Wrestling: Region 1 rankings

106

1. So. Shane Metzler, West Morris (D1)

2. So. Daniel Percelay, DePaul (D4)

3. So. Jacob Falleni, Lenape Valley (D2)
4. Jr. Kyle Markus, Phillipsburg (D1)

5. Jr. Scott Smith, Kinnelon (D4)

Others to watch: Austin Perrault, Morris Knolls; Ronald Rumsby, Montville; Mark DiGeronimo, Kittatinny; Christian Deehan, Pope John; Randy Wyble, Butler.

Notes: The top four here are pretty solid. Metzler will be the No. 1 seed in District 1 this weekend, but keep an eye on Markus, who gets a bump up one spot this week after pinning Roxbury's Ryan Larrahondo, who dropped a 3-2 decision to Perrault on Feb. 4. Metzler has two wins over the Stateliner -- 11-3 and 9-3 -- but that should be a fun final to watch. Falleni, the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex champ, scored an 8-3 win over Markus in the finals, but that was tight for awhile. Perrault also has a pair of losses to Metzler and was beating Smith in the Morris County finals when he was pinned. Rumsby also in D2 with Perrault and Falleni, and has losses to both wrestlers. DiGeronimo the favorite in D3.

113

1. Jr. Garrett O’Shea, Morris Knolls (D2)

2. Sr. Joe Aumann, Hopatcong (D2)

3. Sr. Dino Cancellieri, DePaul (D4)

4. Fr. Jake Rotunda, Pope John (D3)

5. So. Kade Loughney, West Morris (D1)

Others to watch: Steve Pocze, Pequannock; Alex Carida, Hackettstown; Garrett Gerndt, Sparta; Chase Babus, High Point; Connor Murphy, Wayne Valley; Nick Rampone, Randolph; Nick Cassidy, Belvidere; Tom Kosar, Phillipsburg.

Notes: No changes here. Babus beat Pocze, 5-2, in the North 1, Group 2 semifinals and has a win over Gerndt, who could get a chance to avenge that loss at D3. Rotunda is the favorite to win that district. Loughney, who beat Babus, 5-4, in a dual, is looking like the one to beat in D1 at Mount Olive on Saturday. Carida and Cassidy also in that district, along with Kosar, who seems to be coming on as he's subbing for the injured Brandon Paetzell. Loughney did beat Kosar, 4-2 in SV, in the North 2, Group 4 final, and Carida, 1-0, in a dual. Going to be some battles in D1.

120

1. Sr. Dylan Luciano, West Morris (D1)

2. Jr. Troy Stanich, Roxbury (D2)

3. Jr. Nick Klinger, Kittatinny (D3)

4. Sr. Mojahed Hamdeh, Wayne Hills (D4)

5. So. Damian Maver, DePaul (D4)

Others to watch: Dan Kee, Lakeland; Trevor Morales, Newton; Ryan Luchs, Pope John; Tyler Agans, Phillipsburg; Mark Bohn, Jefferson; Connor Meytrott, Montville.

Notes: Luciano decked Agans in the North 2, Group 4 final, while P'burg forfeited to Stanich in the final bout of a 59-6 rout of the Gaels in the Group 4 semifinals. That's three forfeit wins for the Region 1 runner-up in his last five bouts. Hearing that Bohn will go 126 in District 3 this weekend. Klinger is the favorite to win that title, with Morales looking to get into the finals at Kittatinny. With Warren Hills' Matt Valli (knee) on the shelf, Agans has a great shot of reaching the finals in D1. Klinger dropped a 4-3 decision to tough Wilfredo Gil of Ramapo on Saturday. Gil decked Hamdeh on Jan. 10.

126

1. Sr. Matt Noble, DePaul (D4)

2. Sr. Dom Gallo, High Point (D3)

3. Sr. A.J. Vindici, Randolph (D2)

4. Jr. Joe Renne, Hackettstown (D1)

5. Fr. Brian Meyer, Phillipsburg (D1)

Others to watch: Dominic Koert, Pope John; Anthony Mastroeni, Hopatcong; Marco Gaita, West Morris; Richard Reimers, Roxbury; Nick Giordano, Newton; Jared Inglett, Wayne Hills; Joseph Brown, West Milford.

