Source: Icenhower steps down at TCNJ

Longtime College of New Jersey wrestling coach Dave Icenhower resigned after 33 seasons at the helm, according to a source close to the program.

Icenhower, a two-time NCAA Division III Coach of the Year, told his wrestlers on Sunday that he was stepping  down. The Lehigh University graduate built TCNJ, formerly Trenton State, into one of the most successful Division III programs.

The 1979 squad captured the first of the school's five Division III team championships, also winning titles in 1981, '83, '84 and '87. Under Icenhower, the Lions finished in the top five nationally during 19 of his 33 seasons.

Final West Jersey Baseball standings

Skyland Conference
Delaware Division
		Overall	Division
x-Watchung Hills		(18-8)	(11-4)
Hillsborough		(18-9)	(10-6)
Immaculata		(11-12)	(9-6)
Hunterdon Central		(20-10)	(9-7)
North Hunterdon		(13-13)	(9-7)
Montgomery		(10-15)	(7-9)
Ridge		(15-13)	(7-9)
Phillipsburg		(13-14)	(6-10)
Bridgewater		(8-17)	(3-13)
Raritan Division
		Overall	Division
x-Voorhees		(18-4)	(10-2)
Somerville		(17-10)	(8-4)
North Plainfield		(13-10)	(7-5)
Warren Hills		(12-12)	(7-5)
Franklin		(9-13)	(5-7)
Pingry		(7-14)	(3-9)
Delaware Valley		(2-18)	(2-10)
Valley Division
		Overall	Division
x-North Warren		(15-8)	(11-1)
Gill St. Bernard's		(17-10)	(10-2)
Bound Brook		(8-11)	(7-5)
Bernards		(8-12)	(6-6)
South Hunterdon		(6-11)	(4-7)
Belvidere		(5-16)	(3-8)
Manville		(1-17)	(0-12)
Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
Freedom Division
		Overall	Division
x-Hackettstown		(21-2)	(10-0)
Hopatcong		(13-8)	(7-3)
Lenape Valley		(11-11)	(7-3)
Wallkill Valley		(7-17)	(3-7)
Newton		(3-17)	(2-8)
Kittatinny		(5-16)	(1-9)
American Division
		Overall	Division
x-Montville		(22-5)	(12-2)
Pope John		(24-5-1)	(11-2-1)
Sparta		(14-10-1)	(6-7-1)
High Point		(13-10)	(6-7)
Mount Olive		(9-15)	(6-8)
Vernon		(7-11)	(5-9)
Jefferson		(6-14)	(4-9)
Morris Hills		(8-17)	(4-10)
x-division champion

Belvidere wrestling job on hold following meeting

Belvidere High School is still without a head wrestling coach after discussions were tabled at the last Board of Education meeting on Wednesday.

According to Superintendent of Schools Dirk Swaneveld, both candidates, Tom Noto and Dan McIntyre, will be discussed openly at the next meeting on Wednesday, July 27 with the hopes of reaching a decision.

Swaneveld said that an outpouring of public support from both parents, wrestlers and fans for Noto on Wednesday, prompted some board members to table the motion to name a new coach.

"Some parents spoke for Tom [Noto] and townspeople," Swaneveld said. "And the athletes did a nice job on his behalf."

Noto, 29, has been the coach for the past four seasons, but was not immediately rehired for 2011-12. He doesn't hold a permanent position at the school, while McIntrye is a social studies teacher.

Noto, a two-time New Jersey state champion at South River and standout at Hofstra University, inherited a program in 2007-08 that was on the verge of becoming either a co-op program or dropped all together. Numbers were very low and the Seaters were forfeiting a number of weight classes. Belvidere went a combined 35-92-1 from 2001 until his arrival and was 1-26 the season before he took over from former coach Brett Hyland, now an assistant at Warren Hills.

In his first season, Noto's team finished 7-12-1. This past season, Belvidere went 9-12 and qualified for the sectionals for the first time in 10 years, beating Madison, 33-30, in the first round before a 41-33 loss to Boonton in the semifinals. The Seaters are 37-54-1 overall in his four seasons.

McIntyre previously was the head coach at Pleasant Valley High School in Pennsylvania and is a former star wrestler at both Liberty High School in Bethlehem and the University of Maryland.

