In all, 15 of the 18 teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area have qualified, with Sparta (North 1, Group 3), High Point (North 1, Group 2), Hunterdon Central (Central Jersey, Group 5) and Pope John (Non-Public North B) earning No. 1 seeds.
Newton (North 1, Group 2), Phillipsburg (North 2, Group 4), Voorhees (North 2, Group 3) drew No. 2 seeds, while North Hunterdon (North 2, Group 4), Warren Hills (North 2, Group 3) and Hackettstown (North 2, Group 2) are No. 3 seeds.
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| Phillipsburg celebrates its 21st state title in 2017. |
"I like where we're at right now," Stateliners coach Dave Post said following his team's 66-6 rout of Voorhees in their Skyland Conference Raritan Division finale on Wednesday. "Matches like these are tuneups for us as we make a run towards our 22nd state title [fifth in a row in Group 4]."
High Point (19-1), which has won a Sussex County-best 25 sectional title, is looking to claim its second straight in North 1, Group 2. The Wildcats received some bad news this week as junior 120-pounder Devin Flannery (14-2) is done for the rest of the season with an elbow injury he sustained just a few days before the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament on Jan. 13. Coach John Gardner has a few options at 113 and 120 -- freshmen Josh Gervey (6-7) and Nick Douma (2-3) will be in that mix, along with junior state qualifier Brandon LaRue (26-2).
North Warren (North 1, Group 1), Kittatinny (North 1, Group 2), Lenape Valley (North 2, Group 2), Belvidere (North 2, Group 1) and Delaware Valley (Central Jersey, Group 2) are the other area teams to qualify.
Here's an analysis and predictions for all sections and Groups:
Group 5
North 1 -- North Bergen
North 2 -- Watchung Hills
Central -- Howell
South -- Southern
Notes: It's a shame the two best teams will likely meet in the sectional final as Howell, last year's Group 5 champion, and runner-up Hunterdon Central should collide in the Central Jersey sectional title match. It would be a rematch of one of the best state finals in recent memory -- a 28-27 win for the Rebels in 2017, a match that really had the joint buzzing. The Red Devils (18-1), who have won only one state championship in program history (Group 4 in 1989), are led by super freshman Brett Ungar (26-1 at 106), along with seniors Hunter Graf (26-2 at 132) and Kevin Ciresa (22-6 at 160). Graf, a state medal winner as a sophomore, is seven shy of the school's all-time wins mark, while Ciresa, who is 97-40 overall, is closing in on 100 career victories. On paper, Central does not match up well against Howell, which has one of its best and most well-balanced teams in program history. Watchung Hills (19-1), which is having a fine season under coach Dan Smith, will square off against Central on Saturday at the Red Devil Duals. Southern (14-2), which dropped a 29-25 decision to Phillipsburg on Saturday, is the pick to face Howell in the Group 5 final.
Group 4
North 1 -- West Morris
North 2 -- Phillipsburg
Central -- Long Branch
South -- Cherry Hill West
Notes: Phillipsburg has been the heavy favorite to win a fifth straight Group 4 title and its fifth in six seasons since the season began, but coach Dave Post's team must first secure the program's 37th sectional title and a potential semifinal date against North Hunterdon, the No. 3 seed. The Lions are eager for a rematch after a 41-15 loss on Jan. 24, where they lost the flip. Coach Chris Hrunka's team believes it can make it a tighter match by controlling a few matchups. Should P'burg advance it most likely will be on the road for the final as the 2 seed in North 2. Middletown North, which dropped the past two title matches at P'burg, is the top seed. A Friday night trek down the Garden State Parkway isn't what the 'Liners, who lost their only two sectional finals on the road in 1990 (34-30 at Warren Hills) and 2013 (30-29 at Hunterdon Central), or their legion of loyal fans were looking for, but it should be a successful trip, though Middletown North can match up in spots. Expect that one to be closer than you think (P'burg by 10). P'burg junior Travis Jones (25-4 at 120) and senior Brian Meyer (23-2 at 152) are outstanding, while junior Austin Roth (13-8 at 182) is coming on in the second half of the season. Keep an eye on West Morris (13-2), as well. Coach Ken Rossi's team is wrestling very well, with losses to state-ranked Southern (37-28 on Jan. 6) and High Point (42-24 on Dec. 21), and has wins over Mendham (35-24 on Jan. 9). Mount Olive (49-18 on Jan. 6) and Roxbury (40-16 on Jan. 24), the Nos. 5, 6 and 2 seeds in North 1.
Group 3
North 1 -- Sparta
North 2 -- Cranford
Central -- South Plainfield
South -- Delsea
Notes: Nothing new here as these four teams all won sectional titles in 2017. Sparta is looking to go back-to-back for the first time as it seeks the school's fourth sectional championship -- also winning in 1983 (North 1, Group 2) and 2000. It won't be easy as Pascack Valley, the No. 2 seed, has one of its best teams in recent years. Sparta, which should benefit from a much tougher schedule, is led by sophomore Cooper Stewart (22-3 at 106), freshman Spencer Stewart (24-3 at 113) and sophomore Garrett Stewart (22-5 at 132), along with state medal contender Robert Gennat (26-2 at 195), who is one win from passing Phil Takacs-Senske for sole possession of third place on the Spartans' all-time wins list. Cranford, which sustained heavy graduation losses, is the top seed in North 2 and just handed No. 3 seed Warren Hills (4-12) a 50-16 loss on Saturday. The Blue Streaks should get past No. 6 seed Morris Hills, coached by former Kittatinny wrestler Brian Bollette, on Monday, to set up a rematch with No. 2 Voorhees. Coach Eric Hall's Vikings escaped with a 36-31 win at Warren Hills on Jan. 24, a match that saw the Streaks, whose last sectional title was in 2007, win seven of the nine contested bouts -- there were five forfeits. South Plainfield gets the nod here to win it all.
Group 2
North 1 -- High Point
North 2 -- Hanover Park
Central -- Raritan
South -- Point Pleasant Boro
Notes: This will surely be the most entertaining group in Toms River. High Point, which is taking the week off to rest, is the top seed in what should be a highly competitive North 1 section that includes No. 2 Newton (15-5), No. 3 Jefferson (16-4) and No. 5 Kittatinny (10-10). High Point made a return trip to the Group 2 semifinals in '17 after a two-year hiatus and dropped a 32-30 heartbreaker to Hanover Park, which then lost to Delaware Valley in the state final. Hornets coach Tyler Branham, another Kittatinny alum, said in early January at the Boresch Duals that he was concerned about a rematch with the 'Cats, who have the firepower down low (106-138) to make things difficult for Hanover Park, which struggles in the upper weights. But High Point must first navigate through a loaded sectional field and it will be even tougher without Flannery. A semifinal matchup against Kittatinny, which would keep that series going after the rivals did not meet in the regular season for just the second time since 1976, would be real interesting. The Cougars, who would be a headache for High Point from 145 through 285, are struggling and will have to avenge a 39-33 loss to No. 4 Westwood on Saturday. Newton, which looked great in a 33-25 win over Kittatinny on Jan. 26, should not be overlooked here. Coach Eric Bollette's Braves dropped a 34-23 decision to High Point on Jan. 10, but the 'Cats were without sophomore Devon Liebl (20-4) and were forced to forfeit at 106, a likely nine-point swing. Newton has better upper weights, but High Point has more punch down low should either see Hanover Park down the road. One thing's for sure, both would be rooting for Point Pleasant Boro -- though Mark Trible and Brett Fetty of The Mat Pack like Haddonfield -- to win in South Jersey because that would pit Raritan against Hanover Park in one Group 2 semifinal.
Group 1
North 1 -- Emerson-Park Ridge
North 2 -- Roselle Park
Central -- Point Pleasant Beach
South -- Paulsboro
Notes: Looking forward to what would be one of the best state finals between Emerson-Park Ridge and Paulsboro, the odds-on favorites to reach the Group 1 title match. The Red Raiders get the nod in a close one. Locally, North Warren, which jumped into the top eight by virtue of a head-to-head win over Cresskill, qualified for the first time since 2012 and will travel to top-seeded Emerson-Park Ridge (22-0), ranked No. 6 in the New Jersey Writers Association Top 20, on Monday. Belvidere (10-6), which is the No. 4 seed, will host No. 5 Verona on Monday, with the winner to likely face No. 1 seed Roselle Park in North 2. Belvidere vs. Roselle Park would bring back some fond memories as those programs regularly met in this section, often with the title on the line, in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Non-Public A
North -- Bergen Catholic
South -- St. John Vianney
Overall winner: Bergen Catholic, which is going for seven in a row and 14 of 17 in the North A section, is the class of a loaded field that includes state-ranked Delbarton and St. Peter's Prep. The Crusaders will roll to their seventh straight straight Group title as St. John Vianney will have the daunting task of getting past St. Augustine and then Camden Catholic just to get to Toms River.
Non-Public B
North -- Pope John
South -- Donovan Catholic
Overall winner: Pope John (13-1), which is seeking its first sectional title since 1994 and the program's eighth overall -- all in North B -- is a heavy favorite here in a section that had four teams qualify. Junior Joe Aragona (27-1 at 138), a returning state runner-up, recently joined the Lions' 100-win club and is 101-5 overall. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's team has several other state qualifiers in seniors Jake Rotunda (25-4 at 132) and Jake Brown (14-1 at 195), along with sophomore Eddie Ventresca (25-2 at 113) and junior Robert Garcia (26-3 at 145) -- both state medal winners last season.
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