Girls Program

Overall:  12-17  /  Shore Conference:  5-11  /  A-North:  3-4

 

2024Record: 12-17
CJG4 Sectional Qualifiers
3rd Place District 24
5th Place A-North
24th Place Shore Conference Tournament
Walter Woods Tournament Champion
5th Place TCNJ Pride Tournament

ShoreConferenceWrestling.com Wrestler of the Year
​(Sr) Vinny Kain - 138
Record: 37-5
2nd Place Region 6  /  District 24 Champions
Walter Woods Tournament Champion  /  TCNJ Pride Champion
Braves' 1st Region Finalist Since 2020

 

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2024 Season

 

NJSIAA STATE TOURNAMENT
WB3: Vinny Kain (138)

Senior Vinny Kain's season, and Manalapan career, came to an end at Boardwalk Hall on Friday. Kain picked up a pair of wins in the Wrestleback rounds, but ultimately fell a pair of wins short of a spot on the podium.

 

REGION 6 TOURNAMENT
Manalapan (1 Medal Winner)
2nd: Vinny Kain (138)
5th: Andrew Mucciolo (120) 
6th: Sergey Zavalnik (215)
WB1: Constantine Kilaras (190)
PQ: Anthony Mucciolo (144)  /  Ardit Gola (165)  /  Donny Tibbet (175)

Vinny Kain became the Braves' first wrestler to reach the Region finals since 2020, clinching a trip to Atlantic City and giving the Braves at least one State qualifier in each of the last eight seasons.

 

DISTRICT 24 TOURNAMENT
Manalapan  (3rd Place  /  2 Champs  /  7 Medal Winners)
1st: Vinny Kain (138)  /  Constantine Kilaras (190)
2nd: Andrew Mucciolo (120)  /  Donny Tibbet (175)  /  Sergey Zavalnik (215)
3rd: Anthony Mucciolo (144)  /  Ardit Gola (165) 

Vinny Kain became the 9th wrestler in program history to win three District Titles, and senior Constantine Kilaras won his first, giving the Braves 7 seasons in a row with multiple champions, and 12 in a row with at least one. The Braves upped their all-time total to 116 District Champions, which is 11th most in the Shore Conference.

Senior Andrew Mucciolo, a runner-up at 120, recorded his 100th career victory during the tournament, making him the 9th wrestler in program history to reach the century mark.

 

2/10: MANALAPAN QUAD
Holmdel  49  -  Manalapan  29  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan  34  -  Princeton  33  (BOX SCORE)
Long Branch  54  -  Manalapan  25  (BOX SCORE)

2/8: A-NORTH
Manalapan  47  -  Marlboro  21  (BOX SCORE)

2/7: NON-CONFERENCE
Manalapan  43  -  Old Bridge  35  (BOX SCORE)

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 4 SECTIONALS
QF: Jackson Memorial  40  -  Manalapan  27  (BOX SCORE)

2/3: MANALAPAN QUAD
#11 Raritan  43  -  Manalapan  26  (BOX SCORE)
Hightstown  39  -  Manalapan  36  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan  53  -  South River  12  (BOX SCORE)

1/31: NON-CONFERENCE
Manalapan  55  - Piscataway  15  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan: Andrew Mucciolo (26-2); Grant (18-8); Kain (24-2); Anthony Mucciolo (16-9); Kilaras (23-3)

1/29: A-NORTH
#5 Howell  66  -  Manalapan  6  (BOX SCORE)
Howell: 138 - Scafidi (#6 at 144) d. #5 Kain, 14-9; Hodgins (22-2); Colfer (21-1); Machnik (19-4); X Ortega (19-3); Johnston (17-7)
Manalapan: Kilaras (22-3); A Mucciolo (15-9)

1/27: MONTGOMERY QUAD
Manalapan  44  -  Montgomery  36  (BOX SCORE)
Bernards  43  -  Manalapan  22  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan  54  -  Fair Lawn  24  (BOX SCORE)

1/24: NON-DIVISION
Wall  55  -  Manalapan  18  (BOX SCORE)
Wall: DiStefano (22-3); Marsella (17-6); Waitzel (14-7); Carrillo-Solano (13-9); Wonsala (13-12)
Manalapan: Kain (21-0); Grant (14-7); Kilaras (21-3)

1/23: A-NORTH
#8 Middletown North  52  -  Manalapan  19  (BOX SCORE)
Midd North: Klinsky (22-2); Benbrook (17-6); Portman (17-8); Dwyer (14-11); Fearon (15-5)
Manalapan: Kain (20-0); Andrew Mucciolo (22-2); Kilaras (20-3)

1/20: WATCHUNG HILLS QUAD
Somerville  37  -  Manalapan  35  (BOX SCORE)
Watchung Hills  41  -  Manalapan  21  (BOX SCORE)
Monroe  32  -  Manalapan  26  (BOX SCORE)

1/18: A-NORTH
Manalapan  54  -  Freehold Twp  19  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan: Braves have won last 10 meetings; Bennett, Spezio, Andrew Mucciolo, Kain, Anthony Mucciolo, Pasquince, Gola, & Cosentino win by pin
Free Twp: Dubnik & Martinez win by pin; Grant majors

1/17: A-NORTH
Manalapan  57  -  Freehold Boro  18  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan: (Hwt) Bennett p. #8 Nieto; Kain (15-0); Andrew Mucciolo (17-2); Kilaras (15-3)
Freehold Boro: Stokes (13-5); Sheridan (12-6); Sweeney (11-6)

1/13: COLTS NECK QUAD
Colts Neck  47  -  Manalapan  23  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan 37  -  Lacey  33  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan  42  -  TR East  33  (BOX SCORE)

1/10: NON-DIVISION
Ocean Twp  47  -  Manalapan  21  (BOX SCORE)
Ocean Twp: Poniors majors in season debut; J Farina (15-1); B Volek (13-4); Penta (9-1); D Volek (12-6)
Manalapan: Kain (11-0); Andrew Mucciolo (13-2); Kilaras (11-3)

1/6: SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Manalapan -  24th Place
1 Medal Winner
3rd: Andrew Mucciolo (120)

The Braves have had at least one medal winner in each SCT. Andrew Mucciolo was the Braves' medal winner this season, placing 3rd for the second consecutive year.
 

12/30: WALTER WOODS TOURNAMENT 

Manalapan - 1st Place
1st: Gage Grant (132) / Vinny Kain (138)
2nd: Constantine Kilaras (190)
3rd: Andrew Mucciolo (126)
4th: Anthony Mucciolo (144) / Matt Giudice (150)
5th: Ardit Gola (165) / Donny Tibbet (175)
 

12/28: ROBBINSVILLE TRI
Rancocas Valley  39  -  Manalapan  36  (BOX SCORE)
Manalapan  49  -  Robbinsville  28  (BOX SCORE)
 

12/23: TCNJ PRIDE TOURNAMENT at Robbinsville
Manalapan - 5th Place
1st: Andrew Mucciolo (126) / Kain (144) / Kilaras (190)
2nd: Grant (132) / Bennett (Hwt)
3rd: Anthony Mucciolo (144)  
 

12/19: A-NORTH
CBA  55  -  Manalapan  19  (BOX SCORE)
CBA: Hughes, Coluccio, D Venet, T Venet, & Boyer pin; Sakoutis & Jakub tech
Manalapan: Kilaras pins; Kain majors
 

12/14: A-NORTH
Middletown South  53  -  Manalapan  21  (BOX SCORE)
Midd South: Pins: Willi, Smith, Goode, Sanzio, O'Reilly, Romano, Holland
Manalapan: Bonus: Kain (pin); Andrew Mucciolo (tech); Kilaras (major)

 

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2024 Manalapan Wrestling

CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE

Head Coach: James Somma (1st Season)
A-North / CJG4 / District 24 / Region 6

Where They Open: 12/14 vs Middletown South
 

James Somma, a former standout wrestler at Colts Neck, takes over the head coaching duties from Scott Pressman, who was at the helm for the Braves for the last 16 seasons. Somma, who served as an assistant under Pressman since the 2015-2016 season, inherits a team coming off a 26 win season, which is tied for the 2nd most dual wins in a season for the Braves.

Six starters, who combined for 153 wins last season, were lost to graduation, including a trio of State qualifiers in Anthony Vitola, Vincent DePierro, and Artem Reinikov-Jouk. There's some work to be done to replace that output, but the Braves have a strong core returning to help the process.

The strength of the lineup looks to be that stretch from 120-144. Andrew Mucciolo kicks that run off at 120. The senior, who has 64 career victories, led the team in wins last year with 37. He won his 2nd District title last season, and finished 5th in the Region. Another senior, Christian Spezio follows things up. Spezio went from a 1-9 season in 2022, to a 14-12 2023 season and a 2nd place finish at the Districts. Sophomore Gage Grant's 23 wins last season were the most for a Braves' freshman since Matt Benedetti won 27 back in 2017. Closing the run out are a pair of seniors in Vinny Kain and AJ Mucciolo. Kain is a 2-time District champ, while Mucciolo has a pair of District medals on his resume.

There will be a trio of new starters in the lineup in the 150-175 stretch, with senior Rene Manso, an 18-match winner in 2023, the lone holdover. 

A pair of seniors anchor the upperweights in Sergei Zavalnik and Constantine Kilaras. Zavalnik and Kilaras had breakout seasons last year, with Zavalnik going from an 0-5 record in 2022, to a 22-match winner and a 2nd place finish at the Districts in 2023, while Kilaras was 1-1 in his sophomore campaign to a 23-victory year and also finishing 2nd at Districts.

The Braves have a lot of proven talent returning, and may be able to win some duals just based on the contributions from that group. Their overall success though will likely depend on how much and how quickly the newcomers can impact the lineup. They'll host Middletown South on opening night, who they defeated last season 35-32 in a dual that came down to the final bout, before making the trip to Lincroft to face defending A-North champion CBA on December 19th. 

 

 

Possible Lineup

 

 

 

Manalapan High School
20 Church Lane
Englishtown, NJ 07726
(732) 792-7200
~ SCHOOL WEBSITE ~

Program Esablished
1973

Mascot
Braves

Colors
Scarlet, Navy, & White

Head Coach
James Somma
(1st Season in 2024)

Assistants
Andrew Burstyn
Paul Santomarco
AJ Sortino

Volunteers
Reggie Grant
Dan Rodriguez
Bob Seidel

Section
CJ Group 4

Division
A-North

District
18

Region
5

 

4 - Sectional Titles
Last: CJG5 in 2020

10 - District Team Titles
Last: D18 in 2023

3 - SCT Titles
Last: 2003

9 - Divisional Titles
Last: A-North in 2003

4 - State Champions
Last: Indra Sulijoadikisumo in 1992

25 - State Medalists
Last: Gavin Claro in 2021

26 - Region Champions
Last: John Appice in 2013

116 - District Champions
Last: Vinny Kain & Constantine Kilaras - 2024

2 - SCT Champions
Last: Matt Benedetti in 2020

8 - SCT Medalists
Last: Andrew Mucciolo - 2024

Career Wins Record - 146
Matt Benedetti
(2017-2020)

Season Wins Record - 43
Alex Baran
(2019)

Matt Benedetti
(2020)

 

 

 

 

 

NCAA All-Americans