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| P'burg celebrates its first team title since 2015. |
Aragona (23-0), who also earned the Outstanding Wrestler Award, capped his run by putting on a takedown clinic -- eight in all, including one with a cradle for a five-pointer -- in a 21-6 technical fall victory over Hunterdon Central junior Anthony Romaniello in 5:10.
"It's definitely special," said Aragona, a state runner-up as a sophomore and his school's all-time wins leader at 139-6 overall. "One of the things I looked forward to doing was win it this year. I'm happy I've been able to do these things I've worked so hard for. This is a pretty tough tournament. It's a great feeling."
Juniors Eddie Ventresca (120) and Kaya Sement (132) joined Aragona as champions for Pope John, which finished fourth in the team standings with seven placewinners, including a pair of runners-up in Shane Percelay (106) and Matthew Garcia (145).
Ventresca (20-1), a two-time state placewinner, rolled to his third straight HWS title with a 14-4 major over Sparta sophomore Spencer Stewart, while Sement (17-4) claimed his first title by avenging a finals loss in 2018 to Phillipsburg senior Travis Jones with a 10-6 decision in the rematch.
The tall-and-lanky Sement, a state qualifier last season, beat Jones at his own game on the mat with a big second-period reversal, while racking up four takedowns to none from the neutral position.
Phillipsburg had nine placewinners, including first time champions and seniors Kyle Tino (145), Cody Harrison (152) and Austin Roth (195) and three runners-up in Jones, TJ Abode (160) and Jacob Wicks (182).
"We thought all week that we were going to win this because of our balance," Stateliners coach Dave Post said. "It wasn't a perfect tournament. We left some [wins] out there. Tino had a good match in the finals [a 6-5 win over Garcia] and we knew Roth was going to win. We knew the tournament was going to be won with guys like Abode and Wicks. They had great tournaments."
Fernandes quick to stick
Voorhees senior Lewis Fernandes isn't getting a whole lot of mat time in these days, at least on the high school scene. The returning state champion went a combined 2 minutes, 4 seconds in recording three pins at heavyweight en route to his second HWS title.
Fernandes (23-0), a winner at 220 last year and one of the nicest young men you'd ever meet, needed just 15 seconds to flatten Hunterdon Central senior Ryan Joyce to become only the second Voorhees wrestler to win multiple titles -- joining three-time winner Jadaen Bernstein.
"If I can get it over with [quickly], I will take the opportunity," said Fernandes, when asked if he's aiming for quick pins. "The majority of the time, I get a few [takedown] shots in. But this last match was different."
Speaking of Bernstein, the former state runner-up and the Vikes' all-time wins leader spent a few days this past week in the practice room as Fernandes' workout partner. Being such a heavy state title favorite can be boring when you're pinning opponents at a record pace, including a three-second fall earlier this season, but Fernandes, a Cornell University recruit and 129-22 overall, is keeping things in the proper perspective, getting in some tough workouts on the side to stay humble.
"Jadaen is a great kid and a role model for me," said Fernandes, who has yet to go the distance this season with 18 pins (14 in a minute or less) and 5 forfeits. "If I can be half the man he is, I'll be doing great. I'm proud to be part of that [multiple HWS winners club at Voorhees]."
First time around
Belvidere senior Quinn Melofchik (113) was among nine wrestlers to win their first HWS titles. Melofchik (113) and Harrison were able to win the gold as state placewinners and former runners-up in this tournament.
Melofchik (13-0), who was second here last year and seventh in the state tournament at 106, jumped out to a four-point lead with a takedown and backs off a cradle en route to a 5-2 win over Sparta junior Cooper Stewart to become Belvidere's fourth HWS champ -- joining Dylan Thorsen (2012), Jesse Thorsen and J.B. Lawson (2013).
"I had a chance to win it the last two years, but I'm not going to complain," said Melofchik, now 121-16 overall and 11 wins shy of becoming the County Seaters' all-time leader. "I've got a good run going right now. It's tough to score on a guy who is that defensive. I knew I was in no danger of being scored on, but I have to do a better job of getting more movement [on my feet] and firing off a quick shot."
Harrison (16-1), who recorded his 100th career win in the semifinals, also hit a big move in the first period, catching Newton senior Wyatt McCarthy for five with a takedown and nearside cradle, and again later for another five on the way to a 12-3 major in one of the most anticipated finals between state medal winners. Harrison has handed McCarthy his only two losses this season, including a 6-3 decision when their teams met in a dual meet on Dec. 22.
"When you have two good opponents, if one gets a five-point move it's basically over," said Harrison, who was unable to compete the past two years due to a shoulder injury after finishing second while at Warren Hills as a freshman. "It's hard to come back from that many points. I just had to make sure I didn't get hit with any big moves."
Sparta junior Garrett Stewart (126), North Hunterdon senior Michael Wilson (160) and junior Nathaniel Fossett (170), along with Newton senior Luke Fischer (220) were also first-time winners.
Back points
Hunterdon Central freshman Brett Ungar (106) and Kittatinny senior Zach Mafaro (182), a pair of sixth-place finishers in the state tournament last season, won their second titles. Ungar scored a 7-1 decision over Percelay, while Mafaro, who won as a freshman and finished second as a junior, decked Wicks in 59 seconds with a cradle.
Hunterdon Central senior Jack Bauer, who finished second at 126, picked up his 100th career win in the quarterfinals by decking Warren Hills freshman Stephen Malia. Bauer is the 24th at his school, which had a tournament-best 12 placewinners, to reach the milestone, joining teammate Vincent Romaniello, the third-place finisher at 145 who did it earlier this season.
Those Stewart brothers at Sparta are a triple threat. All three reached the finals for a third tournament this season. Garrett won titles at the Hopatcong and John Goles Invitational, while Cooper and Spencer were John Goles champions.
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