Coach: John Gardner (362-103-2, 22nd season).
2018-19 record: 16-3, 4-0 NJAC Freedom Division (first), North 1, Group 2 champion, Group 2 runner-up.
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| High Point is again the favorite in North 1, Group 2. |
Key returnees: So. Charles Antcliff (2-3) 120; So. Andrew Brevot (3-4) 120; Jr. Nick Douma (3-3) 126; Jr. Liam Carroll (1-1) 132; Jr. Clay Sytsema (0-4) 138; So. Noah Ripley (0-2) 152; So. Troy Tiger (3-2) 160-170; Jr. Troy Van Orden (1-1) 220; Jr. Robert Juliano (1-2) 285; Jr. Chris Hendershot (1-3) 285.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Ryan Mangano 106; Fr. Roman Citro 106; Fr. Shane Woolf 138.
Outlook: 'Cats are primed for another run at division, sectional and state championships following a tough loss to South Plainfield in last season's Group 2 final. As was the case a year ago, the upper weights are a bit of a question, but there is experience in the last five weights. This is a formidable group from 106-160 with five returning state qualifiers, including Utter, Liebl, Gervey and Talmadge, a Lock Haven University commit who placed fifth in the state tournament, along with Brian Soldano, who is coming off a stellar freshman campaign. Citro and Woolf -- New Jersey Grade School League champions -- will be impact freshmen. Citro's father, Marc, was a two-time region qualifier for West Milford in 1990 and '91. Other than North Hunterdon, this could be the most balanced team in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area and the favorite in Group 2. The schedule, as always, is brutal with dual meets against Kittatinny (Jan. 2), Howell (Jan. 7), Phillipsburg (Jan. 18), Southern (Jan. 30) and Hunterdon Central (Feb. 1).
Hopatcong Chiefs
Coach: Eric Fajerman (128-317-3, 20th season).
2018-19 record: 3-17, 2-2 NJAC Colonial Division (third).
Returning starters (13): Jr. Faith Malizzi (4-15) 106; Sr. Alex Corujo (3-13) 113; Sr. Freddie Gonzalez (15-19) 126; Jr. Frank Mastroeni (21-7, D3) 132; So. Tommy Feinberg (2-16) 138; Jr. Andrew Costa (21-11, D2) 145-152; Sr. Sean Cranmer (21-11, D4) 145-152; So. Mike Mastroeni (24-10, D2, R6) 160-170; Jr. Justin Basile (1-13) 182; Sr. Alex Feinberg (10-22, D4) 195; Sr. Jack Certo (8-14) 285; Sr. John Sanchez (11-14, D4) 285.
Key returnees: So. James Feinberg (1-7) 160-170; So. Kris Tor (0-13) 160.
Outlook: Chiefs have battled low numbers in recent years, but the good news is they should have a full lineup with the return of 13 starters. The program has produced just 21 wins over the past eight campaigns, but a full lineup could help this team improve on last season's total. There are also a few individuals eyeing better postseason success, including Mike Mastroeni, who was a round shy of reaching Atlantic City as a freshman.
Kittatinny Cougars
Coach: John Gill (581-188-5, 40th season).
2018-19 record: 17-8, 2-2 NJAC Freedom Division (third), North 1, Group 1 champion, Group 1 runner-up.
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| Kittatinny won its 22nd sectional title in 2019. |
Key losses: Mike Nelson (19-13, D2) 120; Nile Mattar (20-16, D4) 132; Derek Molfetto (17-17, D2) 138; Brian Hanna (22-14, D4) 145; Blake Dippel (14-22, D2) 170; Zach Mafaro (42-5, D1, R3, S5) 182.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Anthony Ferrari 113; Fr. Chris Casale 120; Fr. Andrew Knutelsky 126; So. Aidan Van Wingerden 152; So. Ty Eldred 285.
