Wrestling: State powers headline Boresch Duals

It's that time again for one of the most anticipated events on the high school calendar as several of New Jersey's top teams are slated to compete in the 17th Henry Boresch Duals on Saturday, Jan. 7 at Newton High School.

North Hunterdon, ranked No. 19 by the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association and 2020 champion, makes its fourth Boresch Duals appearance since 2010 as the No. 3 seed. Two other NJWWA Top 20s are set to vie for the title as Delsea (No. 8), the reigning Group 3 champion, and South Plainfield (No. 14), a four-time Boresch Duals winner and seeking its first title since 2017, drew the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds. 

Newton has crowned the most NJ state champs (82)

Paulsboro, which won back-to-back titles in 2018 and '19, also returns, along with reigning champion Howell, last season's Group 5 runner-up. Hanover Park, Pascack Hills and host Newton round out the eight-team field.


North Hunterdon (2-0), which is sitting on 799 wins as a program, will face No. 6 seed Howell (2-1) as the Lions look to avenge a 39-28 loss to the Rebels in last year's championship match. Paulsboro (1-0), the No. 5 seed and last repeat winner, takes on No. 4 Hanover Park (1-0), which is coached by former Kittatinny standout Tyler Branham, on the adjacent mat at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Delsea (1-0), the reigning Group 3 champion, squares off against No. 8 Pascack Hills (4-1), while South Plainfield (2-0) battles No. 7 seed Newton (1-1) in the opening round at 9 a.m.

North Hunterdon, which began its dual meet season with wins over Old Bridge (38-25) and Somerville (52-30), is led by senior state placewinners Logan Wadle (8-1 at 113, second in 2021 and third in '22), Alex Uryniak (8-1 at 190, seventh in 2021) and Brendan Raley (7-2 at 215, eighth in 2022). All were runners-up at the prestigious Sam Cali Invitational earlier this week.

Newton, which won its fourth and last Boresch Duals title in 2010, features seniors Michael Melillo (6-3 at 144), a state qualifier last season, and Thaylor Sibblies (10-1 at 157), a Sam Cali Invitational third-place finisher.

In all there are 11 state medal winners in the field, including Hanover Park sophomore Vincenzo LaValle, who placed third at 190 pounds in Atlantic City last season. Delsea, which returns 9 state qualifiers, features sophomore Jamar Dixon Jr. (10-0 at 144), a Sam Cali champ in 2022 and fifth-place state medalist last season, senior Jared Schoppe (10-0 at 175), a three-time state medal winner and runner-up as a junior, and Danny Digiovacchino (7-3 at 190), a state eighth in 2022. 

Howell, which has been missing several starters in its early duals and dropped a 48-27 decision to Middletown South, returns five state qualifiers, including Sebastian Ortega (7-2 at 126). The junior was a seventh-place finisher at the Beast of the East this season and state fifth-place medalist in 2021.

South Plainfield is led by senior J.J. Giordano (8-2 at 144), a state seventh in 2022 and junior Nicholas Campagna (8-1 at 150), a Sam Cali runner-up in 2022 and eighth in the state last season. Paulsboro returns junior Roman Onorato (6-2 at 157), who placed eighth in the state as a sophomore.

Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Here is the schedule (All times approximate as a new round will begin following the completion of the previous session):

Quarterfinals, 9 a.m.

1-Delsea (1-0) vs. 8-Pascack Hills (4-1)
2-South Plainfield (2-0) vs. 7-Newton (1-1)

Quarterfinals, 10:30 a.m.

3-North Hunterdon (2-0) vs. 6-Howell (2-1)
4-Hanover Park (1-0) vs. 5-Paulsboro (1-0)

Wrestleback semifinals, noon

Delsea-Pascack Hills loser vs. Hanover Park-Paulsboro loser

South Plainfield-Newton loser vs. North Hunterdon-Howell loser

Semifinals, 1:30 p.m.

Delsea-Pascack Hills winner vs. Hanover Park-Paulsboro winner

South Plainfield-Newton winner vs. North Hunterdon-Howell winner

Consolation round, 3 p.m.

Fifth- and seventh-place matches.

