Wrestling: HWS schedule for Jan. 5-10

Monday, Jan. 5

Independent

Howell vs. Phillipsburg at The Pit, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 6

(All matches 6 p.m. unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Kittatinny at Hackettstown
Lenape Valley-Hopatcong at Newton, 7 p.m.
North Warren at Wallkill Valley
Morris Knolls at Pope John, 7 p.m.
Parsippany at Sparta, 7 p.m.
Vernon at Dover

Independent

Delaware Valley at Bloomfield

Wednesday, Jan. 7

(All matches 7 p.m. unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

West Morris at High Point

Skyland Conference

Hunterdon Central at Delaware Valley, 6 p.m.
North Hunterdon at Phillipsburg
Bound Brook at South Hunterdon, 6 p.m.
Voorhees at Somerville
Manville at Warren Hills
Rutgers Prep at Belvidere

Thursday, Jan. 8

(All matches 7 p.m. unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Newton at Hackettstown, 6 p.m.
High Point at Lenape Valley-Hopatcong
Morris Hills at Pope John
Sparta at Mount Olive

Saturday, Jan. 10

HWS Tournament at Phillipsburg, 9 a.m.

Wrestling: HWS schedule for Dec. 23-Jan. 3

Tuesday, Dec. 23

(All matches 3 p.m., unless noted)

Independent

Belvidere at Mendham, 6 p.m.
Kittatinny, Lenape Valley, Vernon, Wayne Valley, Raritan in Kochakji Duals at West Milford

Saturday, Dec. 27

(All events 9 a.m.)

Voorhees at Hunterdon Central Invitational
Hackettstown, Vernon, Wallkill Valley at Lenape Valley Tournament
Belvidere, North Warrren, Sparta in Linn Crawn Classic at Kittatinny

Sunday, Dec. 28

Phillipsburg at Bethlehem Holiday Classic, 9 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 29

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

Delaware Valley in John Goles Invitational at Warren Hills
High Point in King of the Castle Classic at Sussex Central (Del.), 10 a.m.
Pope John at Parsippany Hills Tournament
Phillipsburg at Bethlehem Holiday Classic

Tuesday, Dec. 30

(All events 1 p.m., unless noted)

Vernon, Bridgewater-Raritan, Whippany Park at Hackettstown, 9:30 a.m.

Independent

Kittatinny at Hanover Park

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Independent

South Hunterdon at Metuchen, 9 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 3

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

North Hunterdon, Delsea, Governor Livingston, Hanover Park, Holmdel, Howell, South Plainfield in Boresch Duals at Newton
Phillipsburg, Cranford at Old Bridge, 10 a.m.
Belvidere, Clark, Hillside at Roselle Park, 9:30 a.m.
Hackettstown, North Bergen at Livingston
High Point, Nutley at Middletown North, 10 a.m.
Delaware Valley, Mendham, Morris Knolls at Kittatinny
Lenape Valley in Minutemen Classic at Elizabeth
North Warren, New Milford, Northern Highlands at Jefferson, 10 a.m.
Camden Catholic, Don Bosco Prep, Paramus Catholic at Pope John
Hunterdon Central at Williamstown Duals
Sparta, Butler, Kinnelon at Ramsey
North Plainfield, Passaic at Wallkill Valley
Warren Hills, Clearview, Jackson at Hillsborough
Voorhees, Cumberland, Eastern, Pemberton, Pinelands, Red Bank Catholic, Toms River South at Cinnaminson Duals

Independent

Vernon at Tenafly
South Hunterdon at Mountain Lakes

Wrestling: Which HWS teams grace NJWWA poll?

We're back and so is high school wrestling across the Garden State. Pardon the interruption as Open Mike was on extended hiatus and will post as time permits during the 2025-26 campaign. But continue to check back here each week for your trusted source of what's happening across the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.

Tournaments were the name of the game during the first week of action, particularly the rugged Robin Leff Invitational, which saw a number of the state's top teams battle it out at Southern Regional High School on Saturday.

North is eyeing the program's 8th state team title

North Hunterdon, which went 17-6 and captured the Group 4 title last season with a season sweep of Phillipsburg, enjoyed a strong showing with four top-three individual medals, including champion Aidan Yarussi (132 pounds, 72 career wins), along with runners-up Cayden Wadle (106) and Reid Buzby (126) and third-place finisher Owen Fol (113). Buzby (71 career wins) scored an impressive 7-5 win over two-time Southern state medalist Anthony Mason (second in 2024 and fourth in '25) in the semis.

