What: John Goles Invitational Tournament (60th annual).
When: Wednesday.
Where: Warren Hills Regional High School, Washington Township.
Participating teams: Delaware Valley; Edison; Newton; North Hunterdon; Sparta; Warren Hills; West Morris.
Schedule (approximate): Pigtails and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; Championships, 3 p.m.
Returning champions (this year's weights): Connor Robinson, North Hunterdon (106); Michael Caso, West Morris (113); A.J. DeRosa, Delaware Valley (132); Jonathon Borgognoni, Newton (160); Marco Gaita, West Morris (170); Jarod Ostir, Warren Hills (182).
Others to watch: Michael O'Brien, Edison (120, District 19 second, Region 5 fifth); Kyle Wulff, Warren Hills (132, District 12 second, Region 3 sixth); Andrew Gapas, North Hunterdon (138, District 15 champion, Region 4 fourth, eighth in state tournament); Wyatt McCarthy, Newton (152, District 1 champion, Region 1 third); Justin LeMay, West Morris (152, District 11 second, Region 3 fourth); Joseph DeLuca, Newton (182, District 1 second, Region 1 sixth); Robbie Gennat, Sparta (195, District 3 second, Region 1 second); Nick Galka, Warren Hills (220, District 12 champion, Region 3 fifth).
Notes: Gaita is looking to become the 38th wrestler in tournament history to win at least three titles. The team championship race should also be interesting as Newton, West Morris and possibly North Hunterdon, should all be in the hunt. Braves, who amassed a record 254 points in winning the 2008 championship, feature three unbeaten wrestlers in McCarthy (6-0, third last year and No. 1 seed at 152), Borgognoni (6-0, No. 1 seed at 160), who is seeking his second straight championship, and Fischer (6-0, No. 2 seed at 195). ... Lions are strong in the middle of their lineup. Gapas, a state medal winner last season, seeks his first Goles title at one of the deepest weight classes. He has finished third twice and was a runner-up as a sophomore in '15. ... Warren Hills, which only has 10 wrestlers entered, has crowned a tournament-best 180 champions overall. The Blue Streaks haven't gone without at least one gold medal since getting shut out in 2002, while they've won or shared 22 championships since the tournament's inception in 1958, including its last title in 2013. Delaware Valley has claimed 11 of the last 18 team titles, including 2016. ... Newton has produced at least one champ in all but three tournaments since 2000. Speaking of which, assistant coaches Andy Iliff (1985-86) and Ted Sibblies (1987-88) were two-time winners for the Braves. Warren Hills assistant coach Dave Sbriscia was a two-time champion in 2004 and '05, while Del Val assistant Gregg Wiseburn (1999-2000) and North Hunterdon head coach Chris Hrunka (2006) were also champs for the Blue Streaks. ... Only seven teams in this year's field as Millburn pulled out a week before the season began. As a result, wrestling will take place on two mats in the main gym. Newton and North Hunterdon are the only teams with full lineups. Delaware Valley, Edison and West Morris all have 13 wrestlers entered in the tournament, while Sparta has just nine.
Championship picks: Cooper Stewart, Sparta (106); Caso, West Morris (113); JoJo Lotruglio, Newton (120); Matthew Rosa, Newton (126); A.J. DeRosa, Delaware Valley (132); Gapas, North Hunterdon (138); Michael Wilson, North Hunterdon (145); McCarthy, Newton (152); Borgognoni, Newton (160); Gaita, West Morris (170); J. Ostir, Warren Hills (182); Gennat, Sparta (195); Galka, Warren Hills (220); Matthew Somers, Newton (285).
Team champion: Newton.
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