Sports
Top-Seeded Kinnelon Wrestler Defeated in Quarterfinals of Region 1 Tournament
Luke Maroldi beaten, but still has a chance at a spot in the state tournament if he can make his way through the wrestlebacks.
After falling in the quarterfinal round of the Region 1 wrestling tournament on Friday to No. 8 seeded Joe Hocking of Walkill Valley by a 10-3 count, senior Luke Maroldi has his work cut out for him. In order to get to the state tournament, he must make it through the wrestleback rounds to earn a spot.
Maroldi was leading 2-0 at the start of the second and chose neutral, but Hocking dropped Maroldi for a takedown. Hocking then turned that into three back points to go up by three. In the final period, Hocking kept the pressure on Maroldi.
After Maroldi had made an escape he thought the whistle had blown, but neither the official or Hocking agreed, and Hocking took advantage of the no-call by driving him to the mat and again turning him on his back to add three more points.
With the loss, Maroldi, who came into the tournament 29-4, must make his way through the wrestlebacks following the semifinals Saturday at 9 a.m. If he can win the consolation match, he could still clinch a spot in the state tournament in Atlantic City.
