Wrestling: State Tournament information, stats, picks

What: 91st New Jersey State Wrestling Championships.

Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Thursday's schedule: Girls pre-quarterfinals (eight mats), 10 a.m.; boys preliminaries (8 mats), approximately, 10:40 a.m.; girls quarterfinals (eight mats), approximately, 2:30 p.m.; boys pre-quarterfinals (eight mats), approximately, 3:15 p.m.; girls wrestlebacks two (eight mats), approximately, 5:25 p.m.; award presentations (coach of the year, assistant coach of the year, No. 1 team), 6 p.m.; boys wrestlebacks one (eight mats), approximately, 6:30 p.m.   

Boardwalk Hall has hosted 29 state tourneys since 1992

Friday's schedule: Boys wrestlebacks two (eight mats), 9 a.m.; boys quarterfinals (mats 3, 4, 5 and 6) and wrestlebacks three (mats 1, 2, 7 and 8), approximately, 11:10 a.m.; girls semifinals (mats 7 and 8) and boys wrestlebacks four (mats 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6), approximately, 1:20 p.m.; girls wrestlebacks three (at least four mats), approximately, 3:40 p.m.; award presentations (John Vogeding Media Award, Vinnie Russo Golden Whistle Award, Harry E. Lake Award), 5:45 p.m.; boys semifinals (two mats) and girls consolation semifinals (four mats), 6 p.m.; boys wrestlebacks five (four mats), approximately, 6:50 p.m.  

Saturday's schedule: Boys consolation semifinals (six mats), 9 a.m.; boys consolation finals (third through eighth places) and girls consolation finals, approximately, 9:45 a.m.; girls championships (approximately) 1:10 p.m.; boys championships (approximately) 3:45 p.m. 

Returning state champions (5, 2023 weights): Jr. Anthony Knox, St. John Vianney (first-2023, first-2022, 120); Sr. Matt Henrich, Southern (first-2023, seventh-2022, 150); Jr. Alessio Perentin, Delbarton (first-2023, fourth-2022, 157); Sr. Louis Cerchio, Delbarton (first-2023, fourth-2022, sixth-2021, 165); Sr. Hudson Skove, Rumson-Fair Haven (first-2023, 215).

Previous state champions (2, 2023 weights): Jr. Adrian DeJesus, St. Joseph-Montvale (third-2023 for DePaul, first-2022 for St. Peter's Prep, 120); Jr. Harvey Ludington, Brick Memorial (second-2023, first-2022, 175).

Returning medal winners (44, previous finishes, 2022 weights): So. Nathan Braun, Bergen Catholic (second-2023, 106); So. Salvatore Borrometi, St. Peter's Prep (third-2023, 106); So. Johnathon McGinty, St. Joseph-Montvale (fifth-2023, 106); So. Anthony DiAndrea, Watchung Hills (seventh-2023, 106); So. Matthew Gould, St. John Vianney (eighth-2023, 106); Sr. Logan Brzozowski, Seton Hall Prep (second-2023, 113); So. Jayden James, Delbarton (third-2023, 113); Sr. Kurt Wehner, Donovan Catholic (fifth-2023, seventh-2022, 113); Jr. Devin Ryan, New Milford (sixth-2023, 113); Sr. Jake Talarico, St. Peter's Prep (eighth-2023, 113); Jr. Vincent Paino, St. Joseph-Montvale (fifth-2023, 120); So. Giovanni Schinina, St. Peter's Prep (seventh-2023, 120); Sr. Dylan Ross, Paramus Catholic (eighth-2023, eighth-2022, 120); Jr. Caedyn Ricciardi, St. Peter's Prep (second-2023, sixth-2022, 126); Jr. Carson Walsh, Pope John (fifth-2023, sixth-2022, 126); Sr. Jackson Young, Camden Catholic (seventh-2023, fifth-2022, 126); Sr. Jack Myers, Morristown (third-2023, 132); Jr. Donny Almeyda, St. Joseph-Montvale (fourth-2023, 132); Jr. Wyatt Stout, Southern (sixth-2023, 132); So. Chase Hansen, Lower Cape May (seventh-2023, 132); Jr. Patrick O'Keefe, St. John Vianney (eighth-2023, second-2022, 132); Sr. Alex Nini, Christian Brothers Academy (third-2023, fourth-2022, eighth-2021, 138); Sr. Zach Reilley, Raritan (fifth-2023, 138); Jr. Luke Geleta, Phillipsburg (sixth-2023, 138); Sr. Ryan Ford, Bergen Catholic (fourth-2023, seventh-2022, third-2021, 144); Sr. Jonathan Fuller, St. Peter's Prep (fifth-2023, fourth-2022, 144); Jr. Jamar Dixon Jr., Delsea (seventh-2023, fifth-2022, 144); Jr. Hayden Hochstrasser, Southern (eighth-2023, 144); Sr. Frank DiBella, St. Joseph-Montvale (fourth-2023, fourth-2022, 150); Sr. John Quinonez, Paramus Catholic (sixth-2023, 150); Sr. Drew Roskos, Delran (seventh-2023, 150); Jr. Jordan Chapman, Cranford (third-2023, 157); Jr. Zach Ballante, St. Joseph-Montvale (sixth-2023, fifth-2022 for Paramus Catholic, 157); Sr. Austin Craft, Camden Catholic (seventh-2023, 157); Jr. Ryan Burton, St. Joseph-Montvale (third-2023, 165); Sr. Daniel Rella, Paramus Catholic (fourth-2023, sixth-2022, 165); Jr. Rocco Dellagatta, St. Joseph-Montvale (fourth-2023, 175); Sr. Tyler Bienus, Mount Olive (seventh-2023, 175); Sr. Edward Terreri, Paramus Catholic (eighth-2023, 175);  Jr. Vincenzo LaValle, Hanover Park (third-2023, third-2022, 190); Jr. Xavier Williams, Paramus Catholic (eighth-2023, 190); Jr. Benjamin Shue, Bergen Catholic (fourth-2023, 285); Sr. Daniel Elyash, Paramus (fifth-2023, 285); Sr. John Wargo, Phillipsburg (seventh-2023, 285); 

Previous medal winners (6, 2023 weights): Sr. Tyeler Hagensen, Mount Olive (fourth-2022, 113); Sr. Benjamin Marchetto, West Milford (eighth-2022, 113); Sr. Jacob Zearfoss, Gloucester City (sixth-2022, 144); Sr. Roman Onorato, Paulsboro (eighth-2022, 150); Sr. Nicholas Campagna, Christian Brothers Academy (eighth-2022 for South Plainfield, 150); Sr. Lorenzo Portella, Red Bank Catholic (seventh-2022, 285).      

