Friday, December 20, 2013

Wrestling: Blue Streaks, Vikes set for opening quad

Warren Hills' wrestling team should discover a lot about itself in a hurry, starting with Saturday's quad meet at home, which includes Skyland Conference Raritan Division rival Voorhees, South Jersey's Clearview Regional and Pennsylvania's Palisades.

The Blue Streaks were projected to have a pretty solid lineup coming into the program's 76th season, but injuries and some wrestlers outgrowing their preseason weights will make for a bit of a different look, at least early on. The wait -- New Jersey opens late this season -- is finally over and wrestling will commence.

"We have a lot of question marks like everybody else opening weekend," said veteran coach Jarrett Hosbach, whose Streaks open the season ranked No. 15 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20. "Like everybody else coming in, we're hoping to figure some things out."

This weekend's quad is a good way to start that process. Voorhees won the North 2, Group 2 sectional title last season, while Clearview opens the season at No. 20 in the NJWWA statewide poll.

"That's what we want -- it's good to get tested early in the season to see the things you need to work on," said Hosbach, whose 2012-13 squad lost to Group 3 champion South Plainfield in the North 2 sectional final.

Juniors Max Nauta (138) and Andrew Pacheco (285) are among the top wrestlers in New Jersey at their respective weights. Both were state qualifiers and District 1 champions last season. Nauta (32-6) also was a Region 1 champion, while Pacheco finished second. The big athletic heavyweight is among the state title contenders this season.

Keep an eye on freshman 113-pounder Matt Valli, a grade school league champion, in his rookie season.

Warren Hills lost senior Evan Butka, a Region 1 qualifier, with a season-ending shoulder injury before the first practice and senior Justin Pidoto, a district medalist as a freshman who figured to be the starting 145-pounder, is not expected to compete early on. However, Ryan Ostir (170), Steve Cleaver (182) and Ryan Witner (220) form a solid group of upper weights.

Voorhees was hit hard by graduation, but coach Eric Hall has several talented wrestlers returning this season, including District 17 champions Cody Ihling (120) and Alex Fischetti (285), along with Region 5 qualifiers Kyle DiNapoli (113), Thomas Beishke (132) and Christian Okulicz (145). Senior Mike Muscatello (138) will miss the quad due to an undisclosed injury.

The Vikings lost to Warren Hills (33-28) and beat Clearview (36-28) in last year's quad at Egg Harbor. The Blue Streaks also defeated Clearview, 37-23.

Voorhees leads the all-time series with Warren Hills, 24-13, dating to 1976. Vikings have won three of the last five and five of eight. Streaks' win last year was their first since 2010.

Clearview returns three District 29 champions in Zack Firestone (120), John VanBrill (145) and Edward Lenkowski (152). In addition, Kyle McMahon (170), who missed all of last season, won a district title and finished fourth in Region 8 in 2012. Firestone and VanBrill also won Region 8 titles, while Lenkowski was a runner-up for coach Keith Mourlam's Pioneers.

Palisades comes in ahead and a little behind of the rest of the field. Pennsylvania is two weeks into its season, so coach Omar Porrata's Pirates (6-3) already have nine dual meets under their belts. Despite forfeiting three weight classes, the squad has had some early success.

Sophomore Jacob Wasser (9-0 at 113) was a PIAA Class AA state placewinner at 106 last season, while sophomore Tyler Marsh (8-1 at 126) finished fourth in District 11.

Saturday's schedule (second round begins immediately following the first session):

10 a.m. -- Warren Hills vs. Clearview; Voorhees vs. Palisades

noon -- Warren Hills vs. Palisades; Voorhees vs. Clearview

2 p.m. -- Warren Hills vs. Voorhees; Clearview vs. Palisades

Projected lineups: (New Jersey schools with 2012-13 season records and accomplishments where applicable. Palisades records are current from this season with last year's postseason placements).

Warren Hills Blue Streaks
106
Ryan Mosher
Fr.
113
Matt Valli
Fr.
120
John Fluck
Jr.
(15-12, D3-12)
Zach Nauta
Fr.
126
Austin Pidoto
Jr.
(20-14, D3)
132
Tai Adetula
Sr.
(14-12)
Carsen Johnson
So.
(3-0)
138
Max Nauta
Jr.
(32-6, D1, R1)
145
Anthony Roessner
So.
(1-7)
Tyler Annunziata
Jr.
(4-6)
152
Esco Blaylock
Jr.
(0-3)
Kyle Pienik
So.
160
Shane Deemer
So.
(1-2)
170
Ryan Ostir
Sr.
(16-18, D4)
182
Steve Cleaver
Sr.
(20-15, D3)
Will Turner
Jr.
(3-2)
195
Cleaver or Turner
220
Ryan Witner
Sr.
(17-18, D2)
285
Andrew Pacheco
Jr.
(32-8, D1, R2)
Voorhees Vikings
106
Harley Sacks
Jr.
113
Kyle DiNapoli
So.
(26-12, D3)
120
Cody Ihling
Sr.
(24-14, D1)
126
Jack Blunk
Jr.
(7-11)
Garrett Birchenough
So.
(0-4)
132
Thomas Beishke
Sr.
(22-13, D2)
138
Dale Hull
Sr.
145
Christian Okulicz
Sr.
(25-12, D3)
Mike Fernandes
Fr.
152
William Gonsiewski
Sr.
(11-16)
Thomas Riley
Jr.
(7-7)
160
Devon Thomas
Jr.
(4-6)
Sam Lamport
Jr.
Conner Heft
Sr.
170
Jordan Juliano
Sr.
(19-14)
182
Cody Kubinak
Jr.
(6-2)
195
Derek Howerth
So.
(0-1)
Merritt Francis
Sr.
220
Jendry Seijas
Sr.
285
Alex Fischetti
Sr.
(28-10, D1)
Clearview Pioneers
106
John Seybold
So.
(23-9)
113
Victor Wirtz
So.
(2-0)
120
Zack Firestone
So.
(38-3, D1, R1)
126
Ronald Mestichelli
Sr.
(17-18, D3)
132
Mike VanBrill
So.
(31-7, D3)
138
George Kerasinis
Sr.
145
John VanBrill
Sr.
(38-2, D1, R1)
152
Henry Eisenhart
So.
(3-7)
Edward Lenkowski
Jr.
(37-3, D1, R2)
160
Eisenhart or Lenkowski
170
Kyle McMahon
Jr.
(28-7, D1, R4-12)
182
Joe Sindoni
Jr.
(22-7, D3)
195
John Bonner
So.
(5-3)
Zackery Stecher
Sr.
(3-18)
220
Bonner or Stecher
285
Ryan Malane
Jr.
Palisades Pirates
106
Open
113
Jacob Wasser
So.
(8-0, D2, R5, S4)
120
Jake Johnson
Sr.
(3-4)
126
Tyler Marsh
So.
(7-1, D4)
132
Tighe Cashman
Jr.
(4-3)
138
Liam Kelleher
So.
(4-4)
145
Open
152
Christian Gretzinger
Jr.
(0-4, D6)
Nick Sanders
Jr.
(0-0, D5)
160
Randall Jennings
Jr.
(3-5)
170
J.D. Donnelly
Sr.
(7-1, D6)
182
Joe Rossi
Jr.
(5-3)
195
Nick Bord
Jr.
(8-0)
220
Matt Hughes
Sr.
(4-4)
285
Open

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