Sunday, February 2, 2020

Wrestling: Hills' statement win, notes (HWS rankings)

The new-school version sure looked a lot like the old school on a throwback night that we need a lot more of in wrestling.

Warren Hills celebrates winning the Valley Division title.
Warren Hills did its part to honor the past with an impressive 49-16 win over Delaware Valley before a packed house, which was jumping before, during and after the Blue Streaks clinched the Skyland Conference Valley Division title -- their first outright championship since 1989-90. Coincidentally, coaches and wrestlers from that unbeaten team, which captured the program's first Group 3 title and was ranked No. 1 in New Jersey, just happened to be in attendance as they were honored on the 30th anniversary of that magical run.

It had all elements for a special night. Kudos to athletic director Mike Jones for helping to make it happen and for allowing me the honor of making the introductions. Bill Lunger, the former public address announcer and historian who passed away a few months ago, would have loved it. A rare Saturday night match, which was commonplace 30 years ago, that celebrated community and tradition is what keeps the sport ticking.

"I know the guys [from 1989-90] because I'm part of the community and I am from here," said Sbriscia, a two-time district champion (2005-06) for the Blue Streaks. "This is what it's about. To be a part of something and being proud to be from the community. It's a source of pride."

Several starters from that Blue Streak Wall of Fame team in attendance were: Doug Detrick, Cory Wilson, Marty White, Mike Rush, Corey Miller, Mike Lamb and Kermit Hartman. Also joining them were Sean O'Neill, Chris Kling and Bob Woolf, along with head coach Jim Reynolds and assistants Dave Detrick, Dan Slack, Dave Childs and Julius DiRisio. White and Lamb are head coaches in baseball and wrestling at Delaware Valley and Rutgers Prep, respectively, while Wilson is a U.S. Secret Service member in Washington, D.C., and O'Neill serves as a police officer in Bridgewater. All of these guys have much to be proud of on and off the mat. Missing from the evening was Barry Van Scoten, really the heart and soul of that team, along with Earl Cornine, John Villano, Brian Palazzi, Jacob Masenoir and Shane Woolf, an orthopedic surgeon in South Carolina.

Everything about this night was old school as the match started at 106, while former Delaware Valley coach Vince Fitz greeted the wrestlers from 1989-90 beforehand. Another striking similarity, other than the current Streaks dominating on their feet -- a 26-11 edge in takedowns with Terriers senior Zach Zuchowski logging five of his team's total -- and being super aggressive, was the winning shift on the scale. Like the 1989-90 team did by dropping Corey Miller, who was on hand on Saturday, to 130 from 135 to aid a 35-20 win against Vince Fitz's Terriers, Sbriscia finally unveiled the lineup most thought we'd see this season -- with freshman Shawn Redfield (106), senior Greg Slivka (113) and sophomore Jared Lee (120) all down one weight class. With the two-pound allowance that kicked in earlier this month, along with one additional pound since Warren Hills wrestled Hackettstown on Friday night, the shift was in the cards and a big key to defeating Del Val.

"People have been expecting that for some time," Sbriscia said of the new-look lineup. "The kids were at spots where we saw what they can do with confidence in themselves. The seniors do an awesome job of leading. They're a great group of kids."

One of the highlights was junior Reese Manfredi, in just his second season of wrestling, decking Shane Reynolds, who led 5-1 in the third period, with a headlock at 145. The roar of approval from the home crowd and an ecstatic Warren Hills bench typified the evening, which wasn't lost on Manfredi (6-12).

"It was amazing," Manfredi said. "We all really brought it tonight. Shawn Redfield and Greg Slivka with the big pin. It was crazy in here. There was so much energy. It was just amazing to show respect to [the 1989-90 team]."

Sbriscia, who Manfredi said, 'Really wanted this win,' was happy with his 145-pounder and all 14 efforts he got in this one.

"We tell them all to work hard for six minutes," Sbriscia said. "[Manfredi] knew his job was to wrestle for six minutes, win or if not, try to keep it to a decision. He came up big."

Now, onto this week's rankings:

1. North Hunterdon (16-0) -- Lions topped Delaware Valley (60-12) last Tuesday and Hunterdon Central (52-20) on Friday, and they can make it a clean sweep of Hunterdon County with a win at Voorhees on Wednesday in that longtime rivalry matchup. Sophomore William Cole won the Dan Hutchins Memorial Outstanding Wrestler Award in the win over Del Val, while freshman Logan Wadle earned the Richard P. Boehmer Award as the OW in the Central match. Coach Chris Hrunka's team is expected to be the No. 1 seed in the North 2, Group 4 sectional tournament. Junior Frank DiEsso (20-3 at 120) and seniors Evan Klimas (18-4 at 145) and Nate Fossett (21-2 at 182) are all nearing the 80-win mark for their careers.

 Up next: West Morris at home on Tuesday; at Voorhees on Wednesday.

2. Phillipsburg (10-2) -- Stateliners opened last week with a 34-24 victory over High Point at The Pit on Monday -- buoyed by sophomore James Day's 7-5 win over Clayton Utter at 113 -- followed by wins over Hillsborough (81-0), in a Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash, and Newton (56-7). Day (21-6) picked up his 50th career win in the match with Hillsborough, while sophomore David Pierson scored a nice 4-0 win against Julian Sibblies at 195. Coach Dave Post's team should be the No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 4.