The well-balanced Lions, looking to become the first group to win back-to-back state team titles in program history, are once again sectional and Group 4 favorites. Coach Dave Bell's team, which opens at No. 12 in the season's first New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, gears up for a pivotal early-season clash against reigning Group 5 champion Southern at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the Lions' Den. They'll also host the Fab 50 Duals on Saturday, which includes several national powers, including Delbarton (No. 1 in New Jersey) and Blair Academy.

Phillipsburg, which produced three top-three finishers on Saturday at Southern, checks in at No. 16, followed by No. 17 Pope John as the HWS area reps in our preseason poll. 

P'burg was hit hard by graduation, but last season's Group 4 runner-up still has plenty of talent up-and-down the lineup, including Robin Leff champion Gavin Geleta (175), who is looking to make noise in Atlantic City come March. The Stateliners will take on No. 9 Mount Olive and unranked Middletown North in a high-powered tri-meet following the 10 a.m. opener between the visitors on Saturday in Lopatcong Township. The nightcap against Mount Olive will be a rematch of last season's North 1, Group 4 sectional title match -- a 31-29 win for P'burg, which also scored a 32-30 win in the regular-season matchup.  

Pope John, which was the Non-Public B runner-up last season, also should make another run to the state championship match at Rutgers in February. The Lions opened with an impressive 44-31 win over No. 18 Immaculata on Saturday as part of a tri-meet, despite the absence of senior Dalton Weber, a two-time state medalist who is sitting on 95 career wins.

Keep an eye on Delaware Valley and High Point as both teams figure to make a push for a Top 20 ranking.

A cut above 

The two teams which have contested for the Non-Public A championship and taken turns finishing as the No. 1 ranked team in the NJWWA Top 20 the past three seasons begin 2025-26 in the top two spots.

Delbarton, which finished No. 1 in 2024, sits in the top spot, followed by St. Joseph-Montvale, which finished No. 1 in '25 and '23.

Senior Jayden James, one of the country's best pound-for-pound wrestlers, leads a Delbarton team that has two returning state champions and another who won a state title in 2024.

James, last year's 150-pound champion and a Penn State recruit, began his season by capturing the 165-pound title at the prestigious Ironman Tournament in Ohio. James defeated Bishop McCort (Pa.) standout and Virginia Tech recruit Melvin Miller, 8-5, in sudden victory in the final.

Delbarton finished third in the team standings at the Ironman. The Green Wave's other returning state champion is junior Cameron Sontz. Sontz won at 106 in 2024 and 113 last season He is a Lehigh University recruit. Junior Ryan DeGeorge, who won at 126 in 2024 and was the runner-up at 132 last year, is the Morristown-based school's other past state champion. DeGeorge is a Rutgers University recruit.

The Green Wave have five other returning state medal winners in their lineup in Tommy Marchetti, Carl Betz, Peter Terranova, Nicholas Schwartz and Trevor Jones.

St. Joseph-Montvale has three returning state runners-up in its lineup in seniors Johnathan McGinty, Charlie Esposito and Cristian Alvarez.

McGinty, a two-time runner-up and three-time state top-five finisher, is an Oklahoma University recruit. Esposito, a two-time top five finisher, is a Rutgers recruit. Alvarez, a heavyweight, is a University of Massachusetts recruit in football. He helped the St. Joseph football team win the Non-Public A championship.

What could be the best team Christian Brothers Academy has had sees the Colts ranked No. 3. Junior Paul Kenny, last year's 120-pound state champion and an Iowa recruit, leads a team has five other returning state medalists and several talented freshmen. Kenny finished second in the Ironman at 126 pounds. CBA was eighth in the team standings.

Southern, the three-time defending Group 5 champion, is the top ranked public school team at No. 8. The Rams have two returning state medalists in senior and Bucknell recruit Mason and sophomore Cade Collins. They also have two other returning region champions and several talented freshmen.

Six of last year's seven group champions -- St. Joseph-Montvale, Camden Catholic (Non-Public B), Southern, Delsea (Group 3), Rumson-Fair Haven, which has won Group 2 the past two seasons, and North Hunterdon (Group 4) are ranked.

The poll will run each Tuesday during the dual-meet season beginning Jan. 6.

Rank	School	Record	Votes
1	Delbarton (8)	(0-0)	160
2	St. Joseph-Montvale	(1-0)	152
3	Christian Brothers Academy	(2-0)	144
4	Camden Catholic	(0-0)	136
5	Bergen Catholic	(0-0)	128
6	St. Peter's Prep	(3-0)	120
7	Paramus Catholic	(1-0)	109
8	Southern	(0-0)	104
9	Mount Olive	(0-0)	97
10	Delsea	(1-0)	87
11	Rumson-Fair Haven	(2-0)	85
12	North Hunterdon	(0-0)	74
13	Howell	(0-0)	65
14	Don Bosco Prep	(0-0)	57
15	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(1-0)	47
16	Phillipsburg	(0-0)	37
17	Pope John	(2-0)	29
18	Immaculata	(1-1)	27
19	Seton Hall Prep	(1-0)	20
20	St. Augustine Prep	(0-0)	16

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). 

