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| Eddie Ventresca on top of the podium at AC in 2019. |
Ventresca (35-3), who just became the third Pope John wrestler to win at least three region titles on Saturday, is among 37 qualifiers (down 13 from last year) among Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex schools, along with High Point sophomore Brian Soldano, one of the top contenders at 160 pounds.
Soldano is eyeing his first state medal after finishing a round shy as a freshman. He admits the scene was a bit overwhelming a year ago.
"Right now, I have confidence," said Soldano, a two-time Region 1 champ who is looking to become his school's first state gold medal winner since the 'Cats had AC buzzing by crowning four champs in 2011 -- Nick Francavilla, Drew Wagenhoffer, Ethan Orr and current assistant coach Billy Smith. "Last year, walking out under the lights [at Boardwalk Hall] it was a shocker, stage fright and all. But this year, I'm feeling very confident to do what I can do and try to win it."
Here is a look at the 10 male wrestlers from the Open Mike area with the best chances at capturing a medal this weekend in the 87th New Jersey State Wrestling Championships.
Eddie Ventresca (35-3), Pope John -- Looking to join New Jersey legend Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72) as the only Pope John wrestlers to win multiple state titles, Ventresca enters the state tournament riding a 10-bout win streak, including a 3-2 victory over St. Joseph-Montvale's Alex Almeyda, a returning state medalist who also lost a 1-0 decision when they met in a dual meet, in the Region 1 finals on Saturday. Ventresca, the No. 1 seed who has six pins and technical falls, along withs five major decision wins this season, has not lost to an in-state opponent. He has a double-loss to Notre Dame's Ryan Crookham, a PIAA Class AA state champ, 5-4 and 1-0, and dropped a 10-2 decision to Wyoming Seminary stud Nic Bouzakis on Feb. 1. Ventresca also owns a 6-4 win in sudden-victory overtime against two-time state placewinner Nicholas Nardone of Delbarton on Jan. 7.
Career mark: 152-15.
Previous appearances: 3-1, sixth place at 113 pounds in 2017; 6-1, third place at 113 in '18; 5-0, first place at 120 in '19.
First-round opponent: Hunterdon Central sophomore Nick Canonica (25-13, R5-4).
Brian Soldano (33-1), High Point -- Despite having never placed in AC, Soldano is regarded as one of the state's best having placed in the prestigious Super 32 and Cadet National Freestyle tournaments this past offseason. He's also one of the most dangerous mat wrestlers -- having pinned his way to the last two Region 1 titles while logging 27 falls -- five in six postseason bouts this season -- and 55 for his career (24 are less than one minute). Though he has put himself in peril in the past while trying to turn oppoents, Soldano, the No. 3 seed, knows he will have to careful in AC. "I'm used to getting in bad spots. It's old bad habits to break, but eventually I will get better." His only loss is an 11-8 decision to Virginia Tech recruit Clayton Ulrey, ranked nationally and a PIAA Class AAA state runner-up for Lower Dauphin in 2019, in the Sam Cali Tournament finals.
Career mark: 74-5.
Previous appearances: 3-2, fourth wrestlebacks at 160 pounds in 2019.
First-round opponent: Marlboro senior Edward Jang (31-11, R5-4).
Kaya Sement (31-4), Pope John -- The senior enjoyed a fine run at Boardwalk Hall last season in capturing his first state medal at a deep 132-pound weight class. Sement, a three-time district and two-time region champion, has one in-state loss this season -- getting pinned in 57 seconds by Kingsway sophomore Dakota Morris in the third-place bout at the Escape the Rock Tournament. Winning that second Region 1 title also proved to be difficult as Sement needed a takedown in sudden-victory overtime for a 6-4 victory over St. Joseph-Montvale freshman Michael Dellagatta. Sement, the No. 3 seed here, also scored a 6-1 victory over Hunterdon Central junior Colton Washleski, a Region 5 champion, to win his second Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title.