 Up next: at Montgomery on Wednesday; Delaware Valley at home on Thursday; Ocean Township at home on Saturday.

3. High Point (9-4) -- Wildcats looked good in a tough 34-24 loss to P'burg as they lost five bouts by two points or fewer. Coach John Gardner's team rebounded with a 61-18 win over Jefferson to take another step toward clinching the NJAC Freedom Division title -- which they can do this week with a win at Newton -- before dropping a 43-25 decision to Southern. The 'Cats capped their week with wins over Watchung Hills (47-21) and Hunterdon Central (43-28) on Saturday. Senior ace Billy Talmadge (28-0 at 138), a HWS Tournament champion, kept rolling with a 5-3 win over Central's Tanner Peake, while senior Devon Liebl (25-3) enters this week with 93 career victories.

 Up next: at Newton on Wednesday.

4. Pope John (9-6) -- Lions scored a 31-27 win over Montville last Tuesday in an NJAC American Division clash and dropped a 35-31 decision to St. Joseph-Montvale, ranked No. 5 by the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, on Wednesday. The Sussex County school should be the top seed as it goes for three straight sectional titles in Non-Public North B.

 Up next: Seton Hall Prep at home on Wednesday.

5. Warren Hills (17-5) -- Blue Streaks, who logged wins over Manville (52-19) on Wednesday and Hackettstown (40-15) on Friday, jump up two spots with their 49-16 win over Delaware Valley -- its largest margin of victory in the series since a 53-13 win on Jan. 14, 1998 -- on Saturday to secure the Skyland Conference Valley Division title. Greg Slivka (22-6 at 113-120) joined fellow senior Logan Nauta (22-6 at 132) in the program's 70-win club, while sophomore Tyler McCatharn (25-3 at 220-285) avenged an earlier loss to Del Val senior Ryan Sutter. Hills is now 54-10 all-time against Hackettstown, which has won six meetings since 2005, dating to 1957.

 Up next: at Monroe Township on Wednesday; Lenape Valley at home on Friday.

6. Delaware Valley (15-6) -- Terriers went 1-2 for the week, dropping a 60-12 decision to North Hunterdon last Tuesday and capping it with a 49-16 loss at Warren Hills -- snapping the Terriers' three-match win streak in that series -- around a 44-24 independent win over New Brunswick on Wednesday. Senior Gage Crater (25-4 at 126) picked up his 99th career victory on Saturday, as he looks to become the 13th wrestler to hit the century mark at the Hunterdon County school.

 Up next: at Phillipsburg on Thursday.

7. Hunterdon Central (9-8) -- Red Devils collected the program's 994th win with a 48-26 triumph over Bound Brook in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division clash before capping the week with losses to High Point (43-28) and Watchung Hills (45-26) on Saturday in a tri-meet at the Field House. Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team will likely be a No. 1 or 2 seed in the Central Jersey, Group 5 sectional tournament. Junior Colton Washleski (25-3 at 145) and senior Anthony Romaniello (23-2 at 152) are sitting on 87 career wins.

 Up next: at Franklin on Monday; at Sayreville on Wednesday; Paulsboro at home on Friday. 

8. Kittatinny (12-4) -- Cougars went 5-0 -- scoring wins over West Morris (36-35 on Monday) and NJAC Freedom Division rival Hackettstown (47-20 on Tuesday) before sweeping a tri-meet with Wayne Hills (52-19) and Ridgewood (31-27) at home on Saturday. Junior Jackson Crawn (24-1 at 220) enters this week three wins shy of 80 for his career. With junior Patrick Franco (7-3 at 132) back in the fold, coach John Gill's team should be the No. 1 seed in the North 1, Group 1 sectional tournament.

 Up next: Jefferson at home on Wednesday.

9. Sparta (12-7) -- Spartans rolled to a 46-24 win over Roxbury in an NJAC American Division tilt before suffering a 37-30 loss to Kittatinny on Friday -- in which senior Garrett Stewart surpassed Robert Gennat (126-32 from 2014-18) as the program's all-time wins leader. Stewart (25-1 at 138), now 130-24, helped coach Frank Battaglia's team sweep a quad on Saturday with victories against Pascack Valley (35-34), Waldwick-Midland Park (60-21) and New Milford (66-18). Junior Spencer Stewart (26-0 at 132), who is 99-16 overall, looks to join his brothers as the ninth member of the school's 100 wins club.  

 Up next: at West Morris on Wednesday; Kinnelon, Somerville at Randolph on Saturday.

10. Newton (10-8) -- Braves logged back-to-back wins against Voorhees (40-27) on Wednesday and North Warren (37-32) at home on Thursday before capping the week with a 56-7 loss at Phillipsburg on Saturday. Junior JoJo Lotruglio (24-4 at 138), who picked up his 70th career win with a 15-6 major of Stateliners freshman Hunter Cleaver, could tangle with High Point state placewinner Billy Talmadge on Wednesday. 

 Up next: High Point at home on Wednesday; at Roxbury on Friday.
Posted by Mike Weilamann at 9:06 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)