Notes: This is going to be some weight class to watch next week at Wallkill Valley. Meyer is really coming on as evidenced by a 7-1 decision over Jackson Memorial state qualifier Fred Terranova on Sunday in the Group 4 final. The Stateliner also hammered Reimers, 7-2, in the semis. Renne, the favorite in D1, did not meet Meyer at HWS earlier in the season. Koert beat Meyer, 4-2 in SV, but that was over a month ago. Mastroeni is also having a fine season and will battle for a medal in D2, along with Vindici and Reimers. Noble and Gallo are heavy favorites for titles in their districts, though Koert battled Gallo in a 3-0 loss at HWS.

132

1. Sr. William Kui, DePaul (D4)

2. Jr. Austin Scrivani, Kittatinny (D3)

3. So. Nick Palumbo, Lenape Valley (D2)

4. Sr. Gino Fluri, North Warren (D1)

5. Sr. Kyle Flynn, Pompton Lakes (D4)

Others to watch: Donald Agans, Phillipsburg; Matthew Liberato, West Morris; Michael DeClario, Kinnelon; Michael Glasser, Montville; Zach Nauta, Warren Hills; Jayson Parisi, Morris Knolls; Anthony Castiglia, Wayne Valley; Anthony Rua, Wayne Hills.

Notes: Fluri has wrestled up at 138 and 145 a lot of late, and he's among a solid field in District 1 at this weight class, along with Agans, Liberato and Nauta. Scrivani, the HWS champ, should cruise to his third straight title in D3. That potentially could be a great Region 1 final between Kui and Scrivani, who has 88 career wins. Palumbo is the choice in District 2, while Kui and Flynn could hook up for the D4 championship, unless Castiglia, who lost, 5-0, to Flynn in the Passaic County Tournament semifinals, can spoil things.

138

1. Sr. Eric Friedman, Mendham (D1)

2. Jr. Jared Kobis, High Point (D3)

3. Jr. DJ Wissing, Phillipsburg (D1)

4. Sr. Max Nauta, Warren Hills (D1)

5. Sr. Cory Doebel, DePaul (D4)

Others to watch: Alex Zangrilli, Pequannock; Michael Nigro, Morris Knolls; Michael Roumes, Roxbury; Mike Oros, West Morris; Sean Siek, Wallkill Valley; Sal Puglisi, Pompton Lakes.

Notes: Strong weight class, but we'll see if anyone bails out of here when the district seeds come out Wednesday or Thursday. You can always expect some movement. Wissing scored a technical fall over Roumes in the Group 4 semifinals and looks real good heading into the postseason. That's some weight in District 1 as Nauta, who majored Doebel, 8-0, in a dual, has split two matches against Wissing this season. Friedman, a state placewinner, will be the No. 1 seed, so those two will likely battle in the bottom half. Oros is a pretty good No. 4 seed in D1. Kobis will cruise to the D3 title. He won as a freshman.

145

1. Sr. Jason Gaccione, High Point (D3)

2. Sr. Steve Friedman, Phillipsburg (D1)

3. Sr. David Migliaccio, West Morris (D1)

4. Sr. Ian Burke, Sparta (D3)

5. Sr. David Zeppetelli, West Milford (D4)

Others to watch: Jake Vanwingerden, Kittatinny; Kenny Kane, Belvidere; Austin Pidoto, Warren Hills; Richard Day, Roxbury; Joseph Stambouly, Wayne Hills; Chris Grecco, Pompton Lakes; Brenden Murphy, Pequannock; David Petretta, Wayne Valley.