Career mark: 102-20 (three seasons at PJ).
Previous appearances: 2-2, third wrestlebacks at 120 pounds in 2018; 6-2, fifth place at 132 pounds in '19.
First-round opponent: Highland senior Brett Buckingham (22-10, R8-4).
Shane Percelay (34-5), Pope John -- The No. 9 seed won't have an easy path to the quarters as he would likely face Paulsboro senior Georgio Mazzeo (35-4), a Region 7 runner-up who is set to face Lenape Valley sophomore Daniel Haws in the prelims, in the second round. The winner would then most certainly go up against two-time finalist and 2019 state champion Dean Peterson of St. John Vianney in the Round of 8. But Percelay's experience here as a sophomore and having to grind back through the wrestlebacks should serve him well. He's also 6-0 career against Newton junior Nathan Fitt, the No. 20 seed at this weight class.
Career mark: 88-20.
Previous appearances: 4-2, seventh place at 106 pounds in 2019.
First-round opponent: Christian Brothers Academy junior Sebastiano Nini (17-4, R6-3).
Cooper Stewart (36-3), Sparta -- Making his second appearance at this weight class will certainly help Stewart, who does own a win over Don Bosco Prep junior Kelly Dunigan, the top seed and a returning medalist, 3-2, in the District 4 finals. Dunnigan turned the tables with a convincing 5-0 decision in the Region 1 finals on Saturday. Stewart, a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament champion who finished a round shy of a state medal in 2019, is sitting at the No. 4 spot and will open against Orange's Merlin Senat, who is his school's first state qualifier in 17 years. Stewart, whose twin brother, Garrett, is competing at 138, has the talent to make a run to the semifinals and earn a rubber match against Dunnigan in the semis.
Career mark: 120-20.
Previous appearances: 3-2, fourth wrestlebacks at 113 pounds in 2019.
First-round opponent: Orange junior Merlin Senat (36-8, R3-4).
Spencer Stewart (40-1), Sparta -- The youngest among the trio of Stewart brothers is the only one who has earned a state medal -- finishing eighth at 120 pounds as a sophomore in 2019. Spencer has enjoyed a tremendous season, winning Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament and District 4 titles before suffering his first loss in the Region 1 semifinals -- 5-1 to High Point junior Josh Gervey. Stewart, the No. 5 seed, has a path to the quarters in AC and would likely meet up with Region 1 champion and No. 4 seed Justin Bierdumpfel of St. Joseph-Montvale, a two-time medal winner, in the quarters.
Career mark: 113-17.
Previous appearances: 4-3, eighth place at 120 pounds in 2019.
First-round opponent: Mountain Lakes junior Charlie Sabino (29-6, R2-4).
Billy Talmadge (39-2), High Point -- The senior seeks his second state medal after facing who many feel is the man to beat at this weight the two previous Saturdays -- falling to St. Joseph-Montvale junior Michael Cetta in the District 1 and Region 1 finals. The latter was a 13-4 major decision that earned Cetta the Outstanding Wrestler Award. Talmadge, who is slick and has a non-stop motor, had been pretty much humming along until those losses, with wins over Ocean Township senior Alex Poniros (5-2 in the Mustang Classic semis) and Shore Regional's Al DeSantis (6-2 in the Sam Cali Tournament finals), as well as double-wins against Hunterdon Central sophomore Tanner Peake and Sparta senior Garrett Stewart, including decisions in winning a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title. Talmadge, the No. 4 seed, needs five wins to surpass Jason Gaccione (143-23 from 2011-15) for second place on the school's all-time list.
Career mark: 139-28.
Previous appearances: 0-2 at 132 pounds in 2018; 5-2, fifth place at 138 pounds in '19.
First-round opponent: St. Thomas Aquinas sophomore Owen Disbrow (36-6, R5-4).
