St. Paul’s captures 15th wrestling title

Posted: Friday, December 21, 2012 1:00 am

By Chris Kinkaid St. Tammany News

Pictured is St. Paul’s wrestling team, which captured the St. Tammany Parish Championship Saturday at Pearl River. Wolves’ wrestlers captured eight of the 14 weight classes. Connor Campo, who took the 132s, was the outstanding wrestler. The rest of their firsts included Chris Meraux (120), Quinn Perret (126), David Englehardt (145), Dominic Iovenitti (152), Jordan Peterson (160), John Brands (182) and Zach Mangrum (285). Shown from left: Perret, Grant Landwehr, Matt Rader, Iovenitti, Campo, Englehardt, Peterson, Mangrum, Brands, Trey Leblanc, Meraux, Zach Clay, Colin Francis and Collin Kersker. (Photo by Keren Davis)

St. Paul’s Wolves were crowned the 2012 St. Tammany Parish Wrestling Champions for the fourth straight season 15th time in 17 tries.

Connor Campo was selected the outstanding wrestler in the event held Saturday. Campo, state champion for the 126-pound weight class last year, remained unbeaten at 13-0. He said he never won an outstanding wrestler award until this year and now he has his second. “I guess I have more confidence because of last year,” Campo said. “I don’t think about losing matches. I just go out there and do my best.”

Campo was champion of the 132-pound weight class after a 20-3 victory over Fontainebleau’s Gabe Gear in the finals. Northshore’s Ray Dupuy finished third.

St. Paul’s won the title with 226 points by 51 over second place Fontainebleau. Mandeville (147.5) took third, followed by Pearl River (91), Northshore (75), Covington (34) and Lakeshore (3) in the seven-team event.

Seven other Wolves topped their weight classes including Chris Meraux (120), Quinn Perret (126), David Englehardt (145), Dominic Iovenitti (152), Jordan Peterson (160), John Brands (182) and Zach Mangrum (285).

Meraux topped Mandeville’s Lucky Prosper 6-4 during the finals and Fontainebleau’s Zach Lawson was third.

Perrett won 8-6 against teammate Matt Rader. Mandeville’s Christian Rouquette took third.

Englehardt, who remained undefeated, upped his record to 9-0. He was crowned after pinning Pearl River’s Justin Kass. Fontainebleau’s Roland Landry was third.

Iovenitti sealed his championship with a 6-1 victory over Mandeville’s Garrett Baumann. FHS’ Alex Mroski finished third.

Peterson capped his championship run with a 4-2 win against MHS’ Jack Ingalls, as Northshore’s Darien Esteves grabbed third.

Brands won his title in a fall over Northshore’s Dustin Rupple and Pearl River’s Bryce Folks came in third.

Mangrum captured his weight class with a victory over FHS’ Christian Ponson. Pearl River’s Bobby McNeil was third.

St. Paul’s coach Craig Ketelsen said his team did well. “Because it was a small tournament, we had to perform well in the finals to secure the team victory,” Ketelsen said.

He added that they have a veteran team with a lot of seniors.

Four Fontainebleau wrestlers won parish titles, including Nick Winstead (106), Ethan Eisenhardt (170), Daniel Priola (195) and Garrett Kugelmann (220).

Winstead won his title with a 17-14 victory over teammate Jordan Stevens. Pearl River’s Matt Mears took third.

Eisenhardt topped Mandeville’s Frankie Arena 3-2 in the finals with St. Paul’s Collin Kersker the third-place finisher.

Priola captured his title in a fall against Pearl River’s Brent Bourgeois. NHS’ Brett Stewart grabbed the third slot.

Kugelmann was crowned after pinning Covington’s Robert Nigro.

SPS’ Colin Francis finished third.

A pair of Mandeville competitors took home titles, including Nick Desbordes (113) and Garrin Pellegrini (138). Desbordes won his class with a pin against FHS’ Leaf Ballast and St. Paul’s Grant Landwehr was third. Pellegrini defeated St. Paul’s Zach Clay for his championship, as SPS’ Trey Leblanc got third.