High Point and Hunterdon Central have had to piece together their lineups all season, each losing several of its stars for part or all of this season. Yet, both teams feel they still have a shot to win a state title on Sunday.
In all, six teams representing the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area will be in action when the Group championships commence, starting with the Group 2 semifinals and title matches in Non-Public A and B at 9 a.m. on the campus of Toms River North High School.
The semifinals in Groups 3 and 4 are set to follow at 11:30 a.m., with the semis in Group 1 and 5 slated for 2 p.m. The finals for Groups 2, 3 and 4 will be at 5 p.m., with the Group 1 and 5 finals scheduled for 7 p.m.
"We're used to it [being the underdog]," High Point coach John Gardner said following his team's 35-25 win over Newton in the North 1, Group 2 sectional final on Friday night. "It's a reward for our kids, to have at least a favorable seed. We're just going to wrestle. That's all we can do."
Hunterdon Central (22-1) seeks its first championship in Group 5 and the program's second overall after winning Group 4 in 1989, while Pope John (14-2) looks to repeat in Non-Public B. Kittatinny and Delaware Valley, both in Group 1, round out the locals in the field.
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| High Point celebrates its 27th sectional title. |
"We like being the underdog," said High Point senior Devin Flannery, who had to watch last year's title run from the bench after sustaining a season-ending left elbow (UCL) injury midseason. "As long as we perform our best, there's no doubt we can win it."
"Douma came up big," Gardner said. "I wasn't so sure he was going to get out [on bottom against Nick Costa], then we got a late-match rally. I'm happy with the way he worked through the injury, and it paid dividends for us."
"We'll see what happens," LaRue said. "We have to wrestle tough and make all of our points count. Going back-to-back has been the goal all season."
Red Devils make it work
Hunterdon Central was pegged as one of the top public school in New Jersey when the season began and coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team has done well to get here -- securing the program's 22nd sectional title with a 39-24 win over Manalapan in the Central Jersey, Group 5 final.
Senior Pasquale Vizzoni (19-2 at 145) was sidelined a few week with a back injury and he has since returned, but senior Lukas Bakerian (220), a 20-match winner last season, left the team in December. Sophomore Norman Cella (20-4 at 160) and senior Dan Furmato (8-10 at 170), who was a win shy of reaching the state tournament a year ago, have recently been in-and-out of the lineup with knee and shoulder issues. Says a lot about how good this team was at full strength to be at this point.
"Our kids really stepped up," Cantagallo-Rohm said on Friday. "I'm proud of them."
Yet, Central feels it can compete for the Group 5 title, most likely against Southern, which ousted two-time defending champion Howell -- 30-28 in the South Jersey sectional final. The Rams, who won Group 5 in 2016, are always well coached and John Stout will have his team ready to go.
Central didn't catch a break in the seeding as it will face Watchung Hills, while Southern takes on Passaic Tech, earning the top seed based on average points for all dual meets, in the other semifinal. The Red Devils, who handed Watchung a 37-21 loss on Jan. 16, are hoping to rest a few regulars in the opener, but that match won't be a walkover.
Stateliners eyeing 23
Phillipsburg (17-2) has been building for this moment since winning the program's 22nd state title overall and fifth in a row in Group 4 last season. As he does each season, coach Dave Post sends out an email to his wrestlers and parents with that magic number to shoot for the next season at the end -- this year being No. 23.
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| P'burg celebrates its 38th sectional title. |
Senior state placewinner Travis Jones (28-3 at 126-132) is sitting on 98 career wins as he looks to become the 26th wrestler for P'burg to reach the century mark. Senior Cody Harrison (27-2 at 152) picked up his 112th win on Friday to surpass Post, who was 111-22 from 1999-2003.
Championship picks
Group 5
Hunterdon Central over Southern (25-24) -- This should be a dandy, and it will boil down to this -- can Central get enough down low where it could sweep from 106-132 (look for sophomore state placewinner Brett Ungar (29-0) to bump from 106 to 113) and minimize the damage up top where the Rams will be big favorites at 182, 195 and 220. The Red Devils need to win the tossups at least two of the tossups at 145, 170 and 285, and they could maneuver at 152 and 170 to save a few points. It's a lot to go their way, but they've been defying the odds all season.
Group 4
Phillipsburg over Jackson Memorial (34-20) -- Stateliners should have little trouble against Wayne Valley, while Jackson Memorial and Kingsway, which dropped a 35-28 decision to the Jags earlier this season, should be entertaining. I think P'burg matches up very well with Kingsway, but should Jackson prevail again, the 'Liners potentially could run the table from 106-152, except 120, in that matchup with a chance for bonus points in at least four. It gets a little dicey from 160 on up, that's if Harrison goes 152, with senior Austin Roth (182) likely the only favorite for P'burg. Key bouts may be 126, 138 and 220. As they have most of the season, the 'Liners win the bonus battle.
Group 2
South Plainfield over High Point (35-28) -- This could very well be a 7-7 split, but even with LaRue in the lineup (if he was healthy and at 126 it would have given the 'Cats a chance to win at least five from 106-138), this will be a tall order for High Point, which needs to get the flip to move senior Andrew Lewis (14-11 at 220), who was out of the lineup on Friday due to an undisclosed illness, away from state placewinner Zach DelVecchio and one upset to have a chance. Both teams will get their share of bonus points (High Point down low and South up top) but I think the Tigers get at least eight wins.
Group 1
Paulsboro over Kittatinny (53-9) -- Red Raiders are head-and-shoulders above the field here. Coach Paul Morina, whose teams are 698-43-4 in his 33 seasons at the helm, is looking to win the program's 32nd state title. First up is Delaware Valley (13-6), which captured its 18th sectional title on Friday with a 42-17 win over Whippany Park in the North 2, Group 1 final. Coach Andy Fitz and his Terriers, who are back here for the first time since winning the Group 2 title in 2017, face a monumental task as senior A.J. DeRosa (27-1 at 138) is their only favorite in this one. Kittatinny, which upset Emerson-Park Ridge, 36-33, for the North 1, Group 1 title and its 22nd championship, will take on Shore Regional in the other semifinal. The Cougars are strong up top with senior Zach Mafaro (29-1 at 182), sophomore Jackson Crawn (27-4 at 195), senior Jacob Mafaro (18-3 at 220), and they'll need big points from that group. Shore, which won its first sectional title on Friday, has balance, but the bonus points favor Kittatinny, which gets by, 29-25.
Non-Public B
Camden Catholic over Pope John (32-25) -- This should be a good one right out of the gate as both teams feature some of the state's top wrestlers -- Pope John junior Eddie Ventresca (28-1 at 120) and seniors JoJo Aragona (30-0 at 138) and Robbie Garcia (11-o at 152), all state placewinners, along with Camden Catholic state champ Lucas Revano (25-1 at 145). The Irish are the far more balanced team and that will be the difference as they can neutralize the Lions in spots where they normally get bonus points, while Pope John is a big underdog in the upper weights. Some key bouts are 106, 126 and 132 and the Sparta-based school will likely need all three for a chance to pull off its second straight title.
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