Wrestling: Voorhees unveils program's top moments

With Voorhees High School sitting on 599 wins entering Saturday's quad against Livingston and Mahwah at Belvidere High School, here's a fun list, compiled by the Hunterdon County school, of some of the best moments in the program's 43 seasons:

1975 – First win over St. Mary’s High school
The Vikings opened their inaugural season with a 58-7 victory on Jan. 3, 1975, over St. Mary’s High School in Perth Amboy.  The team finished 9-9 on the season under coach Bob Hall.   

1976 – Jack Holthaus becomes first District 17 champion
Junior Jack Holthaus won at 108 pounds and would also go on to lead the team in wins during the 1975-76 season with 17.  The program entered this season with 117 district champions overall.

1979 – Eric Lobell becomes first Region 5 champion

Eric Lobell becomes the first region champion in winning at 108 pounds. Lobell would also go on to lead the team in wins during the 1978-79 season with 24, while winning three district and two region titles.  The program has won 35 region titles overall.  Two-time champions – Eric Lobell, Dave Zehnbauer, Shawn Curtis, Greg Evans and Mike Hafke.  Three-time Region champions – Glenn Hall, Dan Moody and Jadaen Bernstein.  Four-time champion – Eric Hall.

1980 – Voorhees wins first sectional championship 

The Vikes capped a remarkable, undefeated season by capturing the first of their 16 sectional titles with a 43-14 win over Morris Hills in the Central Jersey, Group 2 final, while finishing unbeaten at 20-0.  This season marked the first time Voorhees defeated all 4 county schools -- North Hunterdon, Hunterdon Central, South Hunterdon and Delaware Valley.

1981 – Glenn Hall becomes first state champion
Hall, a junior, scored a 2-1 win over Millville's Doug Taylor in the finals at 101 pounds. Taylor turned the tables the following season with a 6-3 win over Hall for the 108-pound title. Hall’s accolades still dominate school's wrestling record books, including an impressive 91.6 percent winning percentage which still stands as the best all-time.  

1982 – First team state championship

Voorhees won the Group 2 title with a 29-27 win over Pennsville after winning the sectional title against a Delaware Valley team that beat the Vikes earlier in the season. Voorhees finished 16-3, while winning Delaware River Conference and District 17 titles. 

1982 – Voorhees places four wrestlers in state tournament 

Back when wrestlers had to reach the semifinals to be recognized as placewinners, Lee Getz (first), Glenn Hall (second), Moody (third) and Curtis (fourth) took home medals. 

1985 – Voorhees beats North Hunterdon en route to Group 2 title 

After a 24-26 loss to inter-district rival North Hunterdon in the regular season, the Vikes avenged this loss with a 32-23 victory over the Lions in the Central Jersey, Group 3 final en route to the Group 3 state title. Voorhees was 17-2 and ranked fifth by the Coaches Association.

1987 – Vikes unbeaten, ranked seventh in the nation

Arguably the best team in program history, the 1986-87 squad finished 22-0, winning both sectional and state championships, while outscoring its opponents, 960-321. The Vikes were ranked No. 2 in the state by the Coaches Association. Truly a season to remember.  

1995 – Voorhees wins Group 2 title, finishes 18-1

After almost completing a perfect season, the Vikings capped an 18-1 season with a Central Jersey Group 2 sectional and Group 2 state title.  It was the fourth in 14 years and the last state championship for the program. The Vikes were ranked No. 7 by the Coaches Association.

1996 – Eric Hall earns his 100th career victory, while program hits 300 wins 

The Vikings defeated Watching Hills and Hillsborough in a tri-meet en route to a 19-2 season mark. No. 300 came against Hillsborough -- a 57-19 rout on Jan. 27, 1996. Hall, now the Vikes' head coach, ranks third on the school's all-time wins list at 120-19.

1998 – Brienza becomes first state champion since 1983

In an epic conclusion to an undefeated season, Brienza entertained the Boardwalk Hall crowd by pinning Dave Santamaria from Christian Brothers Academy in 1:09 to win the 130-pound crown. Brienza is the program's fourth and last champion. 

2004 – First sectional championship since 1998

After several seasons of rebuilding, the Vikes put together an impressive 12-4 campaign that was capped with a sectional title -- the program's first in six years. Voorhees finished 12-4 and was ranked 25th by the Coaches Association.

2011 – Bernstein's memorable postseason run

After a modest freshman season -- going 15-14 -- and a serious offseason commitment, sophomore Bernstein exploded onto the New Jersey wrestling scène.  He went undefeated in the regular season en route to winning his first district and region titles.  His historic run to the state finals is still talked about to this day.  Bernstein, now wrestling for Navy, finished his career as a three-time state placewinner (second, seventh, second). He is still the school's all-time wins leader at 135-19. 

2015 – Sectional thriller against Nutley

In a crazy back-and-forth match under the spotlight at Voorhees High School, all looked lost as the Vikes were down by four points with 220-pounder Derek Howarth trailing, 2-1, in the third period.  With less than a minute to go, Howarth's pin delivered the North 2, Group 3 title and the program’s 16^th sectional championship.

2018 – Fernandes brothers

For the past six seasons Michael, Scott and Lewis Fernandes have established a precedent of success that few family trios can claim.  They have accounted for just under 300 career wins and over 200 pins. Scott Fernandes has 99 career wins, while Lewis is at 87 heading into this weekend.