FORD TOUGH: Princeton High wrestler Aaron Munford, top, controls a foe in recent action. Last Saturday, senior star Munford won the 150-pound title at the District 17 meet at Franklin High. Munford’s heroics helped PHS take fourth in the team standings at the competition, which was won by St. John Vianney. Munford improved to 31-0 this season and advanced to the Region 5 tournament at Hunterdon Central this Friday. He will be joined by three PHS teammates who also qualified via top-three finishes in their weight class as Blasé Mele placed second at 126, Martin Brophy placed third at 132, and Cole Rose was third at 106. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Justin Feil

Aaron Munford captured his first district boys’ wrestling championship in his final opportunity.

The Princeton High senior won the 150-pound title at the District 17 meet at Franklin High on Saturday by medical forfeit over top-seeded Nick Canonica of Hunterdon Central.

“It’s definitely a good feeling,” said Munford. “Not having districts last year left me hungrier than I maybe otherwise would have been. Having only wrestled in districts sophomore year, and not placing, it’s definitely a big change, but not something that was unexpected.”

Munford improved to 31-0 this season and advanced to the Region 5 tournament at Hunterdon Central this Friday. He will be joined by three PHS teammates who also qualified via top-three finishes in their weight class. Blasé Mele placed second at 126, Martin Brophy placed third at 132, and Cole Rose was third at 106. Two other Tiger wrestlers just missed out on a trip to the Region tourney as Tyler Ehee took fourth at 120 and Matt Ellsworth placed fourth at 165.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” said PHS head coach Jess Monzo, whose team took fourth in the team standings at the competition which was won by St. John Vianney.

“Going into it, we knew District 17 was one of the harder districts in the state with St. John Vianney, with Hunterdon Central, with Hillsborough, Manville. We knew if we were getting out, we had to be on our game.”

In taking fourth, PHS finished behind winner St. John Vianney, runner-up Hunterdon Central, and third-place Hillsborough. Monzo was named the district Coach of the Year, but was happier about the way his team performed with Munford winning in his last chance, Brophy capping his junior year with a bronze finish, and freshmen Mele and Rose also advancing to regions that begin for all Friday.

“I’m happy for Princeton as a program,” said Monzo. “We took fourth as a team and I think we’re moving in the direction we want to move in. It’s cool to get these accolades. It’s also good to not get them all at once and to know there’s other things you have to strive for. As long as we keep building in the right direction and keep taking another peg off the wall, knocking another leg down and jumping up another spot, we’ll be one of those teams in a couple years that other teams are talking about. I think we’re moving in the right direction. We have guys that believe in the system we’re trying to put together, and it’s starting to fall into place for us.”

Munford has enjoyed seeing the team grow during his career. The Tigers have gone from forfeiting weights in dual meets to filling all the classes and competing at the highest level. He had plenty of motivation to go after a district crown after being stuck behind Alec Bobchin on the PHS team as a freshman, falling short of medaling as a sophomore at districts, then seeing districts canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

“I was definitely pretty confident this year,” said Munford. “Sophomore year at districts was a learning experience on not looking at seeds, not looking at rankings, just wrestling one match at a time. I was definitely reflecting back a lot on sophomore year coming into this.”

The second seed at 150, Munford won his district quarterfinal match with a pin of Dylan Patel of Hillsborough in 30 seconds. Munford’s semifinal match went the distance with him scoring a 10-8 win over Jeriel Severino of Sayreville for his 30th win of the season. His 31st win came via forfeit from Canonica, who has limited wrestling this year.

“He came in having only wrestled seven matches, and three of those were losses,” said Munford. “But he is a three-time state qualifier so definitely think he’s pretty good. I’m not sure the situation behind that.”

Munford could eventually see him at regions. He is wrestling for a top-three finish and the resulting trip to Atlantic City for the Tournament of Champions. Last year, though districts were not held, Munford was one of 16 wrestlers in his weight class selected to the Super Regions. He lost in the first round. Now he has earned his ticket to regions and a chance to qualify for states.

