That's how many wrestlers coach Frank Battaglia's squad advanced through the quarterfinal round in the District 3 Tournament on Friday night at Kittatinny Regional High School.
Leading the way was returning champion and senior 145-pounder Ian Burke, who registered one of six pins for the Spartans by decking Pope John's Andrea Nestico in 1:46. Garrett Gerndt (113), Sean Finnegan (132), Nathan Sowers (152), Al Falco (170), and Robbie Gennat (285) also won by falls, while Zach Herbert (195) advanced by major decision. Walker Schmitzer (160), Connor Lore (182) and Gavin Lally (220) all received first-round byes.
High Point and Kittatinny, which have combined to win the last 16 team championships since Jefferson won in 1998, each advanced nine wrestlers into Saturday morning's semifinal round slated to begin at 9 a.m..
The third-place consolations will follow at 11 a.m, with the championship finals to be contested at 12:30 p.m. The top three finisher in each weight class advance to the Region 1 Tournament that begins on Wednesday.
Sparta is seeking its first team championship since 1983 and the school's fourth overall. It's a great story considering where this program was not too long ago. From 2009-11, the Spartans won a total of one bout in districts and advanced no wrestlers past Friday night in 2010 and '11. Last year, Sparta sent eight wrestlers into the district semifinals after advancing a combined total of nine on Friday nights from 2009-13.
Burke (32-2), who will face Kittatinny's Jake Vanwingerden in the semifinals, snapped Sparta's six-year drought without a champion last season and is closing in on the school's all-time wins record, held by Matt Stoppay (118-25 from 1999-03). Burke enters the semis at 116-20 overall.
High Point's Dom Gallo (126) and Newton's Gus Protogeropoulos (195) are seeking their second district titles and both are closing in on 100 career wins.
Gallo (17-3), the No. 1 seed who won as a sophomore and finished third last season, can reach the century mark with a victory over No. 5 seed Dominic Koert of Pope John.
Protogeropoulos (29-2), who decked Vernon's Morgan Murphy in the quarterfinals, is two wins away from the century mark. He will face No. 4 seed Ian McDonald of Wallkill Valley in the semis.
High Point senior Jason Gaccione (145) also advanced for the Wildcats, who have won seven of the last nine team titles. Gaccione is looking to join older brother Joe (2008-09, '11) and their uncle John Gardner (1988-90), the school's head coach, as a three-time champion. Only 11 wrestlers in program history have won three or more district titles.
It was a quick quarterfinal round with 31 pins -- including 11 in under one minute -- in the 45 bouts contested on Friday night.
Kittatinny had the two fastest falls as junior Nick Klinger decked Vernon's Roman Moss in 14 seconds at 120 pounds, while junior Griffin Waldron needed just 16 seconds to eliminate Jefferson's Tom Urban at 285. All three heavyweight bouts ended in less than one minute.
At 106, Christian Deehan recorded a 17-second pin as Pope John advanced eight wrestlers into the semis.
Team standings
1. Sparta 99; 2. (tie) High Point and Kittatinny 88; 4. Pope John 76; 5. Jefferson 67; 6. Newton 64; 7. Wallkill Valley 46; 8. Vernon 10.
Semifinalists by school
Sparta 10; High Point 9; Kittatinny 9; Pope John 8; Jefferson 7; Newton 7; Wallkill Valley 5; Vernon 1.
Quarterfinals
106 pounds
1-So. Mark DeGeronimo (24-6), Kittatinny, bye; 5-Fr. Rob Ortense (14-12), Jefferson, md. 4-Sr. Sierra Blasone (12-10), Sparta, 10-2; 3-Fr. Malcolm Sinclair (11-13), High Point, p. 6-So. Mark Teevan (3-17), Wallkill Valley, 1:52; 2-Jr. Christian Deehan (18-7), Pope John, p. 7-So. Mateo Valentine (4-23), Newton, :17.
113 pounds
1-Fr. Jake Rotunda (19-4), Pope John, bye; 4-Fr. Perry Maio (12-16), Kittatinny, d. 5-Jr. Anthony Antoneck (18-11), Jefferson, 1-0; 3-Jr. Garrett Gerndt (22-11), Sparta, p. 6-Fr. Charles Emanuel (5-24), Vernon, :32; 2-So. Chase Babus (7-8), High Point, bye.
120 pounds
1-Jr. Nick Klinger (28-4), Kittatinny, p. 8-So. Roman Moss (7-23), Vernon, :14; 4-Jr. Chris Shrieks (20-7), Jefferson, d. 5-Fr. Trey Osborn (8-10), High Point, 6-1; 3-So. Ryan Luchs (16-6), Pope John, d. 6-Jr. Grant Gerndt (11-15), Sparta, 11-4; 2-Sr. Trevor Morales (26-4), Newton, p. 7-So. Dillon Whitley (10-19), Wallkill Valley, :52.
