That's the big question as it seems a few of the Sussex County athletic directors are pushing for the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament to rotate back to Hopatcong High School for next season.
Phillipsburg, which has a superior new facility and did a marvelous job as first-time host in 2018, was by all accounts poised to become the event's permanent site. Apparently, some ADs in Sussex, many of whom have never been to a tournament and were not in attendance last year at P'burg, have pointed to HWS Association bylaws that events must remain in their county every other year.
It's an unpopular opinion among many coaches, fans and media members, as well as some of the nine Sussex County ADs.
"It makes no sense," said High Point athletic director Todd Van Orden, who serves on the four-person HWS executive committee. "It's foolish not to keep it at Phillipsburg. I've voiced my opinion on it."
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| Phillipsburg's setup for the early rounds of the 2018 HWS Tournament. |
"Myself, [Newton AD Ryan Hashway] and [Wallkill Valley AD Daryl Jones] are all in favor of keeping it at P'burg," Van Orden said in a recent interview.
Hunterdon Central and Hopatcong had shared hosting duties since the tournament's inception in 2010. Prior to that, Central was the lone site of the former Hunterdon-Warren Tournament. Central last hosted in 2016, and deferred to P'burg when its spacious new gym was opened for the 2016-17 school year.
"I don't have a problem with Phillipsburg being a permanent site," said longtime Kittatinny coach John Gill, whose team will travel to P'burg for its annual dual meet with the Stateliners in January. "They have the nicest facility around. [Last year's event] was well done."
Hopatcong was the site in '17. Under former AD Tom Vara, the event was a two-day format and was well received by all three counties. Vara retired in 2014 and the school went to a one-day tournament two years ago for the first time with Chris Buglovsky as AD. But using two gyms, along with the lack of room in and outside the facility, makes it less than ideal now that there's a superior option. Hopatcong has been a fine host, but to go back to that when Phillipsburg can put six mats down with plenty of room to roam and the space to facilitate faster weigh-ins for the wrestlers and accommodate fans both in the cafeteria and in the bleachers -- the second gym at Hopatcong was standing room only -- is simply not in the best interest of the tournament.
High Point's John Gardner and Newton's Eric Bollette are among the Sussex coaches who strongly agree with Gill that the tournament should remain at Phillipsburg.
"The facilities are second to none and the gym is incredible," said Bollette, who brought his team to P'burg for a dual meet prior to the HWS Tournament last season. "Plenty of locker rooms and a great atmosphere. Hopatcong and Hunterdon Central have done a great job in the times they have hosted the tournament, but as this tournament continues to grow, the only place that can comfortably hold the HWS is Phillipsburg."
If this event goes back to Hopatcong, it will be a colossal mistake. Problem is you have some ADs who have never stepped foot into Phillipsburg High School or observed this tournament in person making this decision. Van Orden and North Warren AD John Simonetti, who have been very vocal about keeping the tournament at P'burg. HWS bylaws apparently call for rotating sites, however, cross country and other events such as baseball, which has been held at P'burg for awhile, don't follow that guideline.
"I feel a rotation should be maintained whenever possible," Kittatinny AD Chris Carroll said in a phone message. "Hopatcong is certainly a viable candidate, but I don't know if they are still interested in hosting. I know P'burg has a great facility and their people are extremely competent [in running the event]. If my coach is not opposed to staying at P'burg, I'm not either."
If travel is a concern, which I have heard is a contention for alternating sites, that's another absurdity. There is more travel in high school sports than ever with nonsensical conference alignments that send some teams on the road 40 minutes or more from home just to play a division contest.
As for wrestling, teams travel far distances every Saturday during the season. Several if not all ADs will likely vote according to what their coaches want to do. Most coaches at last year's event stated they were very pleased with P'burg as the new host.
"The old [Sussex County Interscholastic League ADs] feel it should be rotated, but if we have a vote to move it at our next meeting, I'd probably vote the opposite of where I've been in the past [on moving the wrestling event]," Carroll said.
This wrestling tournament was designed in theory to be a showcase for the athletes and to be run that way. It's easily the premiere event on the HWS calendar.
Here is hoping that the ADs who insist on going back to Hopatcong will come to their senses this fall and keep it at Phillipsburg. If they want to do what's in the best interest of the wrestlers, it's a no-brainer.
"It's the best of everything. I'd imagine most coaches feel that way," Gill said. "It's better for the fans and the athletes. That's what it's supposed to be about."
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