Scarsdale's Braun Wins Second Title This Month

SCARSDALE, N.Y. – Jack Braun was very familiar with his opponent in the 170-pound championship match in the 35th annual Edgemont Wrestling Tournament Sunday.

The Scarsdale senior had wrestled Rye’s Joe Simolacaj numerous times during their respective careers, including the final of the Scarsdale tournament, earlier this month. And even though Braun has not lost to Simolacaj, he was not taking anything for granted.

Braun showed this by taking control of the match immediately and registering a pin at 1:50 of the first period.

Scarsdale finished second in the tournament, with 179.5 points, to Edgemont (228 points). Along with Braun, Jacob Berkowitz won the 182-pound title and was named co-most outstanding wrestler along with Edgemont’s Tyler Aslanian.

“I know he is a tough wrestler and I expected him to wrestle hard because he really wanted this, too,” said Braun of Simolacaj, an all-section football pick last fall. “I wanted to bring the match to him.”

Braun establish himself early, with a quick takedown, and then he went to work. He turned Simolacaj for three back points, but the Rye senior battled off of his back.

“I was aware of some of the moves he liked and the shots he liked, so I wanted to make my shots work,” Braun said. “I was pleased with everything I did, taking control right from the beginning, getting the early shot and finishing it strong.”

Berkowitz earned a share of the MOW award with a 13-0 major decision of Pawling’s Oliver Mold in the final. Mold was the 2011 Division II 171-pound champion and favorite to win it at 182 this season.

Dan Jureller (132 pounds) and Joe Koshakow (138) were runners-up.

Team standings and key – 1. Edgemont (Ed) 228 points; 2. Scarsdale (Sc) 179.5; 3. Horace Mann (HM) 178.5; 4. Pearl River (PR) 142; 5. Yonkers (Y) 121; 6. Mamaroneck (Mk) 120.5; 7. Pawling (Pw) 97; 8, Monticello (Mt) 78; 9. Collegiate (Col) 65; 10. Rye (R) 59; 11. Tie, Eastchester (E), Tuxedo (Tux) 53; 13. Westlake (Ws) 50.5; 14. Tie, Hackley (Hk), Mount Vernon (MV) 48; 16. Salesian (Sl) 45; 17. Woodlands (Wd) 34.

Championship

99 – Tyler Aslanian (Ed) pin. James Kelly (PR), 4:26; 106 – Skyler Korek (Ed) major dec. Lynn (Tux), 11-3; 113 – Trey Aslanian (Ed) pin. John Muldoon (PR), :34; 120 – Justin Gilston (HM) pin. Rameek McKenzie (Y), 2:50; 126 – Gomez (Mt) pin. Dan Jureller (Sc), 5:08; 132 – Zack Rico (Sl) pin. Colin Hopkins (Ed), 5:38; 138 – Justin Seim (Hk) pin. Joe Koshakow (Sc), 2:58; 145 – Ford (Col) dec. Russo (HM), 5-2; 152 – Ben Miller (Mk) dec. Scott Porter (Pw), 4-2; 160 – Dion Duran (Mk) won by injury default over Erik Derektor (HM); 170 – Jack Braun (Sc) pin. Joe Simolacaj (R), 1:50; 182 – Jacob Berkowitz (Sc) major dec. Oliver Mold (Pw), 13-0; 195 – Simpson (MV) pin. Marji (Y), 4:31; 220 – Danny Kornberg (Ed) dec. Brumback (Col), 4-2 OT; 285 – Michael D’Abbraccia (Mt) pin. Austin Lynch (Wd), 1:35.

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