Returning medal winners by region

R1 (3, Brzozowski, Ryan, Marchetto)

R2 (13, McGinty, Hagensen, DeJesus, Paino, Almeyda, Geleta, Ballante, DiBella, Burton, Bienus, Dellagatta, Elyash, Wargo)
R3 (6, Braun, Walsh, Myers, Ford, LaValle, Shue)

R4 (7, DiAndrea, Ross, Quinonez, Chapman, Rella, Terreri, Williams)
R5 (6, James, Reilley, Perentin, Cerchio, Skove, Portella)

R6 (7, Borrometi, Wehner, Talarico, Schinina, Ricciardi, Fuller, Ludington)
R7 (13, Gould, Knox, Nini, Young, Stout, O'Keefe, Onorato, Hochstrasser, Henrich, Roskos, Craft, Campagna, Zearfoss)

R8 (2, Dixon Jr., Hansen)

Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area qualifiers (40)

Phillipsburg (7) -- Owen Garriques (120), Gavin Geleta (132), Luke Geleta (144), Gavin Hawk (150), Liam Packer (175), Nathan Smith (215), John Wargo (285)

Delaware Valley (7) -- Jake Taylor (113), Jaden Perez (126), Jackson Bush (138), Ben Levy (150), Mitchell Sutter (157), Kevin Roman (175), Anderson Olcott (215)
North Hunterdon (5) -- Reid Buzby (106), Aidan Yarussi (113), Shane Wysocki (126), Brian Wilson (165), Evan Kinney (175)

Hunterdon Central (4) -- Anthony Rossi (120), William Cella (138), Rhett Washleski (150), Thomas Brunetti (175)

Pope John (4) -- Jake Holly (106), Dalton Weber (126), Walsh (132), Justin Holly (138)

Kittatinny (3) -- Reece Smith (150), Ethan Dalling (165), Bryce Coesfeld (175)

Warren Hills (3) -- Augie Szamreta (106), Charlie Piccione (120, R5 injury replacement), Josh Lee (138)

North Warren (2) -- Conor Hallowich (106), James Dacunto (157)

Belvidere (1) -- Kyle Blew (190)

Hackettstown (1) -- Nicolas Balella (132)
High Point (1) -- Nick Clayton (132)
Newton (1) -- Joey Catalano (144)

Sparta (1) -- Logan Hrenenko (144)

Voorhees (1) -- Logan Wiecoreck (157)

Open Mike championship picks

106 -- Killian Coluccio, Christian Brothers Academy
113 -- Paul Kenny, Christian Brothers Academy
120 -- Anthony Knox, St. John Vianney
126 -- Sammy Spaulding, Camden Catholic
132 -- Carson Walsh, Pope John
138 -- Caedyn Ricciardi, St. Peter's Prep
144 -- Sonny Amato, Rumson-Fair Haven
150 -- Gabe Logan, Delbarton
157 -- Matt Henrich, Southern
165 -- Alessio Perentin, Delbarton
175 -- Ryan Burton, St. Joseph-Montvale
190 -- Harvey Ludington, Brick Memorial
215 -- Hudson Skove, Rumson-Fair Haven
285 -- Rocco Dellagatta, St. Joseph-Montvale

Wrestling: Region recap for HWS by the numbers

We're near the finish line of the high school wrestling season, but before we turn our focus on the 91st State Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (Thursday-Saturday), let's take a look at some of the highlights from the four region tournaments that house teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.

Boardwalk Hall awaits for 41 wrestlers from HWS

We had champions from Sussex and Warren counties make history at their respective schools, while the annual debate over Non-Public dominance keeps growing louder with each passing season. Stay tuned on more of that in the offseason as coaches sort out the district alignments -- which now reshuffle after each season rather than every two years -- for 2024-25.

As you can expect, sending Delbarton (10 champions, 11 finalists in Region 5) and St. Peter's Prep (five champs, six runners-up in Region 6) southward was not well received by the folks down there as they got a taste of what the northern regions had to contend with during the first six seasons of realignment. However, the desired effect bears out after crunching the numbers.

Public vs. Non-Public

One major change to the current realignment was spreading out the Non-Public powers up north across Regions 1-6 in the hopes of creating a more balanced field. Mission accomplished.

Non-Public schools accounted for 136 (69 in Regions 1-4 and 67 in Regions 5-8) of the total 448 qualifiers for the state tournament. Compare with last season as Non-Public schools produced 86 in Regions 1-4 to just 53 in Regions 5-8. Non-Publics produced 18 (down from 28) of the 56 qualifiers in Region 1 and 18 (down from 26) in Region 2. 

Here's the breakdown in all regions: R1=18; R2=18; R3=17; R4=16; R5=17; R6=17; R7=19 and R8=14. 

Here are the Non-Public champion totals in all eight: R1=6; R2=10 (all from St. Joseph-Montvale); R3=7; R4=5; R5=11 (10 from Delbarton); R6=7; R7=6; R8=5. As you can see, much more evenly distributed across the state.

Last year's totals were just the opposite: R1=13; R2=11; R3=8; R4=6; R5=7; R6=7; R7=5; R8=7. 

Now, a recap of Regions 1-4:  

40 -- We have that many wrestlers from the HWS area moving on to this week's state tournament (down six from 2023). In all, 13 advanced out of Region 3, while Region 1 and Region 4 each produced 10. Over in Region 2, Phillipsburg sent an area-best seven as did Delaware Valley in Region 3. Here are the total number of area qualifiers since realignment in 2017 -- 47 in '17, 48 in '18, 50 in '19, 37 in '20, 49 in '22, 46 in '23 and 40 in '24. As a side note, there have been 10 state medal winners who finished fourth in the regions (not including 2021) and four were from the HWS area -- North Hunterdon's Andrew Gapas (eighth at 132) in 2017, High Point's Brandon LaRue (sixth at 113) and Pope John's Reece Mulduun (seventh at 182) in 2018 and Sparta's Spencer Stewart (eighth at 120) in 2019. There were none in 2022 and '23.

Hawk is tied for 15th on the P'burg career wins list

7 -- Phillipsburg advanced seven out of Region 2 at Mount Olive, but the Stateliners went 0-4 in the championship round as junior Gavin Hawk (150) and senior John Wargo (285) were looking to be repeat champs. P'burg was shut out in the finals for just the seventh time since 2000 and the 11th overall in program history since regions formed in 1961. Hawk (34-2) suffered his first in-state loss -- 3-1 in TB2 after yielding a reversal to St. Joseph-Montvale's Zach Ballante, a state placewinner and region champion for Paramus Catholic last season, in the first 30-second tiebreaker. Wargo (31-2), a returning state medalist at heavyweight who was bidding to become just the seventh (and first heavyweight) to win three region titles for the 'Liners, surrendered five takedowns in a 10-4 loss to St.. Joseph-Montvale's Rocco Dellagatta. Wargo, now with 98 career wins, got in deep on a single-leg attempt early in the first-period, but Dellagata, who placed fourth at 175 in last year's state tournament and wrestles like a middleweight, fought it off and never looked back. Also punching tickets to AC were Owen Garriques (120), Gavin Geleta (132), Luke Geleta (144), Liam Packer (175) and Nathan Smith (215). Speaking of the Geleta brothers, they became the first siblings for P'burg to win district titles in the same season since 1982 (John and Mike Barna). The only others to do so were Kelly and Kevin Happel ('79), along with Rick and Jack Thompson ('70). Luke Geleta heads to AC needing one victory to join the school's 100-wins club. Hawk (106-18) passed Rylan Watson (106-41 from 2007-11) for 14th place on the school's all-time list.

