With the late start to the New Jersey season, our first Open Mike area rankings have been delayed as well, but here they finally are in all of their splendor.
We have some big dual meets on tap this week, including a Hunterdon County showdown on Tuesday, when North Hunterdon travels to Hunterdon Central for a Skyland Conference matchup. Interestingly, I believe the Red Devils got their 800th win on Saturday in a tri-meet with West Deptford and Toms River East. School records list former legendary coach Russ Riegel with 533 wins, but those surely include JV wins or 'B' team wins as they were known in the day.
My records have Riegel at 469-84-6, and along with current coach Steve Gibble's total of 333-113, that would make Central 801-197-6. Another mystery to be solved.
On Friday, Voorhees visits Delaware Valley in another county grudge match.
And of course, on Saturday, we have the annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Central's venerable Field House. More on the tournament as we draw closer, including seeds, history, predictions, the works.
Also on tap are our first set of Region 1 individual rankings. Look for those around the middle of the week.
But for now, here are the first team rankings:
1. Phillipsburg (1-0) -- Stateliners opened their dual meet season last Saturday with a 51-17 thumping of Northampton (Pa.) at The Pit. Freshman Drew Horun, who is worth keeping an eye on this weekend at the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament, registered one of seven pins against the Konkrete Kids. Sophomore Brandon Paetzell helped P'burg to a third-place finish at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic by winning the 106-pound title.
Up next: at Montgomery on Wednesday; North Hunterdon at The Pit on Thursday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
2. High Point (0-0) -- Wildcats have fattened up on tournaments to start their season -- three in fact -- competing in the Colt Classic, Mustang Classic and Cheesehead Invitational. Coach John Gardner's squad finished 11th in Wisconsin, with juniors Dom Gallo (120) and Jason Gaccione (145) earned fourth-place finishes at Cheesehead over the weekend. As a result, those two, along with freshman Chase Babus (106), wil lmiss the HWS on Saturday due to constraints against the 30-match limit. Also, talented sophomore 126-pounder Jared Kobis broke his hand on Friday and is out indefinitely.
Up next: at Pope John on Wednesday; Newton at home on Friday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
3. Kittatinny (3-0) -- Cougars rolled to dual meet victories over Morris Knolls (34-27), Governor Livingston (61-9) and West Milford (61-18), but had a disappointing showing at the 30th annual Newark Academy Tournament last Saturday -- finishing fourth with 59 points, well behind winner DePaul with 114 1/2. Senior 152-pounder Nick Romyns has been on the shelf with a knee injury and his status for the upcoming HWS tourney is unknown. Coach John Gill's squad is a much better dual team, but certainly needs Romyns back against the big boys.
Up next: Lenape Valley at home on Wednesday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
4. Hunterdon Central (3-0) -- Red Devils knocked off West Deptford and Toms River East last Saturday and are set to host a big county showdown against North Hunterdon on Tuesday, originally scheduled for last Friday when snow wiped out the slate. Central will have a big advantage in the upper weights against North. Senior Gary Dinmore (152), a two-time state runner-up, got his 100th win earlier this season and will seek a second straight county title this weekend, while senior Dylan Nace (132), a three-time HWS finalist, seeks his second title.
Up next: North Hunterdon at home on Tuesday; at Hillsborough on Wednesday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at home on Saturday.
5. Delaware Valley (5-2) -- Terriers are well into the dual meet portion of the schedule -- going 2-1 on Dec. 30 in a quad. Coach Andy Fitz's squad knocked off Middletown North (50-16) and Franklin (61-15) and dropped a 30-18 decision to South Plainfield. Big showdown with Hunterdon County rival Voorhees on Friday in Alexandria Township. Both coaches make no bones about wanting to run the table against county opponents. Keep an eye on freshman Matt Kolonia (9-1) in a wide open 113-pound class at HWS.
Up next: at North Warren on Monday; Voorhees at home on Friday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
6. North Hunterdon (4-1) -- Lions are bracing for a big clash with Hunterdon Central on Tuesday before its annual rivalry match with P'burg on Thursday. Coach Tim Flynn's club prepped for a tough week by going 1-1 at the Easton (Pa.) Invitational last Saturday. North rolled to a 74-6 victory over East Stroudsburg North before a 40-18 loss to the host Red Rovers. Junior Ryan Pomrinca (12-0 at 126) and senior Mike Ciavarro (12-0 at 152) are among the unbeatens in the Open Mike area.
Up next: at Hunterdon Central on Tuesday; at Phillipsburg on Thursday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
7. Voorhees (6-1) -- Vikings also got the jump on some area teams with seven dual meets in the books. Coach Eric Hall's team went 3-0 last Saturday -- knocking off Lawrence (61-9), Hopewell Valley (32-24) and Princeton (56-9). Senior Mike Muscatello (138) returned to the lineup and went 2-1, while senior Thomas Beishke (132) remains sidelined while following concussion protocol. He hasn't competed since opening day on Dec. 20 at the Warren Hills quad. Also in that one, junior heavyweight Alex Fischetti was lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee.
Up next: at West Morris on Tuesday; at Delaware Valley on Friday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
8. Warren Hills (2-3) -- Blue Streaks went 1-1 last Saturday at the Easton Invitational -- dropping a 44-25 decision to the host Red Rovers before bouncing back with a 74-6 win over Sanford (Del.). This after winning its own John Goles Invitational for the second straight year. Freshman Matt Valli (113), junior John Fluck (120) and Steve Cleaver (182) won titles in the 56th annual event. Injuries have been an issue, as seniors Tai Adetula (132) and Ryan Witner (220) have lost by injury defaults. Senior Justin Pidoto (145-152), a Region 1 qualifier as a freshman, also has not wrestled this season.
Up next: Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
9. Sparta (4-1) -- Spartans are off to a 4-1 start for the second straight season, including a big 33-28 win over Lenape Valley on Saturday. Coach Frank Battaglia's program has come a long way since an 8-17 campaign two seasons ago. Garrett Gerndt (113), Ryan Pyper (138), Ian Burke (145) and Jake Vogel (285) all had pins against the Patriots. The Spartans also dropped a 49-18 decision to Roselle Park on Saturday.
Up next: Jefferson at home on Tuesday; Mount Olive at home on Wednesday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
10. Lenape Valley (0-2) -- Patriots are off to a slow start, dropping a 33-28 decision to Sparta on Saturday, along with a 51-15 loss to Roselle Park. The loss to the Spartans is the first in recent memory. Coach Doug Vetter's squad went 4-3 in bouts that were decided by five points or fewer against its county rival. In addition, standout junior Glenn Haines (138) did not wrestle in either dual meet.
Up next: Kittatinny at home on Wednesday; Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Hunterdon Central on Saturday.
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