We're just days away from one of the most anticipated dual meets of the season in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.
North Hunterdon, ranked No. 1 in the Open Mike rankings and No. 5 in the state by the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, will travel to No. 13 Phillipsburg on Wednesday night for a crucial Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash at 7 p.m.
The Lions (8-0), who captured their first HWS Tournament team title on Saturday, have been rolling early on this season, including an impressive showing at the Boresch Duals on Jan. 4. The Stateliners (4-0) aren't used to being the underdog in a series in which they own a 56-8-1 edge since 1961, including a 28-19 win in the North 2, Group 3 sectional final last season.
North is looking to end a 19-match skid in the series since a 36-21 win at home on Jan. 6, 2007. But third-year coach Chris Hrunka insists the team has not discussed this matchup much over the last few weeks, nor does he feel the Lions need any extra motivation.
"We're going to come to wrestle," Hrunka said on Saturday after the program claimed its first county team title, including the former Hunterdon-Warren event. "We're not trying to over-hype it. I'm not going to give a rousing speech. They know what's at stake. "
On the line will likely be a division title and the opportunity to be at home throughout the North 2, Group 3 sectional tournament next month, which could include a rematch for the title.
"We're ready to [battle] anyone," said North Hunterdon senior Nate Fossett, who captured his second HWS title on Saturday -- joining Jack Delia (2010-11), Beau Vrancken (2011-12) and Ryan Pomrinca (2013-15), the school's lone three-time champ, as the only Lions to win multiple titles.
"The first one is just as important, and to earn the home-gym advantage [for a potential sectional rematch]. It's been in the back of our minds, but it hasn't been blocking our vision."
North has been battle tested early with wins over Kingsway (40-21), last season's Group 4 champion, and Paulsboro (39-29), the Group 1 winner. Hrunka insists the fact that North hasn't beaten P'burg in over a decade won't be an issue. The Lions went 3-2 in head-to-head matchups with the 'Liners at HWS (North wins: Frank DiEsso d. Hakeem Ransdell, 8-4, at 120; Evan Klimas d. Jared Kukor, 7-3, at 145 and Ian Gaburo d. Gage Horvath, 3-1, at 220. P'burg wins: Logan Maczko md. Daniel Delusant, 10-0, at 126; Jacob Wicks d. Alex Uryniak, 7-3, at 195).
"If our kids go out relaxed, we'll wrestle well," Hrunka said. "There are a ton of tossups, and a lot of close matchups, and probably not a lot of bonus points."
We will have a full preview, lineups and stats for this one posted on Tuesday evening.
Now, onto this week's team rankings:
1. North Hunterdon (8-0) -- Lions opened the Skyland Conference Raritan Division slate with wins over Hillsborough, 56-13, and Ridge, 52-22, on Tuesday, mostly with backups, before crowning three champs in winning their first Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title on Saturday. Freshman Logan Wadle (106), whose father, Rudy, was a runner-up as a senior at 112 pounds in the first Hunterdon-Warren Tournament in 1992, and sophomore Liam Akers (285) won their first individual championships, while senior Nate Fossett (182) added his name to a list of just 30 wrestlers to win at least two.
Up next: at Phillipsburg on Wednesday; Brick Memorial and Woodstown at Highland on Saturday.
North Hunterdon, ranked No. 1 in the Open Mike rankings and No. 5 in the state by the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, will travel to No. 13 Phillipsburg on Wednesday night for a crucial Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash at 7 p.m.
The Lions (8-0), who captured their first HWS Tournament team title on Saturday, have been rolling early on this season, including an impressive showing at the Boresch Duals on Jan. 4. The Stateliners (4-0) aren't used to being the underdog in a series in which they own a 56-8-1 edge since 1961, including a 28-19 win in the North 2, Group 3 sectional final last season.
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| North Hunterdon eyes its first win over P'burg since 2007. |
North is looking to end a 19-match skid in the series since a 36-21 win at home on Jan. 6, 2007. But third-year coach Chris Hrunka insists the team has not discussed this matchup much over the last few weeks, nor does he feel the Lions need any extra motivation.
"We're going to come to wrestle," Hrunka said on Saturday after the program claimed its first county team title, including the former Hunterdon-Warren event. "We're not trying to over-hype it. I'm not going to give a rousing speech. They know what's at stake. "
On the line will likely be a division title and the opportunity to be at home throughout the North 2, Group 3 sectional tournament next month, which could include a rematch for the title.
"We're ready to [battle] anyone," said North Hunterdon senior Nate Fossett, who captured his second HWS title on Saturday -- joining Jack Delia (2010-11), Beau Vrancken (2011-12) and Ryan Pomrinca (2013-15), the school's lone three-time champ, as the only Lions to win multiple titles.
