Wrestling: Four rep HWS in final NJWWA Top 20

The Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area finished out the team portion of the season in championship fashion as three squads captured state titles on Sunday in Toms River.

Pope John, which won the Non-Public B title, is among the four local teams to grace the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 for the 2017-18 season.

Joining the Lions, who are the highest-ranked at No. 4, are Hunterdon Central (No. 7), Phillipsburg (No. 8) and High Point (No. 9).

Pope John (17-2) remained in the No. 4 spot after capturing the program's first sectional and state titles since 1994. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's team rolled to a 48-21 win over Holy Spirit in Sunday's Non-Public B final -- giving the Sparta-based school its sixth state championship, all in B.

Hunterdon Central (22-2) held steady in the No. 7 spot, as coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's Red Devils hung tough in a 29-20 loss to No. 3 Howell in the Central  Jersey, Group 5 final. It was a rematch of last year's epic Group 5 final, a 28-27 win for the Rebels. Howell won its second straight state title with a 33-15 victory over Southern on Sunday.

Phillipsburg (17-2) stayed at No. 8 after holding off Middletown North -- 32-20 on the road in the North 2, Group 4 final for the program's 37th sectional title overall -- and scoring a 35-21 win over Long Branch for the Stateliners' 22nd state championship and fifth straight in Group 4.

High Point (24-1) moved up one spot to No. 9 after a thrilling 30-25 win over No. 12 Raritan in the Group 2 title match on Sunday. The 'Cats, who have rallied from large deficits in their last three title runs, including a 19-point deficit against the Rockets, captured the program's fifth state championship and third in Group 2. Coach John Gardner's team also rolled to its Sussex County-best 26th sectional title with a 46-9 waxing of Jefferson in the North 1, Group 2 final.

Bergen Catholic (15-1), which won its seventh straight Non-Public A championship, went wire-to-wire as the consensus No. 1. The Crusaders will receive an impressive bronze trophy, donated by Prestige Imaging of Old Bridge, during the state individual championships in Atlantic City.

Rank	School	Record	Votes	Previous
1	Bergen Catholic (13)	(15-1)	260	1
2	Delbarton	(12-4)	247	2
3	Howell	(32-0)	227	3
4	Pope John	(17-2)	224	4
5	Paulsboro	(21-0)	212	5
6	Emerson-Park Ridge	(28-1)	195	6
7	Hunterdon Central	(22-2)	182	7
8	Phillipsburg	(17-2)	169	8
9	High Point	(24-1)	156	10
10	Southern	(19-3)	139	12
11	Seton Hall Prep	(19-1)	134	11
12	Raritan	(27-3)	115	16
13	Hanover Park	(17-3)	102	9
14	South Plainfield	(20-7)	92	14
15	Watchung Hills	(23-3)	81	13
16	Long Branch	(23-4)	63	17
17	Kingsway	(17-6)	46	18
18	Camden Catholic	(23-3)	43	NR
19	St. Augustine Prep	(19-5)	22	NR
20	St. John Vianney	(14-3)	11	15

Also receiving votes: Middletown North (17-7) 8; Point Pleasant Boro (19-2) 2.

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).