When he entered Mountain Lakes High School as a freshman four years ago, Rinaldo DiGiacopo was a basketball player.

But his life dramatically changed when he tried out for freshman hoops.

He was cut.

Back when he was in middle school, DiGiacopo would often watch his brother Luca wrestle for Boonton High and had wondered what it would be like to wrestle.

He’d soon get his chance and reported to the wrestling room.

Now, Rinaldo DiGiacopo is a full-blown wrestler – and is now a two-time champion of the Mountain Lakes Christmas tournament.

DiGiacopo (175) won his weight at the 11th Annual Laker Christmas Tournament Saturday.

DiGiacopo has come a long way and is one to watch down the road when it is time for the state tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

In the Laker final, he pinned Pequannock’s Dylan Roemmele in 3:34 to win the weight class. DiGiacopo made an early statement by pinning Roemmele.

Last year, he beat Roemmele twice but he had to work particularly hard to come away with the victory both times. He beat Roemmele by 9-7 (in overtime in a dual) and 6-5 (to win the Mountain Lakes tournament).

DiGiacopo had a big season for the Lakers last year and finished 36-8. After winning the season-opening Mountain Lakes tournament, he placed third at the Lenape Valley Tournament and fifth at the Morris County Tournament. He took second at District 6, losing to P-Burg’s Derek Stone in the finals by a fall in 3:44.

DiGiacopo wound up sixth at Region 2.

If pinning Roemmele after two hard-fought battles last year is any indication, DiGiacopo appears ready to make a run to the states.

“Ronaldo is a kid that is dedicated himself to wrestling and it’s obviously paying off,” coach Matt Stanzione said. “He came out as a freshman with no experience and he’s put himself in a position to be one of the most successful wrestlers we’ve had in the program. He went out there (at the Mountain Lakes tournament) and dominated the way he should’ve and we’re hoping that he can keep it up.”

DiGiacopo also pinned Parsippany Hills’ Jarel Hernandez in 2:46 in the semifinals and Whippany Park’s Sean Dill in the quarters in 32 seconds.

Four years ago, no one would have thought this was even possible.

“I would go to all of my brother’s wrestling matches when he was in high school and I always thought I’d like it but just never took the initiative,” he said. “Then freshman year I didn’t make the basketball team so I ended up giving wrestling a shot and ended up really liking it, so I decided to do club wrestling in the offseason.”

Mendham, meanwhile, placed second overall at the tournament behind team champion Wayne Valley (172 points). 

“The wrestlers in our program dedicated themselves this off season to clubs, tournaments, and weight training,” coach Steve Baig said. “Now they see how effective an offseason training program can be and it is paying off for many of our wrestlers.”  

Returning state qualifier Rafe Fonte (126) seemed destined for a technical fall over Madison’s Andrew Meza but then pinned him in 1:45.

“Rafe had another outstanding tournament,” Baig said. “He dominated his way to the finals. His pin in the finals really helped us solidify second place as a team for the tournament.  

Mendham’s other champion was 106-pound Aidan Reilly, who had a pin in the quarters and a major in the semifinals before pinning Columbia’s Christian Venescar in 1:28. Reilly was second at Mountain Lakes last year.

“Aidan had a very solid tournament,” Baig said. “I think he is poised to have a very good season and should definitely advance further at the end of the season than he did last year.”

Sectional talk

The sectional wrestling playoffs do not get underway for another seven weeks or so – but it’s never too late to talk about all of the possibilities!

Mount Olive took the trip out to Phillipsburg and gave the Stateliners a run for the money in a matchup of two of the three best Group IV schools in New Jersey.

The trouble is, those two powerhouses – and defending state Group IV champion Ridge – all reside in North 1, Group IV.

Here is a look at all of the Groups involving Morris-Sussex schools.

NORTH JERSEY 

SECTION 1

Group IV – P-Burg beat Mount Olive over the weekend, 32-30, and that was with the Marauders wrestling shorthanded without stellar middleweights Justin Bullock and Colin Smyth. The Stateliners win possibly earned them host status for the sectional final if both advance that far (and don’t forget about Ridge). So that means that the survivor in this section has to beat not one, but TWO top-notch teams in order to win the section.

Group III – Montville is strong up top with Dominick Kraemer (190) and Sean Elsmore (215), who won their weights at the Morris Knolls Christmas Tournament. Luke Manieri (113) was another Mustang champion. Rylan Jones (132) is another standout. Watch out for Wayne Valley and Old Tappan in this section as well.

Group II – Jefferson upended High Point to win the section last year and advanced all the way to the Group II finals before losing to Rumson. The well-balanced Wildcats, under first-year head coach Billy Smith, are gunning for their 31st sectional title and are the favorites with Nick Clayton (157), Donald Weiss (215) and Gavin Mericle (285) leading the way. 

Group I – Kittatinny, under legendary John Gill, is gunning for its 26th sectional title and are a good bet to advance that far once again. Three-time state qualifier Ethan Dalling took second at the Caldwell Tournament and earned his 100th career victory.

SECTION 2

Group III – This section is loaded with Cranford, Passaic Valley, South Plainfield, Warren Hills, and West Essex. Morris Hills is young and on the rise but this section is a monster.

Group II – Caldwell is the favorite and Gov. Livingston is coming along, but here comes West Morris, which saw state contender Tom Borgia win at heavyweight at the Morris Knolls Tournament. And don’t sleep on Parsippany Hills.

Group I – Hanover Park is beginning to own this section and is a heavy favorite to win it for the third straight year (and school’s fourth straight section). If the Hornets can lengthen their lineup, they can make a bid for a Group I championship. Vincenzo LaValle made it to the semifinals and placed fourth at the Beast of the East. Nick DiFrancescantonio (126) won three matches at the Beast. 

NON-PUBLIC 

Group A – Delbarton upended St. Joe’s-Montvale to win the state championship last year. The Green Wave reached the finals of the National Hall of Fame Duals in Stillwater, Oklahoma and are the team to beat in a loaded section with Joe’s, CBA, Bergen Catholic and now St. John Vianney.

Group B – Pope John’s Carson Walsh was second at the Beast for the Lions, who are ready to make a run at a state championship, especially with St. John Vianney moving up to Group A. A Camden Catholic-Pope John final is a distinct possibility.