Goldbacks compile 15-2 record in dual-meet season

By Mike Zummo
Posted 1/19/22

Jackson Merli didn’t have the momentum going overtime during his match with Minisink Valley’s Luke Greiner.

He didn’t need it.

Merli scored a takedown with eight seconds …

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Goldbacks compile 15-2 record in dual-meet season

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Jackson Merli didn’t have the momentum going overtime during his match with Minisink Valley’s Luke Greiner.

He didn’t need it.

Merli scored a takedown with eight seconds remaining to beat Greiner, 8-6, in a 145-pound bout to end the Newburgh Free Academy wrestling team’s night on a high note.

“I was just looking to get a clean angle and just get a quick takedown because I knew the kid was going to be tough,” Merli said. “He’s been pushing me all night. I was just looking for him to make one mistake. He made it and I capitalized.”

It was one of the few bright spots for the Goldbacks, as they were eliminated from the Section 9 Division I duals tournament by the Warriors, 58-6, on Wednesday at Minisink Valley High School.

“On paper, I had us possibly winning three matches,” Newburgh coach Chris Leggett. “The third match would have been Anthony Manzi, and we knew that was a toss-up.”

Manzi took the mat first for the Goldbacks but was pinned in 3:50 by the Warriors’ George Racz.

“That’s going to be a big match for the end of the season,” Leggett said.

All of Newburgh’s success on Wednesday belonged to the Merli brothers. With the Goldbacks trailing 33-0, eighth grader Cooper Merli got the Goldbacks on the board when he outlasted Joseph Uhrig, 5-0.

Jackson Merli is a senior and with Cooper joining the team this year, it’s the only year for the brothers to wrestle together on the varsity squad.

“He definitely makes it more fun,” Jackson Merli said. “The atmosphere and the rest of it is definitely more fun with him. He’s even pushing me because he knows a lot of stuff, too. It’s good having him. He helps me with stuff, and I help him with stuff. It’s pretty cool.”

But Jackson’s match was the highlight. He built a 4-1 lead in the first period with two takedowns.
That allowed him to survive Greiner’s comeback.

“He did a tremendous job of fighting off the other guys’ offense the entire match,” Leggett said.

Greiner scored a point on an escape, but Merli built a two-point lead in the third. However, Greiner scored a takedown with 7 seconds remaining to tie the match at 6-6 and steal the momentum.

“That definitely got the fans going on the Minisink side, but I knew that my condition was probably better, and I’d get him in overtime,” Merli said.

The Warriors went on to win the tournament with a 57-6 seed over No. 2 Monroe-Woodbury.

“We knew coming into it that they had one of the best teams in the state, and one of the top teams in the nation, as well,” Merli said. “So, we knew coming into it that everyone had to wrestle tough.”

But even with the loss, the Goldbacks have been exceeding expectations, coming off the lost season. Newburgh is 15-2 in dual meets so far this season.

But with the duals tournament behind them, the Goldbacks will turn toward the end of the season with an eye one the sectional tournament next month.

“That’s what we want,” Leggett said. “No matter how outmatched you are, just go out and give your best effort and let’s see where it lands.”

Section 9 Division I Duals Tournament
Wednesday
Semifinals

No. 1 Minisink Valley 58, No. 4 Newburgh 6
160: Zackary Ryder (MV) won by forfeit
172: George Racz (MV) pinned Anthony Manzi, 3:50
189: Michael Altomer (MV) def. Joseph Ponesse, 7-2
215: Ethan Gallo (MV) pinned Aiden Harrison, 1:55
285: Aiden Gove (MV) won by forfeit
102: Cooper Merli (NFA) def. Joseph Uhrig, 5-0
110: Wyatt Boice (MV) pinned Jordan Busby, 0:31
118: Sofia Macaluso (MV) won by forfeit
126: Anthony Tresch (MV) def. Matthew Mercado, 10-2
132: Zackary McKernan (MV) over Kevin Segali, 7-2
138: Liam Holmes (MV) pinned Ivan Duran, 1:09
145: Jackson Merli (NFA) def. Luke Greiner, 8-6
152: Eric Tigue (MV) won by forfeit

Tuesday

Quarterfinals
No. 4 Newburgh 54, No. 5 Washingtonville 21
152: Ibrahim Aljamal (W) def. Alec Grogan, 13-8
160: Anthony Manzi (NFA) pinned Justin Santambrosio, 0:58
172: Christopher Leggett (NFA) pinned Stanley Moldoch, 4:39
189: Joseph Ponesse (NFA) pinned Anthony DaSilva, 1:08
215: Justin Callahan (WS pinned Aiden Harrison, 5:47
285: Jake McVey (W) won by forfeit
102: Cooper Merli (NFA) won by forfeit.
110: Jordan Busby (NFA) pinned Vincent Garcia, 3:57
118: Jordan Cabrera (NFA) won by forfeit.
126: Matthew Mercado (NFA) pinned Nathaniel Popko, 3:21
132: Andrew Marchese (W) pinned Ivan Duran, 1:08
138: Kevin Segali (NFA) pinned Musa Aljamal, 3:02.
145: Jackson Merli (NFA) pinned Dominic Gennaro, 4:20

First Round
No. 4 Newburgh 46, No. 13 Goshen 18
145: Jackson Merli (NFA) pinned Dan Weeden 1:03
152: Alec Grogan (NFA) def. Henry Villodas, 10-7
160: Anthony Manzi (NFA) over Mario Lam by DQ

172: Christopher Leggett (NFA) won by forfeit.
189: Joseph Ponesse (NFA) def. Max Winkler, 4-2
215: Aiden Harrison (NFA) def. Kyle Kubik, 4-1
285: Dominick Siracusa won by forfeit.
102: Cooper Merli (NFA) won by forfeit
110: Jordan Busby (NFA) def. Joseph Minnies, 9-6
118: Jacob Perales (G) won by forfeit.
126: Matthew Mercado (NFA) def. Michael Lombardi, 14-4
132: Kevin Segali (NFA) pinned Jake Lederman, 5:23
138: Jackson Brady (G) pinned over Tyler Busby, 2:31