Wrestling: HWS preps for sections (rankings, notes)

North Hunterdon seems to be heating up at precisely the right time following a statement 34-24 win over nemesis Phillipsburg on Wednesday before a 35-29 victory over Skyland Conference Raritan Division rival Ridge two nights later in the Lions Den.

What does it mean for coach Dave Bell's team? Well, the road to this season's Group 4 state championship may now very well run through Clinton Township. How's that for a turn of events?

North is seeking the program's 18th sectional title

North (12-6), which should be the No. 1 seed in North 2, Group 4 when the seeds and pairings are released on Sunday, benefitted from the preseason sectional realignment as Phillipsburg, Mount Olive and Ridge all wound up in North 1.

"We have to get past Middletown North and Watchung Hills [in North 2]," Bell said after the win over P'burg. "It's not going to be an easy go, either. They're not going to lay down for us. If we get through [our section] and [P'burg gets] through, odds are we'll see them again."

Mount Olive and Ridge may have something to say about that potential rematch as the likely Nos. 2 and 3 seeds in what should be a crazy North 1, Group 4 sectional chase starting on Feb. 10. Mount Olive, which lost to Ridge in last season's Group 4 title match, dropped a 32-30 decision to P'burg on Dec. 21. The Marauders, who were missing two starters that day, have never beaten the Stateliners and will be eager to avenge that most recent result.

Family ties

North sophomore Cayden Wadle (21-6 at 106) scored a key win over P'burg and celebrated with his brother, Logan, who helped the Lions go 3-2 against the 'Liners from 2020-23. Logan Wadle, now wrestling at Lehigh, won North's first individual state title in 20 years and 13th overall at 106 in '23.

Logan Wadle (second from right)

The Wadle brothers are now a combined 4-3 against P'burg, while their father, Rudy (1-3), helped North Hunterdon score a 27-24 upset-win over the 'Liners in the memorable 1993 Group 3 final at The Pit -- avenging a 32-25 regular-season loss at home. 

"My brother's been a huge help and always in my corner," said Cayden, a legit force at his weight class who's benefitted from wrestling up after barely weighing 100 pounds this past summer. "He would always take time out of his day to work with me. That means a lot to me just to have him in my corner all the time. 

"Beating P'burg ... it's huge. But we can't stop now. We've got to keep our foot on the gas pedal. We're going to work even harder in practice and push each other even harder now. We can be [team] state champions."

HWS area team rankings

1. North Hunterdon (12-6) -- Lions are on a major roll having knocked off Phillipsburg (34-24 on Wednesday) and Ridge (35-29 on Friday), in which North secured the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title -- the program's seventh conference championship overall and first since 2023 despite losing eight bouts. Junior Owen Dandeo (16-9 at 190) logged wins in both victories, including a match-sealing pin against Ridge.

P'burg has won 26 Skyland titles out of a possible 30

Up next: North 2, Group 4 sectionals on Feb. 10.

2. Phillipsburg (12-3) -- Stateliners bounced back from a 34-24 loss at North Hunterdon with a 73-3 thumping of Hunterdon Central on Friday to secure the Skyland Conference Delaware Division title -- the program's 37th conference championship (including 11 in the East Penn Conference prior to 1995-96). Senior Gavin Hawk (24-1 at 157) extended his program wins record to 134-20 overall, while fellow senior ace Luke Geleta (24-1 at 144), now at 126-26, is two shy of third place (Max Elling 128-37 from 2011-15). 

Up next: at Kittatinny on Monday; North 1, Group 4 sectionals on Feb. 10.

3. Delaware Valley (13-3) -- Terriers followed up a 70-11 win on the road against Pompton Lakes with a 45-22 victory over Warren Hills on Senior Night (No. 871 overall) as the Group 1 favorites improved to 34-22 all-time against the Blue Streaks with a third straight win in that series dating to 1963. Senior Jaden Perez (24-1 at 126), who is 109-19 overall, moved into a three-way tie for 10th place on the school's wins list with Dan Hutchins and C.J. Inglin, both at 109-27.

Up next: at Roxbury on Tuesday; at Bloomfield on Thursday; Hopewell Valley on Friday; Central Jersey Group 1 sectionals on Feb. 10.