107 -- Hunterdon Central produced three champions for the first time since 2010 as sophomore Rhett Washleski (36-3 at 150) and senior Thomas Brunetti (39-0 at 175) won their second titles as the Red Devils competed in Region 4 at Union High School. Star senior Anthony Rossi (38-0 at 120), now a four-time state qualifier, won his first region championship in giving the Red Devils a total of 107 region winners in the program's illustrious history. In doing so, Washleski one-upped his older brother, Colton, a two-time state placewinner (fourth in 2021, sixth in '20) who won his lone Region 5 title at 145 in '20. Rhett is also the first at Central to win region titles in his first two seasons since former state champ Brett Ungar (2018-19). Three-time state runner-up Gary Dinmore (2011-14) is the only four-time region champ for the Red Devils. Also moving onto the state tournament was senior William Cella (34-8 at 144), a third-place finisher and two-time state qualifier. Brunetti, who was voted the OW in Tegion 4, heads to AC with 98 career wins, while Rossi moved past Jack Bauer (119) for sole possession of ninth place on the school's all-time wins list at 120-15.

Dacunto on top of the podium in District 4

3 -- North Warren senior James Dacunto (36-1 at 157) made history for the Patriots by becoming just the third champion in program history with his title run in Region 1 at West Milford. Dacunto, who recently became just the 19th district champ for the Warren County school, was the first region medalist under sixth-year coach Kellen Bradley a year ago with a fourth-place finish at this weight. Joe Casella (160 in 2001) and Kevin Brown (152 in 2009), a three-time state placewinner, are the only other region champs for North Warren. Sophomore Conor Hallowich (26-13), who took fourth at 106, made it two state qualifiers under Bradley for the first time in his tenure. Two district golds in the same tournament were also a first at North Warren since 1999.

13 -- In all, Warren County sent a baker's dozen to AC as Warren Hills produced two first-time champions at Region 1 in sophomore Augie Szamreta (29-6 at 106) and senior Josh Lee (27-3 at 138) -- Nos. 60 and 61 overall for the Blue Streaks, who had two winners for the first time since 2015 (Max Nauta and Andrew Pacheco). Lee, a two-time state qualifier with 89 career vicrories, scored a 7-4 win over highly-regarded Lakeland junior Ryan Langenmayr (34-5) -- avenging a 3-0 loss in their District 2 championship match encounter a week earlier. Hills junior Charlie Piccione (29-8 at 120), a fifth-place finisher in Region 1, will make his second trip to AC as an injury replacement. Hackettstown senior Nicolas Balella (32-7 at 132), a runner-up, and Belvidere junior Kyle Blew (36-6 at 190), a fourth-place finisher, also advanced out of Region 3 at West Orange. Balella knocked off returning Delaware Valley state placewinner Matt Roche, 9-3, in the semifinals for his 90th career win before dropping a 12-1 major to Pope John star Carson Walsh in the finals. Roche, who was an eighth-place medalist in 2023, did not advance.  

17 -- Hunterdon County advanced an area-best 17 wrestlers to Atlantic City, including five from North Hunterdon in sophomore Reid Buzby (27-7 at 106), freshman Aidan Yarussi (29-11 at 113), seniors Shane Wysocki (18-20 at 126) and Brian Wilson (23-10 at 165) and junior Evan Kinney (21-16 at 175), as the Lions did not have a champ for the first time since 2020 and the 11th since 2004. Voorhees senior Logan Wiecoreck (37-3) won a Region 4 title at 157 pounds -- his first and the program's first since Lewis Fernandes went back-to-back at 285 in 2018-19. Kyle DiNapoli (2016) is the school's only other winner since 2014, as The Vikes now have 38 titles overall since the program formed in 1975. Voorhees has had at least one state qualifier in all but five of its 49 seasons (2002, '03, '20, '21, '22).

45 -- Delaware Valley led Hunterdon County with seven state qualifiers, including junior Jaden Perez (35-1 at 126), who avenged his only loss this season with a 10-9 win over Pope John sophomore Dalton Weber, a returning champ, in the Region 3 finals. Weber had previously scored a 16-9 decision over Perez in a wildly entertaining Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament final on Jan. 10. Perez is the school's 45th region champ overall and first since 2018 (AJ DeRosa at 126 in Region 5). Also moving on for the Terriers are seniors Jake Taylor (26-7 at 113), Ben Levy (29-6 at 150), Mitchell Sutter (30-8 at 157), Kevin Roman (29-7 at 175) and Anderson Olcott (32-3 at 190), who earned his 90th career win, as well as junior Jackson Bush (29-6 at 138) -- all third-place medalists in Region 3.

Great day for the Terriers at Region 3!

7 AC qualifiers. 11 place winners, andDV was voted the top team in region 3. Nice!

113 Jake Taylor 3rd
126 Jaden Perez 1st
138 Jackson Bush 3rd
150 Ben Levy 3rd
157 Mitchell Sutter 3rd
175 Kevin Roman 3rd
190 Anderson Olcott 3rd pic.twitter.com/k6ouz4G3Br

— Del Val Wrestling (@DVRWrestling) February 25, 2024

4 -- Pope John advanced a Sussex County-best four out of Region 3, including stellar junior Carson Walsh (34-3 at 132), a two-time state medalist who raised the program's total to 39 and joined former state champs Mike Frick (1969-72), JoJo Aragona (2016-19) and Eddie Ventresca (2017, '19, '20) as the only Lions to win three or more region titles. Frick and Aragona are among just eight HWS area wrestlers to win four as the Sussex County school extended its string with at least one winner to nine straight seasons. Joining Walsh in AC are sophomore Dalton Weber (32-4 at 126), a runner-up and champ in 2023, along with junior Jake Holly (29-7 at 106) and senior Justin Holly (27-7 at 138), also a runner-up for the second straight season.

