High Point Wildcats
Coach: John Gardner (377-107-2, 23rd season).2019-20 record: 15-4, 4-0 NJAC Freedom Division (first), North 1, Group 2 and Group 2 champions.
Returning starters (10): Jr. Clayton Utter (32-7, D1, R3) 113; So. Roman Citro (13-5) 120; Jr. Charles Antcliff (16-14) 120; Sr. Josh Gervey (37-9, D2, R2, S6) 138; Jr. Noah Ripley (9-21) 182; Jr. Brian Soldano (38-1, D1, R1, S1) 182; Sr. Alex Buchwald (11-4) 182; Sr. Sean Van Wingerden (16-13, D2) 195; Sr. Troy Van Orden (7-8) 220; Sr. Justin Klass (16-17, D2) 285.
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| High Point celebrates its G2 title in 2020. |
Key losses: Devon Liebl (40-7, D2, R2) 126; Billy Talmadge (42-5, D1, R3, S5) 138-145; PJ Soldano (24-13) 182.
Key returnees: So. Ryan Mangano (1-11) 106; Jr. Andrew Brevot (4-10) 132; Sr. Nick Douma (2-1) 132; Sr. Clay Sytsema (4-9) 145; So. Shane Woolf (6-5, injured) 160; Jr. Troy Tiger (3-11) 170; Sr. Robert Juliano (4-6) 285.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Carson Citro 106; Fr. Ty Woods 120; Fr. Eli Nosal 126; Fr. Dalton Yetter 138; So. Will Gomez 145; Jr. Alfred Castellani 182; So. Arik Hums 285.
Outlook: 'Cats rebounded from a tough loss in the 2019 Group 2 final to claim the program's fourth straight sectional title and its sixth state championship. Given what's returning, there's little doubt that Gardner's crew would be the Group 2 favorite again if there were team tournaments this season. The lineup is full of talent starting with returning state champ Soldano and Gervey, who had a breakout year capped with a sixth-place state medal. Woolf, a former New Jersey Grade School League champion, is back after sustaining a season-ending knee injury early into his freshman campaign. The upper weights, which were a bit of a weakness in spots last season, will be formidable with Soldano jumping up two classes. The schedule, as always, is tough, though a dual with Southern was canceled early with the 'Cats shut down until next week due to COVID-19. As it stands, the season opener will be at Kittatinny on March 25. Independent matches against Hunterdon Central (March 27), Phillipsburg (April 10) and North Hunterdon (April 15) will go a long way in deciding the area's No. 1 team ranking.
Hopatcong Chiefs
Coach: Eric Fajerman (130-337-3, 21st season).
2019-20 record: 2-20, 1-3 NJAC Colonial Division (fourth).
Returning starters (4): Sr. Andrew Costa (20-7, D3) 145; Sr. Frank Mastroeni (12-9, D4) 152; Jr. Tommy Feinberg (8-16) 160; Jr. Mike Mastroeni (missed 2019-20 season, 24-10, D2, R6 in 2018-19) 170.
Key losses: Freddie Gonzalez (21-13) 120; Sean Cranmer (11-7, D4) 145-152; Alex Feinberg (17-12, D4) 195.
Promising newcomer: Fr. Blake Brown 120.
Outlook: Chiefs continue to be hampered by low numbers and the program has produced just 23 wins over the previous nine campaigns. There are several individuals eyeing postseason success, including Mike Mastroeni, who was a round shy of reaching states as a freshman.
Kittatinny Cougars
Coach: John Gill (595-194-5, 41st season).
2019-20 record: 14-6, 2-2 NJAC Freedom Division (T-second), North 1, Group 1 runner-up.
Returning starters (9): Jr. Shane Nelson (19-1) 120; So. Anthony Ferrari (16-15, D3) 113; So. Chris Casale (14-16, D2) 132; So. Andrew Knutelsky (9-15) 138; Sr. Patrick Franco (11-7, D2) 145; Jr. Steve Dalling (21-14, D1, R6) 152; Jr. Brycen Mafaro (30-8, D1, R2) 182-195; Sr. Jackson Crawn (35-4, D1, R2) 220-285; Jr. Ty Eldred (25-10, D3) 220-285.
Key losses: Gian Knippenberg (12-19, D4) 160; Jr. Evan Raposo (11-18, transferred to Pa.) 170; Robert Bruce (30-8, D2, R5) 195.
