JERRY WOLKOWITZ Rumson-Fair Haven’s Bryan Heller controls his opponent during the second round of wrestlebacks at the NJSIAA state championships in Atlantic City on Saturday.

Entering this wrestling season, Shore Regional senior Chris Gornik wanted to prove to everybody just how good he is.

Thirty-six matches later, the West Long Branch heavyweight finished third in the NJSIAA’s state championships, held at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City last weekend, and in effect, did just that.

"I came into this tournament wanting to place in the top five," said Gornik. "When I won my wrestleback semifinals match, Coach [Rich] Santangelo told me to go out and win the bronze.

"It’s definitely cool winning a bronze in the state tournament and setting history for my school twice in one tournament. When you’re in gymnasiums like Brick Memorial, you see how vast their wrestling Hall of Fame is. Hopefully, with a recreation program feeding into the high school team now, and what Coach Santangelo has done with the team, this is only the beginning for Shore," he said.

"It’s so amazing what Gornik did; it’s a little overwhelming," said Santangelo. "After he won his Region, we both began to believe he could go very far in the state tournament.

"Gornik earned his third-place medal. He wrestled six matches, won five, and three of the kids defeated were higher seeds," he said.

Gornik entered the round of 16 as the 11th seed, with the sixth seed, Matt Yeskel (Hanover Park), standing in his way from the start.

A little over five minutes later, the Blue Devils’ grappler was having his hand raised from a 5:09 pinfall.

Even though Gornik had his hand raised for beating Yeskel, Yeskel did something no one else has done prior to their match — taken Gornik down.

"You could see that the takedown affected Gornik," said Santangelo. "After 45 minutes, I don’t think he was mentally ready to face [Mike] Davidowich — he looked nervous.

"Even though Gornik lost in the quarterfinal, he regrouped, and showed just how much heart he has to come back and win the bronze."

The Eastern High School third seed defeated Gornik 5-2, sending it into the wrestleback round.

In the wrestlebacks, the heavyweight from Shore had to win two close matches, as well as record a pair of pinfalls, to win the bronze.

In the second round, Gornik came back from a sizable deficit, scored four takedowns in 45 seconds to send the match into overtime, then defeated West Essex’s Sal LoCascio, 16-14.

After defeating the 12th seed, Gornik pinned Jeff Tyler (Delsea) in 5:12; then beat the tournament’s fifth seed, Ramel Meekins (Westwood), to earn a shot at the bronze.

With only one second left in the first period of the consolation round finals, Gornik decked Pope John XXIII’s Devin Perez (second seed) to capture third.

Gornik’s 5-1 run through the state tournament not only gave him a 35-1 record for the year, but gives Gornik the most wins ever compiled by a Shore Regional wrestler, with 76.

Gornik qualified for the state tournament on six straight wins, capturing the District 23 and the Region VI heavyweight crowns.

While Gornik was proving his mettle, Rumson-Fair Haven’s Bryan Heller continued working on his preseason goal of improving with each match.

By the time he was finished, he had captured two major wrestling titles, and placed seventh/eighth in the state.

"I just wanted to improve myself a little bit each time I took the mat," said the Rumson-Fair Haven junior after winning the Region VI crown.

Heller began to improve his standings from last year when he started off the NJSIAA’s District 22 tournament with a flawless 23-0 record. Last year, Heller finished second in District 22; however, this year, he systematically deconstructed opponents to win the crown.

One week later he turned a 2001 third-place finish in the Region VI into a gold.

Because of his Region VI championship, which was the first one ever in Rumson-Fair Haven’s history, Heller was given an automatic bid into the state tournament’s round of 16. Seeded 12th, with a 29-0 record, Heller had to begin the tournament against the fifth seed, Jarred Mercado (Pitman). The match went the distance with Heller narrowly losing 7-6.

After being sent into the wrestleback round, the RFH junior regrouped for an 11-7 decision over West Deptford’s Kyle Mancuso.

Heller then advanced to the wrestlebacks’ quarterfinal round by defeating Mark Moyer (Somerville), 8-6.

Heller was finally knocked out of the tournament when he lost to seventh-seeded Andrew Flannigan, 16-1.

Because Heller reached the quarterfinals of the wrestlebacks, he finished the state tournament in seventh/eighth place.

Only the top six positions are actually determined by wrestled matches.

Heller finished the season with a 31-2 record and the knowledge that he accomplished his preseason goal.