Monday, April 5, 2021

Wrestling: DV shares in 800 history (HWS rankings)

Delaware Valley added another chapter to its storied wrestling history on Saturday in an odd season that's now marked several milestones in the Hunterdon-Warren Sussex-area.

Del Val celebrates 800 (Courtesy of DV/Anna Mihalik).
The Terriers (6-2) picked up win No. 800 with a 49-15 victory over Lenape Valley in an independent clash at Hutchins Gymnasium. Coach Andy Fitz's team celebrated the accomplishment, just as it has leading up to it, with a number-changing ceremony on the board that hangs in the Vince Fitz practice room which tabulates the total number of victories for the Hunterdon County school.

"These kinds of moments often work out for us over the years," said Andy Fitz, who enters this week 228-86 overall in his 14 seasons at the helm. "To be able to get the win at home, and to be able to change the number with the entire team there, is very meaningful. And while we couldn't bring the parents in for this as we normally would, we were able to keep our [school livestream] broadcast going and all the parents could watch in the main gym. It was just a wonderful day for the program."

Previously this season, longtime Kittatinny coach John Gill earned his 600th victory and Eric Bollette (254-202-1 in 20 seasons) surpassed the legendary Henry Boresch (250-44-8 from 1926-64) for the most coaching wins at Newton.

Naturally, Del Val's milestone victory means even more to Andy Fitz, who grew up in the program and wrestled for his father, Vince, considered one of the best coaches in New Jersey history. They now have accounted for 512 of the program's 800 wins as coaches, as Vince's teams went 284-60-3 over his 19 seasons from 1971-90. The Terriers, now in their 59th season, went 57-49-1 under two previous coaches in the first nine seasons before Vince Fitz took the reins and turned them into a state power.

Only Hunterdon Central (1,003 in 65 seasons), Phillipsburg (997 in 73 seasons) and Newton (823 in 95 seasons) have more wins among HWS schools. North Hunterdon (781), Warren Hills (766) and High Point (752) are next in line.

Mike Taylor puts up the No. 8 on the board.
Andy Fitz also incorporated some history when it came time to change the numbers on the board, as former district champion and longtime youth coach Mike Taylor (1994) was on hand to help out. Taylor's son, Jacob, is a promising freshman on the current team (4-4 at 113 pounds).

"In addition to our normal selection process in picking kids on the team to change the number, we honored our past in process as well," Fitz said. "[Taylor] put the '8' on the board. Diane Pona, who has been our trainer since 1993, put the first '0' on the board. And then, Phil Hutchins, who has been with us for his entire life, put the final '0' on the board with the help of the team. Just a great moment for all of us."

With no sectional or state team championships to be contested this season, Delaware Valley won't be looking forward to making a run at a third straight North 1, Group 1 title. But this memory will last a lifetime.

"It was nice to be able to have something we could come together for," Fitz said. "We treasure the team aspect of the sport, so winning 800 was special for us. This team now has a major milestone to remember their year with."

Now, onto this week's rankings:

1. North Hunterdon (5-0) -- Lions are on a COVID-19 pause and have no dual meets scheduled for the remainder of the season. Coach Chris Hrunka's team, ranked as the top public school in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, has not competed since a 54-18 win at Delaware Valley on March 25. Sophomore Logan Wadle (5-0 at 106 pounds), senior James Holder (4-0 at 170), sophomore Alex Uryniak (4-0 at 182) and junior Liam Akers (5-0 at 285) bear watching in the individual postseason.

Up next: TBD.

2. Phillipsburg (7-1) -- Stateliners looked sharp last week in independent wins over Southern (37-13 on Tuesday) and Kittatinny (43-18 on Thursday), giving the program 997 victories. Juniors James Day (8-0 at 120 pounds) and Joey Innamorato (8-0 at 126) have looked real good this season as they prepare for the upcoming regional tournaments. 

"I would be shocked if anybody over quarantine [in the offseason] wrestled more bouts than Joe did," coach Dave Post told Mike Moore of Stateliner Sports on Thursday. "His parents took him all over the country in any state that was allowable on the list that had wrestling. Every weekend they were traveling to make sure Joey wrestled as many matches as he could. He's a machine."

Up next: at Watchung Hills on Tuesday; at River Dell on Saturday.

3. Hunterdon Central (3-0) -- Red Devils return to action this week following their COVID-19 pause. Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team had been idle since a 64-10 win vs. St. Joseph-Metuchen on March 20. Central's lineup features three hammers -- seniors Colton Washleski (3-0 at 160 pounds) and Norman Cella (3-0 at 170), and junior Tanner Peake (3-0 at 152). But keep an eye on freshmen -- Anthony Rossi (3-0 at 106), Evan Thompson (3-0 at 126) and Thomas Brunnetti (3-0 at 132).

Up next: Delaware Valley at home on Tuesday; at Voorhees on Thursday; Warren Hills at home on Friday.

4. Warren Hills (1-1) -- Blue Streaks came off a COVID-19 quarantine with an impressive 47-16 win over Delaware Valley on Friday in the season opener for coach Dave Sbriscia's team, which dropped a 41-21 decision to a ranked Mount Olive squad on Saturday. Juniors Stephen Malia (2-0 at 160), who picked up his 50th career win on Saturday, and Tyler McCatharn (2-0 at 285) are off to strong starts, along with sophomores Michael Drazek (2-0 at 132) and Jarett Pantuso (2-0 at 220).

