Wrestling: Streaks nip North Hunterdon for 700th win

Second time was the charm for Warren Hills' wrestling team to add to the program's rich history.

After coming up short in its first shot at recording a milestone victory against Hunterdon Central last week, the Blue Streaks rebounded for a 28-27 win over North Hunterdon in a Skyland Conference Raritan Division clash on Wednesday night to secure the Warren County program's 700th win.

Warren Hills (6-3, 2-2 division), which began wrestling as Washington High School in 1937, won seven bouts, including huge decisions from Pedro Cruz and Rashon Wade Taylor at 132 and 152 pounds, respectively. The Blue Streaks are just the fifth program in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area to notch at least 700 wins -- joining Phillipsburg, Hunterdon Central, Newton and Delaware Valley.

"Warren Hills has a very proud wrestling tradition and we as a team feel just feel honored that we had the opportunity to be a part of this significant win," said Blue Streaks coach Jarrett Hosbach, who got his 136th win and is now 3-7 vs. North in his 11 seasons at the helm.

North Hunterdon (2-8, 2-3), which still holds a 36-22 edge in the all-time series dating to 1957, had its four-match win streak against Warren Hills snapped with the loss. The Blue Streaks' previous win in the series was 35-23 on Jan. 21, 2010.

Trailing 24-20 with three bouts remaining, freshman Cody Harrison's technical fall win at 106 gave Warren Hills a lead it would not relinquish. Kyle Wulff followed with a 6-2 win at 113 to make it 28-24 with one bout to go.

Cruz (4-12), who entered the night with just three varsity wins in his career, put the Streaks ahead 8-0 with his 8-4 win over Michael Wilson in the second bout of the match. Wade Taylor added a 13-9 decision over Matt Gregory.

WARREN HILLS 28, NORTH HUNTERDON 27

126 -- Jr. Matt Valli (18-0), WH, tf. So. Will Hughes (5-9), 17-2, 5:41.
132 -- So. Pedro Cruz (4-12), WH, d. Fr. Michael Wilson (1-3), 8-4.
138 -- So. Tucker Kirchberger (8-11), NH, p. Jr. Kyle Henderson (0-2), :52.
145 -- Jr. Cole Marra (17-6), NH, d. So. Cameron Nauta (4-12), 3-2.
152 -- Jr. Rashon Wade Taylor (7-12), WH, d. Jr. Matt Gregory (2-10), 13-9.
160 -- Sr. Derek Ciavarro (10-1), NH, forfeit.
170 -- Sr. Wyatt Vrancken (14-3), NH, d. Sr. Anthony Roessner (12-8), 3-2.
182 -- Fr. Nick Galka (8-8), WH, d. So. Yousef Abbas (7-8), 5-3 SV.
195 -- Sr. Kurt Nemeth (14-4), WH, p. Jr. William Woody (1-5), :42.
220 -- Sr. Carmine Ricciardi (12-6), NH, d. Jr. Brody Oberly (11-8), 5-3.
285 -- Jr. Charlie Tordik (16-5), NH, d. Jr. Taylan Zafis (8-9), 2-1.
106 -- Fr. Cody Harrison (15-4), WH, tf. Fr. Connor Robinson (5-12), 20-5, 4:25.
113 -- So. Kyle Wulff (11-7), WH, d. Sr. Rob Spies (4-15), 6-2.
120 -- So. Andrew Gapas (17-4), NH, d. So. Codey O'Rourke (11-5), 7-2.
Records: Warren Hills 6-3, 2-2; North Hunterdon 2-8, 2-3.