Hunterdon wrestling duals this Saturday

Delaware Valley coach Andy Fitz was kind enough to pass information regarding the annual Hunterdon duals this Saturday at Del Val. Schedule and competing teams are as follows:

There are six rounds of wrestling with each team participating in four dual meets. There will be no overall champion. Wrestling starts at 8:30 a.m.

There are 18 teams entered:

Delaware Valley
Hunterdon Central
North Hunterdon
Voorhees
Bound Brook
Franklin
Governor Livingston
Hopewell Valley
Iselin Kennedy
Manville
Notre Dame
Phillipsburg
Plainfield
Princeton
Somerville
Warren Hills
Woodbridge
Hunterdon County mixed

Dubuque to hold wrestling camp at Warren Hills

Joe Dubuque's Expert Wrestling Clinic and Tournament will be held Aug. 1-3 at Warren Hills Regional High School in Washington, N.J.

Dubuque is a former two-time New Jersey state champion at Glen Ridge and a two-time NCAA champion at Indiana University. Sessions will run from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. each day and is open to all high school and middle school athletes for incoming grades six through 12.

Taylor Walsh, a former two-time state champ and three-time finalist from Camden Catholic, also will be on hand for technique training with Dubuque. Walsh, a 149-pounder for Indiana, was 21-5 in a redshirt campaign and will have freshman eligibility in 2011-12.

Pre-registration fee is $95 and $110 at the door. Registration will be Monday, Aug. 1 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The fee is $35 for the tournament only.

Source: Kane to be next North baseball coach

Michael Kane is expected to be named the new head coach of North Hunterdon's baseball program.

According to a source, Kane may be approved at the next Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, June 21. He will succeed longtime coach Parker Snare, who guided the Lions for the past 32 seasons. According to athletic director John Deutsch in an e-mail sent to Open Mike on Thursday, both he and Snare agreed at the end of 2010 that this would be his final season.

At least one source has said that Snare, who resigned from the district as a health and physical education teacher after the 2009-10 school year, was forced out. Snare is currently on vacation and was not available for comment.

Kane, a special education teacher at the Hunterdon County school since 2002, according to his page on the school's web site, served as an assistant coach on Snare's staff during the 2011 season. 

Snare guided the Lions to a 13-13 mark this past season and earned his 500th career victory in the team's 11-9 win over Montgomery on June 2. According to one source, Snare was told mid-May that he would not be brought back for a 33rd season in 2012. It was reported here several weeks ago that Snare may not be rehired for next season.

The former coach reportedly informed his team that he would not return next season after the Lions' 18-2 win over Hopatcong in the season finale on June 6.

Under Snare, North Hunterdon went 501-284-2 overall. This season, the Lions went 1-1 in the North 2, Group 4 playoffs -- beating Bayonne, 4-2, in the opening round before a 6-3 loss at Woodbridge in the quarterfinals.

Update: Snare done at North Hunterdon

It's official. Veteran baseball coach Parker Snare has coached his final game at North Hunterdon.

Athletic director John Deutsch confirmed via e-mail on Thursday that the school is conducting a search for Snare's successor.

"Parker Snare has had a wonderful 33-year career as a baseball coach at North Hunterdon High School, affecting the lives of many students during his tenure," Deutsch said in a written statement. "Parker retired from our district in June 2010 and we agreed to have him coach one last season, therefore providing him the chance to reach the milestone of 500 career wins, which he did. We were very happy for him that he was able to finish his final season with 501 total career wins. We wish coach Snare all the best in his future endeavors.

"We will be hiring a new head coach soon and we will be looking to take our baseball program in a new direction."

Snare guided the Lions to a 13-13 mark this past season and earned his 500th career victory in the team's 11-9 win over Montgomery on June 2. According to one source, Snare was told mid-May that he would not be brought back for a 33rd season in 2012. It was reported here several weeks ago that Snare may not be rehired for next season.

Snare, who is on vacation, also was unavailable for comment. The coach reportedly informed his team that he would not return next season after the Lions' 18-2 win over Hopatcong in the season finale on June 6.

Snare, a 1969 graduate of North Hunterdon and former standout athlete, retired from teaching at the end of the 2009-10 school year and, according to a source, someone in-house has applied for the position.