"The first one is just as important, and to earn the home-gym advantage [for a potential sectional rematch]. It's been in the back of our minds, but it hasn't been blocking our vision."
North has been battle tested early with wins over Kingsway (40-21), last season's Group 4 champion, and Paulsboro (39-29), the Group 1 winner. Hrunka insists the fact that North hasn't beaten P'burg in over a decade won't be an issue. The Lions went 3-2 in head-to-head matchups with the 'Liners at HWS (North wins: Frank DiEsso d. Hakeem Ransdell, 8-4, at 120; Evan Klimas d. Jared Kukor, 7-3, at 145 and Ian Gaburo d. Gage Horvath, 3-1, at 220. P'burg wins: Logan Maczko md. Daniel Delusant, 10-0, at 126; Jacob Wicks d. Alex Uryniak, 7-3, at 195).
"If our kids go out relaxed, we'll wrestle well," Hrunka said. "There are a ton of tossups, and a lot of close matchups, and probably not a lot of bonus points."
We will have a full preview, lineups and stats for this one posted on Tuesday evening.
Now, onto this week's team rankings:
1. North Hunterdon (8-0) -- Lions opened the Skyland Conference Raritan Division slate with wins over Hillsborough, 56-13, and Ridge, 52-22, on Tuesday, mostly with backups, before crowning three champs in winning their first Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title on Saturday. Freshman Logan Wadle (106), whose father, Rudy, was a runner-up as a senior at 112 pounds in the first Hunterdon-Warren Tournament in 1992, and sophomore Liam Akers (285) won their first individual championships, while senior Nate Fossett (182) added his name to a list of just 30 wrestlers to win at least two.
Up next: at Phillipsburg on Wednesday; Brick Memorial and Woodstown at Highland on Saturday.
2. High Point (1-1) -- 'Cats were shorthanded in a 37-36 loss to Howell on criteria (most first points, 11-10) in their only dual action as sophomore Brian Soldano (160) and two other starters were not in the lineup. A forfeit at 182 also was costly since Howell had already given a flag to Billy Talmadge at 145 to start the match (forfeits are now separate and above six-pointers on the criterion chart). Talmadge (17-0) won his first title and the OW Award as the 'Cats finished eighth in the HWS Tournament with a skeleton lineup that didn't include sophomore Clayton Utter (113), juniors Josh Gervey (132) and Sean Van Wingerden (195), Soldano or sophomore Alex Buchwald (170). On a good note, freshman Roman Citro (106) dropped from 113 and finished fifth -- making that lineup tougher down low.
Up next: Hackettstown at home on Wednesday; Phillipsburg at The Pit on Saturday.
Up next: Hackettstown at home on Wednesday; Phillipsburg at The Pit on Saturday.
3. Phillipsburg (4-0) -- Stateliners opened last week with a 35-19 win over Hunterdon Central on Wednesday to snap a two-match skid in the series and followed up with a 40-18 victory at Kittatinny on Thursday. Coach Dave Post's team finished third at the HWS Tournament on Saturday. Sophomore Nate Zastowny won a title at 160 pounds -- extending the program's streak of at least one champ to 10 straight tournaments -- as P'burg had the most placewinners with 12, including runner-up Joey Innamorato (132). Huge week on tap against three teams ranked in the NJWWA Top 10.
Up next: North Hunterdon at home on Wednesday; Toms River North at home on Thursday; High Point at The Pit on Saturday.
Up next: North Hunterdon at home on Wednesday; Toms River North at home on Thursday; High Point at The Pit on Saturday.
4. Pope John (2-2) -- Lions rebounded from a 48-21 loss to Delbarton, ranked No. 2 in the NJWWA Top 20 poll, with a 49-27 victory over Sparta in an NJAC American Division clash before falling to nationally-ranked Buchanan (Calif.), 48-25. The Sussex County school finished second in the HWS Tournament team standings behind four champions, including super senior Eddie Ventresca, who won at 126 pounds to become just the second four-time winner in the event's 11-year history.
Up next: at North Warren on Tuesday; Roxbury at home on Wednesday; at Mendham on Friday; at Escape the Rock Tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
Up next: at North Warren on Tuesday; Roxbury at home on Wednesday; at Mendham on Friday; at Escape the Rock Tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
5. Delaware Valley (8-0) -- Terriers stayed unbeaten with wins over Robbinsville (50-12) on Tuesday and Somerville (43-12) on Wednesday, the latter a Skyland Conference Valley Division matchup and program win No. 783. Coach Andy Fitz's team finished sixth in the HWS Tournament team standings on Saturday, as senior Zach Zuchowski (13-5), a second-year wrestler, enjoyed a nice run the 195-pound final as the No. 10 seed. Senior Gage Crater (15-3) earned his fourth medal and his 89th career win with an 8-6 win over region champion Logan Maczko of P'burg in the third-place bout at 126.
Up next: Voorhees at home (Gold Rush) on Wednesday; Kittatinny, Westfield and West Morris at home on Saturday.
Gold Rush! Wednesday night @ 7PM. Can't wait to see the gym decked out in Gold! pic.twitter.com/EutHhQXnux— Del Val Wrestling (@DVRWrestling) January 14, 2020
Up next: Voorhees at home (Gold Rush) on Wednesday; Kittatinny, Westfield and West Morris at home on Saturday.
6. Hunterdon Central (2-3) -- Red Devils dropped a 35-19 decision to Phillipsburg at home on Wednesday in their lone dual meet action last week and finished fourth in the HWS Tournament behind six placewinners, including first-time champion and junior Norman Cella (170). Junior Colton Washleski (145) was a runner-up in his first finals appearance, while sophomore Tanner Peake (138) finished third.
Up next: at Bridgewater-Raritan on Tuesday; at Hillsborough on Thursday; Mount Olive at Emerson on Saturday.
Up next: at Bridgewater-Raritan on Tuesday; at Hillsborough on Thursday; Mount Olive at Emerson on Saturday.
7. Warren Hills (5-2) -- Blue Streaks scored a 54-22 victory over Voorhees on Wednesday to open the Skyland Conference Valley Division schedule -- their largest margin of victory over the Vikings, who own a 30-17 advantage in the all-time series dating to 1976, including four postseason meetings, since a 52-12 win in 1997. Coach Dave Sbriscia's team dropped a 33-29 decision to Mount Olive on Friday before finishing 10th in the HWS Tournament -- minus several starters. Sophomore Stephen Malia was the team's highest placewinner with a runner-up finish at 152.
Up next: Bernards at home on Wednesday; Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown on Friday and Saturday.
Nice tribute by @VOO_Athletics honoring military members and first responders at tonight’s match! pic.twitter.com/6GVznBjj8c— Warren Hills Wrestling (@WHR_Wrestling) January 9, 2020
Up next: Bernards at home on Wednesday; Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown on Friday and Saturday.
8. Kittatinny (1-2) -- Cougars fell to Phillipsburg, 40-18, in an independent clash on Thursday, for the 10th straight time in that series and finished fifth in the HWS Tournament on Saturday, as senior Robert Bruce (195) and junior Jackson Crawn (220) won the their first titles, while sophomore Shane Nelson (106) was a runner-up.
Up next: at Morris Hills on Wednesday; at Hanover Park on Friday; Westfield and West Morris at Delaware Valley on Saturday.
Up next: at Morris Hills on Wednesday; at Hanover Park on Friday; Westfield and West Morris at Delaware Valley on Saturday.
9. Sparta (5-2) -- Spartans opened last week with a 40-33 win over Mendham before dropping a 49-27 decision to Pope John in a pair of NJAC American Division showdowns. Coach Frank Battaglia's team finished seventh in the HWS Tournament behind first-time champions Cooper Stewart (113), who earned his 100th career win in the finals, and Spencer Stewart (132), as they are the first set of brothers to win titles in the same tournament. Senior Garrett Stewart (138) was a runner-up.
Up next: at Delbarton on Wednesday; Pompton Lakes and St. Peter's Prep at home on Saturday.
Up next: at Delbarton on Wednesday; Pompton Lakes and St. Peter's Prep at home on Saturday.
10. Newton (2-4) -- Braves scored a 48-17 win over Lenape Valley on Tuesday and earned their way into the rankings with a 37-35 victory at Hackettstown in an NJAC Freedom Division matchup on Thursday. Coach Eric Bollette's team capped the week by finishing ninth in the HWS Tournament on Saturday. Junior Nathan Fitt (120) was a runner-up -- giving the program at least one finalist in all but one tournament (2016).
Up next: at Jefferson on Wednesday; Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown on Friday and Saturday.
Up next: at Jefferson on Wednesday; Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown on Friday and Saturday.
On the bubble
Hackettstown (4-1) -- Tigers came up short in a 37-35 loss to Newton on Thursday at home before finishing 14th in the HWS Tournament on Saturday. Senior Alejandro Castro was the school's lone placewinner with a third-place finish at 170.
North Warren (3-3) -- Patriots went 1-1 last week, rebounding from a 47-25 loss to Morris Knolls to score a 47-27 win over Lenape Valley, last season's NJAC Colonial Division champion, on Thursday. Coach Kellen Bradley's team finished 12th in the HWS Tournament as seniors Brandon Casey (152) and Rob Fletcher (160) finished third.
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