The Stateliners (5-1), who are gearing for their annual clash with border-rival Easton (Pa.) -- the 83rd meeting in a series led by the Red Rovers, 64-18 -- on Thursday and a showdown against No. 9 Southern at home on Saturday, jump up five spots to No. 7, following a 29-28 independent victory over then-No. 9 Toms River North last Thursday. P'burg was coming off a 30-24 loss to North Hunterdon in a crucial Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash the previous evening in Lopatcong Township.North Hunterdon (9-0), which can win the division title outright with a victory over Montgomery as part of tri-meet with Warren Hills on Wednesday, moves up to the No. 4 spot as the state's top-ranked public school. Coach Chris Hrunka's Lions will also be in action, along with No. 11 High Point and unranked Warren Hills, in the Patriot Duals this Saturday at North Warren. The eight-team field also includes No. 18 West Essex (9-0) -- last season's Group 3 state champion.
High Point (2-1), which saw its scheduled clash against P'burg on Saturday moved to Monday, Jan. 27, returns to action on Tuesday at West Morris. Coach John Gardner's Wildcats, who are starting to get healthy, could match up against Warren Hills (10-3), which recently finished third at the Jack Welch Duals and seems to be rounding into form after a rash of early-season injuries, and North Hunterdon at the Patriot Duals.
Pope John (5-2), which had a finalist and three other medal winners in the rugged Escape the Rock Tournament this past weekend, check in at No. 13 this week. The Lions, who will face Don Bosco Prep on Tuesday and West Morris at home on Thursday, cap their week with a tough quad at No. 5 Kingsway that also includes No. 1 Bergen Catholic and Jackson Memorial.
No. 5 Kingsway (9-1), which dropped a 40-21 decision to North Hunterdon in the championship match at the 15th annual Henry Boresch Duals on Jan. 4, is hoping that senior Cheney Kinner, a Region 8 fifth-place finisher, can return to the lineup at some point before the end of the season.
Kinner, who last season helped secure the program’s first state title (a 26-20 win over Phillipsburg in the Group 4 final) since 2007, sustained a broken left arm in a car accident in December. Dragons coach Mike Barikian said the senior recently had the cast removed and could rejoin the team soon.
Rank
|
School
|
Record
|
Previous
|
1
|
Bergen Catholic
|
(9-2)
|
1
|
2
|
Delbarton
|
(11-2)
|
2
|
3
|
Camden Catholic
|
(8-2)
|
4
|
4
|
North Hunterdon
|
(9-0)
|
5
|
5
|
Kingsway
|
(9-1)
|
8
|
6
|
Howell
|
(15-1)
|
7
|
7
|
Phillipsburg
|
(5-1)
|
12
|
8
|
Toms River North
|
(11-3)
|
9
|
9
|
Southern
|
(7-1)
|
6
|
10
|
St. Joseph-Montvale
|
(3-3)
|
3
|
11
|
High Point
|
(2-1)
|
10
|
12
|
St. Augustine
|
(8-2)
|
13
|
13
|
Pope John
|
(5-2)
|
11
|
14
|
Paulsboro
|
(8-2)
|
14
|
15
|
St. Peter's Prep
|
(4-3)
|
16
|
16
|
Seton Hall Prep
|
(7-1)
|
15
|
17
|
Brick Memorial
|
(11-2)
|
17
|
18
|
West Essex
|
(9-0)
|
18
|
19
|
Montville
|
(7-1)
|
NR
|
20
|
South Plainfield
|
(12-4)
|
19
|
Others receiving votes: Paramus Catholic and Williamstown.
NJWWA voting members listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (GardenStateHSWrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (theshoreconference.com; Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record of Hackensack and NorthJersey.com); Jane Havsy (Daily Record and DailyRecord.com); “Screwy” Louie Lazzari (New Jersey wrestling historian); John Lewis (Burlington County Times and phillyburbs.com); Ron Mazzola (NJWWA president and Region V ranking chairman); Tom McGurk (Courier Post of Cherry Hill); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com); Greg Tufaro (Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike).
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