Egan Takes Second at Region VI

They have been hanging on the wall during every workout for Colin Egan during his high school career at Wall High School, motivating him to get to a place that he had never reached.

Pictures of the action under the bright lights at the NJSIAA Individual Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, the mecca of New Jersey wrestling, hang in the auxiliary gym at the school, reminding wrestlers what is out there for them if they put in the work.

Egan had never even been to the event as a fan, but this year he won’t have to worry about paying.

“Every day I would just stare at them and picture myself there,’’ Egan said.

It’s now a reality, as Egan finished as the runner-up at 189 pounds at Saturday’s NJSIAA Region VI Tournament, dropping a 13-1 major decision to top-seeded Dallas Winston of Jackson Memorial. It marked Egan’s second loss of the season to the talented Winston, who is the younger brother of Rutgers University star Scott Winston and a top contender for the overall title in Atlantic City this weekend.

Wrestlers who place in the top three in their weight class at  regional tournaments earn an automatic trip to Boardwalk Hall. Egan, a two-time District 23 champion who broke into the top three in Region VI as a senior, now gets to see the real version of those photos on the wall.

“It feels great,’’ Egan said. “I worked every day, I put countless hours in, and it’s just all hard work.’’

Egan also wrestles in the memory of his father, who died when Egan’s high school career was just beginning.

“Every match I know he’s helping me out up there,’’ he said. “I want to make him proud.’’

The senior is also carrying the torch for Wall, as he is the only Crimson Knights wrestler still alive in the state tournament. Seeded No. 2, he reached the final with a thrilling, 2-1, overtime win against Christian Brothers Academy’s Hayden Hrymack by scoring on an escape in the extra period.

That guaranteed at least one Wall wrestler would make the trip down the Garden State Parkway, as 152-pounder Mark Vinges lost to eventual champion Conor Brennan of Brick in the quarterfinals on Friday night and then lost in the consolation bracket. Also, Pete Kinsella lost a 6-3 decision to Jackson Liberty’s Nick Zak in the quarterfinals at 160 on Friday night and was not able to make a run at third from the consolation bracket.

Conspicuous by his absence was Wall senior 215-pounder Andrew Marr, who was the defending Region VI champ and undefeated on the season. Marr, who was Egan’s workout partner in practice for much of the season while battling injuries, suffered a concussion in the week of practice leading up to the District 23 tournament that ended his season.

The wrestler who won the Region VI title on Saturday, Marlboro’s Mitch Seigel, was someone Marr had already beaten twice.

“That was a bummer,’’ Egan said. “We were planning to do this all together and make it to Atlantic City together. In practice, we push each other every day, and without him it was a little bit different. He would have been a region champ if he was here.’’

That leaves Egan, who is 31-7 this season after finishing 20-12 as a junior, standing alone. After having lost 6-2 and 13-1 to Winston this season, he can at least enter the crucible at Boardwalk Hall knowing he already has experienced wrestling against the best.

“I’m battle-tested now after wrestling (Winston), and I know what to expect,’’ Egan said. “Last couple times I relaxed and got taken down, so I just have to stay focused the entire match. I guarantee he places top three because he is something else. I just want to get on the podium down there. To finish in the top six is my goal.’’