Key returnees: Jr. Avery Yeager (2-3) 138-145; Sr. Connor Hanna (4-14) 152; Sr. Craig Molfetto (4-17) 152-170; Jr. Jack Merrill (1-9) 170; Sr. Tyler Sweatt 170-182.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Liliana Zaku-Ramos 106; Fr. Dylan Zupkay 113; Fr. Jacob Savage 126; Fr. Bryce Coesfeld 138; Fr. Tucker Lockburner 182.
Outlook: Cougars are coming off a runner-up finish in the section and are two years removed from a Group 1 finals appearance. With no team tournaments this season, the focus will be on improving during the dual season and getting a few more individuals to states. Crawn, a four-year starter, is the team's top wrestler and was a round shy of earning a state medal last season. Once again the upper weights hold the key and Gill willl have some flexibility once Eldred gets down to 220. Nelson, a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament finalist, has been one of the area's best lower weights the previous two seasons, but injuries forced him to miss the individual postseasons. The lower weights are very inexperienced otherwise, but the middle lineup should be solid with Franco and Dalling, and the arrival of Coesfeld, a New Jersey Grade School League champion. Savage is another promising ninth-grader as he beat Ferrari in a recent wrestle-off. Gill is five wins shy of another milestone and could go for his 600th win against High Point next week provided his team gets past Belvidere, Morris Hills, Boonton and Morris Knolls as expected in its first four scheduled duals.
Lenape Valley Patriots
Coach: Anthony Grogan (first season).
2019-20 record: 8-15, 3-1 NJAC Colonial Division (second).
Returning starters (7): Jr. Tyler Gaboda (9-20) 113; Jr. Daniel Haws (32-8, D1, R4) 120-126; Sr. Andres Villanueva-Cruz (14-9) 120-126; Jr. Michael Sawaged (6-21) 120-126; Sr. Cameron Samiljan (14-16) 182-195; Sr. Justin Palumbo (24-12, D3) 182-195; Jr. Jake Cuttito (10-17) 220.
Key losses: Eric Falleni (33-4, D1) 138; Ryan Hall (31-3, D2) 285.
Key returnees: So. Marcus Bullock 106; So. John Riedener (5-10) 160; Jr. Josh Valencia (1-3) 285.
Promising newcomers: Jr. Sam Jara Diaz (2-11, transfer from Randolph) 132; Fr. Andrew Grant 138-145; Fr. Ryan Slahor 138-145; Jr. Jack Pope 160; Sr. Gabe Hernandez 170; Fr. Ryan Stricchiola 182; Fr. Danny Esposito 195; Jr. Jacob Perna 285.
Outlook: Patriots have struggled with low numbers in recent seasons, but the good news is they should have all of the weights covered this year. Grogan, a former Lenape Valley wrestler, inherits a program that hasn't had a winning season since 2015-16, and went 22-45 the previous three seasons under Gary Mikolay. Haws enters 64-18 for his career and the team's best chance for a state qualifier, though Palumbo is coming off a breakout season. The team will count on its experience up top.
Newton Braves
Coach: Eric Bollette (250-197-1, 20th season).
2019-20 record: 12-10, 2-2 NJAC Freedom Division (T-2nd).
Returning starters (7): Sr. Nathan Fitt (35-8, D2, R2) 132; Sr. Danny Cleary (19-14, D4) 120; Sr. JoJo Lotruglio (31-8, D1, R6) 138; So. Thaylor Sibblies (21-14, D3) 145; Sr. Nick Costa (13-17, D4) 160; Sr. Ryan Pappas (7-19) 170; Jr. Melkart Abou-Jaoude (11-16) 182.
Key losses: Trevor Aughenbaugh (17-9) 170; Julian Sibblies (28-8, D3) 195.
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| We're going to miss the Boresch Duals this season. |
Key returnees: Sr. Aden Sathuthiti (1-10) 113; So. Michael Melillo (1-1) 145; Jr. Takeo Sibblies (5-1) 152; Jr. Aidan Murtagh 170; So. Brody Guerra (6-8) 182; So. Matt May 195.
Promising newcomers: Sr. Jon Dobaczewski 106; Fr. Joey Catalano 120; Fr. Demarius Posey 120; So. Danny Barry 160; Fr. Patrick Teets 220; Fr. Billy Greenhalgh 285.