Wrestling: Central looks south for new coach

Hunterdon Central's search for only the fourth head coach in program history is over. And for the first time, the Red Devils have gone outside the ranks to find their new leader. 

Manahan

Ryan Manahan is leaving Cherry Hill East High School after just two seasons at the helm to take over one of the state's most storied programs. His hiring as the head wrestling coach and a Health and Physical Education instructor at the Hunterdon County school's was approved during Monday's Board of Education meeting, as first reported by Open Mike.

Manahan, 26, who guided CHE to an overall mark of 15-37 in his first head coaching gig after serving as an assistant for one season at rival Cherry Hill West for the 2022-23 campaign, replaces Jon Cantagallo-Rohm, who resigned last month upon being hired as Mendham High School's supervisor of athletics and activities, effective July 1. 

Manahan was a former Region 7 runner-up at Cherokee High School as a senior (2017) and a two-time district champion who went on to wrestle at The College of New Jersey. The young coach takes over the reins of a high-profile program for the first time -- one that's coming off the worst win-loss total in its 69-year history.

Hunterdon Central (4-19) endured its second losing season and first since going 12-13 in 2005-06, in. Cantagallo-Rohm's 11th and final season. He guided the Red Devils to an overall mark of 184-60, including four sectional (2015, '17, '19, '24) titles and three Group 5 runner-up finishes (2015, '17, '19), along with its only HWS Tournament championship in '24. He also oversaw a major milestone as Central captured its 1,000th win -- 46-30 over Washington Township on Feb. 15, 2020 -- joining Paulsboro and Roselle Park as the only other New Jersey schools to reach that mark. Phillipsburg, which won its 1,000th dual on Jan. 6, 2022, sits one victory behind Central (1,065) as the leaders among HWS programs. Delaware Valley will enter next season at 877, followed by Newton at 863 in 99 seasons. North Hunterdon (836), Warren Hills (829) and High Point (809) are the only schools to reach 800.

JCR (far left) with Washleski at the Beast of the East in 2024

Cantagallo-Rohm, who coached 93 district (42 champs), 53 region (13 champs) and 14 state placewinners, including Brett Ungar who became Central's 13th and last state champion in 2019 before transferring to Notre Dame-Green Pond (Pa.) after that historic sophomore season. Cantagallo-Rohm succeeded Steve Gibble (348-119 in 23 seasons) following the 2013-14 season. Legendary coach Russ Riegel (533-89-6 in 35 seasons), a four-time state finalist for Washington (Warren Hills) High School, founded the program in 1956.

Hunterdon Central is set to return 12 starters next season, including ace Rhett Washleski (41-5), the program's lone state qualifier this past season (seventh at 150 pounds) who is 111-15 overall and will enter his senior season needing 33 wins to surpass Hunter Graf (143-29 from 2014-18) as the school's all-time wins leader.

Wrestling: JCR leaving Central for Mendham AD job

Hunterdon Central's wrestling program has enjoyed stability for the past 11 seasons with head coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm at the helm. 

But it's been widely known around Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex circles that he's coveted an administrative position in the high school ranks. That became a reality on Monday night when Cantagallo-Rohm was officially hired as Mendham High School's supervisor of athletics and activities.

Central celebrates its 23rd and last sectional title in 2024

"It's bitter sweet," Cantagallo-Rohm said in a text message of leaving his longtime wrestling post and teaching position as a health and physical education instructor.

Central (4-19), which is coming off just its second losing season in the program's 69-season history and first since going 12-13 in 2005-06, will now begin the search for just its fourth head coach. Cantagallo-Rohm, who will take over at Mendham on July 1, guided the Red Devils to an overall mark of 184-60 in his 11 seasons, including four sectional (2015, '17, '19, '24) titles and three Group 5 runner-up finishes (2015, '17, '19), along with its only HWS Tournament championship in '24. He also oversaw a major milestone as Central captured its 1,000th win -- 46-30 over Washington Township on Feb. 15, 2020 -- joining Paulsboro and Roselle Park as the only other New Jersey schools to reach that mark. Phillipsburg, which won its 1,000th dual on Jan. 6, 2022, sits one victory behind Central (1,065) as the leaders among HWS programs. Delaware Valley will enter next season at 877, followed by Newton at 863 in 99 seasons. North Hunterdon (836), Warren Hills (829) and High Point (809) are the only schools to reach 800.