126 pounds
1-Sr. Dom Gallo (17-3), High Point, bye; 5-Sr. Dominic Koert (21-4), Pope John, md. 4-So, Nick Giordano (16-15), Newton, 10-0; 3-Jr. Taylor Molfetto (16-15), Kittatinny, p. 6-Jr. Andrew Legge (11-17), Sparta, :51; 2-So. Mark Bohn (25-8), Jefferson, p. 7-Fr. Justin Lindquist (7-17), Wallkill Valley, :57.
132 pounds
1-Jr. Austin Scrivani (32-1), Kittatinny, bye; 5-So. Sean Finnegan (8-21), Sparta, p. 4-Sr. Brandon Barnet (11-18), Wallkill Valley, 2:36; 3-Sr. Ryan Brigante (14-16), Newton, d. 6-Fr. Joseph Arbolino (8-11), Pope John, 7-0; 2-Fr. Sawyer Fenlon (3-6), High Point, p. 7-So. Ariel Rivera (4-9), Jefferson, 4:26.
138 pounds
1-Jr. Jared Kobis (25-0), High Point, p. 8-Jr. Jason Luker (1-13), Jefferson, :54; 4-So. Jake DeLuca (11-12), Newton, d. 5-So. Sean McHugh (14-20), Sparta, 7-5; 3-Sr. Sean Siek (25-8), Wallkill Valley, d. 6-Sr. Sultan Destani (15-15), Vernon, 3-0; 2-So. Dylan Minter (14-6), Kittatinny, p. 7-Fr. Quinn Kieselowsly (3-12), Pope John, 1:38.
145 pounds
1-Sr. Jason Gaccione (31-2), High Point, p. 8-Jr. Daun White (5-16), Jefferson, 2:33; 4-So. Trevor Kish (14-13), Wallkill Valley, d. 5-Jr. Cole Nagle (19-11), Vernon, 9-5; 3-Jr. Jake Vanwingerden (22-9), Kittatinny, p. 6-Fr. Jonathan Borgognoni (12-12), Newton, 1:22; 2-Sr. Ian Burke (32-2), Sparta, p. 7-Fr. Andrea Nestico (3-12), Pope John, 1:46.
152 pounds
1-Sr. Anthony Azzariti (16-6), Pope John, p. 8-So. Mike Roccasanta (3-25), Vernon, :39; 5-Sr. Ryan Cullen (14-11), High Point, d. 4-Sr. Joe Tizzano (20-13), Wallkill Valley, 9-4; 3-Sr. Patrick Harsanyi (20-9), Jefferson, p. 6-Sr. Trevor Schutte (9-19), Kittatinny, 5:44; 2-Sr. Nathan Sowers (16-10), Sparta, p. 7-Jr. Robert Borgognoni (3-12), Newton, 1:01.
160 pounds
1-Sr. Walker Schmitzer (22-6), Sparta, bye; 4-So. Josh Klimek (17-15), Kittatinny, p. 5-Sr. Rich Peterson (7-11), Pope John, 1:17; 3-So. Jakob Jakova (23-9), Jefferson, p. 6-So. Storm DiGiuseppe (5-19), Vernon, 1:23; 2-Jr. Lance Fischer (25-7), Newton, bye.
170 pounds
1-Sr. Luke Bohn (30-1), Jefferson, bye; 4-Sr. Alex Shucai (11-18), Wallkill Valley, p. 5-So. Cody Mitchell (3-19), Kittatinny, 2:36; 3-Fr. Jake Brown (16-3), Pope John, md. 7-Fr. Joseph DeLuca (4-16), Newton, 13-1; 2-Jr. Al Falco (22-9), Sparta, p. 8-Sr. Austin Rappold (3-27), Vernon, 2:22.
182 pounds
1-Sr. Connor Lore (26-6), Sparta, bye; 4-Sr. Benjamin Sibblies (18-15), Newton, d. 5-Jr. Luke DeGroat (8-21), Kittatinny, 9-4; 3-Sr. Michael Anderson (12-10), Pope John, p. 6-Jr. Zack Jano (7-23), Vernon, 4:15; 2-Sr. Patrick Endrikat (24-5), Wallkill Valley, p. 7-Sr. Ryan Olinger (1-12), High Point, 1:55.
195 pounds
1-Sr. Gus Protogeropoulos (29-2), Newton, p. 8-Sr. Morgan Murphy (3-16), Vernon, 3:44; 4-Sr. Ian McDonald (13-15), Wallkill Valley, p. 6-So. Cole Benfatti (9-15), Jefferson, 7:23 OT2; 3-Jr. Joe Frumolt (15-8), Pope John, p. 6-Jr. Nick Simpson (5-17), Kittatinny, 1:44; 2-So. Zach Herbert (22-11), Sparta, md. 7-Jr. Tim Space (2-8), High Point, 9-0.