Notes: Gaccione will be seeking his third title in District 3 this weekend. It will be interesting to see if Burke or Vanwingerden bumps to 152. Burke, who has 115 career wins, is looking to become the first at his school to win back-to-back titles since Phil Takacs-Senske in 2006-07. Friedman is wrestling really well and could hook up with Migliaccio for a third time this season in the District 1 finals. The Stateliner is 2-0 so far this season against the one-time Region 1 fourth-place finisher. Zeppetelli lost by technical fall to Burke on Feb. 9 and also dropped a decision to Fluri, who bumped up from 132. Grecco may be worthy of a top five spot and he'll challenge for a D4 title.

152

1. So. Brandon Kui, DePaul (D4)

2. Sr. John Kaluzny, Phillipsburg (D1)
3. Jr. Tommy Miller, Roxbury (D2)

4. So. Troy Navarino, Mendham (D1)

5. Sr. Anthony Fano, Montville (D2)

Others to watch: Jarod Ostir, Warren Hills; Ryan Cullen, High Point; Anthony Carida, Hackettstown; Rene Sousa, Belvidere; Anthony Duardo, North Warren; Nathan Sowers, Sparta; Patrick Gundlah, Pompton Lakes; Anthony Azzariti, Pope John.

Notes: Some re-shuffling here as Kaluzny, who was No. 5 last week, dominated in a 7-3 win over Miller, the former No. 2 here, in the Group 4 semifinals on Sunday. Since Miller beat Fano, 6-0, in the Morris County Tournament semifinals, that pushes the Stateliner up to No. 2. Kui beat Miller, 8-3, on Jan. 17. Miller also beat Navarino, 3-2, on Dec. 27. We'll see if Kaluzny and Navarino hook up at District 1 this weekend. Ostir, Carida, Duardo and Sousa may also be in that field. Cullen may go 160 in D3.

160

1. Sr. David McFadden, DePaul (D4)

2. Sr. Max Elling, Phillipsburg (D1)

3. Jr. Craig Roumes, Roxbury (D2)

4. Sr. Luke Bohn, Jefferson (D3)

5. Jr. Christian Dalcais, West Milford (D4)

Others to watch: David Harris, Belvidere; Jake Wilkerson, Hopatcong; Lance Fischer, Newton; Walker Schmitzer, Sparta; Caleb Isemann, West Morris; Joey Schiele, Morris Hills; Mike Szynalski, Randolph.

Notes: Everyone is anticipating a McFadden-Elling final in two weeks, but first thing's first. Elling will be on a mission to win his third District 1 championship after not qualifying for Atlantic City a year ago with a fourth-place region finish. We didn't get an Elling-Roumes matchup in Sunday's Group 4 semifinals as Roumes, the D2 favorite, bumped to 170 and Elling got a forfeit win. Hearing that Bohn will go 170 in District 3, where he will be a big favorite to win a third straight title. Dalcais recently dropped to 152 for a few bouts so we'll see where he goes in District 4.

170

1. Sr. Jimmy Schuitema, Phillipsburg (D1)

2. Jr. Luke Drugac, Morris Knolls (D2)

3. Jr. Spencer Carey, DePaul (D4)

4. Jr. Daniel Kilroy, Wayne Hills (D4)

5. Sr. Joey LaBell, Lenape Valley (D2)

Others to watch: Kevin Merle, Belvidere; Al Falco, Sparta; Jake Brown, Pope John; Sal Negrini, Pompton Lakes; David Iodice, Pequannock.

Notes: Schuitema scored an impressive 8-2 win over Roumes, who came up from 160, in the Group 4 semifinals. The Stateliner needs three more victories to set the school record, currently held by Luke Grassi (120). Drugac decked Falco in a dual on Feb. 7 and could meet LaBell for the District 2 title this weekend. Drugac beat LaBell, 6-2, on Jan. 17. District 4 should be interesting should everyone here stay at this weight class. Keep an eye on Brown, a talented freshman, in D3.