Championship round, 4:30 p.m.

First- and third-place matches.

Memory lane of champions

2006 -- Don Bosco 50, Haddonfield 24

2007 -- Newton 54, Pequannock 9

2008 -- Newton 36, Haddonfield 31

2009 -- Newton 43, Haddonfield 18

2010 -- Newton 34, Don Bosco 32

2011 -- Raritan 41, Newton 24

2012 -- South Plainfield 47, Raritan 18

2013 -- South Plainfield 62, Raritan 8

2014 -- Hanover Park 35, Raritan 29

2015 -- Howell 40, South Plainfield 15

2016 -- South Plainfield 45, Howell 20

2017 -- South Plainfield 43, Hanover Park 23

2018 -- Paulsboro 48, Hanover Park 20

2019 -- Paulsboro 37, South Plainfield 17

2020 -- North Hunterdon 40, Kingsway 21

2021 -- No event due to COVID-19

2022 -- Howell 39, North Hunterdon 28

Wrestling: P'burg leads HWS (5) in NJWWA Top 20

We're off and running in the 2022-23 season, and it's no surprise that the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area is heavily represented in the inaugural New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 poll.

Phillipsburg, the reigning Group 5 champion, holds the No. 10 spot after opening its season this past weekend with a fourth-place finish in the rugged King of the Mountain Tournament at Central Mountain (Pa.) High School. 

The Stateliners, who sat in first place among the 30-team field after Friday's Day 1 session, were led by a pair of returning state qualifiers in junior John Wargo (5-1, third at 285) and sophomore Gavin Hawk (4-2, fourth at 133 under Pennsylvania's weight classes), along with junior Liam Packer (6-2, fourth at 160). Keep an eye on Packer, who is already halfway to last season's win total (12-10 as a sophomore) and could be the team's most improved wrestler.

Coach Brad Gentzle's team, which finished as the state's top-ranked public school for 2021-22, will surely have its hands full and needs to be at full strength for Friday night's road clash against No. 11 Mount Olive. The Marauders are prohibitive favorites to repeat in the Group 4 title chase after capturing the program's first state championship last season.

Warren Hills, which captured the North 2, Group 3 sectional title and was the Group 3 runner-up last season, checks in at No. 16. The Blue Streaks, who feature returning state qualifiers Shawn Redfield (138) and Jarett Pantuso (215), a state medal winner in 2021, cruised to the Caldwell Tournament team championship over the weekend. Freshman Davey Rhinehart (4-0) is one to watch after pinning his way to a title at 113 pounds. 

Wrestling success runs deep in that family as Davey's father, David, was a starter on the 1997 Group 3 title team and a region qualifier at 160 pounds for the Streaks in '98. The late John Rhinehart, who is David's dad and Davey's grandfather, was a region champ and state runner-up in 1969, while great uncles Rick (1967, '68, '70) and Rob, a region champ in 1976, combined to win four district titles. 

Hunterdon Central (No. 18), North Hunterdon (No. 19) and Delaware Valley (No. 20), the reigning Group 1 champion, round out the local contingent.

Central, which competed in the unforgiving Beast of the East Tournament over the weekend, is led by a trio of returning state qualifiers in Peter Plesh (106), Anthony Rossi (113) and Thomas Brunetti (175).

North Hunterdon won the N2, G4 title last season.

North, which is nearly three years removed from its unbeaten and magical run to the Group 4 title in 2020, is led by two-time state placewinner and senior Logan Wadle (4-0 at 113), a Lehigh recruit with 78 career wins, along with seniors Daniel Delusant (31 wins and a state qualifier last season), Alex Uryniak (4-0 at 190 and a seventh-place state medal winner in 2021 with 77 career victories) and Brendan Raley (3-1 and eighth in the state at 215 last season).

Del Val (1-0), which travels to Hunterdon Central for a key showdown on Dec. 30, features returning state qualifiers and seniors Owen Kucharski (4-0 at 113) and Chris Colasurdo (3-1 at 150-157), along with juniors Jake Taylor (4-0 at 120), Ben Levy (4-0 at 144) and Anderson Olcott (4-0 at 190) -- all with 20-plus wins last season.

