Mount Olive senior on the precipice of school history at NJ state wrestling tournament
ATLANTIC CITY – Jack Bastarrika is on the precipice of history.
The Mount Olive senior already is in his school’s record books. He moved another step closer to state wrestling immortality when he won his 132-pound semifinal match on Friday evening on Day 2 of the NJSIAA individual tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
“The best feeling in the world. I’ve dreamt about this for so long. I sacrificed for it and just so happy I can finally get there with a chance to win it,” said Bastarrika, who scored a 6-4 win in sudden victory over second-seeded Donovan Chavis of St. Peter’s Prep. “I look at it like I’m a senior and this is my last shot. I have experience over some of these guys. I used that to my advantage.”
Bastarrika, seeded third, is just the third Mount Olive wrestler to reach a state final in school history, joining Seamus McGuinness (2000) and Anthony Guidi (1988). He now has his sights set on becoming just the second state champion since Guidi won the 152-pound title 35 years ago.
Trailing 3-0 late in the third period, Bastarrika scored on a takedown with 1:09 left, then took Chavis down again with 12 seconds remaining to force a sudden victory period.
“I need to get more offense on my feet. I let him [Chavis] get a little lead and I had to dig myself out of a hole, but I was able to do it. I’m proud of myself for that,” said Bastarrika, who finished sixth in the state in 2021. “I looked at it like it was any other match.
“The crowd, the crowd is going to make you wrestle different sometimes. Being on the biggest stage, you just have to keep doing what you’ve been doing. Look at your opponent the same you do as any other one. That’s what I did.”
In the extra period, Bastarrika secured the win when he took down Chavis with nine seconds left.
Bastarrika (39-4) will meet three-time state medalist and 2021 champion Anthony Santaniello of Brick Memorial in Saturday afternoon’s final. Santaniello defeated Wyatt Stout of Southern Regional, 17-2, in the other semifinal match.
“Jack has been our program guy since the first day he stepped into our room,” Mount Olive coach Sean Smythe said. “He’s meant a lot to us. What he brings to the room are intangibles that other kids can’t. A lot of kids feed off of his energy and a lot of our success bases around him and the team. He’s a tremendous kid from a tremendous family and I’m really excited for him.
“To put us on the map the way he [Bastarrika] has, is what we’re trying to do. We’re a positive program looking to put the right pieces in the right parts and that’s what we’re doing here.”
Bastarrika’s road to the finals started with a 17-2 technical fall win in the preliminaries, followed by a 6-2 decision over Jack Nauta of Pope John. He then scored a 4-1 decision over sixth-seeded and 2022 state silver medalist Patrick O’Keefe of St. John-Vianney.
“This means everything to me. This town has done so much for me,” Bastarrika said. “My coaches. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. All I want to do is get my name on that board. ‘State champ.’”
Delbarton's Daniel Jones returns to the finals
Delbarton junior Daniel Jones finds himself back in a state final for the first time since winning it all his freshman year in 2021.
Jones, the No. 2 seed, defeated third-seed Max Elton of Holy Spirit, 4-1, in the 120-pound semifinals.
“It means a lot to be back in a state final. Freshman year, obviously, I had high standards of winning and then taking fifth was a heartbreaking loss. But being back feels good. After any win in the states feels good. I’m excited to compete tomorrow. I’m facing a familiar competitor. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to wrestle here again.”
Jones (34-4) will face returning state champion Anthony Knox of Saint John Vianney in the finals. Knox knocked off another returning gold medalist, Adrian DeJesus of DePaul Catholic, 18-5 in the other semifinal.
Jones is one of five Green Wave competitors to win semifinal matches and advance to championship bouts on Saturday. Joining Jones on the center mat will be Tyler Vazquez (138), Alessio Perentin (157), Louis Cerchio (165) and Simon Ruiz (175). Vazquez and Ruiz are seeking their second straight state titles.
“Technically, this will be my first time in a state final here [Boardwalk Hall]," said Jones, referencing the 2021 tournament held in Phillipsburg due to COVID-19. "One workout a day just practicing isn’t going to cut it. Not if you want to make the state finals and be the best,.We have a great room and great coaches. In the offseason we’ve been putting in the extra work.
“I feel like I’m back. It’s awesome and I’m grateful.”
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ state wrestling: Jack Bastarrika of Mount Olive nears history
