Persico leads young team Mid North wrestling squad Senior has 21-4 record, while team is 7-9 in A-North BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer The Middletown High School North wrestling team entered the season with just one veteran senior and uncertain expectations, yet the Lions have been muchmore competitive than their 7-9 record might indicate. CoachMatt Sirchio's teambattled itsway to a 5-2 mark in the Shore Conference's tough ClassANorth division.Along theway, the Lions triumphed over CBA, Colts Neck Freehold TownshipManalapan andMiddletown South. The conference losses came against division champs Howell and Marlboro, 44-32. Meanwhile 171-pounder Justin Persico has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in that weight class. A four-year starter and nowteamcaptain, he has posted a 21-4 mark, with two of those defeats coming against Raritan's powerful Dan Seidenberg. Persico also took first place in his weight division at theWalterWoodsHoliday Tournament at Middletown South and he finished second in the Neptune Classic. Two other North grapples also won their respective classes at theWoods event. Sophomore Brandon Vorrius won at 160 pounds and junior Tom Booth took the top spot at 215 pounds. Vorrius is second on the team with 18 wins against six losses, while Booth is 9-7. Mike Fish, a versatile junior, who has competed at several weight classes, is 14-1 with a third-place finish at 160 pounds in the Brick Memorial Mustang Classic tourney. Not bad for a competitorwho started the season as a sub. Freshman Dylan Baldwin (103 pounds) has done a good job at the top of the lineup, posting a 12-5mark. John Ruane (189), a senior in his first varsity campaign, has 10 wins, as does junior T. J. Mercante (135), who finished third in his weight class at the Brick Memorial tourney.AlexDulin (112) has contributed six wins and Alex Turitzin (119) has five victories. Both are sophomores. The Lions have had to do without the services of FrankConstantini formost of the year. The junior heavyweight, 4-3, suffered an injury in the Neptune Classic, but is expected back shortly. Anthony Manginelli (130) was also injured in the Neptune Classic. He has recorded a pair of wins. "This is a very young teamandwe have a lot of promise," Sirchio said. "We've gotten great leadership fromPersico. "I'm pleased with what our guys are doing, but we're really building for the future," said Sirchio, now in his second year at the helm. "We have youth and talent and as getmore experience as a teamour recordwill continue to improve."