Delbarton’s Vasquez rallies to win Beast of the East title

If winning the season-opening Beast of the East tournament in Delaware means you’re a contender to win a New Jersey state championship, then Delbarton’s Travis Vasquez took a major step forward this weekend.

The Green Wave’s senior 152-pounder came from behind to beat ABCs TyShawn Williams in overtime, 6-4, to win the Beast.

“Travis wrestled great,” Delbarton coach Bryan Stoll said. “He’s been training really hard and he is one of the hardest workers we have ever had, so it’s great to see success come to him.”

Vasquez finished third in Atlantic City last year but has trained almost nonstop since the states last year.

“He wants to continue progressing,” Stoll said. “He’s still not satisfied. The goal is still to be a state champion.”

Vasquez trailed Williams in the third period, 4-1, before coming back to tie it and send it into overtime, which is when he took Williams down to win it.

“The way he won it is a testament to how tough Travis is,” Stoll said.

Delbarton also saw Pat Glory (106) place fourth and Joe Tavoso (152) place fifth.

Glory went 1-1 head-to-head against Hanover Park standout Gerard Angelo. Glory beat Angelo in the prequarterfinals Saturday, 5-4, but Angelo won Sunday, 8-4.

“Pat was not in awe and he wrestled very well,” Stoll said. “He hit the ground running with two pins. He lost a tight one to (eventual champion Jonathan) Tropea of St. Joe’s-Montvale, 10-9. He was down and came back in that one.

“Tavoso wrestled well. He lost two matches to athletic kids and I think he was worn down a little bit. But all in all it was a good tournament for him.”

Delbarton’s returning state champion Ty Agaisse — himself a returning Beast of the East champion — didn’t wrestle in the Beast.

Hanover Park, meanwhile, saw Angelo and two-time defending state champion Anthony Cefolo place third.

“They both looked good,” Hanover Park coach James LaValle said. “It was a long weekend for them, but they found a way. They were both physical and aggressive and looking to score on their feet and in different positions.”

Hanover’s Austin Nash (132) and Anthony Olivieri (160) took fifth. Christian Bassolino (145) took eighth.

“Nash looked tough,” LaValle said. “He finished well and wrestled non-stop. He was 8-2, which is quite a bit of wrestling and he did very well. Olivieri has always been a tough kid and he’s been right up there with the good kids but it looks like he has taken a step forward.”