Winston, Carney capture gold in A.C.
BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer

JEFFGRANIT staff Jackson's Ken Carney celebrates his state title at 160 pounds in Atlantic City on Sunday.

ATLANTIC CITY - The Jackson High School wrestling team put forth a season that will be remembered for a long time in these parts.

In fact, they were considered the premier team in the state by many experts.

What turned out to be an outstanding year got a little better last weekend when the Jaguars had a pair of wrestlers crowned champions at the prestigious NJSIAA Individual Wrestling Championships held at Boardwalk Hall. Both Scott Winston and Ken Carney won their respective weight classes to put the final touches on what has been an incredible year for the Jackson wrestling program.

"We wrestle the kind of tough schedule that we do during the year so that our guys are prepared for this moment," Jackson High School coach Scott Goodale said. "We realize that competing against the best competition is the best method to get these guys ready for this particular event.

"It was a great weekend for the guys who made it here. It is an honor to be wrestling against the best athletes in the state of New Jersey. Both Winston and Carney were outstanding. Their hard work and dedication to their sport paid off in a big way for them."

Winston, who is known around the nation as one of the premier grapplers in the 152-pound weight class, had little trouble in dismantling Frank McLaughlin in the championship bout. Winston, who was named the event's Outstanding Wrestler, raced out to an early lead and never looked back as he cruised to a decisive 7-2 victory to claim the title.

It marks the second consecutive individual crown Winston has captured.

Following the match, Winston was asked if having already wrestled McLaughlin this year made him more confident heading into the bout.

"It made me more nervous, actually, because he knows my style," Winston said. "But I just went about wrestling the same way I always do. If you're the best, you should win."

Only a junior, he will try to three-peat next season, and in the process become the state's first undefeated wrestler for his career.

"I work hard all year-round and this is one of the rewards," he said. "I'm very thankful for that. "I've still got a bunch of wrestling left to do."

Goodale feels it is possible he can achieve what only a few individuals in the state have accomplished.

"He wrestled well. There's not much you can say," the coach said. "He's an unbelievable talent, and he has the mental toughness and work ethic to match.

"He just needs to keep working hard and remain focused," Goodale added. "His work ethic alone separates him from a lot of guys. He is willing to do what it takes to be the best he can be."

Winston is now 101-0 in his high school career. Only a wrist injury suffered during freshman year late in the season stands between him and three championships.

With his impressive run through the tournament once again, Winston is starting to be mentioned alongside the top wrestlers in the state's history. And if he's able to complete an undefeated career, many will be ready to crown him the "best ever."

Goodale is among Winston's greatest admirers, and is ready to put Winston near the top of the list.

"He's right there with them," he said. "I never want to say he's better than anyone else, but he's certainly in that category. And he's so humble about everything. But he certainly understands his place in history."

In the 160-pound weight class, Carney's win was sweet revenge.

Dan Seidenberg had beat Jackson's Ken Carney in the semifinals at Region VI in overtime, so he fully expected another battle when he squared up against the Jackson senior on Sunday in the 160-pound final in A.C. In that region semifinal, Seidenberg scored first, but it was Carney who struck first on Sunday, scoring a takedown with six seconds left in the first period. Seidenberg cut the lead to 2-1 with an escape in the second, but Carney padded his lead with a reversal in the third period to make it 4-1. Seidenberg managed another escape to get within 4-2, but Carney ended the bout with a final takedown in the waning seconds to claim the title.

"I was more offensive today. I didn't shoot against him last time," said Carney.

Seidenberg said he wasn't surprised by Carney's tactics, and was proud of the way he performed throughout the tournament.

"I have no regrets. I wrestled my heart out, but he was ready for me. He wrestled really well," Seidenberg said. "My goal was to place down here, so I was definitely happy to get to the finals."

"When (Seidenberg) beat Carney in the three overtimes in regions, he got the first takedown," Raritan head coach Rob Nucci said. "Today, Carney got the takedown in the red zone time, and he's very hard to score on. He's an excellent defensive wrestler and you can't take bad shots against him. Dan had to play catch-up and that worked against him."

"He did a great job," Goodale said of Carney. "He has been great for this program since he got here. He is the kind of kid on the team who is more focused on the team outcome than personal achievements. It has been great having him be a part of this program. We will miss him when he graduates.

"I always knew he was capable; his biggest enemy has always been himself," Goodale said. "He doesn't have the mental toughness that Winston has, but he has as much heart as anyone.

"If anyone deserves this it's Kenny. He's been the heart and soul of this team."

The idea that Kenny's biggest obstacle on the mats was himself is a shared belief.

"Carney was always a go-er, and he finally got his head screwed on right," Winston said. " He's done so much for the Jackson wrestling program, I couldn't be happier for him."

"I was surprised I made it to the semifinals," Carney joked following his win on Sunday. "I always had the tools, I just had to stop stopping myself from being successful. Not only did I beat the kid in the final today, I beat myself."

Carney was also quick to share the credit for his championship finish, pointing to his daily match-ups with Winston in the practice gym.

"I love it," he said. "I don't care if he beats me every day. He's helped me so much. I'm glad to have him as a teammate and a friend.

"If it wasn't for Scott, and Coach Goodale, I wouldn't be here right now."

Carney finished the season 37-3 and is 116-20 during his career.

"He's had a number of memorable wins here for us," Goodale said.

Winston and Carney weren't the only medal-winners for the Jaguars. At 145 pounds, Sean Byrnes turned in a solid performance, finishing in fourth place. Frank Buenafuente of Garfield defeated Byrnes, 5-2. Derrik Russell placed fifth at 103 pounds with a 2-0 win over Gene Accardi of Freehold Township.

With what could only be described as a perfect season for the Jaguars, you'll have to excuse Goodale is he's feeling a bit overwhelmed by his program's success. After all, the Jackson Jaguars have become the program against which all others are measured now.

"It's hard to get there, but I believe we're going to stay there. It's been unbelievable. I can't describe it," he said.

- Doug McKenzie contributed

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