Outlook: Annually one of the top teams in the county and in Group 1 or 2, the Cougars got on a roll late last season and won the North 1, Group 1 sectional title before falling to Paulsboro in the Group 1 final. As was the case then, a strong group of upper weights will give this team a chance to repeat and be a headache for opponents on the dual schedule. Bruce was a nice surprise in his first varsity season, while Crawn and Jacob Mafaro are capable of earning medals in AC. The question is whether the lower and middle weights can pitch in enough to help Gill, who enters a remarkable 40th season, reach a personal milestone of 600 wins, a mark the program hit last season. With just two seniors, this is by far his youngest team -- three freshmen and five sophomores in the starting lineup.
Lenape Valley Patriots
Coach: Gary Mikolay (14-30, third season).
2018-19 record: 10-14, 4-0 NJAC Colonial Division (first).
Returning starters (4): So. Daniel Haws (32-10, D1, R4) 120; Sr. Eric Falleni (33-7, D1, R5) 138; Sr. Zach Miller (9-24, D4-2018) 145; Jr. Justin Palumbo (12-17, D2) 195.
Key losses: Marcus Bitetto (27-9, D1) 113; Dominic Falleni (25-8, D2) 132; James Haws (31-13, D2, R4) 145; Kalvin Green (21-13, D2) 170.
Key returnees: Jr. Andres Villanueva-Cruz (2-15) 113; Jr. Cameron Samiljan (2-5) 182; Sr. Kyle Luba (2-6) 220; Sr. Ryan Hall (23-12 in 2017-18, injured last season) 285.
Promising newcomers: So. Tyler Gaboda 106; Fr. Marcus Bullock 106; So. Michael Sawaged 126; Jr. Jason Kleinschmidt 132; Sr. Zach Porarro 152; Sr. Justin Peterson 160; So. Jake Cuttito 220.
Outlook: Patriots, who lost four reliable wrestlers to graduation, will count on their four returning starters for leadership this season with a fairly inexperienced cast around them. The lineup receives a boost with the return of Hall, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Haws and Falleni are capable of reaching Atlantic City at season's end so the team goal will be to improve with each match.
Newton Braves
Coach: Eric Bollette (238-187-1, 19th season).
2018-19 record: 14-7, 3-1 NJAC Freedom Division (second), North 1, Group 2 runner-up.
Returning starters (6): Jr. Nathan Fitt (29-5, D3) 120; Jr. Danny Cleary (17-21, D2, R6) 126; Jr. JoJo Lotruglio (24-12, D2) 138; Jr. Nick Costa (9-16, D3) 145; Sr. Trevor Aughenbaugh (13-17) 170; Sr. Julian Sibblies (10-15, D4) 182.
Key returnees: Sr. Valerio Sanchez 106; Jr. Aden Sathuthiti 113; So. Takeo Sibblies (1-3) 138; So. Aidan Murtagh 138; Sr. Aidan Bartsch 145; Jr. Jordan Sliker 145; Jr. Ryan Pappas 152; Jr. Chris McConnell 152; So. Melkart Abou-Jaoude 160; Sr. Ryan Rittie 170; Sr. Isaiah Wilkins (3-6) 285.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Michael Melillo 126; Fr. Thaylor Sibblies 132; Fr. Larry Gura 132; So. David Hook 152; Fr. Danny Barry 152; Jr. Jesus Blanco 160; Fr. Matt McLean 160; Fr. Claudio Ibarra 170; Fr. Matt May 170; Fr. Brody Guerra 182; Sr. Kyheem Butler 195; Jr. Jabari Oxley 220.
Outlook: Braves, who were runners-up in the division and in North 1, Group 2 to High Point, sustained significant graduation losses, including a pair of state medal winners in McCarthy and Fischer. A few of the returning veterans will be counted on heavily to guide a fairly young lineup. Fitt, Cleary and Lotruglio are all three-year starters and region qualifiers last season. There are some questions down low and up top, but Thaylor Sibblies, who placed in the New Jersey Grade School League, should be a nice addition in the middle. Expect this group to improve by season's end and possibly get back to the sectional final. The Boresch Duals, slated for Jan. 4, has become one of the state's premiere events.
Pope John Lions
Coach: Austin Alpaugh (first season).
2018-19 record: 14-3, 4-2 NJAC American Division (T-second); Non-Public North B champion, Non-Public B runner-up.
