Wrestler

Pitman's Mike Bellocchio was treated at South Jersey Hospital Systems-Elmer Division early yesterday and released after suffering a concussion and neck injury in Wednesday night's wrestling match, according to his coach, Wayne Murschell. "Mike was real tender in the neck area and complaining of pain," Murschell said. "X-rays were taken, and everything was OK. The doctors advised him not to go to school [yesterday]. "He's still shaken up, and his eyes were real dilated when I saw him. " Bellocchio was released from the hospital at 12:30 a.m. yesterday.

George Mason University junior Rob Becker, a Clearview High graduate, is the 19th-ranked collegiate wrestler in the nation in the 149-pound weight class. Becker won all four of his matches last weekend to improve his overall record to 15-4 and earn the national ranking by InterMat, an authoritative Internet site. Becker has placed in each of the tournaments in which Mason has competed, finishing second in the Beast of the East College Invitational, fourth in the East Stroudsburg Open, and seventh in the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational.

Spring-Ford's Tom Ingram continued to warm his game for the upcoming PIAA state meet by winning the 171-pound championship in impressive fashion last night at the Class AAA Southeastern Regional at Norristown. The undefeated junior saw most of his opponents duck him this winter; after Christmas, he had but three live bouts before the tournament season began. But Ingram, now 35-0 on the season, looked sharp in decking Neshaminy's Vic Hilleart in 3 minutes, 5 seconds to capture his second straight regional title.

After a wrestler places an impressive sixth in the state at 119 pounds in the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament, other achievements may not have the same luster. Especially when they have a quality of inevitability to them. That was the case for Phoenixville senior Jason Meister on Dec. 28, when he attained the 100-victory mark for his career, becoming he first wrestler in his school's history to achieve the status. Meister, who is 13-0 this season at 130 pounds and owns a career record of 103-19, downplayed the achievement by noting that, in the past, freshmen often did not compete on the varsity level.

University of Minnesota champion wrestler Brock Lesnar is joining the World Wrestling Federation, the school announced yesterday. Lesnar signed a multiyear contract that starts Aug. 1 when he reports to Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Ky., to join the WWF talent development program. Lesnar won the national championship this past season in the 285-pound weight class and posted a 31-1 record. The two-time All-America also won his second consecutive Big Ten title and led the Golden Gophers in pins with 15. "It's just what I'm looking for," Lesnar said.

The scholastic 110-pound folkstyle wrestling championship at the Keystone State Games came down yesterday to two William Tennent athletes - sophomore Brian Crognale and senior Mike Phillips, both of Warminster. In a tough match, Crognale scored an escape in the third period to emerge with a 3-2 victory, the gold medal and a new-found confidence for the coming year. "It does feel good to beat a good high school varsity wrestler like Mike," said Crognale. Quakertown's John Hangey also took a gold, at 185 pounds, decisioning Joe Hilferty of West Chester, 11-0.

Zeke Jones made a surprise visit to the U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling Central regional qualifier in Coraopolis, Pa., with one goal - to keep an opponent from qualifying for the Olympic Trials. "I came to beat Sam Henson," said Jones, who already had qualified for next month's trials. "I didn't have to enter this tournament, but I figured if I beat him now, I wouldn't have to worry about him at the trials. " It was mission accomplished for the second-ranked Jones, who eliminated the third-ranked Henson, 5-4, in the 114.5-pound final Saturday.

Former Unionville wrestling standout Zack Leathers achieved all-American honors by finishing fifth in the 149-pound class at the NCAA Division II championships last month in Mankato, Minn. The Shippensburg junior opened the tournament by losing to eventual national champion Anthony Jiron of Western State (Colo.), 8-2. But he rebounded to win his next three consolation-round matches before being pinned by Ryan Ickes of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. He took fifth by pinning Jeremy Roe of South Dakota State.

Olympic wrestling champion Rulon Gardner was listed in fair condition yesterday after surviving a frigid night in Wyoming's backcountry. Family members said Gardner was being treated for frostbite. It was unclear how long he would remain hospitalized at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. Temperatures Thursday night dipped to 20 degrees below zero in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, where Gardner got stuck in deep snow while snowmobiling with three friends.

Doctors said yesterday it's too early to tell if South Jersey professional wrestler Darren "The Droz" Drozdov will regain use of his legs after he suffered a fractured neck in a match in Uniondale, N.Y., Tuesday. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound wrestler underwent three hours of surgery Wednesday to relieve pressure on his damaged neck, said orthopedic surgeon Dr. Laurence Mermelstein, of the Nassau County Medical Center. The 30-year-old wrestler was hurt during a match with D'Lo Brown in the Nassau Coliseum.