Under Snare, North Hunterdon went 501-284-2 overall. This season, the Lions went 1-1 in the North 2, Group 4 playoffs -- beating Bayonne, 4-2, in the opening round before a 6-3 loss at Woodbridge in the quarterfinals.

Last year, North Hunterdon was bounced in the opening round with a 5-2 loss to Piscataway after missing the playoffs for the first time ever in 2009. In 2008, North made a great run to the Group 4 final after capturing the program's third sectional championship (winning Central Jersey, Group 3 titles in 2001 and '03).

The Lions also won or shared nine conference titles and captured two Hunterdon-Warren titles ('96, '99) under Snare.

After Snare's 500th win, the school issued a press release in which Hughes and Deutsch had high praise for the veteran coach.

"Parker has been like a brother to me and he has been a dedicated employee of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees school district as a physical/health education for teacher for 31 and coach for 32 years," Hughes said. "Mr. Snare has always had a positive rapport with our staff, parents and students. Reaching this historic goal couldn't have happened to a better guy."

"I an proud of coach Snare's perseverance in achieving this momentous goal in his career," Deutsch said in the release. "Mr. Snare has spent many untold hours during his coaching tenure with our student athletes and providing a positive experience for all of them. Coach Snare has had a great group of kids in the Hunterdon County community every year. Coach Snare falls under a small elite group of NJ coaches to obtain 500 wins and this is truly a history day in North history."

McIntyre likely to be new Belvidere mat coach

Tom Noto's successful four-year run as Belvidere's wrestling coach appears to be over.

Superintendent Dirk Swaneveld on Friday confirmed that Dan McIntyre will be recommended for hire at the next Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, June 15.

"The board wants to move in different direction and it will be an administrative and personnel recommendation to hire Dan McIntyre on Wednesday night," Swaneveld said.

Swaneveld said that Noto is scheduled to interview for the position at 9 a.m on Monday.

Noto, by all accounts, has been nothing but a model coach and employee at the Warren County school. According to Swaneveld, Noto is "A  gentleman and a great guy."

So, why is  Noto, who brought the school's dying program back to respectability, caught under the political wheel?

"(Athletic director) Jason Klebez and I feel bad about the situation," Swaneveld said. "There are a number of board members that want a change. The board told us to go out and get somebody, but they didn't realize we had someone in-house who is the best qualified candidate."

McIntyre last coached at Pleasant Valley High School in Pennsylvania. He is a former star wrestler at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pa., and is a highly regarded coach. McIntyre is a social studies teacher at Belvidere.

"His resume is outstanding," Swaneveld said. "And he is one of, if not the best teachers we have. Tommy did a great job with our gifted westlers. Maybe Dan can take them to an even higher level."

Klebez, a former baseball coach at Jefferson Township High School, also had high praise for Noto. Klebez took over as the school's AD in February.

"Tommy's been very positive," said Klebez, who guided Jefferson's baseball team to the North 1, Group 2 sectional final in 2009. "I've only known him for a few months. He's a dedicated individual and works well with our athletes. He's a good guy and we never had any issues."

Belvidere may be parting ways with wrestling coach

Tom Noto has done an outstanding job in four seasons as the Belvidere High School wrestling coach, bringing a program that was virtually dead, back to respectability in a short period time.

As unlikely as it may seem, Noto may not be back for a fifth season, though not of his own doing. The former two-time New Jersey state champion says he doesn't anticipate retaining his coaching job and that the Warren County school is beginning an interview process to hire a head coach starting on Monday.

"Two weeks ago I was told [Belvidere] was opening my position," said Noto, when reached by cell phone on Thursday. "I kind of knew this was going to happen eventually. I lost my [special education] teaching job [at the end of the 2009-10 school] year and I haven't spoken to anyone in the administration since."

Noto, who coached with a torn Achilles tendon last winter, said that he is scheduled to interview for his coaching job on Monday at 9 a.m. The former star wrestler at South River High School and Hofstra University said his tenure at Belvidere has been full of struggles since Day 1. Undaunted, Noto has never complained to the media and has always maintained a positive attitude, though the latest string of events would take its toll on the most dedicated of coaches.

"I've always kept my head up. I'm not a complainer," Noto said. "I'm a wrestler. I won't give up."

