Wrestling: NJSIAA releases 2012-13 classifications

Despite the uncertainty of when districts or regions may be held or whether there will be a week off between Groups and districts, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association released its classifications for the 2012-13 wrestling season.

Just a quick glance, High Point is back in Group 2 after winning the North 1, Group 2 sectional championship last season before a Group 2 semifinal loss to champion Raritan.

South Plainfield, last year's Group 3 champion and likely to start the upcoming season ranked as the state's No. 1 team,  is back in the North 2, Group 3 section. Good new for High Point fans, not so much for Warren Hills fans. The Blue Streaks, who figure to have one of their best teams in recent years, are also in North 2, Group 3.

Phillipsburg, the defending Group 4 champion, will be a heavy favorite to repeat in the North 2, Group 4 draw. The Stateliners have won 32 of a possible 33 sectional crowns since 1980 -- reaching every final and only falling in the 1990 title match to Warren Hills.

In one change from last year, Lenape Valley drops down from Group 2 to Group 1 and shifts from the North 1 section to North 2. Definitely good news for Pats coach Doug Vetter, whose team figures to be a contender in that section.

Here is how the sectionals look involving Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex schools only. For the full list click here:

North 1
Group 3

Locals: Sparta, Vernon.

The rest of the field: Bergenfield, Fair Lawn, Indian Hills, Montville, Mount Olive, Northern Highlands, Old Tappan, Paramus, Pascack Valley, Passaic Valley, Roxbury, Teaneck, Tenafly, Wayne Hills, Wayne Valley, West Milford.

Group 2

Locals: High Point.

The rest of the field: Dover, Dumont, Garfield, Hasbrouck Heights/Wood-Ridge, Jefferson, Lakeland, Leonia/Palisades Park, Lodi, Mahwah, Morris Hills, Demarest, Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgefield Park, River Dell, West Essex, Westwood.

Group 1

Locals: Hopatcong, Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Wallkill Valley.

The rest of the field: Butler, Cresskill, Elmwood Park, Emerson/Park Ridge, Hawthorne, Kinnelon, Manchester Regional, New Milford, Pascack Hills, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Saddle Brook/Glen Rock, Waldwick/Midland Park.

North 2
Group 4

Locals: Hunterdon Central, North Hunterdon, Phillipsburg.

The rest of the field: Bayonne, Bridgewater-Raritan, Columbia, Edison, Elizabeth, Franklin, Hillsborough, Linden, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Ridge, J.P. Stevens, Union, Watchung Hills, Westfield.

Group 3

Locals: Warren Hills.

The rest of the field: Belleville, Colonia, East Side, Irvington, JFK-Iselin, Millburn, Morristown, New Brunswick, Nutley, Plainfield, Rahway, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Somerville, South Plainfield, West Morris, Mendham, Woodbridge.

Group 2

Locals: Hackettstown, Voorhees.

The rest of the field: Becton/Wallington, Brearley/Dayton, Newark Central, Chatham, Cliffside Park, Cranford, Fort Lee, Governor Livingston, Lyndhurst/North Arlington, Orange, Parsippany, Parsippany Hills, Shabazz, Summit, West Side.

Group 1

Locals: Belvidere, Lenape Valley.

The rest of the field: Bernards, Bogota/Weehawken, Boonton, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Hanover Park, Madison, Mountain Lakes, New Providence, Ridgefield, Rutherford, Secaucus, Verona, Weequahic, Whippany Park.

Central Jersey
Group 2

Locals: Delaware Valley.

The rest of the field: Carteret, Ewing, Holmdel, Lakewood, Lawrence, Long Branch, Manasquan, Matawan, Middlesex/Dunellen, Monmouth, North Plainfield, Point Pleasant Boro, Raritan, Red Bank, Robbinsville, Rumson-Fair Haven.

Non-Public
North A

Locals: Pope John.

The rest of the field: Bergen Catholic, Delbarton, Don Bosco Prep, Paramus Catholic, St. Joseph-Montvale, St. Peter's Prep, Seton Hall Prep.