With Saturday's cutoff date looming in order for teams to qualify for the rapidly-approaching sectional tournaments, we have some big dual meets on tap, including a Sussex County matchup pitting a legendary coach against one of his former wrestlers.
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| Scott Fernandes can join Eric Hall in the Vikes' 100-win club. |
Coach Eric Hall's team can make history again later this week as the program stands just two victories shy of 600. Voorhees (12-6), which is 598-264-5 overall and in its 43rd season, has four matches on the schedule -- Hunterdon Central at home on Monday, at Warren Hills on Wednesday and a tri-meet at Belvidere on Saturday that includes Livingston.
The Vikes will be heavy underdogs against Central, but the other three matches are very winnable.
Voorhees also has designs on locking up either a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 3. The next-to-last set of power points will be released on Monday, as the Vikes were the No. 2 seed as of last week, just .77 points behind Cranford. Warren Hills was in the No. 4 spot. The top eight teams in each section qualify for the tournaments that begin on Monday, Feb. 5.
Delaware Valley (4-8), despite a season riddled with injuries, including the loss of state champion Kyle Lightner (knee) for the season, has designs on making a return to the Central Jersey, Group 2 sectional final. The Terriers, last season's Group 2 champions, appear to have a shot with favorite Raritan likely to be the No. 1 seed and unbeaten Point Pleasant Boro inexplicably being moved to South Jersey this season.
All eyes in these parts will be on North 1, Group 2, where High Point, Kittatinny and Newton will battle it out, along with Jefferson, which beat Kittatinny on Thursday.
Newton will host Kittatinny on Friday in front of what should be a packed house at Henry Boresch Memorial Gym. The Braves, under coach Eric Bollette, a former Kittatinny wrestler who is 4-15 against John Gill's teams, haven't won in the series since a four-match streak during their sectional title runs in 2008-09 and 2009-10. The Cougars, who have won the last six meetings, hold a 31-15 edge all-time, including a 57-6 victory in 2016. The teams did not wrestle last season (weather) for the first time since the series began in 1976.
We will take a closer look at that matchup later in the week.
Now, onto this week's rankings:
1. Pope John (10-1) -- Lions swept a quad at home with wins against Delaware Valley (Pa.) (60-9), Don Bosco Prep (58-10) and St. John Vianney (59-12) on Saturday. Senior Jake Rotunda (22-4) went 3-0 and set the school record for wins -- he's 112-22 overall -- in the process. Junior ace Joe Aragona (24-1) is the next in line to hit the century mark at 98-5 for his career. Interesting to note is senior Jake Brown dropping to 195. It's a light week for coach Mark Piotrowsky's team with one match on the docket.
Up next: St. Peter's Prep at home on Wednesday.
2. Hunterdon Central (12-1) -- Red Devils scored wins over Old Tappan (55-13) and state-ranked St. Peter's Prep (33-25), but suffered their first loss of the season -- 29-28 to a solid Emerson-Park Ridge squad as part of a quad on Saturday. Freshman Brett Ungar (20-1) took his first loss -- 4-2 to Nick Babin of EPR -- while senior Kevin Ciresa (17-5) went 3-0 as he inches closer to the 100-win mark at 92-39 overall. Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team can clinch at least a share of the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title with a win against Voorhees.
Up next: at Voorhees on Monday; at Northern Burlington on Friday; Delran, Rancocas Valley at Kingsway on Saturday.
3. Phillipsburg (6-2) -- Stateliners started their week on Thursday with an impressive 33-26 win at Hanover Park, but they dropped a tough 28-26 decision to archrival Easton (Pa.) in match that went down to the wire on Saturday. Junior Travis Jones (20-4 at 120), who will be one tough out in the postseason, warranted my vote for the Easton Lions Club Award, presented to the most aggressive wrestler in Saturday's match. Big week for coach Dave Post's team with four matches on the slate.
Up next: at Warren Hills on Monday; North Hunterdon at home on Wednesday; Parkland (Pa.) at home on Thursday; Southern at home on Saturday.
Up next: at Warren Hills on Monday; North Hunterdon at home on Wednesday; Parkland (Pa.) at home on Thursday; Southern at home on Saturday.
