Unbeaten Westfield wrestling defeats Rahway, 43-22

Westfield appeared to be on its way after winning four of the first six matches with pins on the night. However, as large as its lead was, it suddenly shrank from double digits to single digits.

Rahway, which was trailing early, got back in the match behind a thunderous crowd and pins from Joshua Darisme (220) and Kayelon Francois (106) and just like that, the Indians were closing in on an unbeaten Westfield team.

The Blue Devils needed to give each other a boost in the face of adversity.

Westfield found a way to withstand the Rahway rally, but not as much through pins, but also through a sense of teamwork and pushing everyone. The Blue Devils buckled down and grinded out three matches to secure bonus points, capturing nine points over a span of three matches later as they defeated Rahway 43-22 Friday night in Rahway.

Westfield improved to 6-0 on the season, while Rahway fell to 8-2.

On the night, the value of teamwork was echoed amongst the players and coaches when it looked tough for Westfield.

“Everyone was looking out for each other,” said 160-pounder Mike Price said. “You saw one guy not do well and then you went out and thought, ‘I’ve got to get bonus points so the pressure’s not on the guy after me.’ When I went out there, I knew I had to get as many bonus points on the board as possible and that pushed me and I know it’s pushing other kids on the floor too.”

Westfield, which took control of the UCC-Watchung Division, saw success from several wrestlers earlier on in the match. Anthony Ciotta (138), Price (160), Jordan Simpson (170) and Tim Miller (182) all won their matches to power their team early.

However, in the later stages of the match, the bonus points counted when it mattered most. Quinn Gimblotte (113), Luke Hoerle (120) and Jordan Silber (132) were able to battle through three rounds to give their team the cushion needed to secure the victory in the end.

“We just tell the individuals to go out and worry about yourself and win your matches,” Westfield coach Glen Kurz said. “Coming up at the end there after heavyweight, we were really confident. We knew what we had left. When we got some key wins at 152 and 160, (around) that area and when Brandon Loder won, that’s when we really felt good. We weren’t worried about the scoreboard up top.”

Westfield also earned six points via a forfeit at 126 to extend its lead to 40-22.

“We discussed pushing each other and wrestling like a team,” Simpson said. “Wrestling is an individual sport, so Coach (Kurz) was telling us that we have to wrestle like as a team and in those close matches, we have to push through and I feel like some of our teammates did that to win those matches.”

Westfield, which hopes to keep its record unbeaten while holding on to a lead in the conference, has its eyes set on continuing its impressive start to the season.

“Some people say (wrestling) is an individual sport and it is on some level,” Kurz said. “But with this team, one of the things we wanted to do tonight, (with this being) the first time we were tested, we wanted to make sure that we would wrestle as a team. Some places, we did and other places, we didn’t. It’s something we can build on.”