Wrestling: Hills pins (7) down historic win vs. Central

WASHINGTON TWP. -- Longstanding rivalries and storied wrestling programs are synonymous with the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. 

The 63rd meeting between Hunterdon Central and Warren Hills was somewhat different than years past as a high-scoring affair featured teams a little thin in spots and trying to get some wrestlers up to speed for what lies ahead this season.

Warren Hills ran off five straight pins to open the Skyland Conference cross-divisional match and never looked back in a 53-27 victory on Wednesday night in the dual-meet opener for both teams. It's the most points scored by the Blue Streaks (previous was a 42-27 win in 2006) and the largest combined total in a series dating to 1960. Hills, now 15-47-1 overall vs. Central, has won 10 of those meetings since 1990.

Warren Hills has won two of the last three vs. HC

"Proud of the guys tonight," said Streaks coach KC Wanamaker, now in his second season at the helm. "The big five [Augie Szamreta, Charlie Piccione, Davey Rhinehart, Aidan Webb and Tyler Redfield], they came through big and did what they needed to do."

Central (0-1), which came in a bit shorthanded and currently without a 113-pounder on its roster, is in the midst of a major rebuilding campaign after going 21-3 and capturing the Central Jersey, Group 5 sectional title last season. Starting at 120 pounds and the beginning of Warren Hills' run of talented lower weights was not ideal and put the Red Devils in a 30-0 hole through five bouts. 

"We knew they were going to be loaded down low," said Central coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm, now 7-3 all-time against Warren Hills. "We went head-to-head with all those guys. They're super talented down low. It hurt not having [freshman] Aidan Thompson [illness]. That would have given us the ability to slide up from 144, 150 and 157, and at least make it a little bit closer."

Warren Hills (1-0), stepping on the mat for the first time this season, took it right to Central out of the gate. The first turning point came in the second bout at 126, as Piccione, a senior and two-time state qualifier, overcame 1-0 second-period deficit to flatten Red Devils junior Jace Brownlie with a cradle at the buzzer -- his 86th career win.

Central won its 23rd sectional title last season

Central ace Rhett Washleski, a two-time state qualifier, finally got his team on the board with a technical fall of Justin Hage at 150, as the Red Devils won four of five bouts -- sandwiched around Tyler O'Neill's pin for the Streaks at 165 -- through the middle to make it a 15-point deficit (36-21).

"Justin Hage has been on JV his whole career and went out and battled against a state wrestleback three, and stayed off his back to save us a team point," said Wanamaker, whose team next faces Mount Olive (1-0), ranked No. 14 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20 poll, in an independent clash tonight at 7. 

"Same with Dom D'Aconti (175) and Ethan Drazek [157], and then of course the big pin from David Kocsor. They all just went out and battled from every position."

Kocsor's unexpected pin at 215 sealed it for Warren Hills. The senior, coming off a 10-20 campaign as a junior, overcame a 3-1 first-period deficit and gave the Streaks an insurmountable 42-21 lead with three bouts to go. Only two of 12 contested matchups reached the third period. 

"We're going to take our lumps," said Cantagallo-Rohm, who lost 19 seniors from a team that also won the HWS Tournament team title last season and returning heavyweight Tyler Suk (season-ending knee injury) who logged 26 wins and finished sixth in Region 4 as a junior. "A lot of underclassmen, a lot of kids with first-time varsity experience, a lot of kids who are brand new to wrestling. 

"We're going to have to scratch and claw to not give up bonus points, and try and pull out some matches in the third period. It's going to be a lot of learning this year, but I think it bodes well for the future."

