Sparta senior Robert Gennat seemed to be wearing a permanent smile after winning his first Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title on Saturday.
Surrounded by teammates and numerous well-wishers patting their hometown hero on the back -- a great scene in this age of athletes leaving for private schools -- Gennat beamed as he discussed perhaps the biggest week and victory of his high school career.
"This feels great. I got my 100th win [against Morris Hills on Thursday], but this eclipses it," said Gennat, an outstanding student who is heading to Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken in the fall to study at one of the finest engineering schools.
Gennat (18-1), who is the sixth Spartan to reach the century mark in wins, joined Gavin Lally (2015) as the school's only HWS champions, avenged his only loss of the season by decking Voorhees senior Scott Fernandes in their 195-pound final. Fernandes stuck Gennat in 29 seconds when they met on Dec. 30.
It was all part of a huge weekend for Sussex County, which boasted seven champions to take the all-time lead with 45, followed by Hunterdon (42) and Warren (39). It's also the second-highest individual total for Sussex after crowning eight in 2015.
Faithful followers of this blog will recall how we've said this is the granddaddy of all county events. For the first time, we have a first-class venue. The new Phillipsburg High School did a superb job of running the ninth annual version, with perfect site lines and plenty of room to roam -- even with six mats down. Hopefully all 18 athletic directors, who are scheduled to meet soon to discuss keeping this tournament in Phillipsburg, will realize what a colossal mistake they'd be making to let it leave here, even on a semi-annual basis.
In an informal poll, most coaches I've spoken with agreed with making Phillipsburg the permanent host. Kudos to head coach Dave Post and assistant Scott Silvis for hustling all weekend -- heck, Post even carried out an extra table and provided a power supply to accommodate the numerous media in attendance. Longtime AD Tom Fisher also assisted with media requests.
"I told them what a great job they did," Newton coach Eric Bollette said. "It's the perfect place. They kept the tournament moving. I hope it stays there."
With a few tweaks, like holding the quarterfinals and semifinals until each weight class is complete. By assigning 1 vs. 8 and 2 vs. 7 on specific mats, it makes it almost impossible to follow the action as those bouts have a tendency to end quicker, resulting in several weight classes going on at once. And it would be nice to announce who is wrestling where so it's easier for fans to locate their favorite wrestlers.
Also, let's figure out a way to hold the seeding meeting earlier in the week -- as in previous years -- so fans know who is wrestling and media members can do this thing the proper justice by promoting it in advance.
1. Pope John (7-1) -- Lions rolled to a 61-15 win at Jefferson on Thursday and their second straight Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title on Saturday -- the first Sussex County team to win back-to-back championships. Senior Jake Rotunda (132) and junior Joe Aragona (138) became just the fourth and fifth wrestlers to win three titles. Aragona, who is sitting on 95 career wins, will look to become the first four-time winner next season. Rotunda (109-22) is one win shy of surpassing state champion Brian Unkert (109-8-1 from 1986-90) for the school's all-time mark. Zac Dipini finished with 113 wins, but he also competed at Wallkill Valley before transferring to the Sparta-based school.
Up next: Mount Olive at home on Wednesday; Delaware Valley (Pa.), Don Bosco Prep, St. John Vianney at home on Saturday.
Surrounded by teammates and numerous well-wishers patting their hometown hero on the back -- a great scene in this age of athletes leaving for private schools -- Gennat beamed as he discussed perhaps the biggest week and victory of his high school career.
"This feels great. I got my 100th win [against Morris Hills on Thursday], but this eclipses it," said Gennat, an outstanding student who is heading to Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken in the fall to study at one of the finest engineering schools.
Gennat (18-1), who is the sixth Spartan to reach the century mark in wins, joined Gavin Lally (2015) as the school's only HWS champions, avenged his only loss of the season by decking Voorhees senior Scott Fernandes in their 195-pound final. Fernandes stuck Gennat in 29 seconds when they met on Dec. 30.
