LAWRENCE TWP. -— As expected, the Hopewell Valley wrestling team rolled past Notre Dame, 63-13, Thursday night.
What also did not come as a surprise was one of the few bright spots for Notre Dame was turned in by sophomore 215-pounder Ivan Yultukhovskyi.
For those not familiar with Yultukhovskyi, he burst on the scene last year by going 31-6 and finishing second at both the Colonial Valley Conference and districts tournaments as a freshman.
After transferring to Notre Dame from Lawrence during the off season, he is now 19-2 following a 4-0 triumph over Hopewell’s Gavin Barker. An earlier loss to Steinert senior MIkey Odige not withstanding, there seems to be no telling what Yultukhovskyi might accomplish with two and a half years still remaining in his high school wrestling career.
That’s a brief synopsis of where Yultukhovskyi currently stands on the mat. There is, however, a lot more to this story because he moved to the United States from war-torn Ukraine four years ago. Needless to say, there have been plenty of adjustments along the way and he’s been able to handle it.
“I started wrestling nine years ago, but it was all freestyle in Ukraine,” he said. “It (converting to folk style) was hard at first. There are differences (from freestyle). Things like locking hands and stuff like that. But I have a great coach (EJ Nemeth) and he’s helping me a lot. I’m also working a lot harder this year.”
Despite the 31 wins in his impressive freshman season, Yultukhovskyi said he does not consider last year to be a success because he did not quality for the state tournament.
“I didn’t do what I wanted to do,” he said. “My goal this year is to be in the top eight (at states).”
Before he can begin focusing on a state tournament run, there’s the matter of the rest of the regular season. This includes next week’s Colonial Valley Conference Tournament. Odige will probably get the top seed because he posted a 17-5 win over Yultukhovskyi. Since Yultukhovskyi might very well be seeded second, those two could collide again in the final.’
“The first time I wrestled him it was close, but then he caught me when I did a Granby Roll, ” Yultukhovskyi said. “Yeah, I want to see him again. I want a rematch.”
Although Yultukhovskyi is now solidly entrenched in the United States, Ukraine is still very much on his mind.
“I still have friends and an uncle there,” he said. “Where I came from (in Ukraine) hasn’t been bombed too much, but I watch what’s happening there every day. It’s very sad. I hope the war ends soon.”
And what does he think of America?
“I love it here, it’s a great country.” he said. “I have my green card and want to be a United States citizen soon.”
In Yultukhovskyi’s case, the American dream is certainly alive and well.
MATCH NOTES: The big win for Hopewell Valley (14-1) was turned in by Max Pollara at 157 pounds. After nearly getting pinned twice, Pollara rallied for a wild 19-18 victory over Joey Bonko with help from a reversal late in the third period. Pollara is now 11-5 and Bonko is 20-2 after suffering his first loss against CVC competition. Hopewell Valley’s Sebastian Soto suffered what appeared be a shoulder injury and had to injury default against Jake Mulray at 132. Injuries are the last thing Hopewell needs right now with matches against Hightstown and Robbinsville on the immediate horizon.
Hopewell Valley 63, Notre Dame 13
106: Said Jan Rahmani (HVH) over Chris Brooks (NODA) (Fall 1:39)113: Saif Ali Rahmani (HVH) over Chase Crowley (NODA) (Fall 1:23)120: Luca Schiavon (HVH) over Trent Walsh (NODA) (Inj. [time])126: Parker Humphrey (HVH) over Brady Johnson (NODA) (Fall 2:33)132: Jake Mulray (NODA) over Sebastian Soto (HVH) (Inj. [time])138: Dylan Hersh (HVH) over Daniel Gonzales (NODA) (Fall 2:36)144: Tyler Ansari (HVH) over Johnny Celli (NODA) (Fall 3:18)150: Isaac Miller (HVH) over Luca Franzen (NODA) (Fall 3:16)157: Max Pollara (HVH) over Joey Bonko (NODA) (Dec 19-18)165: Preston Horvath (HVH) over Ethan Hornberger (NODA) (Fall 1:10)175: Ethan Barker (HVH) over Robert Farley (NODA) (Fall 0:28)190: Scott Mangan (HVH) over John Olenchalk (NODA) (Fall 0:36)215: Ivan Yultukhovskyi (NODA) over Gavin Barker (HVH) (Dec 4-0)285: Zach Hammerstone (NODA) over Ken Pineda (HVH) (Dec 6-0)
OTHER MATCHES
Steinert 71, Ewing 8
106: Bryce Wittkop (EWIN) over Dino Zulla (HES) (Dec 8-6)113: Mina Magdy-Badea (HES) over (EWIN) (For.)120: Matthew Mottola (HES) over Joshua Grose (EWIN) (Fall 1:06)126: Julian Bijaczyk (HES) over Gibril Huq (EWIN) (Fall 0:57)132: Anthony Ricigliano (HES) over (EWIN) (For.)138: Alex Castano (HES) over (EWIN) (For.)144: Yasin Ahmed (HES) over Isaac Trammell (EWIN) (Fall 1:59)150: Jackson ClarkeGoss (HES) over Christopher Reeves (EWIN) (Fall 0:39)157: Yazid Ahmed (HES) over Amos Horton (EWIN) (Fall 1:59)165: Marcello Pandolfini (HES) over Aahan Hossain (EWIN) (Fall 1:10)175: Rudy Ortiz (HES) over Danny Umana-De la Rosa (EWIN) (Fall 1:43)190: Jose Samayoa-Rodas (HES) over Aden vega (EWIN) (Fall 2:35)215: Mickhorlsky Odige (HES) over Luke Weigle (EWIN) (Fall 1:08)285: Cephus Horton (EWIN) over Akorede Oroibi (HES) (Fall 1:08)
