Wrestling: New Jersey Writers Association Top 20

Hunterdon Central continues to hold steady in the No. 4 spot as the highest ranked team among the five Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area representatives in the fifth New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 poll.

The Red Devils (18-0) held strong after a 29-27 win over No. 9 Phillipsburg on Jan. 24, as sophomore Colton Washleski sparked the victory with a pin in the next-to-last bout at 120 pounds. Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team, which will be the top seed in the upcoming Central Jersey, Group 5 sectional tournament, will visit No. 2 Paulsboro on Thursday.

P'burg (11-2), which will be the top seed in North 2, Group 4, drops two spots following losses to Hunterdon Central and Southern (36-12 on Saturday), which jumps 10 spots to No. 8. Coach Dave Post's team will try to avoid the program's first three-match skid since 2005, when it hosts archrival Easton (Pa.) on Wednesday.

Pope John (12-2) moves back into the top 10 following a 30-27 win over No. 11 High Point on Thursday and a 52-15 rout of No. 18 Seton Hall Prep on Monday. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's Lions will be the top seed as it seeks back-to-back Non-Public North B titles.

High Point (11-2), the NJAC Freedom Division champion, bounced back from the loss to Pope John by sweeping a quad on Saturday. Coach John Gardner's Wildcats will be the top seed in North 1, Group 2 as the program seeks its Sussex County-best 27th sectional title and back-to-back Group 2 championships.

North Hunterdon (15-2), which will be the No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 4, stayed hot with five wins last week, including a 39-27 victory over unranked Newton on Saturday. Coach Chris Hrunka's team, which sits in the No. 12 spot, also beat his alma mater as the Lions rolled to a 40-18 victory over Warren Hills on Friday.

Bergen Catholic (8-2), the seven-time defending Non-Public A champion, is the consensus No 1 for a fifth straight week. The Crusaders dropped a 45-20 decision to Blair Academy on Saturday.

Note: Records are through Monday's matches.

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

Also receiving votes: Mendham (10-2); West Morris (8-5); DePaul (8-3); Don Bosco Prep (7-3)

NJWWA voting members listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (gardenstatehswrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (theshoreconference.com; Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record of Hackensack and NorthJersey.com); Jane Havsy (Daily Record and DailyRecord.com); “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).