Wrestling: Kittatinny (696 wins) surges past Newton

NEWTON -- There wasn't a conference or division title on the line, but when Kittatinny and Newton square off on a wrestling mat, there's plenty of bragging rights at stake.

The crosstown rivals locked up for the 54th time overall as the Cougars got on an early roll and never looked back in a surprisingly lopsided 57-11 victory on Thursday night in an NJAC cross-divisional clash at Newton High School's Henry Boresch Memorial Gym.

Kittatinny seeks its 26th sectional title next month

Kittatinny (8-6), which holds a 37-17 lead and has won six straight over Newton (6-8) in a series dating to 1976, moved closer to another milestone under legendary coach John Gill as the program now stands four wins shy of 700 overall. Gill's personal mark is 664-214-5 in 45 seasons since taking over for program founder Carl Bateman (32-39 in five seasons from 1975-80).

"I'm hoping we can get four more," said Gill, whose team has been in rebuilding mode this season with five sophomores and two freshmen in the starting lineup, and will next compete in a quad at Livingston, which includes Old Tappan and Watchung Hills on Saturday. 

Dalling is 117-23 overall

Newton, which hasn't come out on top in the series since logging back-to-back victories in 2018 (33-25) and '19 (37-28), looked -- on paper at least -- to have a strong chance at making this one a bit more competitive. But senior Aiden McClain's 11-8 win in sudden-victory overtime to start the match at 157 pounds put the Braves in a tough spot early as did fellow senior Aaron Kover's 16-10 win in the second bout. Winning the flip also allowed the visitors to get the matchup they wanted up top as senior ace Ethan Dalling decked Aaron Stone in 35 seconds at 190 pounds.

"I never felt comfortable," said Gill, whose team won the first nine (12 overall) while building a 41-0 lead before its first loss at 126 pounds. "[We were winning] three in a row, four in a row, five in a row. It just didn't feel like it. I just never felt in the driver's seat. I give them respect. Those kids fought from the beginning whistle to the last whistle."

Kittatinny also won tossups at 175 -- with backup Jacob Fryer (2-0) -- and 285, where senior Bradley Kearney reversed Sean Brown with 16 seconds left for a 4-2 victory in the ultimate tiebreaker. It was their second matchup this season decided in OT as Kearney escaped for a 3-2 UTB win in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament quarterfinals on Jan. 11. 

Gill may have been a bit restless because he'd been 0-for-2 against his former wrestlers and current head coaches (losses to Brian Bollette of Morris Hills and Tyler Branham of Hanover Park) coming into this one against former Kittatinny state placewinner Eric Bollette, now 6-21 all-time against the Cougars in 24 seasons as Newton's head coach.

"All my alumni beating me," Gill said with a smile. "I didn't like starting at 157 [against Newton]. The big one was getting heavyweight. Lucky we have the last 30-second choice. Whoever went on bottom was going to win. We get that, got a couple others." 

Newton celebrates its first division title since 2010

Newton, which is in its 99th season overall and was coming off clinching the NJAC Colonial Division title with a 43-32 win at Dover on Tuesday, won two bouts against Kittatinny as seniors Keegan Murtagh (pin at 126) and Mason Bucci (technical fall at 150) wrestled for the final time in this rivalry matchup. 

"I thought we competed in some spots, but were just overmatched in others," said Bollette, who's one win shy of 290 for his career as his team will next host Northern Highlands and Tenafly on Saturday. 

KITTATINNY 57, NEWTON 11

157 -- Sr. Aiden McClain (14-8), K, d. Jr. Tyler Morodan (11-6), 11-8 SV.
165 -- Sr. Aaron Kover (7-11), K, d. So. Braxton Guerra (4-6), 16-10.
175 -- Sr. Jacob Fryer (2-0), K, p. So. Matthew Hibbits (1-7), 4:44.
190 -- Sr. Ethan Dalling (22-2), K, p. Sr. Aaron Stone (9-5), :35.
215 -- So. Trevor Greenwood (14-10), K, p. Sr. John Rios (0-3), :32.
285 -- Sr. Bradley Kearney (11-7), K, d. So. Sean Brown (7-9), 4-2 UTB.
106 -- So. Justin Tighe (8-15), K, md. Fr. Ozzy Ciuzio-Pelt (2-6), 9-1.
113 -- Fr. Kyle White (12-9), K, p. So. Jacob McConnell (5-10), 2:37.
120 -- Fr. Kevin White (9-12), K, md. Jr. Ethan Whitesell (6-8), 13-5.
126 -- Sr. Keegan Murtagh (9-2), N, p. So. Callum Trilling (9-13), 3:49.
132 -- Jr. Nikolas Martinez (12-7), K, tf. So. Micky Varga (3-5), 18-0, 3:32.
138 -- So. Dylan Tighe (3-11), K, p. Sr. Colin Decker (1-13), 2:13.
144 -- So. Justin Bradley (4-15), K, tf. So. Joey Melillo (8-7), 21-4, 5:35.
150 -- Sr. Mason Bucci (12-3), N, tf. Jr. Leonardo Garcia (4-10), 19-2, 1:42.
Records -- Kittatinny 8-6; Newton 6-8.
Official -- Bob Doelfel.