If the NJWWA preseason Top 20 is any indication, the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament promises to be loaded. Six of those schools – Phillipsburg, Warren Hills, Hunterdon Central, Delaware Valley, High Point and Kittatinny – are included in the statewide rankings unveiled today by the writers association.
Bergen Catholic High School, which returns 12 starters and will
be bolstered by the addition of two transfers, is the unanimous No. 1 selection
of the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association’s preseason Top 20 rankings.
The Crusaders, whose lone setback last year was to undefeated
South Plainfield, went 19-1 en route to capturing the Non-Public A title.
Reigning state champions Nick Suriano and Johnny Sebastian, who
won a second consecutive individual crown in March, anchor a veteran team that
features nine incumbent state qualifiers.
Highly-regarded Jordan Pagano (160 pounds), formerly of South Brunswick, and Peter Lipari (126 pounds), formerly of Lenape Valley, who placed seventh in the state
last year at 120 pounds, join the Crusaders.
Bergen Catholic is vying for its eighth state title and fifth
under coach Dave Bell, who enters his 16th season.
“It’s certainly something that I would strive for,” Bell said of
the No. 1 ranking. “We’ve approached (the top spot) and are getting closer and
closer to our goal.”
Defending Group I champion Bound Brook, which dropped a 39-18
decision to Bergen Catholic last season, debuts at No. 2, while St. Peter’s
Prep is No. 3.
South Plainfield, which topped the NJWWA final rankings in
2012-13, enters the year at No. 18.
Bergen County schools Don Bosco Prep and St. Joseph of Montvale
join the Crusaders in the preseason Top 20, which also includes Shore
Conference powers Howell, Brick Memorial, Southern and Raritan.
Hanover Park and Delbarton represent Morris County in the
rankings, which also feature South Jersey powers Paulsboro and Clearview.
“As a state – our level of wrestling and depth-wise – we can
compete with any state,” Bell said of New Jersey.
The NJWWA consists of 17 voting members. Results of its weekly
poll will appear in participating newspapers everyTuesday beginning Jan.
7, and online at the websites of participating media outlets every Monday beginning Jan.
6.
Region V ranking chairman Ron Mazzola has succeeded former NJWWA
member Bob Behre as the association’s president.
1. Bergen Catholic
2. Bound Brook
3. St. Peter's Prep
4. Don Bosco Prep
5. Phillipsburg
6. Delbarton
7. High Point
8. Kittatinny
9. Brick Memorial
10. Howell
11. Southern
12. Hanover Park
13. Paulsboro
14. St. Joseph
(Montvale)
15. Warren Hills
16. Raritan
17. Delaware Valley
18. South Plainfield
19. Hunterdon Central
20. Clearview
NJWWA voting members (in alphabetical order): Donald J. Brower (MorrisCountyHSWrestling.com); Patrick Buganski (The Mat Pack); Bill Evans (South Jersey Times); Frank D’Esposito (TheShoreConference.com); Steve Falk (Asbury Park Press of Neptune and Hitting the Mats); Brian Fortner (Express-Times); Harry Frezza (Courier News of Bridgewater); Joe Hofmann (Daily Record of Parsippany); Screwy Louie Lazzari (New Jersey Wrestling Historian); John Lewis (Burlington County Times); Ron Mazzola (On the Mat); Tom McGuirk (Daily Journal of Vineland); John O’Kane (Atlantic City Press); Anthony Spaulding (New Jersey Herald); Greg Tufaro (Home News Tribune of East Brunswick); Mike Weilamann (Open Mike/Mugs Media); Joe Zedalis (Trenton Times).
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