Ocean City’s Gallagher captures first career district wrestling title

By DAVE O’SULLIVAN Publisher Cooper Gallagher had a look in his eyes on Saturday night. It was the look of the hunter, not the hunted. For a year, the current Ocean City High School senior had to go to sleep every night knowing he could have been a district champion, but wasn’t. Last year, in the semifinals, Gallagher tore his oblique muscle. He still managed to finish second and advance to regions, but after his first match at regions he was forced to withdraw from the tournament with an injury default. Since then, Gallagher has been on a mission to win his first district title, his first region title and advance to the state championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. He accomplished that first goal in dramatic fashion on Saturday, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to beat top-seeded James Bennett of St. Augustine Prep 4-2 in the 182-pound final at the District 32 tournament at Absegami High School. He was named Most Outstanding Wrestler for his efforts. Ocean City senior 182-pounder Cooper Gallagher was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the District 32 tournament after his 4-2 upset win over top-seeded James Bennett of St. Augustine Prep. (Glory Days Magazine photos/Dave O’Sullivan) “I was just looking at the clock waiting for another stalling call, and I just watched the clock tick down until I got my title,” Gallagher said. “It was probably the best feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life so far. I’ve been runner-up the last two years, so coming in first place my senior year, that’s a great experience.” Bennett took the early lead with a quick shot that led to a takedown in the first period. Facing a 2-0 deficit heading into the third period, Gallagher chose the neutral position, betting he could take Bennett down and force the action on the mat. He did just that, and wore Bennett down, forcing a pair of stalling calls that made the difference in the match. “I was (surprised by getting taken down). I wasn’t really expecting him to come out that strong, but I knew that I could do it in the late period. I knew as soon as I picked neutral and was on my feet I had him,” Gallagher said. “I didn’t want to risk him getting legs in on me again. I know he’s not a late-period wrestler and that he always comes out hard in the beginning. I knew that my conditioning was there and that I had more stamina.” Gallagher also picked up his 100th career victory when he beat Bennett for the title. Cedar Creek freshman 106-pounder upset No. 1 seed Reid White of St. Augustine Prep to become the first District 32 champion in school history. Cedar Creek freshman Andrew Solomon made history, becoming the first Pirates wrestler to win a District 32 title when he upset top-seeded Reid White at 106 pounds. With the 4-2 victory he improved to 23-8 on the year. “It feels great. I put in the work,” Solomon said. “I just pushed hard in practice. (My coaches) said I could do it, and I did. I made it all the way through. First district champion as a freshman? That’s pretty good.” Another exciting match took place at 220 pounds, where Absegami’s Chris Henchy and Buena Regional’s Nick Caporale needed four overtime periods to decide a winner. Caporale took the lead late in the third overtime, but Henchy, a first-year wrestler as a senior, muscled his way to an escape to tie the bout and send it to a winner-take-all 30-second rideout overtime. Caporale won the toss, chose the down position, and escaped to capture the title. Holy Spirit’s Pat D’Arcy won another district title fairly easily at 113, and Absegami’s Yanni Patsaros edged Miles Townsend of Holy Spirit 8-7 to win at 126 pounds. Mainland Regional’s Brendon Islinger took second at 138, as did Egg Harbor Township’s James Ingersoll at 160. Perhaps the most impressive win came at 152, where nationally ranked Jack Clark of St. Augustine Prep scored a 22-7 technical fall in the first period. The postseason continues on Wednesday night at Egg Harbor Township High School, as second- and third-place finishers will look to stay alive when the regions begin. Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter @GDsullysays [adsense]