It was all part of a huge weekend for Sussex County, which boasted seven champions to take the all-time lead with 45, followed by Hunterdon (42) and Warren (39). It's also the second-highest individual total for Sussex after crowning eight in 2015.
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| The six-mat setup for the HWS Tournament (High Point Wrestling). |
In an informal poll, most coaches I've spoken with agreed with making Phillipsburg the permanent host. Kudos to head coach Dave Post and assistant Scott Silvis for hustling all weekend -- heck, Post even carried out an extra table and provided a power supply to accommodate the numerous media in attendance. Longtime AD Tom Fisher also assisted with media requests.
"I told them what a great job they did," Newton coach Eric Bollette said. "It's the perfect place. They kept the tournament moving. I hope it stays there."
With a few tweaks, like holding the quarterfinals and semifinals until each weight class is complete. By assigning 1 vs. 8 and 2 vs. 7 on specific mats, it makes it almost impossible to follow the action as those bouts have a tendency to end quicker, resulting in several weight classes going on at once. And it would be nice to announce who is wrestling where so it's easier for fans to locate their favorite wrestlers.
Also, let's figure out a way to hold the seeding meeting earlier in the week -- as in previous years -- so fans know who is wrestling and media members can do this thing the proper justice by promoting it in advance.
Now, onto a big shakeup in this week's rankings:
1. Pope John (7-1) -- Lions rolled to a 61-15 win at Jefferson on Thursday and their second straight Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title on Saturday -- the first Sussex County team to win back-to-back championships. Senior Jake Rotunda (132) and junior Joe Aragona (138) became just the fourth and fifth wrestlers to win three titles. Aragona, who is sitting on 95 career wins, will look to become the first four-time winner next season. Rotunda (109-22) is one win shy of surpassing state champion Brian Unkert (109-8-1 from 1986-90) for the school's all-time mark. Zac Dipini finished with 113 wins, but he also competed at Wallkill Valley before transferring to the Sparta-based school.
Up next: Mount Olive at home on Wednesday; Delaware Valley (Pa.), Don Bosco Prep, St. John Vianney at home on Saturday.
2. Hunterdon Central (10-0) -- Red Devils were impressive in a 38-21 win over Phillipsburg on Wednesday, while coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team finished second in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament standings. Brett Ungar (18-0 at 106) became just the sixth freshman in the tourney's nine-year history to win a title, as senior Hunter Graf (132), senior Kevin Ciresa (160) and junior Dan Furmato (170) were runners-up.
Up next: at Voorhees on Wednesday; Old Tappan, St. Peter's Prep at Emerson-Park Ridge on Saturday.
3. Phillipsburg (5-1) -- Stateliners dropped a 38-21 decision to Hunterdon Central on Wednesday, but bounced back the following night with a 39-21 victory at Kittatinny. The Warren County school finished third in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament team race as junior Travis Jones (120) and senior Brian Meyer (152) won their first titles, while senior Cullen Day (113), a champion in 2017, and junior Kyle Tino (138) finished third. The Lehigh-bound Meyer is four wins shy of passing Post for ninth place on the program's all-time list.
Up next: at Warren Hills on Wednesday; at Hanover Park on Thursday; at Easton (Pa.) on Saturday.
4. High Point (11-1) -- 'Cats earned a 34-23 win at Newton on Wednesday in a key NJAC Freedom Division matchup and scored a 56-18 victory at Vernon on Thursday. Coach John Gardner's team placed fourth in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament, despite the absence of junior Devin Flannery (14-2 at 120), who is sidelined indefinitely by an elbow injury. Junior Brandon LaRue (18-2) was second at 113, while senior Maverick Liebl (126) and sophomore Billy Talmadge (132) took thirds. Big one on Saturday at Paulsboro, ranked fourth in the New Jersey Writers Top 20 poll.
