environment
10 JUNE 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY LES PIERCE
When the school year began
last fall, there were serious
doubts that middle school
sports could be held. Area middle
school wrestling programs were postponed
several weeks as a safety precaution.
The strategy worked as the
Thompson wrestling squad was able
to complete an eight-match season in
good health.
Several schools were unable
weight classes. Due to this issue, it
was decided that there would be no
team scoring this season in the Middle
School Shore Conference League.
The absence of a team championship
opportunity was not an issue.
Continued improvement of the
athlete’s skills and preparation of
the eighth grade students for varsity
competition next year were the paramount
goals of 2021. Those goals
Michael Chappell, undefeated this season
were achieved – a major victory for every team in the conference.
Seventh grader Michael Chappell led the Lions with an undefeated
6-0 record wrestling at 100 pounds. He also led the squad in pins with
his aggressive approach, stamina and technique was unmatched this
Wrestling at 126 pounds was James Morello who went 4-1 with all
four victories via the pin. He graduates Thompson this spring, and the
coaching staff at Middletown High School South is looking forward to
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the philosophy of the program and showed it through his actions. He
James Cook posted a 5-1 record at 110 pounds and scored three
pins on the season. He is a three-year middle school wrestler and is also
Last year as a sixth grader, Tyler Alweiss was unable to break into
the lineup. Undaunted, he returned for the 2021 campaign and made
his as one of the most improved Thompson mat warriors. Anchoring the
105 slot, he went undefeated at 3-0 with every victory gained by ending
As a result, Thompson’s Ryan Romano saw limited action, with just two
mat appearances competing at 80 pounds. However, the rookie sixth
grader made the best of the situation, emerging victorious both times
always looking to be the hardest worker in the room and always looking
Other wrestlers achieving good records were Liam Curley (3-1), Michael
Oliveri (3-1) and Dylan Lynch (4-3).
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gram had to face unusual day-to-day decisions and follow guidelines
which, if not followed, could have negatively affected themselves and
many on the team. They stepped up tremendously for each other and
as a team in every way, whether it was in the practice room or during
competition. I feel the overall challenge of this season was to claim a bit
Under Rosner’s guidance, the Thompson program is now recognized
as one of the premiere high school wrestling feeder programs of
the Shore Conference. The Lions were Division Champions in 2018 and
2020 and captured the Middle School Shore Conference Tournament
Championship in 2018. The teams have posted a 38-3 record over the
past three years. Partnering with Rosner are Assistant Coaches Eric Cook
and Brian Winz.
/TheJournalNJ.com