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| Eddie Ventresca atop the podium at 120 in AC. |
Key returnees: Sr. Cosmo Esposito (3-7) 145; So. Jack Stoll (4-8) 195; So. Jake Rubin (2-5) 285.
Promising newcomer: Fr. Bryan O'Hara 106.
Outlook: Alpaugh, a former state placewinner for Newton and assistant coach for the Lions takes over for Mark Piotrowsky, who guided the program to an overall mark of 83-30 the previous six seasons, including back-to-back sectional titles (2018 and '19) and the school's first state title (2018) in 24 years. With nine returning starters, including Ventresca, a Virginia Tech commit and a state champion as a junior, and two other placewinners in Percelay and Sement (Penn recruit), expect this group to again challenge for sectional and state titles. Ventresca looks to become only the second four-time Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament champion and the second for the Lions to win multiple state titles (Mike Frick 1969, '71 and 72).
Sparta Spartans
Coach: Frank Battaglia (111-83, ninth season).
2018-19 record: 6-22, 0-6 NJAC American Division (seventh).
Returning starters (9): Sr. Cooper Stewart (40-8, D2, R3) 113; Jr. Julian Couto (2-18) 120; Jr. Spencer Stewart (40-9, D1, R4, S8) 132; Sr. Garrett Stewart (41-5, D1, R3) 138; So. Nick Hwang (11-6, D3) 145; Jr. Troy Schmitzer (10-16) 152; Jr. Dominic Gignatelli (2-24) 170; So. Peter Cofrancesco (2-17) 195; Sr. Joe Liotta (8-19) 285.
Key losses: Chris Hwang (22-9, D2) 138; Rocco Gignatelli (30-11, D2, R6) 145.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Jack Nauta 106;
Outlook: Spartans, who have enjoyed quite a bit of success in recent seasons, including winning a sectional title in 2017, took a step back last season due to injuries and inexperience. This could be another tough go on the dual-meet front with some newcomers and a lack of varsity experience, but this lineup has three stars in the Stewart brothers to provide points on a regular basis. Spencer was a state placewinner as a sophomore and the hope is for a few more medals at season's end.
Vernon Vikings
Coach: Todd Piontkowski (28-86, fifth season overall; third season of second stint).
2018-19 record: 3-15, 0-4 NJAC Colonial Division (fifth).
Returning starters (7): Jr. Ryan Flaherty (11-10) 113; So. Skye Ivancich (9-7) 113; Jr. Sage DiGiuseppe (7-14) 138; Jr. Cooper Pleva (14-8) 145; So. Jake Hutchins-Booker (2-9) 152; Sr. Jon Alvarez (13-11, D3) 182; Jr. Noah Prevliglian (0-11) 182.
Key loss: Jeremy Kayhart (13-9) 285.
Key returnees: Sr. Joshua Buccieri (1-8) 132; Jr. Dylan Harris (0-1) 160; Jr. Patrick Schmidt (1-0) 170; Sr. Luke Negrin (1-2) 170; Jr. Pedro Rodriguez (0-2) 220; So. Shane Saulnier (4-3) 285.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Dylan Alba 106; Sr. Bryan Linares 126; Fr. James Loggie 126; Fr. Daniel Lovett 132; Fr. Joseph Germinario 138; Fr. Isaac Thomas 145; Jr. Julian Porras Arcos 160; Fr. Jeyss Abreu Jr. 182; Jr. Ryan Byron 220; Fr. Jacob Immesberger 220; Jr. Matthew Pittaluga 220.
Outlook: The good news for the Vikings entering this season is an uptick in numbers -- 22 total on the roster. There are also 12 girls in the program, including Ivancich. This is a pretty inexperienced group, so dual-meet wins will again be tough to come by on the boys' side. However, there was some individual success last season. Alvarez, who has been the team's best wrestler the previous two seasons, earned a district medal, while two other returnees posted double-digit wins.
Wallkill Valley Rangers
Coach: Jeff Churchill (25-90, fifth season; 159-89-3 in 15 seasons from 1989-2003 at Morris Knolls).
2018-19 record: 4-23, 1-3 NJAC Colonial Division (fourth).
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