Wrestling: Summer special: John Goles in July

Since the pandemic wiped out all local high school wrestling tournaments this past season, Warren Hills coach Dave Sbriscia came up with an interesting way to continue one of the area's proudest traditions.

The John Goles Invitational saw its run as the nation's second-oldest consecutive holiday tournament end at 62 years -- but a new summertime version is slated to be held on July 24 at Meadowbreeze Park in Washington Township. The 2021 holiday event is set for Dec. 28.

The Ball and Sprawl will take place at WHSDS.

"It gives the seniors and kids in our local area a chance to become two- and three-time champs," said Sbriscia, who is leaning toward high school weight classes with a five-pound allowance. "Though it's not being held the [traditional] way, we're doing our best to give kids an opportunity."

The Streaks Wrestling Club is sponsoring the event, which will be contested on four mats under the pavilion at Meadowbreeze Park. Sbriscia said holding an all-day tournament on the artificial turf at Warren Hills School District Stadium was not feasible with the potential for extreme heat conditions. In previous years, the school did host the Pin Cancer event in late July, but that was a single dual meet.

However, since Warren Hills no longer is involved in Pin Cancer, Sbriscia and Delaware Valley coach Andy Fitz have joined forces to create another new event dubbed, "The Ball and Sprawl," to be held at the Stadium on July 14. It will feature a 7-on-7 football game at one end and a wrestling match also involving the two schools on the other side of the field.

"I'm pretty enthusiastic about it," said Fitz, who said wrestlers will wear T-shirts and shorts rather than singlets and that each town in the school's sending districts may be represented at some point in the match bill like: Franklin vs. Alexandria instead of just Washington vs. Frenchtown. In addition, all proceeds will go to a to-be-determined charity. 

"We're going to rotate it and have a little bit of fun with it," Fitz added. "Having fun is what it's supposed to be about." 

As for the Summer Goles, Sbriscia has invited traditional entrants -- such as Delaware Valley, Newton, and West Morris -- to attend. North Hunterdon, a longtime invitational participant, will be at camp that day and can not participate. Manville and Verona were also extended invitations. Sbriscia is hoping for an eight-team field and will look to fill out the weight classes with other wrestlers if need be. Post-graduate seniors are also eligible since the 2020 tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19, and incoming freshmen will also be invited.

"The 2020 tournament would have been pretty tough," said Sbriscia, whose Streaks figured to be a major contender for a Group 3 title last season and will be again in 2022.

Among those wrestlers seeking multiple titles would be Newton's Nathan Fitt (a two-time champion in 2018 and '19). Warren Hills' Stephen Malia and Owen Frizzell would be seeking their second championships, along with Newton's JoJo Lotruglio and West Morris state qualifier Michael Camponaro.

The Summer Goles will run as in previous years, with brackets, wall charts past champion posters and an attempt to hand out the plethora of hardware it's become known for -- including the Ryan M. Storm Memorial Award (most pins in least combined time by a champion) and the Alonzo Widenor Memorial Award (fastest fall).

These events are part of an ambitious summer schedule for Warren Hills, which includes the Penn State Camp (to be held in Georgia on June 18-21) and the 1,000 Island Duals in August.

Medal count

After being deleayed by a COVID-19 pause to start last season, Warren Hills finished strong with two state placewinners in sophomore Jarett Pantuso (eighth at 220 pounds) and junior Tyler McCatharn (sixth at 285).

It's the first time since 1997 -- Justin Colaluce (first at 145), Shane Folks (third at 135), Ryan Kanewski (fourth at 140) and the late Mitch Markle (third at 171) -- that the Streaks have had multiple medalists. 

Jarett Pantuso (far right) with his medal.

"Our kids work really hard," said Sbriscia, who will return 14 starters next season (plus Shawn Redfield who was pegged as the starter at 120 but missed all of last season with a thumb injury) as the program seeks its first Group 3 title since '97. "In a normal year we would have had more kids at the state tournament. We have good upper weights."

Pantuso enjoyed a breakout season despite being a very light 220. He also competed at 195, and had even certified at 182 to start the season.

"I pulled him aside [at one point] and said [wrestling at 182] wasn't in the cards," Sbriscia said. "He had a lot of success [at 220]. He's quick and strong." 

McCatharn, a two-time state qualifier, is the school's ninth heavyweight placewinner and first since Andrew Pacheco (sixth in 2014).