High Point is 46-7 all-time vs. Newton since 1970

4. High Point (15-5) -- Wildcats are gearing up for a run at the program's Sussex County-record 31st sectional title following wins over West Morris (52-18 on Wednesday) and Newton (64-12 on Thursday). The latter was the NJAC Freedom Division champions' 23rd in a row against the Braves and its largest margin of victory since a 58-6 rout in 1996.  High Point, led by senior Nick Clayton (19-3 at 150), who recently joined the school's 100-wins club, will likely be the No. 1 seed in North 1, Group 2.

Up next: at Warren Hills on Wednesday; North 1, Group 2 sectionals at home on Feb. 10.

5. Pope John (8-5) -- Lions, who have been idle since a 34-27 loss at Mount Olive on Jan. 21, will look to make some noise in the postseason tournaments behind senior star Carson Walsh (22-1 at 138), along with two-time state medalist Donny Almeyda (5-0 at 144) and junior Dalton Weber (12-2 at 132), who is sitting on 81 career wins. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's team has logged some notable wins this season, beating Paramus Catholic (42-36 on Jan. 4) and St. Augustine (41-24 on Jan. 18).

Up next: at Governor Livingston on Wednesday; Non-Public B Tournament on Feb. 11. 

Piccione is 13 wins behind Max Nauta (123) for 2nd

6. Warren Hills (10-9) -- Blue Streaks rebounded from a 47-15 loss at Phillipsburg on Monday with a 53-24 victory over Hackettstown on Friday before a 45-22 defeat at Delaware Valley on Saturday. The latter was the program's third in a row against the Terriers, who have won 12 of the last 17 meetings since 2009. Against Del Val, senior Charlie Piccione (25-2 at 120), who is 110-27 overall, moved into a third-place tie with Ryan Kanewski (110-31 from 1993-97) on the school's wins list. Senior Tyler Redfield earned his 94th victory, while juniors Augie Szamreta and Davey Rhinehart logged their 80th wins.

Up next: High Point at home on Wednesday; North 2, Group 3 sectionals on Feb. 10. 

7. Kittatinny (9-9) -- Cougars dropped a 64-6 decision to Ridge on Wednesday in their lone action of the week as senior Ethan Dalling (26-2 at 175) logged a pin for his 121st career victory. Legendary coach John Gill's program -- started by former Phillipsburg wrestler Carl Bateman in 1975 -- sits at 697 wins overall ahead of renewing the series against P'burg after a two-year hiatus. The Sussex County school (6-21 all-time dating to 1994) has lost 12 straight vs. the Stateliners since a 41-34 win in 2010.

Up next: Phillipsburg at home on Monday; Sparta at home on Friday; North 1, Group 1 sectionals on Feb. 10.

8. Hackettstown (12-6) -- Tigers, who rolled to wins over Newton (47-27 on Monday) and Belvidere (52-24 on Thursday) capped a 2-1 week with a 53-24 loss to Warren Hills on Friday as coach Jim Berringer's team, which is also strong in the lower weights, was unable to match the Blue Streaks' firepower from 113-138. Sophomore Joseph Rowinski (21-6 at 106-113), a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex champion, logged his 50th career win with a pin vs. Belvidere.

Up next: at Morris Knolls on Monday; Bloomfield at home on Wednesday; Wallkill Valley at home on Friday.

Newton won its 2nd NJAC division title and first since 2009-10

9. Newton (8-11) -- Braves, who won the NJAC Colonial Division title, make their rankings debut following a 43-33 victory over previous No. 9 Sparta on Wednesday as freshman Layne Smith scored a crucial major decision win at 106 pounds. Coach Eric Bollette's teams have won five of the last seven meetings as the program improved to 36-14-1 all time vs. the Spartans in a series dating to 1961.

Up next: at Hopatcong-Lenape Valley on Wednesday; Pompton Lakes at home on Thursday. 

10. Belvidere (7-9) -- County Seaters get on board here for the first time this season after a 41-37 win over Dover, the NJAC Colonial Division runner-up, in a tri-meet on Saturday. Coach Dan McIntyre's team also posted a 40-31 win over Parsippany on Wednesday to go with the loss to Hackettstown and Morristown (58-15 on Saturday). Senior Kyle Blew (23-5 at 190), who is at 93 career wins, looks to become the eighth member of the Seaters' century club and its first since all-time leader Quinn Melofchik (147-19 from 2015-19).

Up next: Weehawken at home on Wednesday; at Boonton on Friday.