Wrestling: New Jersey Writers Association Top 20

Five teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area highlight the initial New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 poll for 2018-19.

Hunterdon Central (9-0), is the highest ranked team from the Open Mike area at No. 4, while Pope John is two spots behind Central -- two of the favorites to win the team title at the 10th annual Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament on Saturday -- at No. 6. The Lions (5-1) last season won their first sectional and state titles since 1994.

Phillipsburg (5-0), which is seeking a sixth straight Group 4 state title, debuts at No. 8. The Stateliners are gearing up for their annual "Back to The Pit" night when they'll take on unranked Kittatinny in an independent match on Thursday.

High Point (3-0), which scored a 34-28 victory over No. 17 Southern on Dec. 22, is sitting at No. 9. The defending Group 2 champion is bolstered by a strong group of lower weights and coach John Gardner's team should be a contender for the HWS team title at P'burg this weekend.

The 'Cats will host P'burg on Friday, Jan. 18 to kick off a brutal stretch that includes dual matchups against Pope John, No. 7 South Plainfield, No. 15 Toms River North and Newton all in the span of seven days.

North Hunterdon (8-1), which is coming off Saturday's 38-24 win over Raritan, the Group 2 runner-up last season, is enjoying one of its best starts and enters the poll at No. 19. Coach Chris Hrunka's team captured the John Goles Invitational team championship on Dec. 27.

Bergen Catholic (0-0), the seven-time defending Non-Public A champion, is the consensus No 1. Paulsboro (7-0), which is coming off an impressive run to its second straight Henry Boresch Duals title with a 37-17 win over South Plainfield (8-1) in the title match on Saturday at Newton, is ranked No. 2, while Howell, the defending Group 5 champion, is sitting at No. 3.

Rank	School	Record
1	Bergen Catholic	(0-0)
2	Paulsboro	(7-0)
3	Howell	(8-0)
4	Hunterdon Central	(9-0)
5	Delbarton	(6-1)
6	Pope John	(5-1)
7	South Plainfield	(8-1)
8	Phillipsburg	(5-0)
9	High Point	(3-0)
10	St. Joseph-Montvale	(4-1)
11	St. Augustine	(3-2)
12	Camden Catholic	(2-0)
13	Seton Hall Prep	(6-1)
14	Hanover Park	(5-1)
15	Toms River North	(7-1)
16	Jackson Memorial	(4-2)
17	Southern	(6-2)
18	Kingsway	(4-6)
19	North Hunterdon	(8-1)
20	St. Peter's Prep	(8-0)

NJWWA voting members listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (morriscountyhswrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (theshoreconference.com; Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record of Hackensack); “Screwy” Louie Lazzari (New Jersey wrestling historian); John Lewis (Burlington County Times and phillyburbs.com); Ron Mazzola (NJWWA president and Region V ranking chairman); Tom McGurk (Courier Post of Cherry Hill); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com); Greg Tufaro (Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike)