Southern Holds Firm on the Road, Outlasts Rumson in Statement Shore Victory

Southern walked into Rumson knowing the margin for error would be slim. A hostile gym, a ranked Shore opponent, and a lineup built to test discipline from top to bottom. By the end of the night, the Rams had done what top teams do on the road — weathered momentum swings, leaned on bonus points early, and closed with authority to secure another high-level Shore Conference win.

The night opened at 120 pounds with a tone-setter. Cade Collins and Eamon Fry, both proven state qualifiers, locked into a tight, tactical bout that stayed tense until the final whistle. Collins’ 2–1 decision gave Southern the early edge and immediate belief. From there, the Rams surged. Dion Mesanko needed just 27 seconds to put points on the board with a pin, and moments later Anthony Mason followed suit with a lightning-fast fall of his own. In the blink of an eye, Southern had built real separation.

Rumson responded with grit in the middle of the lineup, picking up decisions and technical falls to keep the dual competitive. Ryder Izzo and Luke Dougherty delivered back-to-back pins that cut the deficit to just four points, shifting the energy in the room and putting pressure squarely back on Southern’s shoulders.

That’s where composure mattered most.

Instead of pressing, Southern answered with control. Levi Foote, bumping up to heavyweight, wrestled with patience and physicality, earning a 6–1 decision that steadied the dual and reclaimed momentum. The closing stretch belonged to the Rams. Freshman Jonas Lusker capped his night with a commanding 14–1 major decision, and Nick Banos sealed the win with a pin, putting an emphatic finish on a hard-earned road performance.

From top to bottom, Southern showed why it continues to be a problem for ranked Shore opponents. Early bonus points created breathing room, resilience carried them through Rumson’s surge, and execution at the end made sure there was no doubt about the result.