JANUARY 22, 2016 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD — Several years of hard work manifested itself in just 6 minutes and 10 seconds on the wrestling mat last Saturday for Ridgewood High School star Kyle Inlander.
On the cusp of securing his 100th career victory, the senior 182-pounder needed to win all three of his matches in the Maroons’ quad against Wayne Hills, Toms River North and Toms River South. Inlander didn’t waste much time, recording pins in all three of his matches, the last coming against Toms River South in 1:48 to reach the milestone victory.
“I sacrifice a lot of my time to get where I am today,” he said. “I’m just happy it worked out and I just want to keep the ball rolling.”
Inlander, who improved to 17-1 this season, became the fifth Ridgewood wrestler to reach the century mark, joining Nick Saglimbeni (Class of 2015), Joe Oliva (2014), Brandon Giovanetti (2012) and Mark Romeo (2002).
“I never thought I’d make it as far as I did coming into high school, but as time passes, you kind of see how far you go,” Inlander said.
Ridgewood head coach Torre Watson, on the other hand, knew a special wrestler had joined the program back in the 2012-13 season.
“One of Kyle’s goals as a freshman was getting into the varsity lineup,” Watson recalled. “That was the reason that Kyle came in at 170 pounds and wrestled at 182 and didn’t think twice about it.