Wrestling: Braves, Streaks set for Jack Welch Duals

Here are the pairings and seeds for the 14th annual Jack Welch Duals to be held Friday and Saturday at Moorestown High School.

Wrestling begins on Friday at 4:30 p.m., with the second round to follow at 6:30. Action resumes at 11 a.m. on Saturday with rounds to follow at 1 and 3 p.m.

Newton (3-4), ranked No. 10 in the Open Mike area, and No. 7 Warren Hills (7-1) are the only local teams in the tournament.

Newton celebrates the program's 800th win in 2019.

The Braves, who are coming off a 33-31 victory over Jefferson in an NJAC Freedom Division match on Wednesday night, have finished second twice in 11 prior appearances under veteran coach Eric Bollette, while the Blue Streaks are making their third appearance at the Jack Welch Duals.

The locals were slated to meet here last season, but inclement weather forced the teams to head home early on Saturday. The rivalry renewed for the first time in 25 years in 2015, and Newton, which has a 30-16-2 lead in the all-time series dating to 1940, had dropped three in a row to Warren Hills since 2015 before a 55-13 win here in 2018. Newton earned the program's 800th victory with a 68-3 waxing of Moorestown in last year's tournament.

Wrestlers to watch for Newton, include juniors Nathan Fitt (15-2 at 120 pounds), a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament runner-up, and JoJo Lotruglio (13-4 at 138), who sealed the Braves' win over Jefferson with a clutch win in the final bout.

Warren Hills is led by sophomores Jared Lee (14-3 at 126) and Stephen Malia (15-2 at 152), an HWS runner-up.

No. 2 seed and defending Jack Welch Duals champion Howell (11-0), ranked No. 7 in the New Jersey Writers Association Top 20, appears to be on a collision course with Delbarton (6-2), the No. 2 team in the state and the top seed, in the final on Saturday.

Pairings and seeds for Friday's opening round. (Records through Wednesday's matches).

Pool 1

1-Delbarton (6-2) vs. 16-Egg Harbor Township (5-8)
8-Delran (10-1) vs. 9-Buena (6-2)

Pool 2

5-Warren Hills (7-1) vs. 12-Clearview (4-5)
4-Long Branch (9-1) vs. 13-Holy Spirit (5-6)

Pool 3

3-Cherokee (6-1) vs. 14-Newton (3-4)
6-Absegami (8-1) vs. 11-Northern Burlington (5-1)

Pool 4

7-Bound Brook (2-2) vs. 10-Moorestown (2-2)
2-Howell (11-0) vs. 15-Cinnaminson (8-4)

Previous champions

2007 -- Delran
2008 -- St. Benedict's Prep
2009 -- Camden Catholic
2010 -- Haddonfield
2011 -- Camden Catholic
2012 -- Camden Catholic
2013 -- Camden Catholic
2014 -- Long Branch
2015 -- St. Peter's Prep
2016 -- No champion (weather-shortened event)
2017 -- Delbarton
2018 -- Delbarton
2019 -- Howell