Troutman Wins Region 3 Crown

is having the type of season that most wrestlers dream of.

And he doesn’t plan on stopping now.

On Saturday, the senior captured his first region championship when he won the Region 3 heavyweight title before a crowd of 2,000 people at Union High School in Union.

He pinned Madison’s Michael Boardman in 2:42 in the final. Troutman led, 2-0, before gaining the fall. Troutman, now 35-1 this season, finished third at the regions at heavyweight a year ago.

“It feels good to win it,” said Troutman, who is ranked third in the state in his weight class. “It's only going to get tougher though this week.”

Troutman and the top three place winners at the eight regions across the state advance to the NJSIAA state tournament that begins on Friday in Atlantic City.

Troutman, sixth in the state at heavyweight last year, will be New Providence’s only representative.

The Pioneers' only other participant on Saturday was Tim Terrezza, who lost in the 125-pound wrestle-back quarterfinal round to Delbarton’s Matt Albano, 7-0.

Troutman had a surprise when he was awarded his medal by legendary New Providence football coach Frank Bottone, .

“I just happened to come by to watch, and after Zach’s match, I was asked if I wanted to hand out the medals,” said Bottone, who coached Troutman this fall as . “Zach is a great athlete and a good young man. I was happy to do it.”

New Providence’s Chris Brodeur, a four-year assistant to head coach Gary Bremer, was honored before the final round as the District 12 Assistant Coach of the Year.

“This has been a lot of fun,” said Brodeur, who is a 1991 graduate from New Providence and wrestled for Bremer. “I was a better fan than a wrestler, but I always liked the sport.”

And Brodeur, also the head baseball coach at New Providence, thinks Troutman has a great shot performing well in Atlantic City.

“Zach has just gotten better as the season has gone on,” Brodeur said. “He is just driven to succeed. He has an internal fire. He’s not externally motivated, it's what’s inside him that keeps him going.”

And Troutman knows what awaits later this week.

“With the high ranking, there’s probably a target on my back, but that’s okay,” Troutman said. “It's tough for everybody down there. New Jersey is packed with great wrestlers. I’m in pretty good shape and going to give it my best shot.”

The seeding for the NJSIAA state tournament will be held on Monday, while wrestling will begin at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Friday, March 4 with the preliminary round at 5 p.m. The pre-quarterfinal round follows at 7 p.m.