When former St. Peter’s Prep wrestling standout Dave Ilaria learned two years ago that the Seton Hall program was being abolished, he didn’t know whether he would be able to wrestle ever again.
After all, college programs don’t necessarily welcome wrestlers that have only one year of eligibility remaining. Ilaria eventually landed at The College of New Jersey, along with his brother, Greg, and figured he would make a go of it at the Ewing school.
The move obviously paid off, because Ilaria was crowned as the NCAA Division III national champion at 133 pounds at the national tournament held at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio last weekend.
Ilaria had to emerge as national champion after earning the No. 5 seed at 133 pounds, even though he entered the tournament ranked third in the nation.
"I wasn’t expecting to be seeded higher," Ilaria said. "It didn’t matter where I was seeded. I had to beat everyone anyway if I wanted to win."
Ilaria defeated the bracket’s top seed, Mike Waldron of Lycoming College, last Saturday in the semifinals to move on to the finals against Ozzie Saxon of Wartburg, whom Ilaria defeated, 3-1.
But Ilaria figured he had a chance to win the tournament after winning his first two matches on Friday.
"I started to feel it after the second match," Ilaria said. "The matches were about an hour apart, so they were a good test for me. I actually liked it like that, getting them all out of the way. When I went up against the No. 1 seed (Waldron), I just thought it was another guy I had to wrestle. Then, I’m in the finals and my whole career came down to that one match."
Ilaria was asked if he could have ever imagined how his career would have evolved.
"I don’t even know if it’s completely sunk in yet," Ilaria said. "I never thought this could happen. When I first started wrestling, I didn’t even know a state tournament existed. Now, I’m a national champ. Once I came to TCNJ, I put everything I had into it and now, it’s obviously paid off."
Ilaria, who ended his season with a 36-3 record, said that the magnitude of his victory probably won’t truly hit home until he visits the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla., where all the national champions’ names are prominently displayed. Ilaria’s name will be forever enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Ilaria’s younger brother, Greg, finished fifth at the NCAA Division III nationals at 157 pounds, which means that both brothers earned All-America status, becoming the first brother pair in TCNJ history to earn All-America honors in the same season. They are only the third pair of brothers to ever earn All-America status at the prestigious wrestling program.
"I definitely think it’s impressive," Dave Ilaria said. "I didn’t know that we were the only brothers to do it in the same year. There have been a lot of brothers to come along, but that’s a great honor and I’m happy for Greg. I’m definitely proud of what we did."
TCNJ head coach Dave Icenhower, who has now coached 20 national champions, was pleased with the way Ilaria performed. Ilaria became the first TCNJ national champ since 1999.
"He really wrestled smart matches," Icenhower said. "He didn’t try to do anything broad based. It’s been a while since we had one and it’s always exciting to get one. I’m proud of him."…
It was a tough couple of days for the Hudson County basketball teams participating in the NJSIAA state playoffs, as every remaining local team fell, meaning the hoop season comes to an end in these parts.
In the matter of 48 hours, St. Anthony’s boys (in Parochial B North semifinals), Hoboken’s boys (in the North Section 1, Group II finals), Hudson County Prep’s girls (in the North Section 1, Group I finals), North Bergen’s girls (in the North Section 1, Group IV finals) and Marist’s girls (in the Parochial B North finals) all lost. Five local games, five local losses. Call it a March massacre.
Sometimes, we’re not as fortunate as other years, to crown state sectional champions in Hudson County. Sometimes, even the perennial favorites, like St. Anthony, lose. This was one of those years.
With that, look for the 2003 Hudson Reporter All-Area Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball teams in next week’s editions…
And when does the spring season begin? – Jim Hague