Colton Washleski (39-4), Hunterdon Central -- Making his third appearance in AC, Washleski, the No. 7 seed, rebounded from a 3-1 loss in sudden-victory overtime to Rumson-Fair Haven's Max Brignola in the District 18 finals with a 3-2 victory in their Region 5 final matchup on Saturday. Washleski, who went over the century mark for career wins in that tournament, could play spoiler in the bottom quarter of the draw and get a potential rematch with Bound Brook senior Maximus Parra, the No. 10 seed in the second round at Boardwalk Hall. The Red Devil scored a 7-3 win when they met on Jan. 29.
Career mark: 101-26.
Previous appearances: 0-2 at 113 pounds in 2018; 2-2, third wrestlebacks at 120 pounds in '19.
First-round opponent: Seton Hall Prep junior Cole Carroll (26-13, R4-4).
Nate Fossett (32-3), North Hunterdon -- The steady senior, who bounced between 182 and 195 pounds, played a major role in North's first unbeaten season and its run to the program's first state title in 18 years as the Lions won the Group 4 championship. Fossett, a Region 5 champion as a junior and a runner-up this season, is lurking in the bottom bracket as the No. 11 seed. But the fact that he's been here before and has wrestled in plenty of big matches this season may just give him the edge for that first state medal.
Career mark: 85-26.
Previous appearances: 1-2, second wrestlebacks at 170 pounds in 2019.
First-round opponent: Bound Brook junior Jahman McNeil (33-6, R4-3).
Jackson Crawn (33-2), Kittatinny -- Only a junior, Crawn, the No. 7 seed, looked for much of this season like a medal contender after a brief appearance in AC as a sophomore. But after reeling off 28 straight wins, he stumbled last weekend -- getting pinned by St. Joseph-Montvale junior Michael Toranzo in the Region 1 finals. Crawn's only other loss is to title contender and Mendham ace Gage Armijo, a 55-second pin in the Linn Crawn Memorial Classic finals in December. The only question with Crawn, a physical specimen, has been his conditioning at times this season, but he has the tools to be on the podium come Saturday.
Career mark: 86-28.
Previous appearances: 1-2, second wrestlebacks at 195 pounds in 2019.
First-round opponent: Franklin senior Nnamdi James (30-8, R5-4).
Other area qualifiers (27):
Belvidere -- Hunter Lensi (106)
High Point -- Clayton Utter (113), Devon Liebl (126), Josh Gervey (132)
Hunterdon Central -- Nick Canonica (120), Tanner Peake (138), Anthony Romaniello (152), Norman Cella (160)
Lenape Valley -- Daniel Haws (120)
Kittatinny -- Brycen Mafaro (182)
Newton -- Nathan Fitt (120)
North Hunterdon -- Frank DiEsso (120), Connor Quinn (132), James Holder (170), Liam Akers (285)
Phillipsburg -- James Day (113), Nate Zastowny (160), Jamie Wicks (195), Gage Horvath (220), Cody Cruts (285)
Pope John -- Matthew Garcia (152), Jack Stoll (182), Peter Delaportas (195), Cole Zydel (220)
Sparta -- Garrett Stewart (138)
Warren Hills -- Stephen Malia (152), Tyler McCatharn (285)
Open Mike state championship picks
106 -- Evan Mougalian, Kinnelon
113 -- Tyler Klinsky, Middletown North
120 -- Dean Peterson, St. John Vianney
126 -- Eddie Ventresca, Pope John
132 -- Joey Olivieri, Hanover Park
138 -- Michael Cetta, St. Joseph-Montvale
145 -- Andrew Clark, Collingswood
152 -- Dylan Weaver, Lyndhurst-North Arlington
160 -- Brian Soldano, High Point
170 -- Shane Reitsma, Howell
182 -- John Poznanski, Colonia
195 -- Luke Chakonis, Delbarton
220 -- Kyle Jacob, Paramus
285 -- Bardhyl Gashi, West Essex
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