Pettit Satisfied with States Experience Despite Loss

Win or lose, Dan Pettit took the last three weeks in stride. He never got too high and never got too low.

The Ocean City High School senior seemed content with his effort and performance despite his season coming to an end Saturday in Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.

Pettit lost to Shore Regional's Luke Bush, 4-2, in the first round of wrestlebacks at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Wrestling State Championships.

The 145-pound wrestler was pleased he got to compete at states for the first and only time of his high school career.

"I heard about how cool it was, but nothing could even explain how cool it really is," Pettit explained. "Just walking out there and looking at everyone--wow, it's an eye opener. It's a nice feeling. I just came up a little short in that match. If I would have won that I would have been a round away from placing. It's just how it goes."

In the wrestleback first round, Pettit was the more aggressive wrestler in the early going, but Bush was able to keep Pettit at bay in the first period, which ended scoreless.

Pettit escaped to start the second period to take a 1-0 lead, but Bush registered a takedown with 1:12 left in the second period for a 2-1 lead.

In the third, Bush scored a reversal to take a 4-1 lead and held on for the two-point win.

"He is real strong," Pettit said. "He kind of broke me... when he slipped out on the reversal. I'm just happy I made it here."

"He wrestled tough," Ocean City coach Dave Casetellini said. "When you get down here it is tough to score points. It was a 4-2 match, and he had to try to get a takedown, but that guy was pretty much stalling that last period. It's tough to score on him."

Pettit, who will not pursue wrestling in college, ends his season with a 31-6 record. A year ago Pettit didn't even reach 20 wins, and never made it out of districts.

The Ocean City wrestler dedicated himself in the offseason to become a better wrestler, by going to camps, and practicing during the summer months. He won the District 32 crown and finished second at the Region 8 Tournament.

"I just started to understand more," Pettit said. “I started understanding the little things instead of going out there and making a bunch of mistakes. I kind of slowed everything down, and took my time."

"I think he started to focus on the sport instead of certain aspects of the sport," Castellini said. "He wrestled more technical and smarter.”

Pettit also credits teammates Coley O'Brien and Anthony DeSantis for elevating his skill level on the mat.

"Anthony helped me the most because he is bigger than me and stronger. I learned to adjust off that," Pettit said. "Coley helped me a lot with my technique."

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