Cravens uphold tradition of wrestling twins at South Brunswick

South Brunswick's 112-pounder Matt Craven rolls his White Oak High School counter part Ryan Hedgecorth upside down and blindfolded during their match at the Veterans Cup Tournament at Ashley High School Saturday.(Photo By Jeff Janowski )

South Brunswick wrestlers Corey and Matt Craven are typical twins.

They are close enough that they often finish each other's sentences.

The juniors entered Saturday's Veteran Cup Duals at Ashley High School as two of the area's best wrestlers with a combined record of 49-9.

It didn't come easy for them, though.

Matt, who is older by 39 minutes, wrestles 112 pounds and Corey at 119.

They came out for the team as freshmen, but really struggled.

"My freshman year I wrestled 103 and I finished 16-16," Matt said.

"I got beat up my freshman year," Corey added. "I ended 9-29 and didn't make regionals."

That summer, the Cravens set out a goal to become as succesful as another set of brothers in the Cougars' program, Sammy and Jeromy Roundtree.

Sammy had just graduated and finished his final season with a 50-5 record and a fifth-place finish in the state. Jeromy ended his sophomore year as a state qualifier with a 42-5 record.