Steve Wheatcroft , who narrowly qualified for the Houston Open at the start of the week, ran off three straight birdies early in his round for a second straight 5-under 67 and a 1-shot lead over D.A. Points and Jason Kokrak going into the weekend at Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas. Rory McIlroy also will be around for two more days, but just barely. He made the cut on the number. TENNIS: David Ferrer reached the final at the Sony Open, rallying from a break down in the third set Friday to beat Tommy Haas , 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, in Key Biscayne, Fla. The No. 3-seeded Ferrer's opponent Sunday will be 2009 champion Andy Murray , who defeated No. 8-seeded Richard Gasquet , 6-7 (3-7)

Wrestler of the Year 138 pounds Joe Galasso, Father Judge The junior won the Class AAA title at 138 pounds, becoming the lone PIAA state champion from the area this season. After winning his league, district, and regional tournaments, Galasso earned a 3-1 overtime decision against Central Dauphin senior Tyson Dippery in the state finals. Galasso's status as wrestler of the year is only fitting, as he beat some top wrestlers this season. Galasso won an 11-3 major decision against Central Bucks East junior Francesco Fabozzi on Dec. 15. He defeated Norristown junior Mike Springer, 7-4, on Jan. 20. In the state quarterfinals, Galasso handed Council Rock North senior John Dutrow his first loss of the season, 5-2. Galasso lost to 2012 Fila Cadet world champion Zain Retherford on Dec. 29 and then went on a 33-match win streak that extended his record to 45-4.

Entering the final season of his wrestling career, Haddon Heights heavyweight Alex Thompson was a far cry from being a state-championship favorite. His resume included just one District 28 championship and a first-round loss in last year's state tournament, all while wrestling for a program still trying to make a name for itself in the state. Perhaps he surprised everyone but himself. By working hard in the offseason and putting in extra time in practice, Thompson not only took home the heavyweight title in last weekend's state championships, but he also dominated this season.

Entering the final season of his wrestling career, Haddon Heights heavyweight Alex Thompson was a far cry from being a state championship favorite. His resumé included just one District 28 championship and a first-round loss in last year's state tournament, all while wrestling for a program still trying to make a name for itself in the state. Perhaps he surprised everyone but himself. By working hard in the offseason and putting in extra time at practice, Thompson not only took home the heavyweight title in last weekend's state championships, he dominated this season.

ATLANTIC CITY - Paulsboro's Ron Gentile was 23 seconds away from losing a chance at a state championship. After squandering a late 6-4 lead on an escape and a takedown by Livingston's Jason Estevez, Gentile found himself down on the mat and trailing by a point late in a 132-pound state semifinal Saturday at Boardwalk Hall. But Gentile (38-1) pulled off a reversal to take the lead and went on to win, 11-7, and advance to Sunday's NJSIAA finals. "You know, down or not, you have to wrestle all six minutes as hard as you can," Gentile said.

HERSHEY, Pa. - Father Judge's Joe Galasso did not know what to do. Galasso took down Central Dauphin's Tyson Dippery in overtime Saturday night at the PIAA state wrestling tournament to clinch a Class AAA championship at 138 pounds, 3-1. After he paid his respects to his opponent, Galasso sprinted toward his coach and spontaneously leaped into his arms. "He was more ready for it than I was," said Galasso, a junior. "That's the first time I ever ended up on top. " Galasso, swarmed by friends and showered with praise in the Giant Center tunnel, left his constantly buzzing phone for later, savoring the postmatch excitement.

HERSHEY, Pa. - Father Judge's Joe Galasso did not know what to do. Galasso took down Central Dauphin's Tyson Dippery in overtime Saturday night at the PIAA state wrestling tournament to clinch a Class AAA championship at 138 pounds, 3-1. After he paid his respects to his opponent, Galasso sprinted toward his coach and leaped into his arms. "He was more ready for it than I was," said Galasso, a junior. "That's the first time I ever ended up on top. " Galasso, swarmed by friends and showered with praise in the Giant Center tunnel, left his constantly buzzing phone for later, savoring the postmatch excitement.

Brandon Keller walked alone along the beaches of Atlantic City one year ago, trying to comprehend exactly what had just happened. The Timber Creek wrestler was deadlocked, 1-1, with South Plainfield's Scott DelVecchio with just 20 seconds remaining in the 132-pound state final. Then he was taken down. Keller, a junior at the time, lost the title bout, 3-1, after placing fifth in states the season before and finishing seventh in his freshman year. After winning his third straight Region 8 title, Keller had come up short once again.

Beginning on Thursday, the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa., will be transformed from the regular venue for Hershey Bears ice hockey into a mecca of Pennsylvania high school wrestling for the PIAA Class AAA championships. Wrestling people will take over the 10,500-seat multipurpose arena. Officials will organize, parents will cheer (and boo), and wrestlers will grapple for a chance at a state title. The championships will begin at 4 p.m. Thursday with the first round of three days of competition to decide the state's best wrestlers.

Joe Galasso of Father Judge won the 138-pound championship with a technical-fall win over Parkland's Josh Ortman in the Northeast Regional Class AAA wrestling tournament Saturday at Bethlehem Liberty. Galasso won the match, 23-8, in 4 minutes, 38 seconds. He was the only District 12 wrestler to earn a regional title. Galasso, a junior, has registered 38 wins and lost just four times this season. Eight of those wins have been technical falls, and 21 have come by pin. Only two area wrestlers in the regional qualified for the state tournament.