Toms River South rides wave of bonus points past Toms River East for first sectional title since 2013

TOMS RIVER — For the 2025 wrestling season, the Indians rule the river.

Toms River South won the first five bouts to open a big lead and continued to pile on bonus points, securing a major decision or better in all eight of its wins on Thursday night when the Indians defeated rival Toms River East, 40-28, to win the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 sectional title. It is South’s second sectional title in program history and first since 2013.

Senior Aiden Hanlon and freshman Jake Gallagher whipped the home crowd into a frenzy with pins at 144 and 150 pounds to start the match. Sophomore Jeffrey Hare followed with a major decision at 157, senior Caden Langan delivered a first-period fall at 165, and sophomore Finn Devrous pulled out a major decision at 175 pounds as the Indians (19-1) raced out to a commanding 26-0 lead.

Toms River East mounted a late comeback with wins at 190 and 285 and from 113 through 132, but South’s early damage proved to be enough cushion. Junior Owen Benciuk put the finishing touches on the victory with a first-period pin in the final bout at 138 pounds to kick off the sectional title celebration.

“We’ve been working hard all spring, all summer for this exact moment,” Langan said. “We wanted to make a statement. We wanted to make sure the whole town knows South rules the river.”

“It’s incredible,” said 27th-year Toms River South head coach Ron Laycock. “Being 8-11 last year and knowing we had most of our team coming back and getting the four freshmen in, I looked in advance at our section and knew we could compete if we got everybody down to the right weight classes. A couple kids made some big sacrifices, which balanced our team out. We don’t really have superstars on our team, but we put 14 guys out there who fight like hell. We kept preaching all season that we could compete in this section and they bought into everything we said. They’ve taken us on an unbelievable ride.”

Terrence Thomas got Toms River East on the board with an 8-3 win over Mike Devivi at 190 pounds, but the Indians answered when junior Brett Rankin scored an 11-3 major decision over Kyle Ho at 215. Their 30-3 lead helped them absorb a pin by East’s standout senior heavyweight James Lynch. Freshman Vinnie Pedalino provided more bonus points at 106 with a 17-6 major decision over Christian Cimino, putting South ahead 34-9 with five bouts left.

Toms River East needed to win out with major bonus points and got off to a good start when Ryan McHugh won by 11-0 major decision over Jonathan Correa at 113. Standout sophomore Ricky DeLorenzo II won by fall at 120 to cut Toms River South’s lead to 34-19, but Toms River South sophomore Alex Park was able to hold fellow sophomore Kevin Sickler to a 4-3 decision at 126 pounds. Freshman Jayce Cappello then worked a first-period pin at 132 to make it a six-point match heading into the final bout. But the Indians had Beneciuk waiting in the wings, bumping him up to 138 where he came through with a walk-off pin to clinch the sectional title.

“We knew going into this match if you win, win big, and if you lose, lose small,” Langan said. “It was a team effort tonight.”

Toms River South will wrestle North 2, Group 4 champion North Hunterdon on Friday night in the Group 4 semifinals. The Lions knocked off Middletown North, 32-31, in a thrilling sectional final on Wednesday night. It will be Toms River South’s biggest challenge of the season.

“Just go to bed tonight and wake up fearless,” Langan said.

 

Box Score

South Jersey Group 4

4-Toms River South 40 6-Toms River East 28

Notes: Toms River South’s second sectional title, first since 2013

144: Aiden Hanlon (TRS) p. Damian Vonderlinden, 2:56

150: Jake Gallagher (TRS) p. Elian Steffer, 3:37

157: Jeffrey Hare (TRS) md. Daniel Hernandez, 15-3

165: Caden Langan (TRS) p. Nate Richardson, 0:31

175: Finn Devrous (TRS) md. Christian Lynch, 12-4

190: Terrence Thomas (TRE) d. Mike Devivi, 8-3

215: Brett Rankin (TRS) md. Kyle Ho, 11-3

Hwt: James Lynch (TRE) p. Austin Reed, 0:46

106: Vinnie Pedalino (TRS) md. Christian Cimino, 17-6

113: Ryan McHugh (TRE) md. Jonathan Correa, 11-0

120: Rickey DeLorenzo II (TRE) p. Bain Howe, 0:34

126: Kevin Sickler (TRE) d. Alex Park, 4-3

132: Jayce Cappello (TRE) p. Ian Torres, 1:43

138: Owen Beneciuk (TRS) wins by fall