JCR (far left) with Washleski at the Beast of the East in 2024

Cantagallo-Rohm, who coached 93 district (42 champs), 53 region (13 champs) and 14 state placewinners, including Brett Ungar who became Central's 13th and last state champion in 2019 before transferring to Notre Dame-Green Pond (Pa.) after that historic sophomore season. Cantagallo-Rohm, who was gracious with his time and respected by local media members, succeeded Steve Gibble (348-119 in 23 seasons) following the 2013-14 season. Legendary coach Russ Riegel (533-89-6 in 35 seasons), a four-time state finalist for Washington (Warren Hills) High School, founded the program in 1956.

Hunterdon Central, which is coming off its least amount of dual meet wins in its history, is set to return 12 starters next season, including ace Rhett Washleski (41-5), the program's lone state qualifier this past season (seventh at 150 pounds) who is 111-15 overall and will enter his senior season needing 33 wins to surpass Hunter Graf (143-29 from 2014-18) as the school's all-time wins leader. The Red Devils are also getting some incoming talent from the youth ranks and figure to once again be a force in the area and statewide public ranks.

Wrestling: What's on tap for HWS in 2025-26?

As we close the book on another high school wrestling season, let's take an all-too-early look at what may be in store for the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area in 2025-26.

Hunterdon hotspot

North captured the program's 7th state team title

The 2024-25 season was a banner year for Hunterdon County team-wise as North Hunterdon (Group 4) and Delaware Valley (Group 1) won state championships. It's the second time in three seasons (North and Del Val also did it in 2023) the county captured two titles. It's only happened on five other occasions (1982, '84, '85, '87 and '89) since the tournaments began in '82.

North Hunterdon (17-6), ranked No. 12 in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20 and No. 11 in the Coaches Association Top 25, enjoyed its biggest turnaround in over 40 years after finishing 7-13 in coach Dave Bell's first season at the helm in 2023-24. The Lions went from 7-5 in 1982-83 to 17-2 and a Group 3 title the next season under Fred Pierro.

Bell's charges should be primed for another championship run and the area's No. 1 ranking next season with nine returning starters, including four state qualifiers in sophomore Cayden Wadle (32-11 at 106 pounds), freshman Owen Fol (25-20 at 113), junior Reid Buzby (32-12 at 126) and sophomore Aidan Yarussi (38-7 at 132), who is 68-20 overall and lost in the Blood Round in Atlantic City. Sophomore Kieran Raley (22-19 at 138) and junior Owen Dandeo (23-12), both region qualifiers, were over the 20-win mark. The Lions should also be motivated by being shut out on the podium with no medals among their six qualifiers. 

Title contenders

P'burg beat MO twice, including the N1, G4 final

Group 4 will once again be the most intriguing -- Southern (G5), Delsea (G3), Rumson-Fair Haven (G2) and Del Val (G1) will all be prohibitive title favorites -- as North, Mount Olive and Phillipsburg should be the preseason pecking order. P'burg will lean heavily on four returning state qualifiers -- Zack Swingle (30-11 at 106), Anthony Pettinelli (33-9 at 113), Owen Garriques (31-12 at 132) and Gavin Geleta (34-9 at 150), who lost in the Blood Round in AC.

Delaware Valley (19-3) loses three key seniors in Jaden Perez (39-5, seventh in the state at 126), as well as Jackson Bush (36-6 at 150) and Luke Sinkewicz (33-8 at 157), but the Terriers bring back plenty of talent to make another run. Michael Hasson (29-10 at 138), a region fifth-place finisher and state qualifier Sebastian Dobak (22-10 at 144) are among seven key juniors returning next season.

High Point, which won the North 1, Group 2 sectional title and dropped a 38-30 decision to Caldwell in the Group 2 semifinals, brings back eight starters, including two state qualifiers in sophomore Carter Drouin (28-15 at 120) and Gavin "Big Country" Mericle (34-7 at 285). Juniors Jayden Ruplall (23-15 at 165 and fifth in Region 1), Giovoughni Dureny (20-13 at 175 and sixth in Region 1) and Jack Kithcart (23-17 at 190 and fifth in Region 1) return to anchor a good group of upper weights. Keep an eye on Kaleb DeFalco (2-0 at 190-215), who head coach Billy Smith was high on before the freshman sustained a season-ending injury.

Also in Group 2, Hackettstown returns 11 sophomores, including state qualifier Joseph Rowinski (32-11 at 106-113), an HWS Tournament champion at 106.

Primed placers

Hunterdon Central junior Rhett Washleski has plenty ahead of him after a seventh-place state finish at 150 pounds. Washleski (41-5) joined his brother, Colton, as medalists for the Red Devils and will enter next season needing 33 wins to surpass program leader Hunter Graf (143-29 from 2014-18) and 45 to eclipse the county record held by North Hunterdon's Ryan Pomrinca (155-13 from 2011-15). 

