High Point (5-0) reached a nice milestone on Saturday, recording the program's 700th win -- 28-25 over Southern, in the middle match of a quad.
"We've had the opportunity to compete at a high level for a long time," said John Gardner, who has logged 327 wins as a head coach, while taking part in another 69 as a wrestler for High Point from 1986-90. "It's a credit to the kids, [school] administrators, parents and coaches. It doesn't happen often. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication."
Gardner isn't one to pay attention to numbers, in fact, he couldn't even tell you how many coaching wins he's had in his fine career without reading about it. The Clemson University alum and former 189-pound state champion who held the New Jersey record for wins (131-8-1) when he graduated from High Point in '90, stays focused on making his wrestlers better than when they entered as freshmen.
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| High Point aims to repeat as sectional champion. (HP wrestling) |
"We've always tried to schedule quality competition to challenge our kids," said Gardner, whose finest hour in charge came in 2011, when the program produced four state champions in Atlantic City -- Nick Francavilla, Drew Wagenhoffer, Ethan Orr and Billy Smith (now an assistant coach for the 'Cats).
"Our goal has never been to see what our record can be."
This season, High Point is working toward another North 1, Group 2 title. It's one of the deepest sections, as Sussex County rivals Kittatinny and Newton also figure to be championship contenders. The 'Cats appear to have the most balanced lineup of the three, bolstered by a strong group of lower weights, but the Cougars and Braves are pretty strong in the second half of their lineups for the most part from 145-285.
"We've shown some good things, and we have a number of things we have to work on," Gardner said. "Wrestling is a long season. Hopefully we can stay healthy and keep getting better."
Now, onto this week's rankings.
1. Phillipsburg (2-0) -- Stateliners rolled to a 64-6 win over Delaware Valley on Friday in a special one-night only appearance at The Pit and closed out a short week with a tough 38-29 win over Newton in an independent clash that went down to the final bout. Cullen Day (113) and Travis Jones (120) put coach Dave Post's team over the top with a pin and a technical fall. Senior Brian Meyer, a Lehigh recruit who is sitting on 98 career wins, looks to become the 24th to reach the century mark for the 'Liners.
Up next: Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic at Liberty High School on Thursday and Friday.
2. Pope John (2-1) -- Lions took their first loss -- 41-29 to Delbarton -- as coach Mark Piotrowsky's team also scored wins over Camden Catholic (47-18) and Ocean Township (54-10) on Saturday in South Jersey Duals at Kingsway. Senior state qualifier Jake Rotunda (132) went 1-2 -- dropping decisions to Camden Catholic state placewinner Lucas Revano (6-3) and Delbarton state champion Pat Glory (12-0) while also collecting his 97th career victory. Junior Robbie Garcia (145), who placed fourth in the state last season, scored an impressive 9-5 win over returning state champ Jack Benner of Ocean Township.
Up next: at Hunterdon Central Invitational Tournament on Thursday.
3. Hunterdon Central (5-0) -- Red Devils scored an impressive 42-24 win over North Hunterdon in a key Skyland Conference Raritan Division showdown on Friday. Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team kept rolling against Hillsborough (57-13) and Bishop Ahr (59-0), along with a 37-28 victory over Middletown North, last season's North 2, Group 4 runner-up, on Saturday. Freshman Brett Ungar (7-0 at 106) aided the win over North Hunterdon with a first-period pin of junior Connor Robinson, a returning district runner-up.
Up next: 61st annual Hunterdon Central Invitational Tournament on Thursday; Collingswood at Winslow Township on Saturday.
4. High Point (5-0) -- Wildcats enjoyed a strong first week with wins over Mount Olive (44-18) on Tuesday, West Morris (42-24) on Thursday, while sweeping a quad at Southern with victories over the Rams (28-25), Atlantic City (63-9) and Woodstown (54-6). Brandon LaRue (113) and Shane Kobis (138) -- returning state qualifiers -- improved to 7-0 on the season. With the three wins at Southern, the program's all-time record sits at 701-238-7 in 52 seasons.