Since Noto is not in the building, his job has always been subject to challenge from an in-house candidate. According to sources, former Liberty (Pa.) High School star and Pleasant Valley coach Danny McIntrye is a leading candidate to be the County Seaters' next wrestling coach.

Neither McIntyre, athletic director Jason Klebez or superintendent Dirk Swaneveld immediately returned phone messages seeking comment. McIntyre is a social studies teacher at the high school.

Noto, 29,  inherited a program in 2007-08 that was on the verge of becoming either a co-op program or dropped all together. Numbers were very low and the Seaters were forfeiting a number of weight classes. Belvidere went a combined 35-92-1 from 2001 until his arrival and was 1-26 the season before he took over from former coach Brett Hyland, now an assistant at Warren Hills.

In his first season, Noto's team finished 7-12-1. This past season, Belvidere went 9-12 and qualified for the sectionals for the first time in 10 years, beating Madison, 33-30, in the first round before a 41-33 loss to Boonton in the semifinals. The Seaters are 37-54-1 overall in his four seasons.

Numbers are finally on the rise, with nearly 30 wrestlers on last year's squad. Belvidere filled all 14 weight classes for the first time in Noto's four seasons. Rising senior Dylan Thorsen, a three-time district finalist and two-time region placewinner, has blossomed under Noto's watch.

"I'm a little angry, a little bitter," Noto said. "But I never treated anyone that way. I've always been positive."

Former Warren Hills star Nemeth drafted

University of Connecticut senior first baseman Mike Nemeth, who graduated from Warren Hills in 2007, was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Nemeth was taken in the 21st round (No. 641 overall). The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder, who bats left-handed, batted .359 (93-for-259) with 49 runs scored, three homers and 51 RBIs this season.

As a junior he appeared in a record-breaking 64 games and led UConn with a .386 batting average and in doubles with 20, RBIs with 84 and in hits with 98. Nemeth also blasted 15 homers and scored 63 runs.

Nemeth was an All-Big East Second Team selection in 2010.

In high school, Nemeth was a three-year letterwinner for the Blue Streaks and was voted MVP for his final two seasons. He finished as Warren Hills' career hits leader with 107 (until Ryan McCormick broke that mark in 2010) and holds single-season records for hits with 43 and RBIs with 34. He batted. 420 for his career at the Washington school.

Skyland Conference Valley All-Stars

Valley Division


1st Team



PLAYER                       GRADE                  POSITION                SCHOOL
Alex Markham                   12                               C                        Gill St. Bernards
Nick Macaione                  12                                P                        North Warren
Anthony Mea                     11                               1B                      Gill St. Bernards
Joe Talnagi                         12                               2B                      Manville
Pat Dolan                           12                               SS                      North Warren
Anthony Palmieri                12                               3B                       Bound Brook
Zach Racusin                     12                               OF                      Gill St. Bernards
Garret Becker                   11                               OF                       North Warren
Scott Clark                       11                               OF                       Bound Brook
JP McDonnell                   12                               OF                       Bernards
Ray Brown                       12                                 P                        South Hunterdon
TJ Locatelli                       11                                 P                        Bernards
Kevin Kelly                      12                                 DH                     North Warren
Tyler Grogan                    10                                 DH                     Belvidere

At Large

Kyle Capalbo                   11                                 2B                      Bound Brook
Ryan Zeccola                    11                                 3B                      Bernards
Andrew Ramey                 11                                 OF                     Gill St. Bernards
Hunter Stevens                 10                                  OF                     North Warren

2nd Team


Travis Eldridge                 12                                   P                       North Warren
Nick Blackman                10                                   P                       Gill St. Bernards
Desmond Drumright         12                                  SS                      Bound Brook
Tom Tutka                       12                                  SS                      Belvidere
Craig Tomkins                 11                                  3B                      Belvidere
Duncan Salek                  11                                  OF                      Bernards
Mark Leonhard               10                                  SS                      Gill St. Bernards
Brian Zarnowski              12                                  3B                      Manville
Jared Bogdan                   9                                   OF                      South Hunterdon
Denver Greene                11                                  OF                      North Warren
Mike Palmieri                  12                                   C                        Bound Brook
Steve Mottola                  11                                  OF                      Belvidere
Corey Gilpin                    12                                  1B                       Bernards
Doug  deMarrais              9                                    C                        Bernards

