North 1, Group 2
4-Westwood (18-8) at 1-High Point (13-2)
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| High Point celebrates its sectional title in 2018. |
Sectional titles: Westwood 1 (2002). High Point 26 (1984, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92, '94, '95, '96, '97, 2001, '02, '03, '05, '06, '07, '08, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '17, '18).
Breakdown: High Point -- seeking a Sussex County-record 27th section title -- will look to get past this matchup for a third straight season after semifinal victories in 2018 (36-12) and '17 (36-22) over Westwood, which poses a number of matchup problems with its strength in the lower-middle and upper weights. Key bouts are 113, 126, 138, 152 and 182. The 'Cats, ranked No. 11 in the New Jersey Writers Top 20, will feel a bit more comfortable if LaRue is back in the lineup after missing several matches with an elbow injury, while Dahdah just returned to the Westwood lineup. Furman is a tough opponent for anyone down low, while Liebl beat Fernandez, 7-5, last season. One common opponent is Jefferson, which scored a 52-30 win over a depleted Westwood squad on Dec. 22, and lost to the 'Cats, 50-19, on Jan. 16. Coach John Gardner's team has wrestled a much tougher schedule than Westwood, and that could be big in those tossup matches. I think the 'Cats have just enough to get by and avoid an upset.
Prediction: High Point, 30-25.
North 1, Group 2
3-Jefferson (17-5) at 2-Newton (13-6)
Wrestlers to watch: J, So. Luke Ciampa (24-7, D4) 120; So. Austin Jack (25-4, D2) 126; Sr. Ryan Tripodi (18-9, D2), 138; Sr. Mike Jack (18-3, D3) 145; Sr. Robert Ferucci (17-5, D2, R6) 152; Sr. Mason Godfrey (20-1, D3, R2-2016) 170; Sr. Justin Randzio (22-8, D2, R6) 182. N, So. Nathan Fitt (24-2, D4) 106; So. JoJo Lotruglio (21-8, D2) 126; Sr. Matthew Rosa (18-7, D3) 132; Sr. Michael Freda (18-10, D3, R5) 138; Sr. Wyatt McCarthy (26-2, D1, R1, S7) 145-152; Sr. Luke Fischer (28-0, D2, R2) 220.
Sectional titles: Jefferson 7 (1991, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, 2000). Newton 2 (2009, '10).
Breakdown: Jefferson, which reached the sectional final the previous two years only to be outclassed by High Point, has won two of the past three meetings against Newton, including a 30-28 victory in last year's semifinals. The Braves scored a 44-16 win this season on Jan,. 3, so that makes them solid favorites in this one, plus Ferucci has been out of the lineup since losing by injury default in a match against Garfield on Jan. 18. Newton won 10 bouts in the previous matchup, including three pins and two major decisions. Lotruglio scored an 8-2 win over Ciampa, while Freda beat Tripodi, 7-2 to give the Braves an early push. Both lineups could look very different as Jefferson was missing Godfrey last time so that swings some points to the Falcons, who should be able to make the rematch a bit tighter, but Newton wins the bonus battle.
Prediction: Newton, 37-24.
North 2, Group 4
3-Middletown North (12-7) at 2-North Hunterdon (19-2)
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| North Hunterdon seeks its first title since 2015. |
Sectional titles: Middletown North 1 (1996). North Hunterdon 14 (1980, '82, '84, '93, '94, '95, '96, '97, '99, 2000, '02, '03, '09, '15).
Breakdown: North Hunterdon stumbled in this round last season against Phillipsburg, which went on to win its 37th sectional title. Middletown North has also had problems against the Stateliners having lost the previous three sectional finals to P'burg -- 45-16 in 2016, 36-27 in '17 and 32-30 in '18. The 'Liners, the top seed in this section, will likely await the winner of this one in Friday's title match. There should be some intriguing bouts down low, including O'Keefe against Diesso at 113, but North is the much more balanced team and should have a huge advantage in the middle from 145-170. If Middletown North can win a few of the close ones, it could be a tighter margin than expected. But coach Chris Hrunka's team should be able to collect major bonus points in the middle and win a few up top to advance for a chance to avenge a 30-24 loss to Phillipsburg on Jan. 16.
