Kenny Kerwin waited a year for this kind of moment, so when the Passaic Valley sophomore took center stage for the biggest match of his high school career so far, he made the most of it, producing a spectacular move that wowed the audience and gave the Hornets a monster early-season win.
With his team trailing by one heading into the final bout, Kerwin used a spradle – a cradle using his legs to control the opponents arms – to pin Cole Drozjock in the second period of their 106-pound match to lead Passaic Valley to a dramatic 30-25 comeback win over No. 19 Wayne Valley in a Big North Independence division match on Wednesday night.
Kerwin is in his first year wrestling on varsity for the Hornets and called this the biggest win of his career so far, made even better because it came in front of a large home crowd.
“This was huge. It’s a moment I will cherish forever,†Kerwin said. “That’s why I’ve worked so hard in the practice room, so I could be ready for this.â€
Passaic Valley, ranked No. 6 in The Record wrestling Top 25, is now 7-0 and has the inside track to reclaim the division title it won in 2013, then lost to the Indians last year.
“It’s a heated rivalry, it always is,†Passaic Valley coach Joe Benvenuti said. “We found a way to win. It wasn’t always pretty. But 7-0 sounds nice to me right now. Now we have to continue the momentum ahead.â€
Wayne Valley built 25-21 lead with only two bouts to go thanks to pins by Domenic Rigoglioso (120) and Anthony Castiglia (132) early and clutch decisions by Zak Tareky (195) and Mike Chak (220) late, with Chak’s win coming on a last-second takedown in overtime.
The Indians had a chance to win the match with its heavyweight, Jake Pluta, spinning around for the winning takedown in the closing seconds of his match against Casiano Franco. But Franco held Pluta off at the buzzer to preserve a 1-0 win and pull Passaic Valley within one.
Then Kerwin finished the comeback.
“Was it a takedown? I don’t know, but it was close,†Benvenuti said. “We dodged a bullet.â€
Passaic Valley senior Tyler Tepe pinned at 145, and Franklyn Cruz (138) John Nakhleh (152), Malik Kari (160) and Jala’a Darwish (170) had decisions to give Passaic Valley a 21-15 lead.