ATLANTIC CITY – The start of the state wrestling tournament began for Craig De La Cruz not Friday night, but a week before at the Hunterdon Central Field house in the quarterfinals at Region 5.
The Bound Brook 120-pound sophomore’s ultimate tiebreaker win over North Hunterdon sophomore Ryan Pomrinca triggered a run of breathtaking and pivotal victories. The kind that moved head coach Shaun Cleary to tell De La Cruz he believed he had what it took to become a state champion.
De La Cruz fulfilled Cleary’s belief Sunday afternoon when he beat Seton Hall Prep senior and two-time state champion Brenden Calas 3-1 in sudden death at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall before a record crowd of more than 11,000. He used a snap and spin move off a front headlock he had tested throughout the bout, bouncing his elbow’s free to get free and topple Calas, 28-3, who won at 113 and 103 the last two years.
“There was a mentality change,’’ said De La Cruz (37-2, 77-9) about the victory over Pomrinca. “”After I beat Pomrinca I knew I could do big things.’’
His championship run included a 9-4 region semifinal win over Bishop Ahr’s Kyle Brady, a third place state tournament place winner last year at 113, then a sudden victory win over Monroe’s defending region champ Sal Profaci in the final that earned De La Cruz the outstanding wrestler award.
His state final berth was set up by a stirring 4-3 semifinal win Saturday over Delbarton’s Chris Innarella. Innarella, a sixth place finisher at 113 last year, took De La Cruz down with 10 seconds left in regulation for a 3-1 lead, but he let De La Cruz up for one. De La Cruz then took Inarella down just in time to win 4-3 and head for the final. It a took a few moments before head official Joe Benvenuto confirmed De La Cruz had in fact beat the clock and Innarella.
“From the quarterfinals of the regions he was wrestling in the state tournament to get to the state tournament,’’ said Cleary. “Once he got through that region tournament I told him, ‘this is why you’re going to be a state champion,’’ and after that region tournament he believed he was going to be a state champion.’’
De La Cruz’ state title was Bound Brook’s 19th and now leaves the door open for him to become the sixth Crusader to win multiple championships. His ability to perform like he has done the last week and a half lends credence to it, one started in the eagerly anticipated bout between De La Cruz (a fourth place state place winner last year at 106) and Pomrinca (a seventh place state place winner last year at 113) that had plenty of fans interested.
“I think it (the region quarterfinal) started off the run, and you know we knew it could have been a really good (state) tournament for us, or a could have been a really bad tournament for us, the difference was that Craig is a gamer he shows up and revels in the big match, he loves the big match and he’s got very, very, very good instincts,’’ Cleary said. “And I think those two things got him through, but I think it starts with Ryan Pomrinca.’’
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