Sports

Junior R-FH Wrestlers' Victorious Start

The young Bulldog team was revived in 2006 after a long respite

The Rumson-Fair Haven Junior Bulldog Wrestling Team's season is off to a great start.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, the team opened its Jersey Shore Junior Wrestling League (JSJWL) season with a hard-fought 52-42 win over the Red Bank Junior Bucs at Red Bank Regional High School. The Junior Bucs dominated in the lower weights, while the Junior Bulldogs won the middle weights and dominated in the upper weights to win the match. 

"All of our boys wrestled extremely well today," said Tom Skove, head coach of the Junior Bulldogs. "Our middle-weights and our heavy-weights stayed focused and did what they had to do to grind out a win today. Our eighth graders stepped up and showed the younger boys what competition in this league is all about. I am very excited about this season."

Find out what's happening in Rumson-Fair Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Junior Bucs came out of the gates strong, recording two consecutive pins at 52 and 56 lbs. and receiving a forfeit at 60. Shay Addison (third grade-Fair Haven) showed the Bucs that the Dawgs have no quit in them by recording a major decision at 64 Lbs.

The Bulldog middle weights held the momentum as Max Brignola (fourth grade-Rumson) and Liam Horan (fifth grade-Fair Haven) had their first wins of the season at 76 and 95 lbs., respectively. 

Find out what's happening in Rumson-Fair Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jamie Laughinghouse (eighth grade-Fair Haven) and John Robinson (eighth grade-Rumson) recorded pins at 114 lbs. and heavyweight, as the "Big Dawgs" ensured that Rumson-Fair Haven would take the honors in the "Battle of Ridge Road" for the second time in the last three years.

The Junior Bulldogs are led by a core of eighth graders who are hungry for success. Coleman Gould (90 lbs.) was fifth at the JSJWL B Division Tournament last year and is hoping that all his off-season training puts him in position for a top three finish this year. 

Theo Addison (122 lbs.) was a state tournament qualifier last year and is poised to have a great season. John Robinson (150 lbs./heavyweight), Leo Ross (114 lbs.) and Jack Fontanella (140 lbs.) are looking to make a statement in their final year of JSJWL competition.

The Junior Bulldog Wrestling Club is a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote the sport of wrestling in the towns of Rumson and Fair Haven. The organization has been in existence since the 1970s, but was not active for a number of years prior to 2006. 

In 2006, Andy Scheffer of Rumson restarted the program, which is now led by Tom Skove, of Rumson, and John Horan, of Fair Haven.

Find out more about this growing organization by checking out its Web site at rfhjuniorbulldogwrestling.com. 

The next match is 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 at Red Bank Regional High School in a key JSJWL B Division-Liberty contest versus Matawan and Old Bridge II.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here