Clayton (right) is High Point's 51st region champ

10 -- High Point junior Nick Clayton (27-6 at 132) continued his superb postseason run by capturing his first Region 1 title with three one-point decision wins (including 1-0 victory over No. 1 seed Santino Danise of Don Bosco Prep in the semis) after a fourth-place finish in 2023. Clayton, one of 10 from Sussex County to earn region medals, is the lone qualifier for the 'Cats, who didn't have a champ for just the fifth time since 2005 a year ago. Kittatinny sent three to AC as seniors Reece Smith (36-5 at 150, fourth), Ethan Dalling (35-3 at 165, second) and Bryce Coesfeld (34-5 at 175, third) advanced in Region 1, but the Cougars have not produced a region champ since Austin Scrivani (138 in 2016). Coesfeld left Region 1 sitting on 99 career wins, while Dalling picked up his 93rd in the semifinals. Sparta junior Logan Hrenenko (30-10 at 138) finished fourth for a second straight season as the Spartans are still seeking their first champ since 2006, while Newton senior Joey Catalano (21-9 at 144) earned his first trip to AC with a fourth-place medal. It's a shame that Catalano, who was 5-7 as a freshman and came up through the rec program, took two years away from the sport, but it's a nice comeback story. Vernon sophomore True DiGiuseppe (32-5, fifth at 175) came up short in his bid to become the Vikes' first state qualifier since Brian Hoyt finished second in Region 1 in 2007.

Wrestling: Region (1-4) schedules, stats, information

Schedules and other information for the regions involving Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area schools. All tournaments will be held Friday and Saturday.

The top four at each weight class advance to the 91st State Wrestling Championships slated for Feb. 29-March 2 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

There are 107 HWS area wrestlers still competing for the second straight season. Overall, here are the local qualifiers by season since realignment (which now changes every year) was introduced in 2017 -- 118 in '17 and '18; 125 in '19; 113 in '20 (no district tournaments in '21 due to COVID-19); 122 in '22 and 107 in '23. The six-year average is 116.

Here is the breakdown by school:

Phillipsburg (13); Delaware Valley (12); Hunterdon Central (11); High Point (10); Kittatinny and North Hunterdon (8); Warren Hills (7); Pope John (6); Hackettstown, Hopatcong-Lenape Valley and Sparta (5); Newton, North Warren and Voorhees (4); Belvidere (3) and Vernon (2).

Phillipsburg senior John Wargo (Region 2 at Mount Olive) and Pope John junior Carson Walsh (Region 3 at West Orange) will look to make history this weekend in bidding for their third titles. 

Wargo (29-1 at 285), who's five shy of 100 career victories in just three seasons since he did not wrestle as a freshman, looks to become only the seventh P'burg wrestler to win three region titles and the first since Brian Meyer (2016-18). Junior Gavin Hawk (32-1), a No. 1 seed at 150 pounds, aims for a second straight championship. 

Walsh (31-3 at 132), now in Region 3 after winning back-to-back titles for Pope John while competing in Region 1 at West Milford in 2022 and '23, aims to become just the fourth Lion to win at least three region championships. Former state champs Mike Frick (1969-72) and JoJo Aragona (2016-19), who both captured four region golds, are the only wrestlers to win region titles in their first three seasons for the Sparta-based school. Eddie Ventresca, a 2019 state champion, won region titles in 2017, '19 and '20.

Only 42 wrestlers from Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area schools have won three or more titles (just eight have won four) since the regional tournaments formed in 1961.

Note: Tickets must be purchased online for most regions. There will be no sales at the door for most venues, but check with your school.

Region 1

At West Milford High School

Area schools: High Point, Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Sparta, Vernon, Warren Hills.

Rest of the field: Butler, Cresskill, Demarest, DePaul, Don Bosco Prep, Dumont, Emerson-Park Ridge, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, Indian Hills, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lakeland, Mahwah, Manchester Regional, New Milford, Northern Highlands, Old Tappan, Pascack Hills, Pascack Valley, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Dell, Seton Hall Prep, Waldwick-Midland Park, Wayne Hills, West Milford, Westwood.

West Milford will host R1 for the sixth year since 2018

Returning champion: Sr. Ben Garcia, Don Bosco Prep (150 in '23).

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (three mats), 5 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow.

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (three mats), 9 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations plus championship finals (three mats) to follow.

Ticket prices: $10 adults/seniors, $8 students (online only Friday and Saturday); Cash only prices at the door are $13 adults/seniors, $10 students. Online prices are the same for each day.

Region 2

At Mount Olive High School

Area schools: Hopatcong-Lenape Valley, Phillipsburg.

Rest of the field: Bergenfield, Bogota-Ridgefield Park, Boonton, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Dover, Dwight Morrow, Elmwood Park, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Garfield, Hackensack, Hasbrouck Heights, Leonia-Palisades Park, Lodi, Montville, Morris Hills, Morris Knolls, Mountain Lakes, Mount Olive, Paramus, Parsippany, Parsippany Hills, Passaic, Passaic Tech, Passaic Valley, Paterson Eastside, Paterson Kennedy, Randolph, Roxbury, Saddle Brook, St. Joseph-Montvale, St. Thomas Aquinas, Teaneck, Tenafly, Wayne Valley.

P'burg leads all HWS schools with 132 region champs

Returning champions (9): So. Johnathon McGinty, St. Joseph-Montvale (106 in 2023); Sr. Tyeler Hagensen, Mount Olive (113 in '23); Jr. Adrian DeJesus, St. Joseph-Montvale (120 in '23); Jr. Donny Almeyda, St. Joseph-Montvale (132 in '23, 120 in '22); Jr. Gavin Hawk, Phillipsburg (132 in '23); Jr. Zach Ballante, St. Joseph-Montvale (157 in '23); Jr. Ryan Burton, St. Joseph-Montvale (165 in '23); Jr. Rocco Dellagatta, St. Joseph-Montvale (175 in '23, 157 in '22); Sr. John Wargo, Phillipsburg (285 in '23, 285 in '22).

 

Previous champions (2): Jr. Vincent Paino, St. Joseph-Montvale (106 in '22); Sr. Frank DiBella, St. Joseph-Montvale (150 in '22). 

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (four mats), 5 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow (four mats).

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (four mats), 10 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations, plus championship finals (three mats) to follow at the conclusion of wrestlebacks.

Ticket prices: $10 adults, $8 students/seniors (Friday and Saturday); Cash only prices at the door are $13 adults, $10 students. Online prices are the same for each day.

Region 3

At West Orange High School

Area schools: Belvidere, Delaware Valley, Hackettstown, Pope John.

Rest of the field: Barringer, Becton-Wood-Ridge, Belleville, Bergen Catholic, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cliffside Park-Ridgefield, Columbia, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Hanover Park, Irvington, Hoboken, Kearny, Livingston, Lyndhurst-North Arlington, Madison, Mendham, Montclair, Morristown, Newark Academy, Newark Collegiate, North Bergen, Nutley, Orange, Rutherford, St. Mary's-Rutherford, Secaucus, Union City, Verona, Weehawken, West Essex, West Morris, West Orange, Whippany Park.