Skyland Conference Raritan All-Stars

Raritan Division

1st Team

PLAYER                GRADE                  POSITION               SCHOOL

Sean Keselica              12                              P                        Voorhees

Ryan Hawke                12                             SS                      Voorhees

Michael Kovacs           12                             P/SS                   Franklin

Joseph Matarazzo        12                             CF                     Warren Hills

Chris Nichols               11                              P                       North Plainfield

Dan Keller                   11                              P/1B                  Pingry

Brent Croasdale           12                             OF                     Delaware Valley

Chris Kiesel                 12                              C                       Somerville

Tom Mazurkiewicz       12                              3B                     Somerville

Kyle Walker                 9                               INF                    Pingry

Patrick McArdle          12                              P/INF                 Franklin

Dylan Cruz                  12                              OF                      Somerville

Chris Rubin                 11                              SS                       Somerville

Anthony Hubbard       11                              OF                       North Plainfield

At Large

Alex Holderbaum        12                             OF                        Somerville

Scott Paulus                12                             DH                       Warren Hills

Alec Hardy                 11                             OF/DH                  Somerville

Tyler Duplaga             11                              3B                         Voorhees

2nd Team

Steven Delacammara    12                            OF                         Franklin

Andres Velischek         11                            1B                          Pingry

Tim Laub                     12                            1B/DH                    Somerville

Clint Wojick                12                             P/OF                      Delaware Valley

Sal Mastrobattista        11                            2B                          North Plainfield

Jeramiah Muhammad     9                            OF                         Franklin

Evan Fraser                  11                            P                           Somerville

Justin Young                 12                            P                           Somerville

Kyle Allen                    11                            P                           Warren Hills

Zach Joback                 11                           Utility                     North Plainfield

Matt Bonavita               11                           CF                         Voorhees

Joe Marchiafava           12                            2B                         Somerville

Nilson Carvajal             11                           3B                          Franklin

Scott Skripko               10                            P/1B                      Delaware Valley

Skyland Conference Delaware All-Stars

Delaware Division
1st Team

PLAYER                 GRADE                    POSITION                SCHOOL
Josh Ake                      12                               SS                        Hunterdon Central
Chris Suseck                12                               3B                        Hunterdon Central
Brandon Young            12                               SS                        Hillsborough
Dan Sheldon                 12                               DH                      Hillsborough
Andrew Lyman             12                               1B                       Bridgewater-Raritan
Ben Silber                     12                               3B/P                   Bridgewater-Raritan
Mike Murray                12                               3B                       Phillipsburg
Greg Fazio                    12                               SS                       Ridge
Nick Rivera                  12                               3B                       Watchung Hills
JB Kole                        12                                P                        Ridge
Steve Bloodworth         12                                P                        North Hunterdon
Richard Hunt                12                                P                        Watchung Hills
Paul Mammino             11                                P                        Hillsborough
Steve Rasile                 11                                P                        Hunterdon Central
Anthony Ciaverella       11                                P                        Phillipsburg
Derek Jenkins              11                                OF                     North Hunterdon
Andrew Westlin           12                                OF                     North Hunterdon
Mike Murray               12                                OF                     Bridgewater-Raritan
Zack Digman               12                                OF                     Immaculata
Mike Roethke             11                                 C                       Immaculata
Patrick Guma              12                                 C                       Montgomery

2nd Team


Nick Plinio                  12                                 C                       North Hunterdon
Cody Hinds                 10                                 C                      Watchung Hills
Tyler Ferretti               11                                 C                       Hillsborough
James Hargrove          12                                 SS                     Immaculata
Justin Scuorzo             12                                1B                      Phillipsburg
DJ Ruhlman                12                                 SS                     Montgomery
Greg Scassera            12                                  P                       Hunterdon Central
Brett Ender                11                                 OF                     Montgomery
Tyler Fox                   11                                 OF                     Immaculata
Frank Urso                10                                 OF                     Watchung Hills
Sean Thomas             12                                 OF                     Hunterdon Central
Mackey Price            11                                 OF                     Hillsborough
Ariel Soto                 12                                  IF                       Bridgewater-Raritan
Greg Lauricella          11                                  P                        Ridge
Brett Matzen             11                                  IF                       Ridge
Matt Calamoneri       12                                  P                        Hillsborough