WARREN HILLS 53, HUNTERDON CENTRAL 27

120 -- Jr. Augie Szamreta (1-0), WH, p. Fr. Joey Cassidy (0-1), 1:40.
126 -- Sr. Charlie Piccione (1-0), WH, p. Jr. Jace Brownlie (0-1), 3:59. 
132 -- Jr. Davey Rhinehart (1-0), WH, p. So. Brandon Voll (0-3), 1:19.
138 -- So. Aidan Webb (1-0), WH, p. Jr. Liam Walker (0-1), :18.
144 -- Sr. Tyler Redfield (1-0), WH, p. So. Andrew Zinko (1-3), 1:08.
150 -- Jr. Rhett Washleski (1-0), HC, tf. Sr. Justin Hage (0-1), 17-1, 2:53.
157 -- Jr. Grant Thompson (4-1), HC, tf. Sr. Ethan Drazek (0-1), 17-2, 4:23.
165 -- Sr. Tyler O'Neill (1-0), WH, p. Fr. Messiah Phelps (0-1), 1:06.
175 -- Sr. Nehemiah Bugasch (1-0), HC, tf. So. Dominick D'Aconti (0-1), 16-1, 4:19.
190 -- Sr. Joseph Rawlins (2-2), HC, forfeit.
215 -- Sr. David Kocsor (1-0), WH, p. Jr. Vance LiBrizzi (1-3), 2:41.
285 -- Jr. Declan Joyce (3-1), HC, p. So. Max Cruz (0-1), :21.
106 -- Fr. Nicholas Ricevuto (1-0), WH, tf. Fr. Jackson Sabo (0-1), 18-2, 3:59.
113 -- So. Braiden O'Hern (1-0), WH, forfeit.
Records -- Hunterdon Central 0-1; Warren Hills 1-0.

Wrestling: P'burg leads HWS in first NJWWA Top 20

We're off and running as the 2024-25 New Jersey high school wrestling season began in earnest this past week. But things will really start to heat up on Wednesday, with 12 dual meets on the docket, including Hunterdon Central at Warren Hills.

Quite a rarity as both teams with storied traditions are sitting outside the state rankings to open the season.

Phillipsburg, which is the only Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area team to grace the initial New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20, returns to where it once reigned as the 10th-ranked Stateliners shift to Group 4 for the first time since the pre-pandemic days after spending the past three seasons housed in Group 5. As a result, coach Tim Longacre's team goes from Group 5 underdog (Southern is the frontrunner there) to Group 4 title favorite.

But make no mistake, winning a North 1, Group 4 title will be a major challenge in what is arguably the state's most loaded public sectional field, which includes reigning Group 4 champion Ridge and runner-up Mount Olive. Ridge won its second sectional title and first since 1986 last season before rallying for its first state championship with a thrilling win over No. 14 Mount Olive, which travels to P'burg on Saturday as part of a tri-meet that also includes Governor Livingston.

P'burg, which won its lone Group 5 title in 2022, has won 23 sectional titles in Group 4, most recently in 2019, including one in North 1 (2010). The 'Liners (18-1) were denied in their bid for a 24th state championship and the program's first perfect season since 2014, with a 45-21 loss to Southern in last season's title match at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena. 

You can also expect Phillipsburg and Southern to rekindle their rivalry in the regular season now that both programs can't meet in the state team championships.  

Southern owns an 11-7 edge in a series dating to 1997, including nine postseason meetings. The Rams, who have won three straight vs. the 'Liners, also prevailed in title matchups in '23 (41-14) and '05 (30-25). P'burg, which scored a 27-25 win in the '22 Group 5 semifinals, was victorious in the '97 (53-9) and '14 (32-21) finals in Group 4. 

P'burg has captured an area-best 41 titles -- second all-time in New Jersey history behind Group 1 kingpin Paulsboro, which has won 43 out of a possible 44 since the tournaments began in 1980. The South Jersey power missed only in 2008, when Kittatinny won its first and only Group 1 title by knocking off Collingswood.

High Point, which is now under the direction of new head coach and former Wildcat state champion Billy Smith, is next on the state sectional championship list with 30. Kittatinny and Camden Catholic (25) are tied for fourth place.