Del Val's 44th and last champ was AJ DeRosa (126 in 2018)

Returning champions (5): So. Nathan Braun, Bergen Catholic (106 in 2023); So. Dalton Weber, Pope John (113 in '23); Jr. Carson Walsh, Pope John (126 in '23, 113 in '22); Sr. Ryan Ford, Bergen Catholic (144 in '23, 132 in '22); Jr. Vincenzo LaValle, Hanover Park (190 in '23, 190 in '22).

Previous champion (1): Sr. Jack Myers, Morristown (126 in '22). 

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (three mats), 4:30 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow (three mats).

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (three mats), 10 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations, plus championship finals (three mats), approximately 2 p.m.

Ticket prices: $10 adults/seniors, $8 students (online only Friday and Saturday). Only digital tickets will be accepted.

Region 4

At Union High School

Area schools: Hunterdon Central, North Hunterdon, Voorhees.

Rest of the field: Abraham Clark, Bayonne, Bernards, Brearley-Dayton, Bridgewater-Raritan, Carteret, Colonia, Cranford, Elizabeth, Governor Livingston, Hillside, Immaculata, JFK-Iselin, Johnson, J.P. Stevens, Linden, Middlesex-Dunellen, Millburn, Newark East Side, New Providence, North Plainfield, Paramus Catholic, Pingry, Plainfield, Rahway, Ridge, Roselle Park, St. Joseph-Metuchen, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Somerville, South Plainfield, Summit-Chatham, Union, Watchung Hills, Westfield.

Returning champions (7): So. Rhett Washleski, Hunterdon Central (144 in 2023); Jr. Jordan Chapman, Cranford (157 in '23); Sr. Daniel Rella, Paramus Catholic (165 in '23); Sr. Edward Terreri, Paramus Catholic (175 in '23); Sr. Michael Feliciano, Colonia (175 in '23); Jr. Xavier Williams, Paramus Catholic (190 in '23); Sr. Brian Christie, St. Joseph-Metuchen (190 in '23).

Central has produced 104 region champs

Previous champion (1): Sr. Thomas Brunetti, Hunterdon Central (165 in '22).

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (four mats), 6 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow (four mats).

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (four mats), 9 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations, plus championship finals (three mats), 2 p.m.

Ticket prices: $10 adults/seniors, $8 students (online only). Cash only prices at the door are $15 adults, $10 students. Online prices are the same for each day.

Wrestling: District recap for HWS by the numbers

Let's review what happened in the six districts that house teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. There are 107 local wrestlers still competing for the second straight season.

Kittatinny won its 15th district team title (Twitter)

Overall, here are the area qualifiers by season since realignment (which now changes every year) was introduced in 2017 -- 118 in '17 and '18; 125 in '19; 113 in '20 (no district tournaments in '21 due to the pandemic); 122 in '22, 107 in '23. The seven-year average is 116.

The top three at each weight class advanced to the region tournaments on Friday and Saturday. Region 1 is at West Milford, Region 2 at Mount Olive, Region 3 at West Orange and Region 4 at Union.

Here's the team-by team breakdown of qualifiers:

Phillipsburg (13); Delaware Valley (12); Hunterdon Central (11); High Point (10); Kittatinny and North Hunterdon (8); Warren Hills (7); Pope John (6); Hackettstown, Hopatcong-Lenape Valley and Sparta (5); Newton, North Warren and Voorhees (4); Belvidere (3) and Vernon (2).

We had five schools win team championships: Kittatinny (D4), Phillipsburg (D6), Delaware Valley (D10), Pope John (D11), Hunterdon Central (D14).

Here's a closer look by the numbers:

12 -- Washington High School became Warren Hills following the 1966-67 school year. Since then, only 12 wrestlers have won at least three district titles for the Blue Streaks. Junior Tyler Redfield (25-3) became the 12th wearing a Hills singlet as the District 2 champion at 132 pounds. He joined Dale Baldwin (1967-69), Rick Rhinehart (1967, '68, '70), Dan Slack (1975-77), Jim Miller (1977-79), Ben Oberly (1984-86), Corey Miller (1987, '89, '90), Dave Richmond (2003-06), Max Nauta (2013-15), Andrew Pacheco (2013-15), Jarod Ostir (2016-18) and Nick Galka (2017-19). Only Richmond won four. Streaks sophomore Augie Szamreta (26-6 at 106) won his first, while senior Josh Lee (23-3), a runner-up at 138, was denied a third title as Hills advanced seven to Region 1.

Hawk is the first to win titles in his first three P'burg seasons since Brian Meyer

383 -- Phillipsburg dusted the field in District 6 at Roxbury, as junior Gavin Hawk (32-1 at 150) and senior John Wargo (29-1 at 285) became the 41st and 42nd to win at least three titles for the Stateliners, who crowned nine champions overall and advanced an area-best 13 to Region 2. Wargo recorded a seven-second pin in the quarters. Senior Dawson McWilliams (17-4 at 126) and junior Luke Geleta (31-2 at 144) won their second titles. Winning their first were freshman Owen Garriques (22-12 at 120), sophomore Gavin Geleta (26-9 at 132), seniors Patrick Day (17-7 at 157) and Liam Packer (31-3 at 175), and junior Derek Stone (26-9 at 190. Garriques' father, John, won three district titles (one at Hackettstown in 1994 and two for P'burg in '96 and '97), while Day made it five titles in his house as older brothers, Cullen (2017-18), and James (2020 and '22) each won two. Their uncle, Chris, won a title for Delaware Valley at 141 pounds in 1987 at The Pit. Hawk will look to join just eight others to win four district crowns for the 'Liners, who now have 383 champions overall and have had at least one winner since missing for the only time in 1950. This was also the third time with at least nine champs (2018 and '20) since a program-record 11 in '02.

129 -- Voorhees sophomore Christian Bollette (29-9 at 126) and senior Logan Wiecoreck (34-3 at 157) -- both runners-up last season -- and senior Trevor Zabroski (35-3 at 215) all won their first titles at District 14 -- raising the program's total to 129 in now the Vikings' 49th season. Runner-up Cameron Baumann (20-4 at 285), a champ last season, also advanced to Region 4 at Union. Bollette's father, J.P., was a 1997 district champ for Kittatinny at 130 pounds, while uncles, Eric and Brian, are also former standouts for the Cougars and head coaches at Newton and Morris Hills. J.P. and Eric ('94) were also seventh-eighth place medalists.

