Wrestling: North, High Point among sectional picks

North Hunterdon has certainly piled up the victories, but the Lions (18-0) need five more to complete their mission -- winning a Group 4 state title. That's been the goal all along this season, but third-year coach Chris Hrunka's team has already made its mark as the first in program history to finish the regular season unbeaten.

North seeks its 15th sectional title and first since 2015. 

"It hasn't really been a focus of ours," Hrunka said. "Obviously, we are trying to win. We've just been kind of preaching next match, next guy up."

Next up for North Hunterdon, ranked No. 4 in the New Jersey Writers Association Top 20 and the top seed in North 2, Group 4, is a first-round match against No. 8 seed Irvington at home as the sectional wrestling tournaments begin on Monday with first-round matchups. Winners advance to Wednesday's semifinals and the championships will be contested on Friday. All sectional matches begin at 6 p.m.

All sectional winners will compete in the Group championships on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Toms River North High School.

In all, 13 teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area qualified, with North Hunterdon (North 2, Group 4), High Point (North 1, Group 2), Delaware Valley (North 2, Group 1) and Pope John (Non-Public North B) earning No. 1 seeds.

Hunterdon Central (Central Jersey, Group 5), Kittatinny (North 1, Group 1), Phillipsburg (North 2, Group 4) and Warren Hills (North 2, Group 3) are No. 2 seeds. Newton (North 1, Group 2), North Warren (North 1, Group 1), Lenape Valley (North 2, Group 2), Hackettstown (North 2, Group 2) and Sparta (North 1, Group 3) are the other area teams to qualify.

The Lions are trying not to look ahead as they steam toward a much anticipated rematch against No. 2 seed Phillipsburg in the title match. The Stateliners (13-2), who finished the regular season with a 43-20 win against Ocean Township on Saturday, dropped a 30-24 decision when the teams met in a Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash on Jan. 15.

"We're not really overly focused on P'burg," Hrunka said. "We've been focused on getting better. We are wrestling better than a week ago. We have a tough practice room and a tough schedule."

North has certainly been battle tested -- winning the rugged Boresch Duals with wins over Kingsway and Paulsboro, the reigning champions in Group 4 and Group 1, on Jan, 4, while knocking off High Point and West Essex -- both sectional title favorites -- to win the Patriot Duals on Jan. 25.

"I think our schedule has paid off. I think it's paid off better than we thought," Hrunka said. "Our kids are at a point now where they are not going to be intimidated by anybody."

Seniors Evan Klimas (20-4 at 145), Nate Fossett (23-2 at 182-195) and Ian Gaburo (19-1 at 220), along with freshmen Logan Wadle (22-4 at 106) and Alex Uryniak (20-3 at 182-195) and juniors Frank DiEsso (22-3 at 120) and Liam Akers (23-2 at 285) are key wrestlers in North's lineup. Wadle, Fossett, Gaburo and Akers are Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament champions.

Phillipsburg has won six straight sectional titles and 38 of a possible 40 titles -- with finals losses to Warren Hills (1990) and Hunterdon Central, which snapped the Stateliners' run of 22 consecutive championships in 2013. Coach Dave Post believes his team, which rarely serves as a postseason underdog, can make another title push.

"These guys, they're focused right now," Post said following his team's 45-3 victory against Delaware Valley on Thursday. "We want to ride this thing as long as we can. I think we'll be ready to go."

The Stateliners are led by sophomores James Day (23-6 at 113), Joey Innamorato (21-6 at 126) and Nate Zastowny (25-5 at 160), as well as juniors Logan Maczko (17-6 at 120) and Gage Horvath (20-9 at 220).

High Point (10-4), which has won a Sussex County-best 27 sectional titles, is looking to claim its fourth straight in North 1, Group 2 and a second Group 2 title in three seasons.

Here are predictions and tidbits for all sections:

Group 5

North 1 -- Livingston
North 2 -- Westfield
Central -- Manalapan
South -- Southern

Notes: Howell, which has won two of the previous three Group 5 titles and is ranked No. 6 in the NJWWA Top 20, is the top seed in a brutal South Jersey section that includes No. 9 Southern, the reigning Group 5 champ, and No. 11 Toms River North, which handed Southern a 28-26 loss on Jan. 14 and dropped a 32-30 decision to Howell on Jan. 2. The sectional winner will be the overwhelming favorite in Toms River. Hunterdon Central (11-9), which is seeking the program's 23rd sectional title and is sitting on 996 wins as a program, looks to get back to the state final for the third time in four years. The Red Devils, who drew the No. 2 seed in Central Jersey, have had an up-and-down season, using multiple wrestlers at spots, and will likely face their stiffest test in the sectional semifinals against No. 3 seed Monroe, which beat Warren Hills, 31-25, on Wednesday, before a 34-33 loss to Hopewell Valley two nights later. Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's Central team is led by sophomore Tanner Peake (23-7 at 138) and senior Anthony Romaniello (24-3 at 152), along with juniors Colton Washleski (27-3 at 145) and Norman Cella (28-2 at 160-170).

