Joseph Pizzi Jr. the head coach of Belleville Wrestling, currently in his 4th year with the program and assistant coaches Dan Giangrande and Mark DeLia are all having high expectations with this years squad.
Their first match of the season came off a tight win vs Lyndhurst 42-33 in an out of conference match.
Things are not easy so far this winter, only two matches fell through so far for the Buccaneers. Covid-19 spikes have been on the rise and has affected the Buccaneers program and also many other programs high school programs. Covid has shown the adversity that what these programs through. Coach Pizzi has not let Covid define his team and continues to just roll through the punches on things you can not just control.
We were off the entire break and was shutdown the entire week, so are kids didn't really practice more than two times in the last ten days, but they came out and showed out with a team win.
Buccaneers vs Panthers
Last Wednesday night the Belleville Buccaneers hosted an SEC Liberty Conference match between the Panthers of Cedar Grove. Cedar Grove coming into the match had a record of 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
As the match began from the 106 class to the 132 weight class were all forfeits and Belleville gain all 24 points from those five matches.
First match on the night was the 138 weight class between Belleville's Rocco Negron vs Cedar Groves Adolfo Cadillo. Negron was able to put the match away in 30 seconds with a quick pin.
Nicholas Coletta of Cedar Grove wins in a technical fall against Belleville's Matias Lopez.
After the 144 match Panthers won the 150 and 157 class due to Belleville forfeiting. Many matches were performed due to Covid or not having anybody to represent that class. Covid has already presented itself on its impact.
In the 165 class Belleville Diego Viera wins by decision 9-2 and has improved as a wrestler over his years for Belleville. He looked composed and locked in throughout his match. Diego is 2-0 this season in matches in the 165 class.
The next match the Captain for Belleville Ethan Lopez puts on a performance of his own pinning Cedar Groves Santino Catalino in 48 seconds. Coach Pizzi talked about how both matches sealed the win for the Buccaneers. After that Cedar Grove went on to win the last three matches (2 forfeits, Won 285 class Mark Rotel wins by pin).
The Buccaneers come out on top, the final score was 45-35 and the Bucs continue to prevail forward despite the covid spikes and adversity they face as a team. The team had lost some wrestler due to Covid and injuries.
The Buccaneers are preparing for their next match January 12 at 5:00pm hosting the Millers of Millburn.
The Essex County Tournament that the Buccaneers participate in every year was postponed this year and has been moved to a later date (January 26) due to nightmare surges of Covid cases affecting teams across the state.
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