Up next: Roxbury at home on Tuesday; Bound Brook at home on Thursday; at Hunterdon Central on Friday: at West Morris on Saturday.

John Gill and Tyler Branham after their match.
5. Kittatinny (8-1) -- Cougars bounced back from a 43-18 loss at Phillipsburg on Thursday with a 51-24 victory over Hanover Park on Friday, as coach John Gill beat one of his former wrestlers in Hornets coach Tyler Branham, who logged 108 victories and was a three-time district (2003-05) and a region champion in '05 for the Sussex County power. Senior Jackson Crawn (9-0 at 220) is three wins shy of joining the 100-wins club. Thursday's match at Jefferson will likely decide this year's NJAC Freedom Division champion.

Up next: North Warren at home on Tuesday; at Jefferson on Thursday; at Mount Olive on Saturday.

6. High Point (1-1) -- 'Cats remain on a COVID-19 pause through this week with no duals scheduled until April 13. Coach John Gardner's team was shut down for a second time following a 43-25 win against Paramus on March 25. Junior state champion Brian Soldano (2-0 at 182) and senior Josh Gervey (2-0 at 138), a state medal winner last season, along with junior state qualifier Clayton Utter (2-0 at 113), are eyeing postseason runs.

Up next: at North Warren on April 13.

7. Pope John (3-2) -- Lions dropped a 39-31 decision to Mount Olive following their 36-24 win over Montville last Tuesday. Senior Shane Percelay, who entered the season with 95 career victories, has not been in the lineup thus far, while the Non-Public North B champions last season forfeited two weights in the first five dual meets. Junior Jack Stoll (4-1 at 220) will be one to watch in the postseason.

Up next: St. Peter's Prep at home on Tuesday; at Don Bosco Prep on Wednesday; at Bergen Catholic on Thursday.

8. Delaware Valley (6-2) -- Terriers were denied in their bid for No. 800 in a 47-16 loss to Warren Hills on Friday before reaching the milestone with a 49-15 win over Lenape Valley on Saturday at Hutchins Gym. Junior Matt Schneider (8-0 at 195) is having a breakout season, while senior Corey Crater (7-1 at 138) looks to make noise in the postseason.

Up next: at Hunterdon Central on Tuesday; at Watchung Hills on Thursday.

9. Hackettstown (6-2) -- Tigers capped a 2-0 week with a 58-15 waxing of Lenape Valley on Thursday as blue-chip freshmen Aiden Scheeringa (7-1 at 106) and Nicolas Balella (6-1 at 126), and junior Austin Zellars (7-1 at 113) continued their fine campaigns. Senior Matthew Bremner (7-1 at 285) is another to keep an eye on in the postseason.

Up next: Whippany Park at home on Tuesday; at North Warren on Thursday; DePaul at home on Friday.

10. Newton (4-5) -- Braves are coming off a pair of tough losses last week -- 47-15 to rival Kittatinny on Tuesday and 37-36 to Hanover Park on criteria (most first points) on Thursday. Coach Eric Bollette, now 6-17 vs. his former high school coach John Gill in the Kittatinny series, is gearing up for the home stretch as seniors Nathan Fitt (9-0 at 132 and 93 career wins) and JoJo Lotruglio (7-2 at 138) prepare for a final run in the region and state tournaments. 

Up next: Lenape Valley at home on Tuesday; at North Warren on Friday.

Worth noting

Belvidere (4-3) -- County Seaters became the 10th out of 17 programs in the area to hit a COVID-19 pause last week following a 45-32 win over Montgomery on Tuesday. Coach Dan McIntyre expects his team to resume next Monday. Junior Patrick Horvath (7-0 at 106) and senior Hunter Lensi (6-1 at 126) will be tough outs in the postseason.

North Warren (2-1) -- Patriots, a 40-24 winner over Lenape Valley on March 30, will next be in action against Kittatinny on Tuesday as third-year North coach Kellen Bradley, a region champion (2003) and state placewinner ('05) for the Cougars, seeks his first victory in three meetings against his former coach John Gill, whose teams prevailed in the past two North 1, Group 1 semifinal matchups -- 45-27 in 2019 and 38-28 in '20.

Sparta (2-3) -- Spartans enter the week riding a two-match win streak, including a 45-35 victory over Montville on Thursday. Senior Spencer Stewart (115-19 career), a HWS Tournament champion last season and a state placewinner in 2019, is not on the roster.

Voorhees (2-5) -- Vikings, who feature just one senior in their lineup, are led by juniors Josh Evers (5-1 at 113) and Hunter Cryan (5-2 at 120) and promising freshman Logan Wiecoreck (5-2 at 132).

Lenape Valley (2-6) -- Junior state qualifier Daniel Haws (6-0 at 120) picked up his 70th career win with his sixth straight pin in the Patriots' 49-15 loss to Delaware Valley.

Hopatcong (0-6) -- Senior region qualifier Andrew Costa earned his first win of the season (No. 61 overall) with a pin at 160 pounds in the Chiefs' 30-24 loss to Parsippany on Saturday in a match that consisted of only two contested bouts and seven forfeits.

Posted by Mike Weilamann at 5:06 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)