285 pounds
SaturdayÂ
Ellis fell behind 5-2 to Pope John XXIII’s Noa Merritt in first wrestlebacks. Ellis cut it to 5-4 on a takedown with 11 seconds left in the third period, but Merritt escaped and held on for the 6-4 win.
Friday preliminaries
Ray Ellis was taken down in the first period and twice in the second dropping a 7-3 decision to Hanover Park's Nicholas LaShell.
Ray Ellis, Holy Spirit, Jr., (32-8)
Record vs. state qualifiers: 1-2.
Highlight wins: Seeded sixth in his weight class, Ellis won a 3-2 decision against Pennsville Memorial’s Cody Dooley in the Region 8 quarterfinals. Ellis followed that up with first-period pin against Gloucester City’s Allan Westenberger.
Seed: Bottom bracket No. 8 seed.
Back points: Ellis makes his debut in the state tournament against Hanover Park’s Nicholas LaShell in the prelims. The winner advances to face Region 7 champ Alex Thompson of Haddon Heights in the prequarterfinals. Thompson is the top seed in the bottom bracket.