Powerful Delbarton begins the season atop the NJWWA Top 20 rankings.

 

The Green Wave, who have nine returning state qualifiers and six state medal winners, lead a sweep of the top six spots in the preseason rankings comprised of non-public schools. Delbarton began its season by winning the team championship at the Beast of the East Tournament this past weekend.

 

Delbarton returns 2022 state champions Tyler Vazquez (5-1 at 138) and Simon Ruiz, third-place finisher Cross Wasilewski, fourth-place finishers Louis Cerchio (5-0 at 165) and Alessio Perentin (5-0 at 157) and fifth-place finisher and 2021 state champion Daniel Jones (5-1 at 120). Joseph Davi (4-2 at 144), who was essentially a backup last season after finishing fourth in the state at 138 pounds in 2021, also is primed for a big season.

Del Val eyes its first title repeat since 4 straight in G2 (1987-90)

Bergen Catholic, which finished last season at No. 1 after it won the Non-Public A championship and defeated Delbarton on criteria in the Non-Public A North final, is No. 2. The Crusaders return five state medal winners.

St. Joseph-Montvale, which returns two-time state heavyweight champion Jimmy Mullen and three other state medal winners is next at No. 3.

 

Christian Brothers Academy, which returns four state top-four finishers, including runner-up Julian George, is fourth and the first non-North Jersey team in the rankings.

 

Southern, which returns three state medal winners and had five champions this past weekend in its Robin Leff Tournament, is the highest ranked public school team at No. 7. The Rams, who have a penchant to reload each season, are clearly the team to beat in Group 5 and picked up heavyweight transfer Anthony Evangelista (3-1 at 285), a state qualifier for Hammonton last season.

Rank	School	Record
1	Delbarton	(0-0)
2	Bergen Catholic	(0-0)
3	St. Joseph-Montvale	(1-0)
4	Christian Bros. Academy	(2-3)
5	St. Peter's Prep	(0-0)
6	Paramus Catholic	(0-0)
7	Southern	(1-0)
8	Delsea	(0-0)
9	St. John Vianney	(0-0)
10	Phillipsburg	(0-0)
11	Mount Olive	(0-0)
12	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(0-0)
13	St. Augustine Prep	(1-0)
14	South Plainfield	(1-0)
15	Kingsway	(1-0)
16	Warren Hills	(0-0)
17	Don Bosco Prep	(0-0)
18	Hunterdon Central	(0-0)
19	North Hunterdon	(1-0)
20	Delaware Valley	(1-0)

Listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (gardenstatehswrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (shoreconferencewrestling.com); Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record and NorthJersey.com); Tom McGurk (Courier Post and courierpostonline.com); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike and mikeopen.blogspot.com), Brad Wilson (lehighvalleylive.com/The Express-Times). 

Wrestling: Soldano 3-peat factors in AC by numbers

Before we take one final look by the numbers at the 89th New Jersey State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall, let's hit some highlights, including another review of High Point ace Brian Soldano's historical run at a third state championship.

Soldano (38-0), whose accomplishments have been well documented here over his four years, was fantastic all season, but even more so during the postseason. In his march to a third state gold, the Rutgers recruit pinned 10 straight opponents -- 99 in 132 career bouts and 71 of his last 87 -- before working North Bergen's Joshua Palacio for an 11-3 major -- his 14th consecutive state tournament win -- in their title bout at 190 pounds. 

Brian Soldano is Sussex County's 121st champ.

In doing so, Soldano earned the Outstanding Wrestler Awards at both Region 1 and AC -- just the 21st state OW from Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex and first since Delaware Valley legend Jamie Wicks captured his second state title at 171 pounds in 1988. Soldano is the 11th from Sussex and first since former High Point coach and three-time North Carolina All-American Jan Michaels, also a two-time ACC champion, won Vernon's lone championship at 148 pounds in 1979.

The classy Soldano put his name right up there with those greats, joining Nick Francavilla (2009-11) as the only High Point wrestlers to win three titles. Pope John legend Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72) is the only other from the county to win three in the last 50 years. Phillipsburg's John Barna (1980-82) is the only Warren County wrestler to do so, while Hunterdon County has never had a three-timer.