Kittatinny won its 25th sectional title in 2024

Speaking of Kittatinny, there have been some erroneous media reports circulating that this is definitely legendary Cougars coach John Gill's last go-round with the Sussex County-based program. Nothing is further from the truth. Gill, whose teams are 656-209-5 in his 45 seasons at the helm, has made no such decision to step down at season's end.

In fact, Gill is having is much fun now as he did when he took the reigns from Carl Bateman for the 1980-81 campaign after serving as Bateman's assistant for two seasons. The school is now 50 years old, and Gill has been as much a fixture there as anyone. Heck, the Cougars, who entered their 50th season with 688 wins overall, should erect his statue out front when he does decide to hang it up. 

Kittatinny, which opened its dual season with a 57-15 loss to No. 19 Caldwell, is back in action at the West Milford Duals on Friday. The Cougars will face Bound Brook, River Dell and West Milford as senior star Ethan Dalling, who is 98-22 overall, looks to become the 20th member of the program's 100-wins club.    

Now, here's the season's first Top 20:

Rank	School	Record
1	Delbarton	(0-0)
2	St. Joseph-Montvale	(0-0)
3	St. Peter's Prep	(1-0)
4	St. John Vianney	(1-0)
5	Camden Catholic	(0-0)
6	Christian Brothers Academy	(1-1)
7	Southern	(0-0)
8	Don Bosco Prep	(0-0)
9	Delsea	(0-0)
10	Phillipsburg	(0-0)
11	Rumson-Fair Haven	(2-0)
12	Bergen Catholic	(0-0)
13	Paramus Catholic	(1-0)
14	Mount Olive	(0-0)
15	Ridge	(2-0)
16	Seton Hall Prep	(0-0)
17	St. Augustine Prep	(0-0)
18	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(2-1)
19	Caldwell	(1-0)
20	Washington Township	(0-0)

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). 

Wrestling: HWS schedule for Dec. 16-22

Wednesday, Dec. 18

(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Hackettstown at North Warren, 6 p.m.
Vernon at Hopatcong-Lenape Valley
Pope John at West Morris
Delbarton at Sparta
Boonton at Wallkill Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Skyland Conference

Delaware Valley at Bridgewater-Raritan, 6 p.m.
Hunterdon Central at Warren Hills
Voorhees at Somerville, 6 p.m.
Belvidere at Rutgers Prep, 6 p.m.
South Hunterdon at Bound Brook

Independent

Wayne Hills at Newton
North Hunterdon at Southern, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 19

Independent

Warren Hills at Mount Olive, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20

(All events 7 p.m., unless noted)

Skyland Conference

Voorhees at Bridgewater-Raritan, 4 p.m.

Independent

Kittatinny, Bound Brook, Clifton, Ramapo, Wayne Valley at West Milford Duals, 3 p.m.
Roselle Park at Belvidere

Saturday, Dec. 21

(All events 9 a.m., unless noted)

Tournaments

Hackettstown, Sparta, Warren Hills at Morris Knolls Tournament, 10 a.m.
North Hunterdon in Ron Mazzola Memorial Tournament at Old Bridge
Newton at Mountain Lakes Tournament, 9:30 a.m.
Hunterdon Central, Pope John at Beast of the East, 8:30 a.m.

Tris and quads

Hopatcong-Lenape Valley, East Orange, Pascack Valley at Roxbury
Wallkill Valley, Hasbrouck Heights at Bernards
High Point, Long Branch at Middletown South
Lawrence, Morris Hills at Delaware Valley, 9:30 a.m.
Governor Livingston, Mount Olive at Phillipsburg, 10 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22

Hunterdon Central, Pope John at Beast of the East, 8:30 a.m.