Group 4

North 1 -- Mount Olive
North 2 -- North Hunterdon
Central -- Brick Memorial
South -- Kingsway

P'burg aims for seven straight titles in North 2.

Notes: North Hunterdon already owns wins over Phillipsburg and Kingsway this season. The Lions will most benefit from having the home-gym advantage for a rematch with the Stateliners, who are 5-0 all-time against the Hunterdon County school in sectional matches, including a 28-19 win in last year's final. "There's certainly a buzz [in school]," Lions coach Chris Hrunka said. "We get a lot of support from the school and the students are into it. The last time we won a sectional title [2015] was in our gym." Coach Dave Post has been a part of 12 sectional titles at P'burg, including winning four as a wrestler from 2000-03. P'burg, which lost its only two sectional finals on the road in 1990 (34-30 at Warren Hills) and 2013 (30-29 at Hunterdon Central), will likely be away for the second time in three seasons after having to go on the road for the first time in five years in 2018 for a 32-30 win over Middletown North. For P'burg to potentially turn the tables on North it will need the upper weights to come through in a big way. Kingsway, which ended Phillipsburg's five-year reign as Group 4 champion with a 26-20 win in 2019, is the heavy favorite in South Jersey and would be the top seed in Toms River (if P'burg wins it would be the No. 2), with North getting the No. 1 seed (due to the head-to-head win over Kingsway). Mount Olive, which is the top seed and favorite in North 1, is bidding for its second sectional title and first since 2002.

Group 3

North 1 -- Montville
North 2 -- West Essex
Central -- Ocean Township
South -- Lacey Township

Warren Hills eyes the program's sixth sectional title.

Notes: This is about as wide open as Group 3 has ever been -- seems like we've said that the past few seasons -- with the winner in North 1 or North 2 seemingly with the inside track at winning the state title. Montville, ranked 19th in the NJWWA Top 20 and seeking back-to-back sectional titles, handed No. 16 West Essex, last season's Group 3 champion, a 36-31 setback on Saturday. Warren Hills (18-6), the No. 2 seed in North 2, and top seed West Essex did not meet at the Patriot Duals on Jan. 25, as West Essex finished third, falling 35-28 to North Hunterdon in the semifinals, and the Blue Streaks, who are seeking the program's first sectional title since 2007, fifth. Warren Hills will need its best lineup -- Shawn Redfield (106), Greg Slivka (113) and Jared Lee (120) all down a weight -- which it featured just once in an impressive 49-16 win over Delaware Valley on Feb. 1. Sophomores Stephen Malia (24-6 at 152), Owen Frizzell (23-7 at 160) and Tyler McCatharn (27-3 at 220-285) are enjoying breakout seasons. Montville is the favorite in North 1, while No. 3 seed Sparta could be headed for a semifinal showdown with No. 2 seed River Dell. The Spartans (14-9) are led by seniors Cooper Stewart (27-2 at 113) and Garrett Stewart (29-1 at 138), the school's all-time victories leader at 134-24 overall, and junior Spencer Stewart (30-0 at 132), a state placewinner who recently joined his brothers in the 100-wins club. Ocean Township, which won the Central Jersey section in 2019, is looking to avenge a 33-32 loss to No. 1 seed Wall Township on Jan. 21, while Lacey Township seeks its first sectional championship as Delsea bids for a 10th straight sectional title in South Jersey.

Group 2

North 1 -- High Point
North 2 -- Hackettstown
Central -- South Plainfield
South -- West Deptford

High Point is the favorite to win a Group 2 title.

