Warriors’ Morton gets his district title BY MIKE WHITE Staff Writer PLUMSTED — New Egypt High School wrestler Tommy Morton wasn’t going to let the title get away this time. Morton captured a NJSIAA District 25 championship last weekend as the Warriors posted their best ever finish in the post-season tournament. Morton, a sophomore, dominated the competition en route to his first district crown. He pinned Rancocas Valley sophomore Dan Maiorana in a time of 1:14 in the championship bout to improve his record to a gaudy 32-0. “He just flat out wrecked the guy in the final,” said New Egypt High School coach Kevin English, whose team finished third overall with a total of 117 points. “He was by far the superior wrestler. He was the best wrestler at that weight division by far.” Morton pinned Dante Redding, of Pemberton High School, in the semifinals to make a return trip to the championship. Last year, Morton suffered a 2-0 loss to Sean McKenzie, of Hightstown High School. English believes that loss played a part in Morton winning this season. “It may have acted as a bit of a motivator,” English said. “Winning a district title is definitely one of the goals he was looking to accomplish. He had little trouble in getting through this event.” The Warriors had three wrestlers finish in second place. Pat Riordan lost to Chris McMullen in the semifinals at 135 pounds. McMullen, however, was a four-time district place winner and a two-time district champ. “He was up against a quality wrestler,” English said. “The kid was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the meet.” Riordan defeated Ryan Morgan, of Rancocas Valley, in the semis. Riordan recorded a pin at 2:42. At 171 pounds, Albert Cook upset top seeded Mike DiGregorio, of Rancocas Valley, in the semifinals before falling to R.J. Melton, of Northern Burlington, 7-6, in the championship bout. Earlier in the season, Cook suffered a 9-0 shutout at the hands of DiGregorio. “He [DiGregorio] tried to match strength with our guy,” English said. “Albert rolled out and head scooped him to his back and got the pin. It was a huge victory for him. Just two weeks ago, he lost pretty handily to the kid. To comeback and pin him showed his mental toughness.” Heavyweight Nick Markee was defeated by Rancocas Valley’s Jesse Trump in the finals. Markee scored an exciting 6-4 win over Northern Burlington’s Brain Perry. Markee scored a takedown with a knee snatch to seal the win. “He did a great job,” English said. “Last year he was fourth. To comeback this season and make regionals is a great accomplishment.” Sophomore Tommy Carr finished in third place at 119 pounds. Carr knocked off fifth-seeded Pat Pape, of Allentown, to earn a place in the semifinals, where he lost to top-seeded Dustin Renault. Mike Schwarze finished in third place at 119 pounds. New Egypt sends six wrestlers to the Region VII tournament. “That’s the most we’ve ever sent there,” English said. “We’ve had a great year. We wanted to finish in the top half of the district tournament and we surpassed that. I think that we overachieved at this event. However, we still need to remain focused through the regional tournament.” Allentown finished in ninth place in District 25, led by Sean Mulligan’s second-place finish at 130 pounds. Mulligan lost to North Burlington’s Steve Makula, 9-2, in the final. The Redbirds’ Mike Ferro just missed on advancing to the regional tourney, finishing fourth at 125 pounds.