Wrestling: HWS schedule for Dec. 9-14

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Pope John at Hanover Park, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 11

Independent

Caldwell at Kittatinny,, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 12

Independent

Pompton Lakes at Sparta, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 13

Independent

Robbinsville at Delaware Valley, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14

(All events 9 a.m., unless noted)

High Point, North Hunterdon in Robin Leff Tournament at Southern
Hunterdon Central, Kittatinny at Caldwell Tournament
Lenape Valley, North Warren at Dover Tournament
Pope John, Immaculata, Kellenberg at Parsippany
Voorhees in Wendy Pandy-Leh Tournament at Delaware Valley
Phillipsburg in Vogeding Tournament at Paulsboro
Belvidere in Mike Dessino Invitational at Middlesex

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Vernon at Boonton, 9:30 a.m.

Wrestling: Shane Metzler set to guide Voorhees

Let's face it, October isn't the most ideal time to conduct the search for a head wrestling coach. 

Metzler

But Voorhees High School may have knocked it out of the park with the addition of former West Morris star and Rutgers University wrestler Shane Metzler for the fast-approaching 2024-25 season.

Metzler was approved as the sixth head coach for a storied Voorhees program that is set to embark on its 50th season during Tuesday night's Board of Education Meeting. It didn't take long for the Hunterdon County school, which opened in 1975 and is sitting on 686 dual-meet wins, to find Ricky Kurtz's successor.

Voorhees rescinded the previous appointment of Kurtz, a former star athlete and state medalist for Delaware Valley, as its head coach during the previous BOE meeting on Sept. 24. All coaching positions are contracted on a year-by-year basis. No reason was made public as to why Kurtz, 38, was removed after guiding the Vikings to an overall mark of 53-48 from 2020-24, including a 12-15 campaign last season.  

It's also unclear if any assistants on Kurtz's staff, which previously included former Vikes stars Greg Evans and Eric Zobian, will return this season.  

Metzler was one of West Morris' most decorated wrestlers and a three-time state placewinner under former coach Ken Rossi, who now serves as an NJSIAA tournament coordinator. Metzler, who's the Wolfpack's career wins leader (144), placed fourth, fifth and seventh in Atlantic City, the latter after suffering a quarterfinal loss at 126 pounds in 2017. He finished 39-5 in his final high school season.

Metzler went onto wrestle for Scott Goodale at Rutgers, where he went 22-33 overall and 2-6 in two Big 10 Tournament appearances.  

Kurtz took over the Voorhees program on an interim basis during the 2019-20 season, when former coach and Voorhees star wrestler Eric Hall was suspended following an unspecified incident that occurred during a dual meet at Bridgewater-Raritan in late January 2020. Hall was ultimately not retained that spring, and Kurtz was named as the Vikes' fifth head coach in October of that year. 

Voorhees celebrates its sectional title in 2018

Hall's teams went 183-73 overall in his nearly 10 seasons, capturing three of the school's 17 sectional titles -- two in North 2, Group 3 (2015 and '18) and one in North 2, Group 2 (2013), which ended the program's nine-year title drought.

Eric's father, Bob Hall, built the program into a state powerhouse as his teams went 332-99-5 over his 23 seasons, while capturing 13 sectional titles along with its only four state championships in Group 2 (1982 and '95) and Group 3 (1985 and '87). In 2010, Eric Hall was hired as the program's fourth head coach, following stints by former Phillipsburg coach Rick Thompson (30-26 in three seasons from 1998-2001) and Bob Angstadt (88-86 in nine seasons from 2001-10), who led the Vikes to their only other sectional title in 2004.

When Kurtz took over, Voorhees was struggling with numbers and did not produce a district champion that 2019-20 season for the first time since 2005. After going 4-9 during the COVID season in 2021, the Vikes enjoyed back-to-back winning campaigns in 2021-22 (15-8) and 2022-23 (19-10) before last season's sub-.500 season.

Voorhees also produced six district champs during Kurtz's tenure, including junior Christian Bollette (126 pounds), one of three winners last season and the team's top returning wrestler with a career mark of 55-24. No other returnee has more than 25 career victories. The trio of district golds were the most since the Vikes had four in back-to-back tournaments in 2017 and '18.