4. High Point (14-1) -- Wildcats rolled to a 47-15 win over Sparta on Thursday before sweeping a tri-meet on Saturday against Toms River North (31-22) and Delsea (41-28) at Pine Belt Arena, as coach John Gardner's team remained unbeaten against New Jersey competition. The 'Cats are hoping the trip will serve as a tuneup for the Group 2 championships next month at TRN. Sophomore Devon Liebl (16-4 at 106) had a nice win against the Spartans, a defensive pin against Cooper Stewart, who was third in the HWS Tournament.
Up next: Hackettstown at home on Tuesday; Lenape Valley at home on Friday; Warren Hills, Cedar Grove at Cranford on Saturday.
5. Kittatinny (7-6) -- Cougars dropped a 31-29 decision to Jefferson on Thursday and suffered a 34-31 loss to West Morris on Saturday, while going 2-1 in that quad at home with wins over Delaware Valley (36-33) and Westfield (56-19). Coach John Gill's team, which can clinch the NJAC Colonial Division title on Wednesday, is gearing for a brutally tough week with matches against Sparta and Newton on tap, as well as Group 1 title contender Emerson-Park Ridge.
Up next: North Warren at Hopatcong on Wednesday; at Sparta on Thursday; at Newton on Friday; Emerson-Park Ridge at Westwood on Saturday.
Up next: Hackettstown at home on Tuesday; Lenape Valley at home on Friday; Warren Hills, Cedar Grove at Cranford on Saturday.
5. Kittatinny (7-6) -- Cougars dropped a 31-29 decision to Jefferson on Thursday and suffered a 34-31 loss to West Morris on Saturday, while going 2-1 in that quad at home with wins over Delaware Valley (36-33) and Westfield (56-19). Coach John Gill's team, which can clinch the NJAC Colonial Division title on Wednesday, is gearing for a brutally tough week with matches against Sparta and Newton on tap, as well as Group 1 title contender Emerson-Park Ridge.
Up next: North Warren at Hopatcong on Wednesday; at Sparta on Thursday; at Newton on Friday; Emerson-Park Ridge at Westwood on Saturday.
6. Newton (9-5) -- Braves opened last week with a 45-21 win over Lenape Valley on Thursday before going 4-1 and finishing in fifth place at the Jack Welch Duals -- scoring wins over Holy Spirit (58-15), Northern Burlington (59-9), Warren Hills (55-13) and Buena (46-17), while dropping a tough one against Kingsway, 36-22. Juniors Wyatt McCarthy (21-2) and Luke Fischer (20-3) went 5-0 in the Duals, as Fischer scored a nice 3-1 win over Warren Hills junior Nick Galka in their matchup at 195.
Up next: Wallkill Valley at home on Tuesday; Kittatinny at home on Friday; North Warren, Dumont, Pascack Valley at home on Saturday.
7. North Hunterdon (10-3) -- Lions rolled to a 55-9 victory over Bridgewater-Raritan (55-9) on Thursday and went 2-1 on Saturday with wins over Hillsborough (61-15) and Woodstown (47-18) and a 48-16 loss to Watchung Hills, which won 11 bouts. Coach Chris Hrunka's team will look to bounce back on Monday against Delaware Valley, a match that appears to be closer on paper than team records would indicate. Senior Andrew Gapas (20-1 at 138), who went 2-0 on Saturday, is closing in on the 100-win milestone, as he enters the week at 92-22.
Up next: Delaware Valley at home on Monday; at Phillipsburg on Wednesday.
8. Sparta (9-3) -- Spartans dropped a 47-15 decision to High Point on Thursday before bouncing back with wins over Pompton Lakes (38-30) and Wayne Hills (49-25) on Saturday. Senior Robert Gennat (21-1 at 195), one of just three winners vs. High Point, improved to 108-28 overall, as he majored Pompton's Frankie Negrini, 11-3, who was previously unbeaten. Gennat is one win shy of gaining sole possession of fourth place on his school's all-time list. Coach Frank Battaglia's team has a big week ahead as it looks to lock down the No. 1 seed in North 1, Group 3.