Up next: Lenape Valley at home on Tuesday; Sparta at home on Thursday; Asbury Park, Toms River North at Paulsboro on Saturday.
Up next: Lenape Valley at home on Tuesday; Sparta at home on Thursday; Asbury Park, Toms River North at Paulsboro on Saturday.
5. Kittatinny (5-4) -- Cougars cruised to a 69-12 win over Wallkill Valley on Wednesday and dropped a 39-21 decision to Phillipsburg on Thursday before a fifth-place finish in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament on Saturday. Senior Josh Hiler (15-3) won the 170-pound title and junior Zach Mafaro was second at 182, while senior Calvin Brook (14-5 at 152) and sophomore Jacob Mafaro (15-3 at 220) finished third.
Up next: North Warren at home on Wednesday; Jefferson at home on Thursday; Delaware Valley, Westfield and West Morris at home on Saturday.
Up next: North Warren at home on Wednesday; Jefferson at home on Thursday; Delaware Valley, Westfield and West Morris at home on Saturday.
6. Newton (4-4) -- Braves dropped a tough one to High Point (34-23 on Wednesday), but rebounded with a 57-15 win over Hackettstown on Thursday before finishing just two points behind fifth-place Kittatinny at Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament. That should be a great dual meet in a few weeks. Junior Wyatt McCarthy (15-2 at 152) was a runner-up for the second straight year, while senior Jonathon Borgognoni (16-1 at 160) won his first HWS title and the program's fourth -- joining Jake Connelly (2012), Josh Sibblies ('13) and Gus Protogeropoulos ('14). Junior Luke Fischer (14-3) placed third at 195.
Up next: Lenape Valley at home on Wednesday; Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown on Friday and Saturday.
Up next: Lenape Valley at home on Wednesday; Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown on Friday and Saturday.
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| North coach Chris Hrunka gives Tim Flynn (right) a plaque. |
Up next: Delaware Valley at home on Wednesday; at Bridgewater-Raritan on Thursday; Hillsborough, Watchung Hills, Woodstown at home on Saturday.
8. Sparta (7-2) -- Spartans, who posted a 51-19 win over Morris Hills on Thursday, move up two spots by virtue of their victory over Voorhees (40-33 on Dec. 30) and Delaware Valley's loss to the Vikes on Friday. Sophomore Cooper Stewart (15-2 at 106), who is having a nice season, finished third in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament, while coach Frank Battaglia's team finished eighth in the standings.
Up next: at Roxbury on Wednesday; at High Point on Thursday; Lenape Valley, Pompton Lakes, Wayne Hills at home on Saturday.
9. Voorhees (9-6) -- Vikings jump into the rankings for the first time this season after their 45-30 victory over Delaware Valley on Friday, snapping a four-match skid in the series with the program's first win since 2013. In fact, the Terriers had won 20 of the previous 21 meetings since back-to-back wins for Voorhees in 1998. Junior ace Lewis Fernandes (21-0 at 220), who had one of seven pins for the Vikes, won his first Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex title on Saturday. Senior Scott Fernandes (19-2) is three wins shy of 100.
Up next: Hunterdon Central at home on Wednesday; Franklin, New Brunswick at Ridge on Saturday.
10. Delaware Valley (3-5) -- Terriers, who opened last week with a 44-21 loss to Watchung Hills, drop two spots after a 45-30 loss to Voorhees on Gold Rush Night. Coach Andy Fitz's team finished 11th in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament as junior A.J. DeRosa (126) placed second, while senior CJ Heaps (113) and sophomore Gage Crater (132) finished fourth. Jefferson will come to Alexandria Township on Friday for the first time since "The Slam" in the Group 2 final in 1993 --marking the 25th anniversary of that infamous match.
Up next: at North Hunterdon on Wednesday; Jefferson at home on Friday; Westfield, West Morris at Kittatinny on Saturday.
On the bubble: Warren Hills (1-3).
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