Short Handed Wildcats fall to Buena

THG/Dan Russoman. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940. Nick Melchiore controls Buena’s Cole Chinicchi during their match last week.

HAMMONTON—Opening its season with a short-handed roster, St. Joseph Academy’s wrestling team lost to Cape Atlantic League rival Buena 48-9 last week.

Competing with just four wrestlers, the Wildcats were at a disadvantage from the start of the meet. Only four bouts were contested during the meet, with the each team winning twice. St. Joseph forfeited six matches and four others were double forfeits.

On the mat, Doug Farinaccio and Nick Melchiore each won for the Wildcats. Farinaccio defeated Anthony Muzzarelli 13-7 at 144 pounds and at 157, Melchiore pinned Buena’s Cole Chinicchi in 1:50.

Also for St. Joe, Colin Steiner was pinned by Dom DiGiovachino in 1:43 at 150 pounds and at 165, David Goodwin was taken down in 1:06 by Louie Drogo.

Earlier this week, St. Joseph wrestled at Pennsville, but those results were too late for this edition. On December 27, the Wildcats host Oakcrest and Barnegat at 11 a.m.