Wrestling: Thompson resigns post at North Warren

Rick Thompson's tenure as North Warren's head wrestling coach lasted about one month.

Thompson, 69, who was approved at a Board of Education meeting on July 15, told Open Mike on Thursday night that he submitted a resignation letter approximately two weeks ago. 

The Phillipsburg Hall of Famer, who resides year-round in Myrtle Beach, S.C., cited concerns over not being in the building and living arrangements in-season up north.

North recently approved Mike Lascari as its new head coach and former fellow Patriots wrestler Michael Castles as his assistant.

"I was only going to be there three months [during the season] and that's not how you run a program," said Thompson, who said his resignation had nothing to do with the school's leadership or any other circumstance. "I hope they can find [a coach] worthy of the program. I'm just sorry it didn't work out."

Thompson joined the Slippery Rock HOF in 2021

Thompson said he's already committed to coaching cross country and wrestling once again at Myrtle Beach High School for the 2024-25 seasons. The Seahawks produced one wrestling state champion last season in Mako Musilunas, who won the 4A title at 113 pounds. 

Thompson has not ruled out applying for future positions in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.

The former P'burg head coach and wrestling icon, also had stints in the HWS area with Hackettstown and Voorhees, is often spotted at area dual meets and the New Jersey state tournament in Atlantic City.

"I just want to help kids," Thompson said during an interview with Open Mike when his name surfaced for a potential fourth stint with the Stateliners a few years ago.

North Warren, which went 2-20 in 2023-24 and has won just nine dual meets in the past three seasons, began the coaching search when former Kittatinny state placewinner and High Point assistant coach Kellen Bradley resigned as a teacher and head wrestling coach in late March. His teams went 43-83 overall in his six seasons with the Blairstown-based school. 

Bradley, who was hired in January as a teacher at Kittatinny for the 2024-25 school year, will reunite with his former coach John Gill as an assistant on the Cougars' staff this coming winter. Former High Point star and North Warren head coach Chris Jones, who was Bradley's ace assistant, also won't return to the Patriots' staff.

It's unclear where North Warren will now turn to find its next head coach,

Thompson is the Phillipsburg wrestling program's all-time winningest coach with a mark of 268-54-1 in 15 seasons across three stints (1980-88, 1991-95 and 2003-06). He guided the 'Liners to 15 sectional titles, the most under any head coach, and eight state championships (five in Group 3, three in Group 4), as well as six runner-up finishes. He won the Wilfred E. Cann Award as New Jersey's Coach of the Year in 1988 and coached 96 district, 39 region and nine individual state champions.

Considered one of the sport's premiere motivators, Thompson stepped down after nine seasons as the head coach at Bangor Area High School in Pennsylvania following the 2016-17 campaign and took over at Bethlehem Catholic for a short 6-1 stint in 2018-19.

"Wrestling is so demanding mentally," said Thompson, a retired health and physical education instructor, during an interview in 2022. "I had people who motivated me. My job was to make a better athlete and find a way to push those buttons in a positive way. 

"Our kids may lose because the other guy is more talented, but not because they were in better shape or stronger. Some kids I coached went on to college and have been successful [off the mat], and I'm proud of that."

Thompson is 477-232-4 overall, with wrestling stops at Mountain High School (now West Orange), Hackettstown, Franklin and Voorhees in addition to his Pennsylvania stints. As a wrestler, he won two state titles (1971 and '73) and placed third ('70), to go with four district and three region championships for the Stateliners under Thad Turner (1970) and later Jan Dutt (132-25 from 1970-80). 

Both coaches also attended Thompson's Hall of Fame induction at Slippery Rock.

'We think highly of him': Veneziano impresses Royals

(Open Mike caught up with Anthony Veneziano shortly before he left for Spring Training in late January. Excerpts from that conversation were used for this story)

It's been a whirlwind five days for Anthony Veneziano as the former Warren Hills and Coastal Carolina University star left-hander shuffled between Triple-A Omaha and the Kansas City Royals.