26 -- Delaware Valley lapped the field in District 10 at Nutley High School with a tournament-best six champions, including senior Jake Taylor (23-6 at 113), who is the ninth in program history to win at least three titles and first since Mike Pongracz (2010, '11, '13). Junior Jaden Perez (32-1 at 126) and seniors Matt Roche (29-2 at 132) and Anderson Olcott (29-2 at 190) won their second titles, while senior Ben Levy (26-5 at 150) and Kevin Roman (26-6 at 175) earned their first. The Terriers have had at least one winner in 26 straight tournaments since missing in 1997, and they produced six champs for only the third time in program history, joining the 2006 and '23 squads, one shy of a record seven (1993). Del Val coach Andy Fitz, who has coached 51 of the school's 133 champs, won a district title for the Terriers at 160 pounds in 1990. Fitz, whose team was the Group 1 runner-up, took home the Coach of the Year Award in District 10.

Smith logged his 84th career win in the finals

8 -- Kittatinny sent eight to the Region 1 Tournament behind a pair of three-time champs in senior Reece Smith (34-3 at 150) and junior Ethan Dalling (33-2 at 165), who are the 13th and 14th Cougars to win at least three titles and first since Zach Mafaro (2017-19). Smith, who won at 144 pounds last year, made the successful drop from 157 for the postseason, while Dalling gave his family a total of nine district golds for the Sussex County school. Older brother, Steven, was a two-time winner (2020 and '21), while their father, Steve, a two-time state champ, was the first of five to win four district titles under New Jersey wrestling legend John Gill, who has coached at least one district champ since missing in 1993 and 126 of the program's 130 overall. Seniors Bryce Coesfeld (31-4 at 175) and Tucker Lockburner (27-5 at 215) won their second titles on Saturday, giving the program four winners in back-to-back years for the first time since 2013 (six) and '14 (four). Coesfeld is now four wins shy of becoming the 19th member in the program's 100-wins club, while Dalling picked up his 91st with a pin in the district finals. 

"Ever since winning my sophomore year, I wanted to get three [titles]," said Smith, who decked High Point's Jayden Ruplall with a bar in 1:45. "It's been a big goal for me. I've been feeling really light all year at 157, so it was a no-brainer to drop down. I think I'll have more stamina and move a lot faster [at 150]."

40 -- Hunterdon Central produced six champions for the seventh time since 2003 in rolling to the team title in District 14 at the Field House. Senior Anthony Rossi (35-0 at 120) and sophomore Rhett Washleski (33-3 at 150) won their second titles, while seniors Ahmed Hussain (27-10 at 132), Evan Thompson (33-4 at 138), Thomas Brunetti (36-0 at 175) and junior Tyler Suk (25-10 at 285) picked up their first golds. The Red Devils, who have won 40 team championships overall, advanced 11 to Region 4, including senior runner-up William Cella (30-7 at 144), a 2023 champion.

35 -- North Hunterdon, which has gone just one season without a district winner (2008), added two more to the list as sophomore Reid Buzby (25-5 at 106) won his first title, while senior Brian Wilson (21-8 at 165) repeated at his weight class. The Lions, now with 234 champs overall in their 67-season history, moved eight wrestlers onto Region 4, including freshman Aidan Yarussi (25-10 at 113), senior Shane Wysocki (15-18 at 126) and junior Evan Kinney (18-14 at 175) -- all runners-up. In all, 35 from Hunterdon County schools will compete at the region level.

6 -- Pope John extended its streak with at least five champions to six straight tournaments by crowning five in District 11 at Morristown High School. Junior Carson Walsh (31-3 at 132), a two-time state medal winner, became the 15th at his school to win at least three titles, while sophomore Dalton Weber (30-3 at 126) and senior Justin Holly (25-6 at 138) won their second championships. The only Lions to win four titles are: Mike Frick (1969-72), Hugh Albora (1972-75), Brian Unkert (1987-90), Jake Rotunda (2015-18) and Eddie Ventresca (2017-20).

Jaust and Clayton (HP social media)

20 -- High Point ran its streak with at least one district winner to 20 straight tournaments as juniors Colton Jaust (18-11 at 120) and Nick Clayton (24-6 at 132) won their first titles in District 4 at High Point Regional High School, which hosted for the first time since the early 1970s. Jaust's uncle, Eric Space, won a title at 275 pounds in 1999, the second winner for iconic coach John Gardner in his inaugural season. The 'Cats, who boast 132 champs overall and haven't been shut out at the district level since 2003, advanced a tourney-best 10 to Region 1 at West Milford High School. Gardner won three titles (1988-90) for the Sussex County School, while longtime assistant Mickey Thomas was the first in program history at 115 pounds in 1968. Ace assistant Billy Smith (2009-11) is among 15 to win three or more for the 'Cats. Gardner, in his final tournament as the boys head coach, earned District 4 Coach of the Year honors as High Point made it a clean sweep of the awards. Clayton voted as the OW, while alum Chris Jones, a 1985 district winner at 129 pounds, was named the Assistant Coach of the Year in his final season on the North Warren staff. 

19 -- North Warren, coming off a tough dual-meet campaign, produced at least one champion for the third straight year as sophomore Conor Hallowich (24-11 at 106) and senior James Dacunto (33-1 at 157) won their first titles in District 4 in coach Kellen Bradley's final season at the helm. It's also just the second time in program history and first in 25 years that the Patriots have had multiple winners (Matt Miller at 140 and Jeff Tierney at 171 in 1999). Hallowich, who was third last season, is only the second at his school to win a title at the first weight class -- joining Matt Ritchie (103 in 2011). Dacunto, who dropped from 165 for the postseason, stuck Kittatinny's Aiden McClain in 3:01 after turning him with a cradle in the first period. North, which now has 19 champions in program history, advanced four to the Region 1 Tournament, as freshman Cole Castles (25-10 at 120) and junior Logan Garriques (26-9 at 175) finished third. Garriques' father, Todd, who was in attendance, won back-to-back titles for Hackettstown in 1991 and '92. Bradley was a two-time champion for Kittatinny in 2003 and '04.

"It's good to get some recognition for the program to bring more eyes to wrestling and get more to sign up to get our program more deep and diverse," said Dacunto, whose team struggled in duals due to low numbers and forfeits. "Even when I'm no longer here, I still care how the program does."

5 -- Lenape Valley's streak with at least one champion ended at 19 straight tournaments as the Patriots were shut out for the first time since 2003. Now combined with Hopatcong, Lenape Valley advanced five to the Region 2 Tournament at Mount Olive High School, including junior Gage Graziano (29-5 at 144), who finished third after winning his first title in 2023, the program's 78th champ overall. Junior Jakob Bell (19-12 at 157) became a two-time runner-up, while junior Marc Pavese (33-5 at 138) finished third for a second straight season. Hackettstown, which did not have a champ for the first time since 2015, also advanced five to Region 3 at West Orange. Freshmen Joseph Rowinski (27-8 at 106) and Giovanni Gutierrez (28-8 at 120), and seniors Nicolas Balella (30-6 at 132) and Jose Alvarenga Giron (25-7 at 165), were all runners-up in District 11.

