Keyport tries to groom its wrestling program BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer After losing 10 seniors to graduation last year, the Keyport High School wrestling team is in a rebuilding mode, but coach Al Smith still expects his team to post its share of victories by the end of the campaign. The young Red Raiders are 1-5 thus far, with the lone success coming against Rumson-Fair Haven. Keyport also lost a 36-34 squeaker to South River; the Red Raiders were winning, but they forfeited three weight classes and that proved to be the difference. Last season Keyport posted a 12-6 mark with a team that, for the most part, had been together for four years. Though the Red Raiders are undergoing some growing pains, Smith is confident the future will be bright for his team, and with good reason: there was a good turnout of freshmen and the municipality has started a Mat-Rat program that includes more than 60 youngsters, the coach added. "Things are going in the right direction for the program," Smith said. "Right now, we're looking to bring the young guys along and win a couple of matches along the way - and I know the guys will get some wins." Keyport's top grappler is 130-pounder Pat Gallego, who is 10-2 after going 19-4 last winter and taking third place in the District 20 competition. The senior now has 63 career victories to his credit, just 13 shy of Derek Maldonado's team record of 76 wins set a year ago. Gallego captured first place at a recent tourney in Holmdel and opened the season with a second-place showing at the Icebreaker Invitational in Matawan. Other key competitors include Anthony Santiago, who is 6-6 at 135 pounds; Corey Maldonado, who is 5-5 at 152 pounds, and Justin Malloy, 4-5 at 140 pounds. Santiago has been wrestling up and Smith is planning to move him to 125 pounds; Maldonado competed at 171 pounds last winter and despite a weight disadvantage still posted 10 triumphs. He recently moved down to 152, where he found his mark before suffering a dislocated shoulder that will keep him on the shelf for another two weeks. Malloy, a junior with plenty of promise, may take Santiago's place at 135 pounds. The remainder of the Red Raiders' roster includes Joey Manchina (125 pounds), juniors Roger Sasshi (160) and Ryan Ensign (171), both first-year competitors; sophomores Dave Gonzalez and Curt McCarthy, who will compete in different mid-weight classes; and freshmen Todd Jordan (119), Dan Shoylda (125), Matt Commons (189) and Jake Corsi (215). Commons picked up his first win of the year against Rumson-Fair Haven, and that turned out to be Keyport's margin of victory. "We have a lot of inexperienced wrestlers, but we're seeing a lot of good things," Smith said. "There's a good team-wide work ethic and the guys are getting better every day." The Red Raiders have been hampered because they don't field competitors at the heavyweight, 103- and 112-pound weight classes. Smith is hoping to ease a few newcomers into those slots as they become ready to face varsity competition. In the meantime, Keyport faces two matches this week as it looks for its second win. Yesterday the Red Raiders were set to host Shore Regional and return home tomorrow to wrestle against Holmdel.