Notes: High Point, which has won 27 sectional titles, has been the heavy favorite to win its second Group 2 title in three seasons after a disappointing loss to South Plainfield in the  2019 title match, following a thrilling 30-25 come-from-behind win over Raritan in the 2018 state final. The Wildcats have been dealing with injuries all season, but they expect to have junior Nick Douma (132) back for sectionals, which will allow coach John Gardner to have some lineup flexibility in the lower weights, where the 'Cats usually generate most of their team points with sophomore Clayton Utter (18-4 at 113), senior Devon Liebl (26-3 at 126), junior Josh Gervey (22-4 at 132) and senior Billy Talmadge (29-0). Liebl is six shy of joining Talmadge (129) in the school's 100-wins club. The upper weights, aside from sophomore Brian Soldano (22-1 at 160), may also need to come through for the 'Cats. No. 3 seed Newton (11-9) could again be the opponent in the final provided coach Eric Bollette's Braves get past No. 2 Westwood in the semifinals, which will not be an easy task. The Sussex County school features juniors Nathan Fitt (27-3 at 120) and JoJo Lotruglio (25-5 at 138), along with senior Julian Sibblies (24-6 at 182). Bollette, whose teams are 249-196-1 in his 19 seasons at the helm, is one victory shy of matching legendary coach Henry Boresch (250-44-8 in 38 seasons from 1926-64) for the program wins mark. High Point scored a 43-27 victory over Newton on Feb. 5 to secure the NJAC Freedom Division title. Over in North 2, Hackettstown is the No. 3 seed and Lenape Valley is the No. 4. Hackettstown, which won its only sectional titles in 2006 and '07, will open against No. 6 Governor Livingston, with No. 2 seed Elmwood Park looming in that bottom bracket. The Tigers, who suffered a 37-35 loss to Newton on Jan. 9, are led by sophomore Austin Zellars (18-6 at 106), seniors Zebulon Burke (214 at 160) and Alejandro Castro (22-7 at 170), and junior Matthew Bremner (19-6 at 195). Caldwell, the top seed and a 36-35 winner over No. 5 Hanover Park at the Boresch Duals on Jan. 4, is the favorite in the top bracket. The Chiefs and Tigers share a common loss to Mendham (45-24 and 45-25), while both have wins against West Orange, Bloomfield, Orange, Verona and Morristown. Hackettstown would have the edge in the upper weights, while Caldwell has the advantage down low. Lenape Valley, which will host defending champion Hanover Park in a 4-5 matchup, counts on sophomore Daniel Haws (24-3 at 113) and seniors Eric Falleni (27-2 at 138), who recently passed coach Gary Mikolay (108) on the school's all-time wins list and ranks fifth at 113-30 overall, and Ryan Hall (27-1 at 285).

Group 1

North 1 -- Kittatinny
North 2 -- Delaware Valley
Central -- Point Pleasant Beach
South -- Paulsboro

Kittatinny aims for the program's 23rd sectional title.

Notes: Paulsboro is again the class of Group 1, but keep an eye some local teams in the sectional chase as Delaware Valley is the top seed in North 2, Group 1. The Terriers (15-7), who dropped to Group 1 and won their section in 2019, are seeking the program's 19th sectional title overall and fifth in six years. The big thing for the Terriers, who would be the No. 2 seed in Toms River, is avoiding another state semifinal clash with Paulsboro, which scored a 61-9 win over Del Val en route to a 63-3 victory over Kittatinny in the Group 1 final last season. Del Val senior Gage Crater (25-5 at 126) is sitting on 99 career wins entering Monday's first-round tilt against New Providence. In North 1, Emerson (14-9) is the top seed and Kittatinny is the No. 2 seed, but the Cougars (12-5), who suffered a 39-28 loss at Del Val on Jan. 18,  are not at full strength following the loss of sophomore Shane Nelson (19-1), a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament runner-up at 106 pounds. Kittatinny, which handed Emerson a 36-33 loss in the 2019 sectional final, should have its hands full against No. 3 seed North Warren in the semifinals. The Patriots (13-8), who are seeking the program's third title and first since back-to-back championships in this section in 2006 and '07, are led by junior Tanner Thatcher (23-6 at 106) and seniors Ben Lilly (22-5 at 145), Brandon Casey (25-5 at 152) and Rob Fletcher (25-4 at 160). The Cougars will have the edge up top with sophomore Brycen Mafaro (22-4 at 182), senior Robert Bruce (22-5 at 195) and junior Jackson Crawn (25-1 at 220). An Emerson-Kittatinny final would be interesting, with Emerson having a huge advantage down low and rating a heavy underdog up top.

Non-Public A

North -- Delbarton
South -- St. Augustine

Notes: Bergen Catholic, the No. 1 team in the NJWWA Top 20, is going for nine in a row and 16 of 19 in the rugged Non-Public North A section. The Crusaders, who have been without state champion Robert Howard (5-1 at 126) for most of the season due to an injury he sustained at the Beast of the East in December, though he did recently return to the mat against St Joseph-Montvale on Jan. 22, haven't lost to an NJSIAA member school since 2012. They will get a major challenge from No. 2 Delbarton (14-2), which seeks its first sectional title since 2011. No. 8 St. Joseph-Montvale and No. 17 St. Peter's Prep are also in that section. No. 7 St. Augustine should cruise to the state final.

Non-Public B

North -- Pope John
South -- Camden Catholic

Notes: Camden Catholic, ranked No. 3 in the NJWWA Top 20, should be the runaway winner in its section and is the choice to repeat as the Non-Public B state champion. Pope John (9-7), which won its second straight sectional title and the program's ninth overall -- all in North B -- last season, should easily repeat in its section. The Lions, ranked No. 12 by the NJWWA, feature junior Shane Percelay (25-5 at 120) and seniors Eddie Ventresca (26-3 at 126) and Kaya Sement (23-4 at 145), who are all returning state medal winners.