3 -- Sparta, which sent five to the championship round at District 4, came away with three gold medals as sophomore Ryan Hrenenko (32-4 at 126), junior Logan Hrenenko (28-8 at 138) and junior Luke Brown (26-3 at 190) won their first titles. The Spartans have logged 20 district winners since 2014 after being shut out from 2008-13 and in '22. Seniors Peter Donnelly (13-8 at 113) and Connor White (29-6 at 215) were runners-up as the Sussex County school was bidding for its most winners in 31 years (five in 1983). White dropped a 4-1 decision and is now 1-2 vs. Lockburner dating to last season after decking the Kittatinny senior in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament finals on Jan. 10.

9 -- Belvidere, Newton and Vernon combined for one champion and nine region qualifiers. The lone winner was County Seaters junior Kyle Blew (34-4 at 190) in District 11 -- the Warren County's 59th champion overall. Newton was shut out for the first time since 2013, but the Braves advanced four to Region 1 with an exciting consolation round in District 4. Junior Mason Bucci (23-10 at 138) got the ball rolling with a pin as the Braves went 4-for-5 in third-place bouts. Vernon sophomore True DiGiuseppe (29-3 at 175), who was looking to become his school's first champion since 2012, dropped a 6-3 decision to Coesfeld in their District 4 final. 

Wrestling: District schedules for HWS schools

It's that time in the season when a lot of the chatter centers around the district and region alignments, which now spread the Non-Public schools throughout the state and will change yearly instead of two-year installments.

A lot of complaining is coming from the south, where northern-based Delbarton and St. Peter's Prep moved from Region 3 and 4, respectively, to Region 5 and 6, while Region 7 is a bear with Southern, Christian Brothers Academy, Paulsboro and St. John Vianney. Now the good folks down that way are going to experience what us northerners have known for the better part of four decades or longer. Guess some feel it's only right if the majority of the top Non-Publics only reside in northern regions.

P'burg will be on the road for District 6 at Roxbury

Loyal followers of Open Mike know we have tackled this issue for years. The realignments have always been a bad idea -- while good in theory -- and continue to be. It's watered down the districts, of which there are too many at 32, and erased a lot of tradition and history, while creating a miserable fan experience with long rides and nonsensical geographical alignments.

You know the old saying -- be careful what you wish for. Now, the south, which lobbied for realignment several years ago, gets to see how the other half  lived for a long time. Maybe, just maybe, they will work towards coming up with a better way moving forward. Let's hope.  

Anyway, there are plenty of storylines to watch for Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area schools in six district tournaments involving the 17 local teams on Saturday.

Hawk is 101-17 overall

Phillipsburg, which finished No. 9 overall and the second-ranked public school in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, has crowed an area-best 374 district champions in the program's illustrious history spanning 76 seasons. 

Junior Gavin Hawk (29-1 at 150) and senior John Wargo (26-1 at 285) -- two of the HWS area's best shots to make title runs in Atlantic City -- look to make Stateliner history as only the 41st and 42nd wrestlers to win at least three titles in the District 6 Tournament at Roxbury.

High Point will host a district tournament for the first time in recent history as most of the old District 3 -- which included seven of the nine Sussex County teams -- reassembles for District 4 in Wantage Township. Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Sparta, Vernon and Wallkill Valley are also among the nine-team field, along with two from Passaic County in DePaul and West Milford. By the way, kudos to High Point for scheduling one-mat championship finals.

Speaking of Vernon, the Vikings haven't had a champ since 2012, but could sophomore and returning Region 1 qualifier True DiGiuseppe (27-2 at 175) end that drought?

This is also the last district tournament for iconic High Point coach John Gardner, who is shifting over to the girls program full-time for 2024-25. Gardner won three district titles (1988-90) as a wrestler for the 'Cats -- one of 15 to do so -- along with assistant coach Billy Smith (2009-11). Longtime assistant Mickey Thomas was the program's first district champion (115 pounds) in 1968.

Warren Hills sophomore Davey Rhinehart (26-4 at 126) looks to become the fourth in his immediate family to win a title for the Blue Streaks, who will make the long trek to River Dell for the District 2 Tournament. Rhinehart looks to join his grandfather, John (1969), and great uncles, Rick (1967, '68, '70) and Rob (1976) as district champs.

Delaware Valley senior Jake Taylor (20-6 at 113), who made the drop from 120, bids to become his school's first three-time champ since Mike Pongracz (2010, '11, '13) in District 10 at Nutley, while Pope John junior Carson Walsh (28-3 at 132), a two-time state medalist, aims to be the 14th to win at least three titles for the Lions at District 11 in Morristown.

Here are Saturday's schedules with times and ticket prices: 

District 2

Hills has produced at least one champ since missing in 2011.

At River Dell High School

Area teams: Warren Hills.

Rest of the field: Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson-Park Ridge, Lakeland, New Milford, River Dell, Waldwick-Midland Park, Westwood.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9:30 a.m.; semifinals to follow; third-place consolations (two mats), approximately 3 p.m.; championship finals to follow (one mat).

District 4

At High Point Regional High School

Area teams: High Point, Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Sparta, Vernon, Wallkill Valley.

Rest of the field: DePaul, West Milford.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; semifinals to follow, third-place consolations (two mats) approximately 2 p.m.; championship finals (one mat) to follow.

Ticket prices: $10 adults, $5 students/seniors.

District 6

At Roxbury High School

Area teams: Hopatcong-Lenape Valley, Phillipsburg.

Rest of the field: Dover, Morris Knolls, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, Parsippany Hills, Randolph, Roxbury.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; semifinals to follow; third-place consolations and championship finals to follow after the consolation round.

Ticket prices: $15 adults, $10 students/seniors (all-sessions pass).

District 10

At Nutley High School

Area teams: Delaware Valley.

Rest of the field: Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Kearny, Livingston, Montclair, Nutley, Verona, West Orange.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9:30 a.m.; semifinals, 1 p.m.; third-place consolations and championship finals on adjacent mats (holding up until each weight class is completed) at approximately 2:30 p.m.

District 11

At Morristown High School

Area teams: Belvidere, Hackettstown, Pope John.

Rest of the field: Columbia, East Orange, Morristown, Newark Academy, West Morris, Whippany Park.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 10 a.m.; semifinals, noon; third-place consolations and championship finals to follow.

District 14

Central's Anthony Rossi (120) and Rhett Washelski (150) look to repeat

At Hunterdon Central Field House

Area teams: Hunterdon Central, North Hunterdon, Voorhees.

