EGG HARBOR TWP. - Brian Ceaser wanted to make friends.
So he started pinning people.
"Wrestling helped me get known in the school," Ceaser said. "I had friends right away because I was a wrestler. I had that family bond with the other wrestlers."
Ceaser still is something of a new kid at Highland. He has been at the school in the Black Horse Pike district only since the middle of October.
But he has made a name for himself on the mat. He continued an impressive season with the second-fastest pin of the opening round of Region 8 competition Wednesday night at Egg Harbor Township.
"I just kept telling myself, 'I can't make this my last match,' " Ceaser said. "That's all I had in my head, 'You have to advance.' "
As 112 wrestlers from Districts 29, 30, 31, and 32 tumbled on three mats for the right to advance to Friday night's quarterfinals, Ceaser unfurled one of the most impressive performances of the crowded competition. It certainly was one of the quickest.
Ceaser, a senior 120-pounder, pinned Clayton/Glassboro junior Cory Jacobs in 1 minute, 10 seconds. It was Ceaser's 12th pin of the season, including falls in five of his first six bouts.
Ceaser, the No. 7 seed who improved his record to 23-6, advanced to face second-seeded Billy Ward of Buena, the District 32 champion, in Friday night's quarterfinals.
"He's in a tough weight class," Highland coach Mike Davidson said of Ceaser. "But if he keeps wrestling like this . . ."
Ceaser has been strong all season for the Tartans. He has been a mainstay of a program that is rebuilding in an effort to bridge the gap between the glory days of the past and the promising future represented by the resurgent Highland youth program.
Ceaser and junior heavyweight Martel Harrisson, who won the District 30 title and had a bye Wednesday night, are the only two Highland wrestlers still competing this season.
Davidson, a former Highland wrestler and first-year head coach, had no problem making Ceaser one of his captains despite Ceaser's lack of familiarity with the program - or with the wrestlers in the room.
"He's just a tough kid," Davidson said. "He's a physical, in-your-face wrestler."
Ceaser said it was a big deal to be named a captain.
"That made me feel really good," Ceaser said. "I didn't even know that many kids, and when I was made captain, kids started looking up to me."
Ceaser said he moved to Blackwood with his father. He spent his previous three years at Donegal High in Lancaster County, Pa.
Ceaser finished second at 113 pounds in the Tri-County Conference tournament and second at 120 pounds in District 30, losing to defending Region 8 champion and top seed Ricky Carter by pin in the third period.
"It was 3-0, and he was right there and he got stuck," Davidson said.
Ceaser is looking at another top wrestler on Friday night, as Ward is a two-time Region champion and a serious state-championship contender.
At this stage of the season, it doesn't get any easier. But advancing to the next round sure beats the alternative.
"That's what my coach keeps telling me, 'Advance,' " Ceaser said. "I don't know any of these guys I'm wrestling against. But I know they're good."
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