While those win totals are goals, Washleski, a three-time district and two-time region and HWS Tournament champion, is eyeing a much bigger prize.

Washleski (far right) also eyes a rare 3rd HWS title

"Nothing means more than getting [back down to AC] and accomplishing my dreams of winning states," said Washleski, who is the area's active wins leader at 111-15 overall.

Central (4-19), which won its fewest dual meets and endured only the second losing campaign (12-13 in 2005-06) in the program's 69 seasons, finished on cool note as Washleski and junior Emma Peake (fifth place at 120 in girls states) joined their siblings as medalists for the Red Devils. Colton Washleski, now at Rider, was fourth at 160 in 2021 and sixth at 145 in '20, while Tanner Peake, now at Davidson, was a two-time placer (fourth at 157 in '22 and sixth at 152 in '21).

Warren Hills junior Augie Szamreta got rolling at the right time and finished eighth at 113 pounds -- the highest placewinner in the first three weight classes for the Blue Streaks since Ryan Kanewski (fifth-sixth at 119 in 1995). At 92-28 overall, Szamreta looks to become the 12th member of the school's century club, along with district champ and state qualifier Davey Rhinehart, who is 89-23 for his career.

"It's definitely going to help me a lot [next season] because I'll have more confidence," Szamreta said of making a potential third trip to AC in 2026. "I know that I've been in these situations before and I want to keep advancing even farther. I want to be higher than eighth place next year."

Public vs. Non-Public

The debate rages on with each passing season. The gap is clearly widening, so it was nice to see some public school boys wrestlers in the HWS area on the podium at Boardwalk Hall, including Kittatinny senior Ethan Dalling, who was the highest finisher (fifth at 175) outside of our three senior finalists -- Phillipsburg's Gavin Hawk and Pope John's Carson Walsh (138) and Donny Almeyda (144). 

Dalling (2nd from right) is headed to Bucknell

Legendary Cougars coach John Gill, who hasn't had a state finalist since 2009 and only eight medalists in the last 16 years since, was beaming after Dalling became the third in his immediate family to place. His father, Steve, was a three-time state finalist (champion in 1990 and '91), while older brother, Steven, placed eighth at 152 pounds in 2021. 

"It's so hard to do," Gill said of getting a wrestler on the podium as only 47 of 112 medalists and eight of 28 finalists were from public schools. "The talent just goes to those special places. It's nice to see a few weights broke though [with public school wrestlers]. It's hard. 

"I appreciate the fifth place. I'm jumping for joy. You should be looking for first or second. Fifth is really hard to come by. I'll take every one I can."

Pope John junior Dalton Weber, a two-time placewinner, is the only returning area medalist. He was eighth at 132 after a third-place finish in 2024. The HWS area had 14 in the boys state quarters -- the fewest since 2014 -- and earned nine medals overall. Weber's 95 wins rank him behind only Washleski entering next season. Szamreta and Sparta junior Ryan Hrenenko (91) are next, followed by Rhinehart, Voorhees junior Christian Bollette (86), Geleta (74) and North Warren junior Conor Hallowich (72). Phillipsburg junior Massimo Gonzalez and Yarussi are at 68, with Buzby (67), Vernon junior True DiGiuseppe (65), Mericle (63), Rowinski (61) and Pettinelli (60) rounding out those with at least 60 victories.

My 2 cents

The powers that be need to seriously take a long hard look at district and regional alignments for next season and beyond. Clearly, public schools are unhappy and at a huge disadvantage going up against All-Star teams from the private ranks. Putting the Non-Publics in one or possibly two regions -- giving them a fair number of state bids from each much like the NCAAs -- is floating around as one possibility moving forward. 

Fourteen of 38 HWS state qualifiers were in R1

I know we've addressed the other issue of fan interest, or a severe lack thereof, but when Phillipsburg fans' attention spans in Region 1 at West Milford were seen waning, it would be great to see a better balance with regards to geography. Remember the old days when a region contained familiar schools and wrestlers, and you had a rooting interest. It just isn't the same when you're from these parts and wrestlers from Bergen or Passaic counties you've never heard of are going at it. Boring.
   

The state tournament mix of boys and girls is great in theory, but the guys' Blood Round session is not getting the attention it richly deserves. That's one of the best sessions and too important to get lost in the shuffle with girls semifinals and wrestlebacks mixed in later on among those critical placement bouts. Maybe it's time to run each tournament as its own, much like Pennsylvania does with Class AAA and AA in Hershey. At the very least, hold the Blood Round at 5 p.m. on Friday just prior to the boys semis. Also, do we really need the Parade of Champions? Seems unnecessary when we see them all on the podium anyway. By the way, what happened to the quarter turns?