Three-timers are special and should be celebrated, as only 34 in New Jersey history have won at least that many. Personally, I have covered only six in 30 years, with Francavilla and Soldano as the only two in New Jersey. The four from Pennsylvania are: Northampton's Joey Ecklof, Nazareth's Tim Darling, whose father, Bob, wrestled at Hunterdon Central, and Easton's Matt Ciasulli and Jordan Oliver, the only four-time finalist in that group of six. 

On another note, the tributes, both in print and the moment of silence before the finals for mat maven Ron Mazzola, who died suddenly on Monday, Feb. 21, were outstanding. Mazzola was a jack-of-all-trades in the sport and a fixture at district, region and state tournaments. He served as president of the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, in addition to donating the No. 1 team trophies. 

As a media member, there was no better source of information. Ron was a great friend to all who has worked a beat. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

Now, here's everything you never knew you needed to know about the 2022 state championships by the numbers: 

13 -- Brian Soldano, who capped a tremendous career by 

Soldano ended his career on a 75-match win streak.

winning his third state championship and the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area's first Outstanding Wrestler Award since 1988, moved High Point's total to 13 and into a tie with Hunterdon Central for the fourth-most winners in the HWS area and 13th all-time. Brick Memorial, which had two champions in Evan Tallmadge (120) and Harvey Ludington (175), and South Plainfield also stand at 13 overall. Soldano finished with 99 career pins and at 127-5 overall, he tied former Kittatinny great Matt Valenti (127-7 from 1998-2002), a two-time state and NCAA champion at Penn, for 31st on Sussex County's career wins list (103 have hit the century mark). 

40 -- Hunterdon County has produced three state championships in the last four years as Hunterdon Central's Brett Ungar and Voorhees' Lewis Fernandes, the Vikes' first two-time winner, won in 2019. The county total sits at 40, but could North Hunterdon's Logan Wadle, who was second in 2021 and third in '22 at 106 pounds, be the county's next gold medalist? Remarkably, it's coming up on 20 years since the Lions, who have 12 overall, had a winner. The last was one of the area's greatest as Ricky Frondorf, a four-time placewinner, went back-to-back at 152 pounds in 2002-03. Delaware Valley has not had a medalist since Kyle Lightner won the the Terriers' ninth state title in 2017. Matt Kolonia was a seventh-place finisher that season.

137 -- Warren Hills senior Tyler McCatharn repeated as a sixth-place finisher at 285 -- becoming the first two-time medal winner at heavyweight for the Blue Streaks since the great Dan Slack (third in 1976 and first in '77). McCatharn, who is heading to Bloomsburg, finished in fifth place on the school's career wins at 106-34, the most victories of any Blue Streak heavyweight and surpassing Andrew Pacheco (105-22 from 2011-15), who was the program's last semifinalist in 2014. The Streaks, who rank second on New Jersey's state champions list with 46, have not had a finalist since Justin Colaluce won his second straight title in 1998. 

123 -- Hunterdon Central senior Tanner Peake closed the books on a fine career with his second state medal (fourth at 157 after a sixth-place finish in 2021) and career mark of 123-28, which is tied for seventh on the school's career list with Peter Nace (123-30 from 2013-17) and ranks 17th on the all-time Hunterdon County wins chart.

6 -- Amazingly, the five public schools to win state team championships this season combined for only six medals in Atlantic City. Group 4 champion Mount Olive and Group 3 winner Delsea each had three, while Phillipsburg (Group 5), Raritan (Group 2) and Delaware Valley (Group 1) had none. P'burg was shut out for the third straight season -- a program first -- as freshman Gavin Hawk (120) and seniors James Day (126), Joey Innamorato (138) and David Pierson (215) all fell in the Blood Round. The Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area as a whole went 4-7 in that round.

