Troutman Falls for First Time at Verona Quad Tournament

Chances are, New Providence High School senior Zach Troutman will see West Orange senior Emiliano Betancor again.

That would be good thing since it would mean Troutman had once again qualified for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Troutman thought he’d see Betancor at last month’s Newark Academy, but Betancor was hurt.

Betancor and Troutman — fourth and sixth-place finishers at 285 in last year’s state tournament — finally met for the first time Saturday in a quad meet in Verona. They both came into the bout with unbeaten records, but it was Betancor who was unbeaten after the match. He pinned Troutman 20 seconds into the third period.

Two-time Essex County Tournament champ Betancor is now 21-0 with 17 falls. Troutman, a two-time Union County Tournament champion, is 28-1 with 20 falls. Troutman weighed in at 241 pounds, while Betancor was 287.

"I don’t think Zach’s used to wrestling somebody that big," said New Providence coach Stephen Bremer. "He had trouble getting out from the bottom. I thought he was fine on his feet. Zach was riding him, but got high on his legs and that’s where he gave up the reversal – when he was on top. I think we’ll be ready if we see him in Atlantic City."

Bremer said Troutman has almost had “too easy a season,’’ but this could be exactly what Troutman needs.

"He didn’t want to get too crazy; we try to get the kids the best matches they can," Bremer said. "We look to get those matches. We didn’t get it at Newark Academy where we wanted it. But we were going to go out there if he’s there (at Verona). They came out and wrestled. The bottom line is you have to want to get good."

The road to Atlantic City begins Friday for Troutman and his teammates. Troutman lost a 2-1 overtime decision to graduated Middlesex 285-pounder Christian Bollin.

Pioneer senior Timmy Terrezza, who has wrestled at 119 this season, was beaten 12-1 in the 112-pound district final by South Plainfield sophomore Troy Heillmann.

The top three in each weight class move on to next weekend's Region III championships at Union High School. The top three from the regions go on to wrestle at Atlantic City.