Rest of the field: Bernards, Bridgewater-Raritan, Middlesex-Dunellen, North Plainfield, Pingry, Somerville.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals, 10 a.m.; third-place consolations and championship finals, 3 p.m.

Ticket prices: $10 adults, $5 students/seniors (all-sessions pass).

Wrestling: Three rep HWS in final NJWWA Top 20

The Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area didn't end the dual season with a flourish, but three teams started and finished among the state's best.

Leading the way was Phillipsburg, which finished No. 9 in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20. Hunterdon Central (No. 12) and Delaware Valley (No. 17) round out the local contingent in the statewide poll released on Wednesday morning.

For just the fifth time overall and first since 2019, no team from HWS ended the season with a state team championship since the tournaments formed in 1982. The area has never gone back-to-back seasons without a title, though it may be a challenge to keep that streak alive in 2024-25.

P'burg (18-1), which captured its 41st sectional title, saw its dual campaign end for a second straight season with a loss to Southern -- 45-21 in the Group 5 final -- at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena. The Stateliners knocked off Hunterdon Central (45-13 on Jan. 10) and Delaware Valley (34-28 on Jan. 24) along with No. 13 Delsea (30-28) and No. 19 Mount Olive (32-27) on Dec. 23, but were denied in their bid for the program's fifth unbeaten season and first since 2013-14.

Southern (18-2), which finished as the No. 1 public school for a second consecutive season, is 11-7 all-time vs. P'burg, including wins in six of nine postseason meetings dating to 1997. The Rams, who also own a series-best five-match win streak from 2005-07, have now won three straight matchups since the 'Liners scored a 27-25 victory in the 2022 Group 5 semifinals.

Hawk eyes his third district title

Junior Gavin Hawk (29-1 at 150) and senior John Wargo (26-1 at 285) will look to join a group of only 40 Stateliners to win at least three district titles this weekend at Roxbury High School. Hawk, among the state championship favorites at his weight class, recently became just the 28th at P'burg and the first 11th grader to reach the century mark in wins in at 101-17 overall. Junior Luke Geleta (28-2 at 144) enters this weekend just six shy at 94-22 overall, while Wargo needs seven wins at 93-15, even more impressive considering he did not wrestle as a freshman.

Hunterdon Central (21-3), which captured the program's 23rd sectional title and first since 2019 and logged a 20-win season for the fifth time in its history, saw its dual season end with a 40-21 loss to Southern in the Group 5 semifinals on Friday. The Red Devils, who won their only state title in 1989 (Group 4), knocked off a pair of Top 20 teams in Delsea (36-25 on Jan. 27) and Mount Olive (35-34 on Jan. 20), as well as Group 2 runner-up Jefferson (43-36 on Dec. 23).

Freshman Rhett Washleski (30-3 at 150), along with seniors Anthony Rossi (32-0 at 120) and Thomas Brunetti (33-0 at 175), look to lead host Central, now in Region 4, in the District 14 Tournament on Saturday at the Field House. Brunetti is just eight wins from joining Rossi in the school's 100-wins club.

Del Val celebrates its 22nd sectional title

Delaware Valley (20-2), which logged its 11th 20-win season in program history and first since a school-record 23 wins in 2016-17, came up short in its bid for a third straight Group 1 title with Sunday's 33-25 loss to Paulsboro.

The Terriers scored Top 20 wins against Hunterdon Central (34-28 on Jan. 24) and Group 4 champion Ridge (53-16 on Jan. 20), which was unranked and missing five starters at the time. Del Val had no trouble winning its fifth straight sectional title and 22nd overall as Andy Fitz (286-96 in 17 seasons) surpassed his father, Vince (284-60-3 in 19 seasons from 1971-90), as the winningest head coach in program history with an 81-0 win over Point Pleasant Beach in the sectional final.

Keep an eye on seniors Jake Taylor (20-6 at 113), Matt Roche (26-2 at 132) and Anderson Olcott (26-2 at 190) and juniors Jaden Perez (29-1 at 126) and Jackson Bush (24-4 at 138) in Saturday's District 10 Tournament at Nutley High School.

Green machine

There is no doubt Delbarton (17-4) has earned the final No. 1 ranking in the NJWWA Top 20.

The Green Wave not only avenged a loss to No. 2 St. Joseph-Montvale from last year's Non-Public A final with a 30-22 win in the title match on Sunday, but they also beat No. 3 St. Peter's Prep, 66-0, in a Catholic Schools Duals semifinal on Jan. 6. Coach Bryan Stoll's team also knocked off No. 4 Christian Brothers Academy, 49-13, in a Non-Public A semifinal and Group 5 champion Southern, 53-9, on Jan. 24.

Southern, which lost to Delbarton and CBA, also defeated No. 14 Kingsway in the South Jersey, Group 5 sectional final.

Kittatinny went 19-4 and won a sectional title

Nine of the top 11 teams in the final Top 20 are Non-Public schools. Seven of those are Non-Public A teams.

The second half of the final poll underwent some changes from the way it had been most of the season after Paulsboro won its 34th Group 1 title with a 33-25 win over two-time defending champion Delaware Valley -- racking up big differentials in takedowns vs. the Terriers (23-12) and Kittatinny (36-7) in a 40-24 win over the Cougars in a Group 1 semifinal.

Ridge, which carried the Skyland Conference flag on Sunday, won its first championship since 1986 with a dramatic come-from-behind 35-33 win over Mount Olive in the Group 4 final.

Here are the final rankings with records followed by first-place votes in parentheses and point totals.

Rank	School	Record	Votes	Previous
1	Delbarton (8)	(17-4)	160	2
2	St. Joseph-Montvale	(12-1)	152	1
3	St. Peter's Prep	(16-5)	144	3
4	Christian Bros. Academy	(14-2)	136	4
5	Southern	(18-2)	128	5
6	St. John Vianney	(14-1)	117	10
7	Camden Catholic	(15-2)	109	6
8	Don Bosco Prep	(14-5)	104	7
9	Phillipsburg	(18-1)	97	9
10	Paramus Catholic	(10-3)	95	8
11	Bergen Catholic	(7-7)	70	11
12	Hunterdon Central	(21-3)	63	13
13	Delsea	(19-4)	57	17
14	Kingsway	(14-2)	51	16
15	Paulsboro	(22-2)	45	NR
16	Rumson-Fair Haven	(18-1)	43	20
17	Delaware Valley	(20-2)	37	12
18	Ridge	(21-2)	36	NR
19	Mount Olive	(16-5)	26	14
20	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(20-5)	14	18

Also receiving votes: Kittatinny (19-4) 3. 

Voting members listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (gardenstatehswrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (shoreconferencewrestling.com); Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record and NorthJersey.com); Tom McGurk (Courier Post and courierpostonline.com); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike and mikeopen.blogspot.com), Brad Wilson (lehighvalleylive.com/The Express-Times).