Wrestling: HWS history makers galore in girls states

ATLANTIC CITY -- It was one of those seasons to remember for Newton-Kittatinny's girls wrestling team. Though an individual gold medal was not to be, the Braves had cause to celebrate three on the podium.

Junior Eva Barry and senior Paige DeCaro were runners-up at their respective weight classes, while sophomore Stella Ramos was a fourth-place finisher in the seventh Girls State Championships on Saturday afternoon at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

Barry will enter her senior season at 90-14 overall

Barry (34-2) suffered her second straight finals loss in dropping a 12-6 decision to St. Thomas Aquinas senior Saniyah Queen at 138 pounds, while DeCaro (38-3), who was third in Region 1, fell, 7-1, to Paterson Kennedy senior Solaris Paul at 165 pounds. Barry, a two-time North 1 region finalist and champion in 2025, was second at this weight in '24. 

"It's definitely good motivation [for 2025-26] to take second place two years in a row," said Barry, who was looking to become the Braves' 83rd state champion overall and first on the female side. Assistant coach Andy Iliff was their last title winner -- back-to-back in 1986-87.

In all, 13 girls from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area earned medals, including High Point sophomore Ella Poalillo (152) and freshman Elle Changaris (114), who gave High Point two female winners in one tournament for the first time in program history. Poalillo is the first Wildcat -- boy or girl -- to start their career with two state titles. Barry and DeCaro gave the Braves two finalists for the first time since 1971 (Doug Crawn won at heavyweight and Larry Lambert was second at 136). Liliana Zaku-Ramos (126 in 2023) is the only other finalist on the girls' side. 

Can't find winning groove

Barry was never able to get on track in her finals matchup against Queen, a four-time medalist and runner-up in 2023, who converted the opening takedown with a merkle for a 3-1 first-period lead. 

Queen (32-2) added another takedown in the second period and two more in the third, as Barry, who racked up 31 pins this season, managed five escapes and never got a chance to be in the offensive position after taking bottom to start the second period. 

"I just didn't get in my groove, didn't find my rhythm," said Barry, who logged two takedowns and four back points in a 10-8 win over Julia Fongaro of Boonton in the semifinals after pinning her in the North 1 Region finals. "My offense wasn't there ... couldn't get to it. I felt good going into [the final], she just kept shutting down my moves."

Newton-Kittatinny, which graduates nine seniors, finished 13-2 overall and was the No. 2 team in the state behind Jackson Memorial, which handed the Braves a 36-33 loss in the team championships on Feb. 16. Barry will take it upon herself to help lead the next wave of female wrestlers at her school.

"I love my team," Barry said. "It's very supportive. We will all do some recruiting [to get other girls out for the sport] and be a role model for the new girls."

DeCaro had high praise for her teammate.

"She's my best friend ever," DeCaro said. "She's one of the best people to be around and she is one of the best athletes. She's the hardest trainer I've ever met so just being in the [practice] room with her pushes you and motivates you. She's such a kind person that it just makes this whole sport amazing."

Lehigh next stop

DeCaro, who was making her first state finals appearance, also could not get her offense going against Paul (23-1), a two-time third-place finisher and first champ for her school. Paul took a 3-0 lead into the third period after a reversal and added a third-period takedown to ice it. DeCaro nearly stopped Paul in her tracks with a headlock attempt early in the third, but could not finish the move.

Ramos, Barry, DeCaro share an AC moment

"I know Solaris has a whole story and she had such a drive today," said DeCaro, who finishes up at 79-17 overall. "Although I did, too, I think. I just couldn't get the things I needed to get and she capitalized on [her moves]."

DeCaro, who was deeply disappointed with how her final season ended personally, will now look to start another chapter at Lehigh University in the fall. The Mountain Hawks hosted their first official dual in February in their bid to become a Division I program.

"It definitely motivates me in college to do the best I can," DeCaro said.

Like Barry, DeCaro was proud of what they accomplished as a team on the high school level. It's the second time the Braves produced three placewinners in one state tournament as Kailin Lee (fifth at 165) and Gianna Simeone (eighth at 107) joined Zaku-Ramos on the podium in 2023.

"I'm super excited to see where our team goes," DeCaro said. "We're a co-op team so I hope we stay together as long as possible. I just really hope that this sport itself continues to grow."

Back points

Kisselbach (3rd from left) on the podium

Phillipsburg freshman Ellie Kisselbach is only the second Phillipsburg girl to medal with a fourth-place finish at 114 pounds. She joined two-time state champion Jewel Gonzalez (161 pounds in 2019 and '20), who blazed a trail for the Stateliner females. Kisselbach (32-6), whose father, Brad, was a P'burg wrestler and current youth coach, suffered her second loss of the tournament to Gloucester City senior Kloi Tighe -- 4-3 in the bronze medal matchup. Tighe had pinned Kisselbach, who was winning at one point in the rematch, in the quarterfinals.

