Wrestling: Carida top Tiger in wins (HWS rankings)

In what's becoming a trend with teams resting up for the postseason push, the final week of the regular season was relatively low-key as the sectional tournaments open Monday evening.

One noteworthy moment happened on Saturday, when Hackettstown senior Alex Carida became the school's all-time wins leader in going 2-0 during a quad against Montclair and Manalapan at Caldwell. Carida (29-1 at 145 pounds) improved to 125-27 overall in surpassing Joe Renne (123-35 from 2012-16).

Alex Carida owns a 16-match win streak. (Courtesy of Migdalia Carida/HWBC)

More importantly, Carida, whose only loss is 1-0 to DePaul state runner-up Ricky Cabanillas, is looking to make more history as he's aiming to become just the second Hackettstown wrestler to win a state title and the first to do so in 50 years. Warren County great Doug Blake has stood alone since winning back-to-back titles at 157 and 168 pounds in 1967 and '68. In fact, the Tigers' only other state finalist was Hank Deibel at 122 pounds in 1979.

"My goal is to win a state championship," Carida said after winning his second straight Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title on Jan. 13. "I've gotten a lot of good matches that will help me down the road in regions and Atlantic City.

There were some disappointing scenes as Voorhees and Sparta sat some of their better wrestlers in lopsided losses to Phillipsburg and Pope John, respectively. Sure, both rated as heavy underdogs, but the Vikes weighed in just 10 (minus Aidan Taylor (21-9 at 120), Scott Fernandes (27-3 at 195) and Lewis Fernandes (28-0 at 220-285) in a 66-6 loss to the Stateliners, while the Spartans sat most of their starters, who curiously weighed in, in a 73-0 loss in that crosstown matchup.

Match limits was the prevailing excuse, but this is bad from an optics standpoint and a disservice to the wrestlers who would benefit from the competition. What's more, it's another black eye for a sport that already has a marketing problem. Take a look at the empty seats in the stands. Does anyone think all of these forfeits and the top guys ducking each other will help create interest? 

Now, onto this week's rankings:

1. Pope John (14-2) -- Lions cruised to wins over Morris Hills (67-12), Mount Olive (44-28) and Sparta (73-0) to officially clinch the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference title, while coach Mark Piotrowsky's team dropped a 43-17 decision to nationally-ranked Wyoming Seminary (Pa.) on Friday to close out the regular season. The Sparta-based school is the heavy favorite to win sectional and state championships in Non-Public B for the first time since 1994. Junior Robert Garcia (27-3 at 145), who is 94-18 overall, is looking to be third member of his team to hit 100 wins this season.

Up next: Bishop Ahr at home on Wednesday in Non-Public B sectional semifinals.

2. Hunterdon Central (20-1) -- Red Devils rolled to a 51-15 win over Delaware Valley on Monday to secure the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title and wrapped up the week on Saturday with victories over Bridgewater-Raritan (62-9) and Watchung Hills (38-22) -- giving the program 896 overall. Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team is the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey, Group 5 as it seeks the program's 22nd sectional title and third in the four-year history of Group 5. Senior Hunter Graf (28-2 at 132) moved into fourth place on the school's all-time wins list.

Up next: Freehold Township at home on Monday in Central Jersey, Group 5 quarterfinals.

3. Phillipsburg (12-2) -- Stateliners had a relatively light week with wins over Voorhees (66-6) -- improving to 26-0 all-time against the Vikings -- and Ocean Township (50-21) in their first meeting on Saturday. Coach Dave Post's team is the No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 4 and could get a rematch with No. 3 North Hunterdon in Wednesday's semifinals. Senior Brian Meyer (24-2 at 152) enters the week tied with former two-time state champ Pete Poretta for sixth-place on the school's all-time wins list at 116.

Up next: Colonia at home on Monday in North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals.

4. High Point (19-1) -- Wildcats got the previous week off as they regrouped for what should be an entertaining North 1, Group 2 section with Newton and Kittatinny. Coach John Gardner's team, the No. 1 seed and seeking the program's 26th sectional title, sustained a huge loss as junior 120-pounder Devin Flannery (elbow) is out of the rest of the season. The 'Cats won't have an easy road as they may have to knock off Kittatinny and Newton to make a return trip to the Group 2 semifinals.

Up next: Pascack Hills at home on Monday in North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals.

5. Newton (15-5) -- Braves pinned down a 78-6 victory over Vernon (78-6), No. 792 overall, in their Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division finale as coach Eric Bollette's team, the No. 2 seed, could see No. 3 Jefferson in the North 1, Group 2 semis provided it gets past the opener on Monday. Junior Wyatt McCarthy (27-2 at 145-152) is closing in on 90 career wins.

Up next: Hawthorne at home on Monday in North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals.

6. North Hunterdon (15-4) -- Lions went 4-0 with wins over Ridge (56-9 on Tuesday), Bound Brook (57-11 on Wednesday) before capping their week at the Red Devils Duals with victories against Irvington (56-21) and Somerville (46-24) on Saturday. Coach Chris Hrunka's team, the No. 3 seed in North 2, Group 4 and is eyeing a rematch against P'burg in the semifinals. Senior ace Andrew Gapas (26-1 at 138) is sitting on 98 career wins.

Up next: Kearny at home on Monday in North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals.

7. Kittatinny (10-10) -- Cougars, who are on a four-match skid, also had the week off as they prep for a rematch against No. 4 seed Westwood in the North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals and a potential showdown against archrival High Point in the semis on Wednesday. But first, coach John Gill's team, the No. 5 seed, must avenge a 39-33 loss to Westwood on Jan. 27, in which an ineligible weigh-in at 285 proved costly. 

Up next: at Westwood on Monday in North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals.

8. Sparta (14-6) -- Spartans opened the week with a 73-0 loss to Pope John before bouncing back with wins over Kinnelon (59-9) and Randolph (50-21) on Saturday. Coach Frank Battaglia's team seeks back-to-back North 1, Group 3 titles as the No. 1 seed. Senior Robert Gennat (28-2 at 195) sustained his second loss -- 3-1 to Pope John's Jake Brown -- as he inches closer to the school's all-time wins record held by Ian Burke (120-23).

Up next: Ramapo at home on Monday in North 1, Group 3 quarterfinals.

9. Voorhees (19-8) -- Vikings opened with a 66-6 loss at Phillipsburg on Wednesday and closed with wins over Hasbrouck Heights (45-28 on Friday), Somerville (34-32) and Woodbridge (52-16) on Saturday at the Red Devil Duals. Coach Eric Hall's team is the No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 3 and seeks the program's 17th sectional title.

Up next: Lyndhurst-North Arlington at home on Monday in North 2, Group 3 quarterfinals.

10. Delaware Valley (8-11) -- Terriers opened last week with a 51-15 loss to Hunterdon Central on Wednesday, while going 1-1 at the Red Devil Duals on Saturday with a win over Bridgewater-Raritan (51-22), No. 760 overall, and a loss to state-ranked St. John Vianney (42-30). Coach Andy Fitz's team, which won a sectional title last season, is the No. 5 seed and will likely not have a home postseason match for the first time since 1998 in Central Jersey, Group 2.

Up next: at Bernards on Monday in Central Jersey, Group 2 quarterfinals.