VIDEO: Middle, Lower combine for four district champions, 16 region qualifiers

Posted: February 23rd 2025

By DAVID WEINBERG

For CapeAtlanticLive.com 

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – Middle Township High School wrestler Maurice Matthews picked a great time to pull off an upset Saturday.

The senior avenged a pair of losses to Ocean City’s Clifford Dirkes by posting a 4-1 overtime decision in the 285-pound final of the District 29 tournament at Absegami High School.

“I lost to him twice last year,” Matthews said. “But my entire mindset is different this year. I’m locked in and much more focused because I have bigger goals I want to reach.”

Matthews (33-3) and Dirkes (30-1) exchanged escapes during regulation to tie the match at 1-1. In the first one-minute overtime, Matthews scored the winning takedown while Middle fans cheered.

It was Dirkes’ first defeat this season.

Minutes after posing for photos on the podium, the two exchanged a hug.

“It felt great to stand on the top (of the podium), but I really want to get on the podium at (the State Individual Championships at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City),” Matthews said.

Matthews and fellow district champions Max Adelizzi (190) and Shaun Watkins (215) led an impressive performance by Middle Saturday.

The Panthers set a program record by having eight wrestlers qualify for regions with top three finishes in their respective weight classes and tied the school mark for most champions (three) in the districts.

In addition to Matthews, Adelizzi and Watkins, Calvin Parke (106) and Tyler King (144) each placed second while Ben Banks (113), R.J. Garden (138) and Ben Attenborough (157) each finished third.

Middle coach Matt Wolf, who guided the team to its first-ever South Jersey Group II title last week, was named District 29 Coach of the Year.

“It means a lot to be recognized by your peers,” Wolf said. “But winning a South Jersey title and getting eight kids to regions means more to me than 10 Coach of the Year (awards). Wrestling is an individual sport, but what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team means more to us.”

Lower Cape May Regional is also sending eight wrestlers to next week’s Region 8 tournament at Williamstown High School.

Caper Tiger standout Chase Hansen leads the contingent. The junior was voted Outstanding Wrestler Saturday after winning the 138-pound title with a first-period pin over Camden Catholics’s E.J. Bonnette.

Hanson (37-0) became the fourth Lower wrestler to win three district titles, joining Brian Abdon, Sean Laughlin and Cory Damiana.

“It’s a great feeling to win this,” Hansen said. “It’s a goal, but it’s not the end goal. I want to be the school’s first four-time district and four-time region champion.”

Hansen, who boasts a 125-3 career record, is also a contender to be the school’s second state champ along with Laughlin, who won two straight titles in 1996-97.

He would also earn family bragging rights. Grandfather Blair Hansen took fourth place in the state in 1975.

“I think he’d still beat me if we wrestled,” Chase said with a laugh.

Bryce Paley (120) and David Douglass (175) each finished second for Lower. Dominick Marrero (144), Daniel Byrne (150), Shane Morrell (165), Dennis Serra (190), and Jake Robson (215) each placed third.

Lower Cape May is sending eight wrestlers to the Region 8 Tournament. They include: standing from left - David Douglass, Shane Morrell, Dom Marrero, Dennis Serra, Chase Hansen, Jake Robson, Danny Byrne; kneeling - Bryce Paley.

Middle Township's wrestlers and coaches celebrate the program sending a record eight wrestlers through to the Region 8 Tournament.