Sparta junior Paige Weiss earned her third medal with a fourth-place finish at 120 pounds -- dropping an 11-4 decision to Roselle Park's Lucia Ranieri. Weiss (15-6), a former champ at 100 pounds in 2023 and fourth at 114 last year, is the only female to place for the Spartans and is their only three-time medalist for boys or girls. Mark Preston (first at 129 in 1975, second at 122 in '74), John Place (first in '83 and third at 188 in '82) and Steve Swentzel (eighth at 125 in 2001 and 130 in '02) are the Sussex County school's only other multiple placers.

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Delaware Valley produced its first two state placewinners as freshman Lydia Bagley (100) and Emmy Hotz (235) each finished seventh. Bagley (27-7), who secured the program's first medal with a win in the first round of consolations, is a wrestling legacy. Her father, Justin, is one of only four to win four district titles at North Hunterdon (1996-99) and was a member of three sectional championship teams.

Vernon also had two medalists -- giving the program eight overall -- in seniors Caitlin Hart (fifth at 225) and Rowan Waite (seventh at 185). Hart capped her fine career as the Vikings' only four-time placewinner -- finishing fifth (2022), third ('23) and fourth ('24) at 185 pounds in three previous appearances.

Qualitieri and Bagley (far right) on the podium

Lenape Valley sophomore Angelina Qualitieri (fifth at 100) became the first female medalist at her school, while Hunterdon Central junior Emma Peake (fifth at 120) joined her brother, Tanner, as placewinners for the Red Devils. Emma Peake (28-4) is the sixth girl overall to medal at Central and first since Paisley Fox (fourth at 138) and Evelyn Andrade (fifth at 107) did it in 2022. Tanner was a two-time medalist (fourth at 157 in '22 and sixth at 152 in '21).
 

Championships

152 -- So. Ella Poalillo (35-0), High Point, p. So. Thea Rowland (26-2), Middletown South, 3:17.

165 -- Sr. Solaris Paul (24-1), Paterson Kennedy, d. Sr. Paige DeCaro (35-3), Newton-Kittatinny, 7-1.

185 -- Sr. Shaelie Young (30-3), Gateway-Woodbury, p. Jr. Jade Hahn (26-2), Central Regional, 4:41.

235 -- Sr. Caroline Biegel (10-3), DePaul, md. Jr. Saharia Quamina (28-4), Bloomfield, 9-1.

100 -- Jr. Francesca Gusfa (17-1), Ridgewood, d. Jr. Madison Rucci (42-2), Jackson Memorial, 11-5.

107 -- So. Gabriella Conte (15-1), Hanover Park, tf. Jr. Princessstorm Woody (21-1), Trenton Central, 16-0, 3:49.

114 -- Fr. Elle Changaris (37-1), High Point, d. Jr. Kylie Gudewitz (36-1), Howell, 19-14.

120 -- Jr. Reagan Roxas (33-0), Kingsway, d. So. Jocelyn Danbe (20-3), River Dell, 7-4.

126 -- Sr. Jada Pichardo (32-0), Pennsauken, d. Sr. Alexa Cilliotta (22-3), Montville, 1-0.

132 -- So. Lamiah Berry (24-5), Absegami, p. Fr. Lily Massenzio (19-1), DePaul, 2:39.

138 -- Sr. Saniyah Queen (32-2), St. Thomas Aquinas, d. Jr. Eva Barry (31-2), Newton-Kittatinny, 12-6.

145 -- Jr. Olivia Georges (18-0), DePaul, p. Sr. Sonia Balwas (20-5), Paramus, 3:08.

Outstanding Wrestler Award -- Gabriella Conte, Hanover Park.

Coach of the Year Award -- Eric Bollette, Newton-Kittatinny.

Third-place consolations

100 -- So. Emelly Diaz Santos (33-4), Morris Hills, p. Jr. Nola Allen (29-6), Marlboro, :13.

107 -- Jr. Ava Bonilla (32-4), Jackson Memorial, p. Sr. Gianna Bonaccorso (20-3), Fair Lawn, 2:31.

114 -- Sr. Kloi Tighe (31-2), Gloucester City, d. Fr. Ellie Kisselbach (32-6), Phillipsburg, 6-3.

120 -- Fr. Lucia Ranieri (33-3), Roselle Park, d. Jr. Paige Weiss (15-6), Sparta, 11-4.

126 -- Jr. Cami Bird (31-4), Egg Harbor, p. Jr. Briana Dugo (32-8), Jackson Memorial, 3:15.

