RFH Wrestlers Jack Kelly and Max Brignola
CONTRACT PENDING
12 JUNE 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
Claim Region Titles
BY LES PIERCE
In 2020, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School wrestlers Jack Kelly
and Max Brignola emerged as District 18 champions. However, they both
fell short of going on to claim gold at the Region 5 tourney, with Brignola
taking silver and Kelly picking up bronze.
District championships were not held this year due to the pandemic. In
-
petition. RFH wrestling encountered a COVID-19 suspension which limited
seniors went on to capture Region titles.
Kelly was a dominant force through the tournament, winning all four
period against the 182-pound Bulldog grappler. His total mat time over the
four matches was just 3:57.
He pinned Vincent Brito, of Hunterdon Central, at 1:02 in the preliminary
round. St. Joseph’s Brian Christie was able to last eight seconds longer
just 44 seconds to dispatch 2020 District 21 champion Brendan Newbury, of
The Penn State-bound senior went on to take third place in the NJSIAA
Rumson-Fair Haevn Regional High School wrestler Jack Kelly was a dominant force through
the District 18 tournament, winning all four of his matches via the pin.
State Championship, the highest level at the states ever achieved by a
100-win milestone due to the abbreviated schedule.
“Jack Kelly made incredible improvement during his high school
career,” stated eighth-year Head Coach Bryan Heller. “He put in a tremendous
amount of work and focused on getting better. He is a super
athlete and is very aggressive on the mat. That combination, with prop-
the mat. I look forward to following his career at my alma mater, Penn
State."
Max Brignola nearly matched Kelly’s dominance scoring three
pins among his four tournament victories.
Brignola began his trek through the brackets by pinning Alejandro
Lopez, of Hopewell Valley, at 2:31. Middletown South’s Owen Fitzgerald
was able to hang on to the 4:57 mark before being counted out.
Brignola pinned Paul Jakub, of Howell, at 5:28 in the semi to punch his
-
the NJSIAA State Championships.
He closed out his high school career with 126 victories, placing
him third on the RFH wins roster. He may have been able to take over
the top spot held by Nick Addison (139 wins) if a full season was held.
Brignola will continue his academic and athletic pursuits at Lehigh University.
"Max Brignola has a wrestling IQ that is higher than most high
school wrestlers,” Heller said. “He understands the intricacies of posi-
pace and gas tank are a testament to the effort he puts into training.
He always put in extra on and off the mat, which lead to his growth
throughout his high school career. I am excited to watch Max continue
his career at Lehigh University."
Junior Shay Addison (170) and freshman Hudson Skove (195)
earned silver medals.
,
Betsy O’Connor
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