“It’s definitely exciting,” said Munford. “Going to A.C. is a big goal of mine, and placing too. It’s going to be interesting having technically never wrestled in regions. Last year I wrestled in Super Region. I’m not sure how the two are going to compare.”

Munford feels better prepared for the top echelon of wrestlers. He has continued to work on his skills since last year’s sudden ending. He has been fine-tuning his techniques and strategies.

“Definitely top work is what I’ve tried to focus on a lot,” said Munford. “I really think that wins matches, not just in high school, but especially at the college level. Being good on top, being able to turn guys or just ride guys in general is what wins matches and gets bonus points.”

Munford has seen his work pay off. He has gone unbeaten while taking on a range of county and out-of-conference foes. He won the county title and now the district title.

“It’s been a really good year,” said Munford. “I’ve made some small adjustments in the offseason. And I’ve just really been trying to dominate my opponents more, not just winning by decision, but really trying to get those team points – get pins or techs.”

He’s also been developing as a leader. Munford has enjoyed guiding the Tigers team, and made an effort to be more proactive with using his experience to help teammates. He has gone outside his comfort zone to speak up more and motivate others.

“One of the biggest improvements in Aaron is his ability to lead and lead by example,” said Monzo.

“He’s done a lot of terrific things in our wrestling room. And he doesn’t need to be asked twice, sometimes he doesn’t have to be asked once. He really knows how to lead and he’s bringing some of these younger kids with him and he’s showing them things. He’s a man of few words, and he does a lot of leading by example of what needs to be done. His game plan, his ability to be focused before a match, not let distractions come around him, has been so good.”

Munford’s experience may be somewhat limited with not having as many varsity matches as some during his freshman year and then having the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. But he has competed in a high stakes arena.

“Being at Super Regions was definitely an eye opening experience, seeing the level of talent that’s outside of our conference,” said Munford. “Last year because of COVID, we were only allowed to have matches within our conference and with Mercer County, which didn’t have too many experienced wrestlers, at least in my weight class that year. Going out of the conference for Super Regions was eye-opening for me.”

The experience gave him motivation heading into the offseason last year, and served as a reminder as he trained for another chance this year. He has worked his way back for the chance at another region meet, and returns with a new urgency after falling in the first round last year at Super Regions.

“I think it lit a little fire under him,” said Monzo. “It gave him something to chase, something to look forward to. Now we’re going back to Hunterdon Central next weekend, and not that the wound is fresh, but the wound is still in the back of his mind. I think that fire is lit and he’s focused on getting a little redemption where he last didn’t get his hand lifted and he knows he could have.”

For the other three PHS wrestlers to qualify for the regions, this step is crucial in their development and progress. Mele came back from missing several matches to qualify out of districts, and Rose has gone 29-2 in his first high school season. His sister, Ava, a junior in her third year on the PHS team, won the 114-pound state girls championship on Sunday.

“The two freshmen, just getting them through to the regions is great for them for the next couple years,” said Monzo. “Now they’re not going be blinded by the bigger arena – what some might call shell-shocked. Being able to be there, being able to be on that stage, is good for them. Both of them are in prime positions to do some work that they need to do. They’re guys that can go and have pedigrees with some matches at the next level. And luckily they’re freshmen so we have three more years with these guys.”

Monzo is hopeful that Brophy will be inspired by his region experience like Munford was by the Super Region meet. Brophy’s third-place win jumped his record to 25-5 after a narrow 3-2 loss in the district semifinals. His first region will provide a wealth of experience.

“It’s great for him,” said Monzo. “He’s one of the better guys in the room, he’s one of the leaders stepping up as a junior for us and coming through in big spots and doing some big things for us this year. Him being able to wrestle in a close match in the semifinals in the districts against a really tough kid from Hunterdon Central gives him all the backing he needed to know where he belongs.”

The Region 5 tournament puts the PHS quartet of qualifiers on another level. And while three of them can use the experience for another year of high school, it is Munford’s final scholastic season. He is hopeful to compete in college if he can find the right fit at a school that has strong academics and a wrestling program. The regions are a chance for him to continue his career this year and wrestle for the right to advance and take on the best in the state.