Veneziano, who was called up to the Majors for the second time in his career to serve as the Royals' 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader vs. the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, did not see action in either game, though he was warming up in the 'pen late in Game 1.

Veneziano owns a 2.08 career ERA in 4 MLB outings

After being sent down to Omaha, by Major League rules, following the twin bill, Veneziano was summoned back to Kansas City on Saturday. He pitched one inning in relief in each the final two games of a series against the reigning American League champion Orioles before being returned to Omaha on Monday.  

Veneziano, 26, who's been working in a hybrid role after beginning the season as a starter for Omaha, yielded two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk to go with two strikeouts in two frames (45 pitches, 18 strikes) against the O's. But the Royals' No. 13 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, left a good impression during his most recent stint in the bigs.

"I think Anthony did a good job," Royals manager Matt Quatraro told Ryan Lefebvre during a pregame radio interview prior to Monday night's game against the Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium. "That was the first time in his life that he's pitched back-to-back days -- not just pro ball or the big leagues. That's a learning experience for a guy that's been a starter his whole life and now he's in the bullpen, and coming up to do it in the big leagues.

"He handled himself well. We think highly of him. We think he can be somebody that can get Major League hitters out consistently going forward."

Veneziano, following a successful debut in the Majors at the tail end of 2023, began this season at Triple-A, where he's 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in five appearances (two starts for the Storm Chasers). Veneziano, who ranked among Kansas City's Minor League leaders in wins (10, T-2nd), ERA (3.55, 4th) and strikeouts (127, 5th) in 2023,, has yielded six runs on 13 hits and six walks to go with 10 strikeouts in 13 innings in '24.

Veneziano, who went 10-5 with a 3.55 ERA and 127 K's across 132 innings in 26 appearances (25 starts) between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2023, entered Major League Spring Training in '24 with the mindset of being a starter. 

But he was also ready to do whatever was asked of him at Triple-A or in the Majors.

"They said be ready for any role," Veneziano said in late January. "Could be starter, could be long relief, could be back-end bullpen. It all depends on the situation."

Veneziano was an organizational All-Star in '23

In the offseason, Veneziano throws at Total Arm Care in Wharton, where pitchers from the Cardinals, Cubs and Pirates also train during the winter. He met there with Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney around last Thanksgiving to catch up. Sweeney also wanted to see Veneziano in action, particularly throwing his bread-and-butter pitch.

"He watched me throw a bullpen and gave me some good feedback," Veneziano said. "He wanted to see some of the stuff with the slider, just kind of dialing in with the analytical numbers matching with what I'm feeling, with the slider especially. They want the slider to move seven inches. If you can chase that seven in the bullpen, every time, that's what [the Royals] want to see. They want the changeup to be the same. 

"In the big leagues, you have to throw all three, four pitches, consistently."

Veneziano, who gives back tirelessly to the Warren Hills community and beyond, said he also worked with high school players at Total Arm Care. Former Major Leaguer and Rutgers star Pete Zoccolillo, now the head coach at Mount Olive High School, owns the building. A connection was made through Veneziano's uncle, Joe, to train there in the offseason.

Last year, Veneziano said he was not used to working out of the bullpen, and admittedly more tired after games, especially mentally. But it turned out to be the perfect primer when he did get to the Majors for the first time last September, because he was able to study other reliever and how they want about their business. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 26 in Detroit.

"I didn't pitch the first four games so I got to see the process of the true relievers and what they did to get ready for a game, pregame, during the game, when their name's called and what to do. I took a lot of good information and [Royals bullpen coach] Mitch Stetter, I've known him. He's been on the Minor League side for awhile, and he's been super helpful. 

"So, I think I made the transition pretty easy. Obviously, everyone wants to be a starter, but whatever gets me to the big leagues, I am happy."