Up next: Jefferson at home on Tuesday; Kittatinny at home on Thursday; Wallkill Valley, Demarest, Pascack Hills at home on Saturday.
9. Voorhees (12-6) -- Vikings, in their lone action of the week, swept a quad on Saturday with wins against New Brunswick (59-15), Franklin (55-15) and host Ridge (49-19). In addition to Scott Fernandes' milestone victory, younger brother Lewis Fernandes (23-0 at 220), a junior and another one to watch in the postseason, remained unbeaten with a pair of wins.
Up next: Hunterdon Central at home on Monday; at Warren Hills on Wednesday; Livingston at Belvidere on Saturday.
10. Delaware Valley (4-8) -- Terriers received a big boost to the lineup last week with the return of senior Shawne Ramsby (5-0) at 170 pounds, a weight where they were giving up six points on a pretty regular basis during his absence with a knee injury. Ramsby jumped back in by going 3-0, including a 17-10 win over Kittatinny senior Josh Hiler, a HWS champion, in a 36-33 loss to the Cougars on Saturday. Coach Andy Fitz's team beat Westfield (46-25) and lost to West Morris (38-30) in the quad after losing to Jefferson (36-27) on Friday.
Up next: North Hunterdon at home on Monday; Bound Brook at home on Wednesday; Marlboro at home on Thursday; Hillsborough at home on Friday.
Up next: Wallkill Valley at home on Tuesday; Kittatinny at home on Friday; North Warren, Dumont, Pascack Valley at home on Saturday.
7. North Hunterdon (10-3) -- Lions rolled to a 55-9 victory over Bridgewater-Raritan (55-9) on Thursday and went 2-1 on Saturday with wins over Hillsborough (61-15) and Woodstown (47-18) and a 48-16 loss to Watchung Hills, which won 11 bouts. Coach Chris Hrunka's team will look to bounce back on Monday against Delaware Valley, a match that appears to be closer on paper than team records would indicate. Senior Andrew Gapas (20-1 at 138), who went 2-0 on Saturday, is closing in on the 100-win milestone, as he enters the week at 92-22.
Up next: Delaware Valley at home on Monday; at Phillipsburg on Wednesday.
8. Sparta (9-3) -- Spartans dropped a 47-15 decision to High Point on Thursday before bouncing back with wins over Pompton Lakes (38-30) and Wayne Hills (49-25) on Saturday. Senior Robert Gennat (21-1 at 195), one of just three winners vs. High Point, improved to 108-28 overall, as he majored Pompton's Frankie Negrini, 11-3, who was previously unbeaten. Gennat is one win shy of gaining sole possession of fourth place on his school's all-time list. Coach Frank Battaglia's team has a big week ahead as it looks to lock down the No. 1 seed in North 1, Group 3.
Up next: Jefferson at home on Tuesday; Kittatinny at home on Thursday; Wallkill Valley, Demarest, Pascack Hills at home on Saturday.
9. Voorhees (12-6) -- Vikings, in their lone action of the week, swept a quad on Saturday with wins against New Brunswick (59-15), Franklin (55-15) and host Ridge (49-19). In addition to Scott Fernandes' milestone victory, younger brother Lewis Fernandes (23-0 at 220), a junior and another one to watch in the postseason, remained unbeaten with a pair of wins.
Up next: Hunterdon Central at home on Monday; at Warren Hills on Wednesday; Livingston at Belvidere on Saturday.
10. Delaware Valley (4-8) -- Terriers received a big boost to the lineup last week with the return of senior Shawne Ramsby (5-0) at 170 pounds, a weight where they were giving up six points on a pretty regular basis during his absence with a knee injury. Ramsby jumped back in by going 3-0, including a 17-10 win over Kittatinny senior Josh Hiler, a HWS champion, in a 36-33 loss to the Cougars on Saturday. Coach Andy Fitz's team beat Westfield (46-25) and lost to West Morris (38-30) in the quad after losing to Jefferson (36-27) on Friday.
Up next: North Hunterdon at home on Monday; Bound Brook at home on Wednesday; Marlboro at home on Thursday; Hillsborough at home on Friday.
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