Up next: Mustang Classic at Brick Memorial on Thursday; Roxbury at home on Saturday.
5. North Hunterdon (1-1) -- Lions opened their dual season with a 36-23 victory over Allentown in Chris Hrunka's debut as head coach before dropping a 42-24 road decision to Hunterdon Central on Friday. Senior Andrew Gapas (5-0 at 138) anchors a solid middle of the lineup, along with junior Michael Wilson (5-0 at 145) and senior Tucker Kirchberger (5-0 at 152). The stretch will get even tougher with the return of senior William Hughes (160), a district champion, who has been sidelined due to an injury after recording 21 wins last season.
Up next: John Goles Invitational at Warren Hills on Wednesday; Marlboro, Sayreville at South Brunswick on Saturday.
6. Kittatinny (4-1) -- Cougars opened with wins over Wayne Hills (61-6), Kinnelon (64-9), Wayne Valley (42-16) and West Milford (54-15) before dropping a 40-29 decision to Group 2 title contender Hanover Park on Saturday. Former Kittatinny star Tyler Branham, a three-time district champion and a two-time region finalist from 2003-05, is in his first season as the Hornets' head coach. Junior Zach Mafaro (7-0 at 182) remained unbeaten, while freshman Jackson Crawn (7-1 at 195) is off a nice start in his rookie season.
Up next: Linn Crawn Classic at home on Wednesday.
7. Newton (2-1) -- Braves cruised to wins over Sparta (43-27 on Tuesday) and Roxbury (41-24 on Wednesday) before turning heads in a 38-29 loss to Phillipsburg on Saturday. Coach Eric Bollette's team notched the program's first win over Sparta since 2009, as the Braves own a 32-12-1 edge in the all-time series dating to 1961. The teams did not meet from 2010-13 after the Sussex County Interscholastic League folded following the 2008-09 season. Seniors Wyatt McCarthy (6-0 at 152) and Jonathon Borgognoni (6-0 at 160) kept rolling with solid wins against the Stateliners.
Up next: John Goles Invitational at Warren Hills on Wednesday.
8. Delaware Valley (1-2) -- Terriers had a tough opening week with a 46-19 loss to Hopewell Valley -- just the second time in the series' 19-match history and second in the last six meetings -- and 64-6 loss to Phillipsburg at The Pit on Friday. Coach Andy Fitz, whose team rallied for a 36-33 win over Warren Hills in between those defeats, lost another wrestler to injury as senior Eli Kalfaian (4-1 at 195) is out for at least two weeks due to a knee injury. This coming after we learned state champion Kyle Lightner will miss his senior season after offseason knee surgery. On a more positive note, junior A.J. DeRosa (6-0 at 132), who eyes his second straight John Goles title this week, is looking like a tough out come March.
Up next: John Goles Invitational at Warren Hills on Wednesday; Pingry, South Plainfield at home on Saturday.
9. Warren Hills (1-1) -- Blue Streaks rebounded from a tough 36-33 loss to Delaware Valley on Wednesday with a 50-24 win at Bound Brook on Friday. Against the Terriers, junior Duro Ajayi sent the match to the final bout with a pin at 285 pounds, while junior Nick Galka scored an 11-6 decision over district runner-up Eli Kalfaian at 220. Freshman Michael Wonski (113) and junior Chris Ostir (145) recorded pins against the Crusaders.
Up next: 60th annual John Goles Invitational at home on Wednesday.
10. Sparta (1-2) -- Spartans are coming off a challenging week with losses to Newton (43-27) on Tuesday and Group 5 champion Howell (62-9) on Saturday as coach Frank Battaglia's team closed with a 32-31 win on criteria (most first points) against Don Bosco Prep. Senior Robbie Gennat (6-0 at 195), a three-time district runner-up and a returning state qualifier, is just eight wins shy of 100 for his career.
Up next: John Goles Invitational at Warren Hills on Wednesday; Hillsborough, Newark Academy at Voorhees on Saturday.
On the bubble: Voorhees (6-2).
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