Prediction: North Hunterdon 37-21.
North 2, Group 3
5-Voorhees (20-5) at 1-Mendham (14-3)
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| Voorhees celebrates its 17th sectional title in 2018. |
Wrestlers to watch: V, Sr. Aidan Taylor (25-6, D2, R4) 120; Sr. Hunter Rinehart (26-5, D3) 126; Sr. Matt Brandner (23-5, D3) 170; Sr. Sam Huff (25-6, D1, R3) 220; Sr. Lewis Fernandes (31-0, D1, R1, S1) 285. M, So. Jack Bertha (22-8, D2) 106; Jr. Tristan Navarino (20-10, D2, R4) 120; Sr. Dom DiGena (26-2, D2, R3) 126; Sr. Peter Tringali (27-3, D2, R4) 132; Jr. Justin Hyde (10-5, D3) 138; Sr. Alex Winant (21-2, D2, R4) 145; So. Andrew Bryan (19-11, D3) 160-170; Jr. Gage Armijo (28-1, D2, R1) 220.
Sectional titles: Voorhees 17 (1980, '81, '82, '83, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '91, '95, '96, '98, 2004, '13, '15, '18). Mendham 1 (2017).
Breakdown: Voorhees is coming off a 32-25 win over fourth-seeded Warren Hills -- avenging a 37-19 loss in which the Vikes lost 10 bouts to the Blue Streaks on Dec. 19. Taylor and Rinehart won key bouts in the rematch, while Brandner bumped to 182 and recorded a big pin. Mendham is a tougher assignment with balance and favored at weights where Voorhees usually has an edge -- like 120, 126 and 220. The Vikes, who enjoyed a title run last season following a road win at Warren Hills, would need both at least two of those to make it interesting, while also limiting bonus points in the middle. That won't be easy to do, while 106, 182 and 195 are also huge bouts. Mendham should be able to win eight bouts with bonus in at least three to advance.
Prediction: Mendham, 32-19.
North 2, Group 1
4-Bound Brook (5-11) at 1-Delaware Valley (11-6)
Wrestlers to watch: BB, Jr. Xavier Pena (16-6, D2, R5) 126; Jr. Mark Venson (19-10, D1, R4) 138-145; Sr. Carlos Ugalde (20-8, D4) 152-160; Sr. David Ugalde (23-8, D1, R6) 195; Sr. Jervey Sistrunk (27-2, D2, R1, S3) 285. DV, Sr. A.J. DeRosa (25-1, D1, R1) 132-138; Jr. Gage Crater (19-6, D2) 132; So. Anthony DeRosa (19-6, D4) 152; Sr. Shawne Ramsby (20-7, D2, R3) 170.
Sectional titles: Bound Brook 12 (1980, '81, '84, '98, '99, 2000, '01, '03, '12, '13, '14, '15). Delaware Valley 17 (1983, '84, '85, '87, '88, '89, '90, '93, '94, '99, 2001, '02, '05, '06, '15, '16, '17).
Breakdown: Funny how things change during the course of a season, but Delaware Valley looks to secure a spot in the sectional finals as the favorite here. The Terriers, who are in Group 1 for the first time in program history, broke their title drought with a 31-30 win over Raritan in the 2015 Central Jersey Group 2 final, the program's first championship since 2006, and they followed that up with sectional final victories in 2016 (30-29) and '17 (36-23). Coach Andy Fitz, who is 13-8 in sectional matches, including 3-4 in the finals, and recently picked up his 200th win, saw his team struggle last season after winning the Group 2 title in '17. Coming off an 81-0 win over Secaucus, Del Val is in for a much tougher night against Bound Brook. There are some key matchups down low, and there is an opportunity for the Terriers to have success where they normally struggle. Bound Brook needs to get a couple there and make hay in the middle. Fitz may opt to run A.J. DeRosa to 145 to face Venson, but that could give the Crusaders an opportunity to sweep 126-138.
Prediction: Delaware Valley, 30-28.
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