The Shore Regional wrestling teamentered the season hoping to win the Shore Conference B Central championship.

Unfortunately, after their first dual meet of the season, that goal may be out of their reach.

The Blue Devils dropped their seasonopener to Point Pleasant Beach, the preseason pick to win the division title. However, in defeat, the Shore grapplers showed third-year head coach Zach Miers that they are every bit as tough as he expected them to be this season.

"It was a great match, a real dogfight," Miers said. "It came down to the match at 152, where Max Springman had their guy in overtime, but they won it, and that kind of locked us in, in terms of what we could do the rest of the way.

"We knew we definitely had to get them in the upper weights. We had to be up 13 points going into the 103 and 112 matches. They've got a couple of studs there, and we've got a couple of freshmen, including a freshman at 103 that weighs about 90 pounds."

Unfortunately for Shore, Point Beach was able to make it a one-point match heading into the 103-pound bout, and like Miers predicted, won the next two matches to secure the 35-26 win.

Despite the loss,Miers fully expects his team to put together a strong season.

At the season-opening Matawan Icebreaker Tournament, the Blue Devils fared well against a field loaded with teams from bigger schools.

"We did quite well in Matawan," Miers said. "We took seventh out of 16 teams, and alongwith St. JohnVianney (sixth),wewere the only small school in the top 10.

"I really like what I've seen early on. It was a dogfight [against Point Beach], but we knew it would be.

"I'mcompletely confident that these guys will bounce back," the coach added. "We lost

five good kids to graduation last year, two ofwhich arewrestling in college

right now. These kids put their

time in andworked their tails off

since the end of last season.

"We had some gaps; we

knew that coming in. We didn't

really get to work all the

kinks out. I mean, you wrestle

in this tough tournament, then

you get one day of practice before wrestling the toughest match of the year.

That's not easy."

There are several returning Blue Devils from last year's 14-11 team, along with a crop of some promising youngsters.

"At 103 we have freshman Dan Pollard, who is new to the sport,"Miers said. "It was amatter of us grabbing the smallest guy we could find and throwing himon themat.He's doing well, though, working hard."

Another freshman, Connor Annette, is at 112, where he has shown plenty of potential, according to Miers.

"He's got a good talent base," the coach said. "He's got a lot to build on over the next couple of years."

At 119, Shore starts sophomore Garrett Sperling, who won 25 matches as a freshman, and is one of the better technical wrestlers on the team.

"He took third at the Icebreaker, and started us off with a pin [against Point Beach], so he's off to a good start," the coach said.

Sophomore Tyler Kimble starts at 125, a year after a 20-win freshman campaign.

At 130, Miers starts another freshman he is very excited about.

"Luke Bush is one of the best technically sound wrestlers I've seen come here in the five years I've been here," he said. "I can't explain howmuch that kid is going tomean to this program over the next four years."

Senior George Cuccozella (a tough kid, according to Miers) starts at 135, while Hunter Baker, a junior, starts at 140.

"He took on a real stud in [Point Beach's] Tyler Walemgewicz, and only lost a minor decision," Miers said. "He really helped us out in terms of bonus points."

Senior captain Steve Gallo starts at 145, where he won the individual title at the Icebreaker Tournament. Gallo won 25matches last year and is a four-year starter.

Another senior captain, Springman starts at 152, while Phil Gallo, also a senior captain, starts at 160. Senior Brian Kohler starts at 171 after seeing some time at varsity last year, while senior Mark Broadbent starts at 189.

"Mark is a first-year wrestler," Miers said. "He's a football player who we got on the mats this year."

Senior captain Adam Cook jumps between 189 and 215, and is one of the team's better wrestlers.

"He won 25 matches last year and was fourth in the district," Miers said. "He gives us a force at the top of the lineup."

Junior Drew Bott wrestles at heavyweight, after seeing some spot starts last season.

As Miers looks ahead to the rest of the season, he sees plenty of potential for this Blue Devil team.

"We'd like to go back to the Central

Jersey Group I sectionals for the third straight year," he said. "It's really an honor to be able to wrestle in something like that. Beyond that, we'd like to have a winning record.

We've got some tough matches on our schedule down the road, and then we'll start to focus on some of the individual stuff. A lot of these guys have individual goals I expect them to meet."

Friday, the Blue Devils will be in Holmdel competing in the Hornets'Christmas Tournament, which begins at 9 a.m.