Outlook: Braves are coming off a solid season and have plenty of familiar names in the lineup. Fitt, Cleary and Lotruglio are all four-year starters. Fitt (84 career wins entering the season) finished a round shy of earning a state medal last season, while Lotruglio (77 wins) is a two-time region qualifer looking for his first trip to states. There are some questions down low and up top, but Thaylor Sibblies, who was a nice addition in the middle last year, should help anchor a solid portion of this lineup. Melillo is another to watch there. Expect this group, which contains 11 freshmen, to improve by season's end behind one of the top coaching staffs top-to-bottom in the area.
Pope John Lions
Coach: Austin Alpaugh (11-8, second season).
2018-19 record: 11-8, 5-1 NJAC American Division (second); Non-Public North B champion, Non-Public B runner-up.
Key losses: Eddie Ventresca (39-5, D1, R1, S5) 126; Kaya Sement (37-5, D1, R1, S3) 145; Matthew Garcia (27-10, D1, R2) 152; Connor Fritsch (17-13, D1) 160; Cole Zydel (25-14, D1, R3) 220.
Outlook: No other information was made available despite several attempts.
Sparta Spartans
Coach: Frank Battaglia (128-93, 10th season).
2019-20 record: 17-10, 2-4 NJAC American Division (T-4th).
Returning starters (6): So. Jack Nauta (21-13, D3) 113; Sr. Spencer Stewart (42-3, D1, R3, S8-2019) 160; Jr. Nick Hwang (24-11, D3) 152; Sr. Troy Schmitzer (22-14, D2) 160; Sr. Dominic Gignatelli (10-20) 182; Sr. Jack Pryce (12-19) 195.
Key losses: Cooper Stewart (40-5, D1, R2, S5) 113; Garrett Stewart (42-4, D1, R3) 138.
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| Spencer Stewart (far right) on the podium in 2019. |
Key returnees: So. Blake Brodersen (6-9) 126; Jr. Nick Yanuzzelli (0-13) 120; Jr. Chase Geer (5-2) 138; Jr. Parker Williamson (8-14) 160; Jr. Paul Gennat 182; Jr. Billy Quinn (7-4) 220; Jr. Wyatt Coombs (2-5) 285.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Peter Donnelly 106; Fr. Gene Donnelly 113; Fr. Ben Bialkin 120; Fr. Gavin Kornas 126; So. Eric Dau 132; Fr. Anthony Petrock 152; So. Attila Szlagyi 152; Jr. Tommy Reina 160; Fr. Connor White 170; So. Nick Castorina 195; So. Bradley Maines 220.
Outlook: Spartans are coming off a nice bounce-back campaign following a six-win season. Despite the loss of two Stewart brothers, there is plenty of talent returning, including Spencer Stewart, a state medal winner as a junior and a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament champion. Nauta was a nice addition down low as a freshman, while Hwang and Schmitzer are looking to make noise in the individual postseason. There is a fair amount of unproven ability on the varsity level so approaching last season's wins total may be a lofty goal, but it's great to see numbers up considering where this program was before Battaglia and his staff took over. They'll continue to build.
Vernon/Wallkill Valley
Coach: Joe Down (first season).
2019-20 records (Vernon): 8-12, 2-2 NJAC Colonial Division (third); (Wallkill Valley): 0-16, 0-4 NJAC Colonial Division (fifth).
Returning starters (6): Sr. Sage DiGiuseppe (7-9) 138; Sr. Cooper Pleva (18-9) 145; Sr. Julian Porras Arcos (6-10) 152; So. Daniel Lovett (7-14) 170; Sr. Noah Prevliglian (10-10) 220; Jr. Shane Saulnier (8-10) 285.
Key loss: Jon Alvarez (24-6, D4) 170.
Key returnees: So. Isaac Thomas (0-6) 160; So. Jeyss Abreu (1-2) 195.
Promising newcomers: Fr. Reilly Hague 120; Fr. Matthew McGrogan 126; Sr. Bobby Baumann 182.
Outlook: First season for newly combined programs as both have battled low numbers in recent years. We also have a new coach as Down, a former Paramus wrestler, who is eager for his rookie season at the helm. He'll face a major challenge as the Wallkill program went 25-106 the previous five seasons and sent over just one wrestler. It's good to see some returning wrestlers with double-digit wins from last season, including Prevliglian, who was 0-11 as a sophomore. The upper weights should be in decent shape, and the lineup filled from 138-285. There are some forfeit issues down low, but the main goal will be to improve with each match.
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