Region 8 Pairings Announced for Four Ocean City Wrestlers

When Anthony DeSantis was asked about his top seed in last week's District 32 Wrestling Tournament, he brushed off any idea of its importance, saying it doesn't matter.

The Ocean City High School senior found he was correct when he fell short of a district title, losing in the finals.

For him to challenge for the district title, his theory will have to hold up again. Despite being 33-2 at 160 pounds, DeSantis was given a No. 6 seed in Friday night's Region 8 Tournament quarterfinals at Egg Harbor Township.

The seeds were determined earlier on Thursday. Overall records, and head-to-head matchups determine the seedings.

The quarterfinals, which begin at 5:30 p.m., will feature Wednesday night's winners and district champions, who received first-round byes. The top three finishers in each of the 14 weight classes advance to the NJSIAA State Championships in Atlantic City, which begin on March 4.

DeSantis will take on No. 3 seed Cumberland's Robert Elliot (25-3). Paulsboro's Anthony Dawson (28-6) is the top seed.

"I was disappointed about Saturday, but I still feel like I can win Regions," DeSantis said. "It's just one match to get over, and I just have come back and wrestle tough in every other match."

Ocean City's Coley O'Brien (125), Dan Pettit (145) and Lucas Pearson (215) will also be in action Friday night.

O'Brien, a four-time district champion and this year's District 32 Outstanding Wrestler, received the No. 2 seed despite being undefeated in 32 matches.

The Red Raider senior will meet No. 7 seed Paulsboro's Donte Scott (21-4) in the quarterfinals. The top seed in the bracket is Timber Creek's Brandon Keller (30-2).  With a win O'Brien could have a district finals rematch with No. 3 seed Joe Espositio (29-4) of St. Augustine Prep.

O'Brien missed last year's regions because of an injury, and also in 2009 because he missed weight by six-tenths of a pound.

Fellow district champ Pettit (28-3) is the No. 7 seed and will wrestle No. 2 seed George Skininski (22-8) of Clearview. Williamstown's CJ Cobb (30-1) is the top seed. 

Pearson (26-5), who is the No. 4 seed, will see a familiar face in No. 5 seed Noah Repko (25-9) of Buena in the quarterfinals. Pearson pinned Repko in the second period in a dual meet on Feb. 15.

If Pearson wins, he could face Absegami's Kevin Stadtmueller (28-3), who is the top seed, in the semifinals. Stadtmueller defeated Pearson in the district final.

If a wrestler should lose in the quarterfinals or semifinals they still have an opportunity to wrestle in the wrestleback round, and vie for third-place and a spot at states.

The semifinals will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. Consolations will be a 3 p.m. with the finals to follow.