Monday, January 29, 2018

Wrestling: New Jersey Writers Association Top 20

Four teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area are still holding strong in this week's New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20.

Pope John (11-1), which rolled to a 52-18 victory over previously ranked St. Peter's Prep in its only action last week, moves up one spot to No. 4. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's Lions will be the top seed as they seek the program's first championship since 1994 in Non-Public North B.

Hunterdon Central (17-1) stays in the No. 7 spot, as coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's Red Devils, who are the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey, Group 5, capped a 5-0 week with a 55-12 victory over No. 18 Kingsway on Saturday.


Phillipsburg (10-2) holds steady at No. 8 following a 29-25 win over No. 12 Southern on Saturday -- victory No. 950 overall for the Stateliners, who will be the No. 2 seed as they bid for the program's 37th sectional title as the No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 4.


High Point (19-1), which is still unbeaten against New Jersey competition this season, rounds out the local teams at No. 11. Coach John Gardner's Wildcats clinched the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division title last week and will be the No. 1 seed for the North 1, Group 2 sectional tournament.

Newton (14-5) just missed the cut after its impressive 33-25 win over Kittatinny on Friday. Coach Eric Bollette's Braves will be the No. 2 seed in North 1, Group 2 as they seek the program's third sectional title and first since winning back-to-back North 1, Group 1 championships in 2009-10.

Bergen Catholic (8-1), the six-time defending Non-Public A champion, is the consensus No. 1 for a fifth straight week. Howell (24-0), which finished second behind No. 15 St. John Vianney (11-1) in the Shore Conference Tournament over the weekend, remains the highest-ranked public school team at No. 3.

An impressive bronze trophy, donated by Prestige Imaging of Old Bridge, will be presented at the end of the 2017-18 campaign to the state’s No. 1 team in the final NJWWA poll during the state individual championships in Atlantic City.


RankSchoolRecordVotesPrevious
1Bergen Catholic (13)(8-1)2601
2Delbarton(12-2)2472
3Howell(24-0)2323
4Pope John(11-1)2175
5Paulsboro(14-0)2144
6Emerson-Park Ridge(22-0)1926
7Hunterdon Central(17-1)1797
8Phillipsburg(10-2)1708
9Hanover Park(11-2)14610
10High Point(19-1)14111
11Seton Hall Prep(16-0)1379
12Southern(14-2)12212
13Watchung Hills(18-1)9315
14South Plainfield(14-6)8613
15St. John Vianney(11-1)8417
16Raritan(18-2)6318
17Long Branch(17-3)4419
18Kingsway(14-5)2920
19West Morris(11-2)25NR
20St. Peter's Prep(9-5)2314

Also receiving votes: Newton (14-5) 13; Camden Catholic (19-2) 13.

NJWWA voting members (in alphabetical order): Donald J. Brower (MorrisCountyHSWrestling.com); Frank D'Esposito (TheShoreConference.com); Steve Falk (Asbury Park Press); Josh Friedman (Courier Post of Cherry Hill, Daily Journal of Vineland); Screwy Louie Lazzari (New Jersey historian); John Lewis (Burlington County Times); Ron Mazzola (NJWWA president, Region 5 ranking chairman); Tom McGurk (Courier Post of Cherry Hill); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News); Mark Trible (Courier Post of Cherry Hill); Greg Tufaro (Home News Tribune of East Brunswick); Mike Weilamann (Open Mike); Brad Wilson (Express-Times).

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