132 -- Jr. Leanna Noel (35-7), Bloomfield, d. Sr. Belle Konopka (35-3), Seneca, 3-0.

138 -- Jr. Mariana Puzycki (26-3), Bayonne, p. Sr. Julia Fongaro (30-5), Boonton, 1:46.

145 -- Jr. Gianna Lopez (17-6), Cherry Hill East, d. Sr. Samantha Goworek (13-4), Indian Hills, 9-4.

152 -- Sr. Samira Kupa (29-9), Boonton, p. So. Stella Ramos (32-5), Newton-Kittatinny, :43.

165 -- Jr. Liliana Alicea (33-4), Central Regional, p. Sr. Ari Tyson (21-4), Cherry Hill West, 3:33.

185 -- Sr. Daniela Palacios (22-2), Lakewood, p. Sr. Paris Ford (29-6), Rancocas Valley, 4:14.

235 -- Sr. Antonia Federici (27-4), Gateway-Woodbury, p. Jr. Giovanna Farrell-Byers (29-10), Howell, 2:30.

Fifth-place consolations

100 -- So. Angelina Qualitieri (34-4), Lenape Valley, p. Jr. Emma Acampora (31-4), Rancocas Valley, 3:06.

107 -- Fr. Adrianna DiGregorio (31-3), Williamstown, md. Sr. Aubree Butler (33-7), Rancocas Valley, 10-0.

114 -- Jr. Marlowe Donato (30-9), Jackson Memorial, d. Jr. Madison Blumenthal (21-5), Bordentown-Florence, 4-1.

120 -- Jr. Emma Peake (28-4), Hunterdon Central, p. Fr. Sophia Holmes (30-11), Clayton-Glassboro, 1:11.

126 -- Sr. Madelyn McLaughlin (31-11), Bloomfield, d. So. Polina Shardakova-Scorzafava (32-10), Kinnelon, 4-2.

132 -- So. Sophia Massefski (26-7), Montville, d. Jr. Sophia Klecha (21-5), Pequannock, 5-0.

138 -- Sr. Danna Ramirez (23-6), Ocean City, p. Sr. Gabrielle Roberts (32-8), North Brunswick, 4:37.

145 -- Jr. Charlize Schlam (16-8), Point Pleasant Boro, md. Sr. Adriana Haskin (27-16), Rahway, 12-1.

152 -- Jr. Anshul Kumar (36-9), Somerville, d. Jr. Abbigale Dudley (30-4), Rancocas Valley, 3-0.

165 -- Sr. Kamila Castro (13-6), Ridgewood, p. Fr. Jeveah Turner (29-7), Rancocas Valley, 5:19.

185 -- Fr. Brianna Sandoval (31-3), Bound Brook, p. Sr. Kiana Alvarez (19-3), Elmwood Park, 1:49.

235 -- Sr. Caitlin Hart (31-4), Vernon, p. Sr. Yasmin Garcia (14-5), Rahway, 3:33.

Seventh-place consolations

100 -- Fr. Lydia Bagley (27-7), Delaware Valley, tf. Sr. Elizabeth Avila (26-10), Brick Township, 22-5, 4:19.

107 -- So. Gabriela Giacone (27-9), Watchung Hills, forfeit, So. Olivia Mitchell (31-5), East Brunswick.

114 -- Fr. Sheyna Cruz (26-6), Paulsboro, md. So. Jaliyah Richards (23-11), Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 12-1.

120 -- Fr. Samirah Duron (24-9), Egg Harbor, d. So. Jada Figueroa (34-7), Jackson Memorial, 5-3.

126 -- Jr. Molly Smyth (21-5), Mount Olive, p. Fr. Melanie Hernandez (19-6), Plainfield, 3:12.

132 -- Sr. Eudora Pamphile (27-5), Trenton Central, forfeit, Sr. Eva Altamirano (9-1), South Plainfield. 

138 -- So. Ecrin Haliloglu (28-8), Delran, d. Sr. Aydible Mejia (11-7), Elizabeth, 7-1.

145 -- Sr. Caelum Ritzdorf (19-9), Metuchen, p. Jr. Natalia Rusin (24-10), Middletown South, :43.

152 -- Jr. Alexus Paden (31-8), Clayton-Glassboro, p. So. Eliza Toth (20-11), Point Pleasant Boro, 5:18.

165 -- Jr. Sofia Sousa (30-7), Old Bridge, forfeit, Sr. Emily Breen (16-3), Point Pleasant Boro.

185 -- Sr. Rowan Waite (25-10), Vernon, d. Sr. Carina Rivera (23-11), Nutley, 4-3.

235 -- So. Emmy Hotz (20-4), Delaware Valley, p. Sr. Rahkai Degrasse (24-9), North Brunswick, 1:42.