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Wrestling - Vinnie Two Times: Vinne DelleFave Story
publication date: Mar 9, 2009
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author/source: Scott Stump
By Scott Stump - Managing Editor
E-mail: stump@allshoremedia.com
ATLANTIC CITY - The one aspect of Vinnie DelleFave's brilliance that everyone talks about is his control and calm under pressure, but even he couldn't resist letting go after winning his second straight NJSIAA title with a 3-2 ultimate tie-breaker victory over Paulsboro's previously undefeated Joe Duca at 119 pounds on Sunday at Boardwalk Hall.
After he escaped from the bottom in the ultimate tie-breaker, he uncharacteristically whipped his headgear toward the ceiling and leaped into the arms of the Toms River East coaching staff to finally unleash some emotion after years as a wrestling cyborg who seemingly makes everything look easy and clinical. It was well-deserved as he put himself alone in the pantheon at Toms River East after becoming the school's first two-time state champion. He is a four-time state place-winner, as he finished third at 112 as a sophomore and second at 103 as a freshman.
 | | Even the usually reserved Vinnie DelleFave had to show some emotion after becoming the first Toms River East wrestler to win two state titles when he captured the championship at 119 pounds on Sunday. (Photo by Anthony Payne - |
"I guess that was just four years of bottled up emotions, and I just let go,'' DelleFave said. "I was pretty pumped up.''
DelleFave was whistled for locking hands in the second overtime to give Duca a 2-1 lead, but he didn't even blink as he just rode Duca out for the remaining 18 seconds of the first 30-second period and then escaped from bottom in the second 30-second period to tie the bout at 2-2. Knowing that he would have choice in the ultimate tie-breaker because he scored first in the bout on a second-period escape, DelleFave did not try anything crazy after getting the escape in the second overtime to tie it.
"He did know he was going to get the position (in the ultimate tie-breaker), so he didn't take any risky shots,'' said veteran Raiders coach Warren Reid.
"That was huge,'' DelleFave said. "That just put the whole mindset that in that second
overtime he has to come at me because I had to eventually go down, so
the second overtime was his chance.''
Once DelleFave peeled back Duca's hands and stood up with 17 seconds left in the ultimate tie-breaker, his place in history was secure. So what separates him from the other Toms River East state champs?
"He probably knows better than anybody where he is on the mat,'' Reid said. "That mat awareness is hard to coach. He knows his limits, and he knows what he can do more than the other guys.''
That was never more apparent than against Duca, who got in deep on two double-leg shots but could not convert either of them into any points because DelleFave just smoothly worked out of trouble. That preternatural calm that is the defining trait of the incoming Rutgers recruit was honed at a young age at Elite Wrestling in Jackson under trainer Steve Rivera, who won a state title at 102 at Manalapan in 1987.
"It's also like (Rivera) is my psychiatrist because he always talks about staying focused no matter what the score is,'' DelleFave said. "I keep everything inside me and don't let anyone know what's going on inside.''
DelleFave's greatness has become so routine that his success was almost taken for granted, like you could just pencil him in as the champion before the tournament began and then move on to the flashier wrestlers.
"If that's what people think and I do it, I can't complain,'' he said. "As long as you get it done on the mat, that's all that anyone is going to remember.''
After his burst of emotion on the mat following his victory, DelleFave was right back to playing it cool, assessing his career like an accountant scanning a balance sheet. He is the Raiders' all-time wins leader and the school's only four-time Region VI champ.
"Four-time region champ, two-time state champ, first (two-time champ) in the school,'' he said. "It was a good career. I think I went out with a bang.''
Everything about DelleFave practically screams "future coach,'' because of his attention to detail, his analytical mind and his unflappable demeanor. After all, who knows more about navigating the state tournament and the atmosphere at Boardwalk Hall than him?
"I've been on any possible side of the scenarios in Atlantic City,'' he said before smiling. "If anyone wants to talk about losing on Friday night or making it as a freshman, you come talk to me. I'll tell you how everything is.''
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