EWING TWP. —With two-time defending champion Allentown no longer in the Blue Devil Classic field, the Steinert High wrestling team had a golden opportunity to win its first tournament in memory on Saturday at Ewing High. Let’s just say the Spartans certainly made the most of it as they captured the title with 248  points and four individual champions in the six-team team competition that was a season opener for all the teams. Lawrence came in second with 232 points and five champions while Hamilton was third, Nottingham was fourth and host Ewing came in sixth, one spot behind fifth-place Maple Shade. Individual champions for Steinert were Matthew Mottola (106), Julian Bijaczyk (120) Alex Castano (126) and Elliot Morris (175). With half its lineup back to go along with some promising newcomers, it’s no wonder there’s a sense of optimism with a Steinert team that is coming off an 11-8 season and hoping to challenge for a Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division title. “Our team is really looking forward to the year,” said Spartan coach Joe Panfili, who speculated the last time Steinert won a tournament was long before he became the head coach in 2000. “From working out all year long at their clubs to getting their work done in the weight room, everyone has bought in to what we are doing.” One of those returnees is Elliot Morris at 175 pounds. A region qualifier last  year in a season in which he went 26-8, Morris impressed in his final by beating Lawrence’s strong James Lyons on a 20-7 major decision. “I’ve been blessed that I started with this group of seniors,” said Panfili. “”Guys like Morris, (Anthony) Giglio and (Alexander) Hart provide great team leadership for us, Although Steinert was the big winner, there were plenty of highlights for other teams. Taking home gold for second-place place Lawrence were standout 132-pounder Steve Ham (28 2 wins last year),  Tyler Cortacans (141), Andy Delcid (150), Ivan Yaltukhovsky (215) and heavyweight Samuel Moffett. Chris Lynn’s Lawrence team had the most individual champions with five. What appears to be an improved Hamilton team was led by the first-place showings of Dominick Johnson (138) and Luke Bruch at 165. Bruch’s final was of  particular interest because he beat teammate Daniel Figueroa  by the score of 13-8.  Figueroa is one of the Hornets’ big guns after posting 23 wins and making regions a year ago. Leading the way for Nottingham were seconds from Kurt Falzini at 120 and at 126 by  Lincoln Samonski, who lost to Castano, 8-0. A better read on where the three Hamilton Township teams stand in terms of dual matches will come on Wednesday night when Nottingham hosts a tri meet that includes Steinert and Hamilton. TEAM SCORES 1. Steinert 248; 2. Lawrence 232; 3. Hamilton 135.5; 4. Nottingham 128,5; 5. Maple Shade 124.5; 6. Ewing 76. FINALS 106:  Matthew Mottola (Steinert) 2-0 won by tech fall over Saran Siva (Lawrence) 1-1 (TFe-1.5 4:37 (19-3) 113: Luke Voiro (Maple Shade) 2-0 won by fall over Jackson Rich (Steinert) 2-1 (Fall 3:01) 120: Julian Bijaczyk (Steinert) 3-0 won by tech fall over Kurt Falzini (Nottingham) 2-1 (TF-1.5 1:31 (15-0)) 126:  Alex Castano (Steinert) 2-0 won by major decision over Lincoln Samonski (Nottingham) 2-1 (MD 8-0) 132:  Steven Ham (Lawrence) 3-0 won by tech fall over Luke McFarland-NS (Lawrence) 2-1 (TF-1.5 2:00 (19-4) 138:  Dominick Johnson (Hamilton West) 3-0 won by fall over Yehia Ahmed (Steinert) 2-1 (Fall 2:41) 144: Tyler Cortacans (Lawrence) 3-0 won by fall over Jackson Clarke-Goss-NS (Steinert) 2-1 (Fall 2:18) 150: Andy Delcid (Lawrence) 2-0 won by fall over Payton Brier (Steinert) 1-1 (Fall 4:00) 157:  Aaron Wells (Maple Shade) 2-0 won by decision over John Espinoza (Hamilton West) 2-1 (Dec 4-2) 165: Luke Bruch-NS (Hamilton West) 3-0 won by decision over Daniel Figueroa (Hamilton West) 2-1 (Dec 13-8) 175: Elliot Morris (Steinert) 2-0 won by major decision over James Lyons (Lawrence) 2-1 (MD 20-7) 190:  Nicholas Stanton (Maple Shade) 2-0 won by fall over Anthony Giglio (Steinert) 1-1 (Fall 2:32) 215:  Ivan Yaltukhovskyi (Lawrence) 3-0 won by fall over Mikey Odige (Steinert) 1-1 (Fall 5:08) Hvy: Samuel Moffett (Lawrence) 2-0 won by decision over Michael Bruch-NS (Hamilton West) 2-1 (Dec 4-0)