CARRIED AWAY: Princeton High wrestler James Verbeyst, right, battles a foe in recent action. Earlier this month, junior Verbeyst won the title at 145 pounds at the Mercer County Tournament. It was the first county crown for Verbeyst, who had placed second at 113 in the MCT as a freshman and second at 126 last season. Verbeyst posted a 22-2 record in his first 24 matches this winter. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Having advanced to the finals of the Mercer County Tournament in his first two seasons with the Princeton High wrestling team, James Verbeyst was primed to take the next step as he headed into this year’s county competition. 

“I knew that I could definitely win it,” said junior star Verbeyst, who was competing at 145 pounds.

“The bracket wasn’t as tough as it could have been. I knew I had a good shot at getting the gold and once I got in there and stepped on the mat, all the anxiety just went away.”

Producing pins in the first two rounds of the tournament held earlier this month at Robbinsville High, Verbeyst faced Lavinsky Collins of Ewing in the final and pulled out a 6-5 decision to earn the title.

“It was a lot closer than I would have wanted it to be, I thought I could have handled him better than I did,” said Verbeyst, who had placed second at 113 in the MCT as a freshman and second at 126 last season.

“But I was just focusing on winning, I didn’t care how I got it. I just wanted to get that first county victory.”

For Verbeyst, getting the county crown brought a sense of relief. “Twice being in the finals and coming up short, this takes away all the anxiety for next year,” said Verbeyst, who was one of two county champions for PHS as freshman Alec Bobchin prevailed at 113 with the Little Tigers finishing seventh in the team standings. “There won’t be any more pressure to get the victory, I have got it now.”

With a strong family influence, Verbeyst got into wrestling at an early age.

“I was five when I started, my whole family wrestled, my dad wrestled, my brothers wrestled, I was born into it,” said Verbeyst, whose father Ken previously coached the Hopewell Valley High program.

“When I first started out, it was really fun. Toward middle school, when I was winning, I liked it and when I was losing, it wasn’t as fun. It has had its up and downs but I am definitely getting there.”

Getting to PHS in 2013, Verbeyst faced some challenges in making the transition to the higher level of competition.

“Just the physicality, it is a whole new match in high school,” said Verbeyst.

“The matches are longer and you wrestle men. There are no 10-year-olds that you are wrestling. It is a whole different wrestling style.”

Verbeyst lost his high school debut but then went on to win 14 of his next 15 bouts and made it to the county final and District 17 championships at 113.

“The kid I wrestled, Colin Monahan, was a real good wrestler and he was a senior,” recalled Verbeyst.

“It wasn’t a fun first match but I was able to rebound and get a pretty good beginning going.”

Over the last two seasons, Verbeyst has worked tirelessly to refine his skills on the mat.

“I wanted to get a lot better on my feet, I think I have been doing that the last couple of years,” said Verbeyst, who previously wrestled for the Princeton Amateur Wrestling Society (PAWS) and is currently a member of the Team Apache club program in Trevose, Pa.

“I have been getting quick on my feet and I have been getting a lot of pins. I have gotten 30 pins in the last two years alone. On top is where I really wanted to get better.”

Verbeyst is happy to see the PHS squad get better collectively even as it deals with being shorthanded in most of its matches.

“The team is doing great, we have given up a lot of points with forfeits each match and we are still on the cusp of being division champions,” said Verbeyst.

“I give a lot of credit to the guys, who have been fighting through all the adversity.”

In Verbeyst’s view, one of greatest things about wrestling is the chance to fight a foe one-on-one.

“It is unlike any other sport, you win or you lose and it is all on you,” said Verbeyst, who is planning to wrestle in college.

“In soccer or basketball, you have teammates, you could have the game of your life and your team might still lose. In wrestling, if you win it is because you beat that other guy and if you lose, it is because you didn’t do as well as you could. It is fun to go out there and have all eyes on you but then again all eyes are on you.”