David Szuba Pins John O’Donnell in NJ Wrestling State Final – shoresportsnetwork.com

PHILLIPSBURG – In the final bout of the 2021 NJSIAA Wrestling Championships, Brick Memorial’s David Szuba delivered one of the most emphatic state championship victories in Shore Conference history.

A little over halfway through the first period, Szuba countered an underhook and hit a headlock throw that launched Toms River North’s John O’Donnell to his back for a thunderous fall in 1:15 that gave Szuba the New Jersey 285-pound state title on Sunday night at Phillipsburg High School.

O’Donnell had taken a 2-0 lead with a takedown early in the bout but Szuba was able to escape and find an opening for a home-run throw. And when he connected, it was all over. The Mustangs senior let out a primal scream that was surpassed only by his father, Ben, who lifted his son into the air with a roar of his own as the crowd looked on in awe.

The victory for Szuba settled the score with O’Donnell after the two had split bouts earlier this season. Szuba won in a dual meet, O’Donnell won in the Central Region final and Szuba took the rubber match for the heavyweight state crown.

The win also put Brick Memorial into the history books. A day after Evan Tallmadge, Anthony Santaniello and Vincent Santaniello won back-to-back-to-back state championships from 113 to 126 pounds, Szuba gave Brick Memorial four state champions in one season for the first time in Shore Conference history and just the third time in the state’s modern era. High Point in 2008 and Bergen Catholic in 2015 and 2016 also accomplished the feat.

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