220 pounds
1-Sr. Gavin Lally (31-1), Sparta, bye; 4-Jr. Avery Sheruda (10-10), Jefferson, p. 5-Jr. Ethan Reczka (8-11), Newton, 5:03; 3-So. Mike Alvarez (16-12), Vernon, p. 6-Fr. Jack Morelli (1-1), 2:23; 7-So. Cliff Rutter (2-2), High Point, p. 2-Sr. Tyler Wehrenberg (16-16), Kittatinny, 4:57.
1-Jr. Kevin Lewis (23-10), High Point, bye; 4-Jr. Griffin Waldron (14-17), Kittatinny, p. 5-Jr. Tom Urban (4-16), Jefferson, :16; 3-Jr. Tyler Pittenger (14-17), Newton, p. 6-Jr. Connor Fitzsimmons (10-13), Vernon, :43; 2-Fr. Robbie Gennat (25-4), Sparta, p. 7-Sr. Connor Lenehan (4-14), Pope John, :42.
Semifinal matchups
106 pounds
1-So. Mark DeGeronimo (24-6), Kittatinny vs. 5-Fr. Rob Ortense (14-12), Jefferson.
3-Fr. Malcolm Sinclair (11-13), High Point, vs. 2-Jr. Christian Deehan (18-7), Pope John.
113 pounds
1-Fr. Jake Rotunda (19-4), Pope John, vs. 4-Fr. Perry Maio (12-16), Kittatinny.
3-Jr. Garrett Gerndt (22-11), Sparta, vs. 2-So. Chase Babus (7-8), High Point.
120 pounds
1-Jr. Nick Klinger (28-4), Kittatinny, vs. 4-Jr. Chris Shrieks (20-7), Jefferson.
3-So. Ryan Luchs (16-6), Pope John, vs. 2-Sr. Trevor Morales (26-4), Newton.
126 pounds
1-Sr. Dom Gallo (17-3), High Point, vs. 5-Sr. Dominic Koert (21-4), Pope John.
3-Jr. Taylor Molfetto (16-15), Kittatinny, vs. 2-So. Mark Bohn (25-8), Jefferson.
132 pounds
1-Jr. Austin Scrivani (32-1), Kittatinny, vs. 5-So. Sean Finnegan (8-21), Sparta.
3-Sr. Ryan Brigante (14-16), Newton, vs. 2-Fr. Sawyer Fenlon (3-6), High Point.
138 pounds
1-Jr. Jared Kobis (25-0), High Point, vs. 4-So. Jake DeLuca (11-12), Newton
3-Sr. Sean Siek (25-8), Wallkill Valley, vs. 2-So. Dylan Minter (14-6), Kittatinny.
145 pounds
1-Sr. Jason Gaccione (31-2), High Point, vs. 4-So. Trevor Kish (14-13), Wallkill Valley.
3-Jr. Jake Vanwingerden (22-9), Kittatinny, vs. 2-Sr. Ian Burke (32-2), Sparta.
152 pounds
1-Sr. Anthony Azzariti (16-6), Pope John, vs. 5-Sr. Ryan Cullen (14-11), High Point.
3-Sr. Patrick Harsanyi (20-9), Jefferson, vs. 2-Sr. Nathan Sowers (16-10), Sparta.
160 pounds
1-Sr. Walker Schmitzer (22-6), Sparta, vs. 4-So. Josh Klimek (17-15), Kittatinny.
3-So. Jakob Jakova (23-9), Jefferson, vs. 2-Jr. Lance Fischer (25-7), Newton.
170 pounds
1-Sr. Luke Bohn (30-1), Jefferson, vs. 4-Sr. Alex Shucai (11-18), Wallkill Valley.
3-Fr. Jake Brown (16-3), Pope John, vs. 2-Jr. Al Falco (22-9), Sparta.
182 pounds
1-Sr. Connor Lore (26-6), Sparta, vs. 4-Sr. Benjamin Sibblies (18-15), Newton.
3-Sr. Michael Anderson (12-10), Pope John, vs. 2-Sr. Patrick Endrikat (24-5), Wallkill Valley.
195 pounds
1-Sr. Gus Protogeropoulos (29-2), Newton, vs. 4-Sr. Ian McDonald (13-15), Wallkill Valley.
3-Jr. Joe Frumolt (15-8), Pope John, vs. 2-So. Zach Herbert (22-11), Sparta.
220 pounds
1-Sr. Gavin Lally (31-1), Sparta, vs. 4-Jr. Avery Sheruda (10-10), Jefferson.
3-So. Mike Alvarez (16-12), Vernon, vs. 7-So. Cliff Rutter (2-2), High Point.
1-Jr. Kevin Lewis (23-10), High Point, vs. 4-Jr. Griffin Waldron (14-17), Kittatinny.
3-Jr. Tyler Pittenger (14-17), Newton, vs. 2-Fr. Robbie Gennat (25-4), Sparta.
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