182

1. Sr. Nick DePalma, DePaul (D4)

2. Jr. Dean Drugac, Morris Knolls (D2)

3. Sr. D.J. Barrett, Lenape Valley (D2)

4. So. Drew Horun, Phillipsburg (D1)

5. Jr. David LoCascio, Kinnelon (D4)

Others to watch: Brett Lobdell, Pequannock; Stephen Merle, Belvidere; Jack Butrymowicz, North Warren; Connor Lore, Sparta; PJ Chak, Wayne Valley.

Notes: DePalma tuned up for the District 4 Tournament by bumping up to face a couple of hammers at 195 -- losing 3-1 in SV to Queen of Peace's Jeff Velez and 6-4 to Holy Cross state placewinner Matt Correnti in the Parochial B final on Sunday. Drugac and Barrett should battle it out for the District 2 title. The easy-going Barrett (31-1) became the 13th wrestler at his school to amass 100 career wins with a 3-0 decision over Hanover Park's Matt Sangillo on Sunday in the Group 2 final. Horun is expected to jump to 195 where he will be the favorite in District 1. 

195

1. Sr. Gus Protogeropoulos, Newton (D3)

2. Jr. Adam Schlereth, DePaul (D4)

3. Jr. Pat Daly, Pequannock (D4)

4. Sr. Kevin Sears, West Morris (D1)

5. Sr. Luke Nappi, Morris Knolls (D2)

Others to watch: Aaron Flitcroft, Mendham; Sam Palumbo, Lenape Valley; Ryan Stephen, Belvidere; Kurt Nemeth, Warren Hills; Zach Herbert, Sparta; Zak Tareky, Wayne Valley; Craig Calderone, Pompton Lakes; Matthew Sportelli, Wayne Hills.

Notes: Protogeropoulos (28-2) is eyeing a second straight District 3 title and is three wins shy of 100 for his career. Schlereth could tangle with Daly for the District 4 championship, while Flitcroft, Nemeth, Stephen and Sears will battle for medals in District 1. Sears dropped a 6-1 decision in SV to Phillipsburg's Horun in the North 2, Group 4 final. Nappi decked Herbert on Feb. 7, but keep an eye on Palumbo, a returning champion, in D2. He's wrestling real well of late.

220

1. Jr. Scott Lavelle, DePaul (D4)

2. Sr. Tim Byrne, Mendham (D1)

3. Sr. Gavin Lally, Sparta (D3)

4. So. Robert Melise, Phillipsburg (D1)

5. Sr. Payton Campbell, Morris Knolls (D2)

Others to watch: Ralph Hall, Lenape Valley; Kevin Lewis, High Point; Drew Flynn, Pompton Lakes; Mike Chak, Wayne Valley; Daniel Colabella, Mount Olive; Teddy Gurnowski, Hackettstown; Christian Burgos, Hopatcong; Joe LaScala, Montville; David Morehead, Randolph; Clayton O’Leary, Roxbury.

Notes: Lavelle (28-4) is a big favorite to win the District 4 title, while Byrne and Melise should clash for the District 1 championship. Lally is the choice in District 3, and look for Lewis to go 285 where he'd be the favorite in D3. Campbell dropped a 2-0 decision to Lally on Feb. 7. Hall is deadly with a headlock and will gun for a second straight title in District 2.

285

1. Jr. Kyle Nothnagel, Phillipsburg (D1)

2. Sr. Andrew Pacheco, Warren Hills (D1)

3. Sr. David Vargas, Randolph (D2)

4. So. Parker Fox, Montville (D2)

5. Sr. Alex Skaltsis, Mendham (D1)

Others to watch: Johanser Joseph, Pequannock; Robbie Gennat, Sparta; Rich Fritzky, Lenape Valley; Jake Pluta, Wayne Valley; Steve Hankin, West Milford; Nick Sanders, Pompton Lakes; Jake Hanstien, Lakeland.

Notes: Looking forward to a Nothnagel-Pacheco rematch in the District 1 finals. Nothnagel scored a 6-1 win in overtime when they met on Jan. 29. The first takedown could be the key in that one. Vargas beat Gennat, 1-0, on Feb. 6. Fritzky could shake things up in District 2.