59 -- The Non-Public schools are again a hot topic with the most medalists -- 59 (including Pope John's Carson Walsh and Jack Stoll, sixth at 113 and fifth at 215) out of a possible 112 -- since district and regional realignment was introduced in 2017. The Non-Public totals, which were 38 in 2016, leading up to this season were: 33 in 2017, 34 in '18, 40 in '19, 36 in '20 and 41 in '21. Of the 344 schools in New Jersey, 30 are private. That's 8.7 percent. The Non-Publics made up 49 percent of the quarterfinalists (55), 52 percent of the semifinalists (29), 46 percent of the finalists (13) and 57 percent of the champions (8). 

The 14 state champions for 2021-22.

25 -- Bergen Catholic senior Joseph Cangro finally broke through with his first state title at 138 pounds, decking Christian Brothers Academy junior Julian George in 3:57. Cangro, who is heading to Harvard, went third, third and second in his prior state appearances. He's the 25th champion for the Crusaders, who moved into a tie with Bound Brook for the eighth-most winners in New Jersey history. NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis, now at Virginia Tech, is the last winner for Bound Brook and Somerset County (160 pounds in 2017).

24 -- Region 2 dusted the field with 24 medals, including a tournament-best seven finalists as Boonton senior Joe Fongaro became his school's second champion and first finalist since Francis Dunn won at 140 pounds in 1992, while Laith Hamdeh became Passaic Tech's first finalist. Fongaro, whose coach is former Kittatinny standout Dave Hughen, received a hero's welcome and escort back into town. Region 8 was next with 17, but was the only region without a champion (four runners-up). Region 3 followed with 14 medals (four finalists) and matched Region 1 and Region 6 with a tournament-high three champions -- Delbarton's Tyler Vazquez (132), Andrew Troczynski (150) and Simon Ruiz (157), who pushed Morris County's title total to 80. Region 1, Region 4 and Region 7 all had 12 medalists, while Region 6 (five finalists) had 11 and Region 5 had 10.

8 -- Brick Memorial junior Anthony Santaniello and Delbarton sophomore Daniel Jones -- both 2021 winners -- were thwarted in their bids to repeat as a total of eight wrestlers who have won at least one championship could be in next year's field. St. Peter's Prep freshman Adrian DeJesus (106) is among three ninth-graders to win in 2022 -- along with St. John Vianney's Anthony Knox (113) and Brick Memorial's Harvey Ludington (175), who should be a major force in the upper weights for the next three years. Delbarton's Tyler Vazquez (132) and Simon Ruiz (157) won their first titles, while St. Joseph-Montvale stud Jim Mullen (285) -- all juniors -- won his second.

Boardwalk Hall has hosted 27 tournaments since 1992.

27 -- Boardwalk Hall has been the tournament home for 27 of the last 31 years. Atlantic City has hosted 28 overall -- six more than Princeton University's Jadwin Gym (22 from 1970-91) -- as the event shifted to AC in '92. It's since been there for all but three years -- a two-year move to the Meadowlands in 2000 and '01, as Boardwalk Hall underwent renovations, and at Phillipsburg in 2021 due to the pandemic. Others sites include the Elizabeth Armory (nine times, 1947-55), Rutgers (seven from 1959-65) and Asbury Park Convention Hall (four, 1966-69). Besides Phillipsburg, there have been 10 other high school sites -- Union, Somerville, Roselle Park, Teaneck, Grover Cleveland Jr. (Elizabeth), Springfield, Thomas Jefferson, Rahway and Belvidere (1946). Union hosted the first four tournaments from 1934-37.

134 -- Bergen County is the all-time leader with 134 state champions, surpassing Union County (129) within the last five years. In 2017, Union led Bergen by 10, but Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph-Montvale and Don Bosco Prep have produced a combined 12 in the last five years. Westfield's Christian Barber (2011) is the last champ from Union County. Sussex ranks third with 121, while Warren County is fourth with 85, but has produced only four winners since 1996 (Phillipsburg's Brandon Hull was the last in 2012 and the Stateliners' 33rd overall). Morris County, which has logged 19 champions since 2017, has surged past Ocean (70), Gloucester (67) and Somerset (66) behind Delbarton, which had three winners this year in Tyler Vazquez (132), Andrew Troczynski (150) and Simon Ruiz (157), who was Morris' 80th overall. The Green Wave has produced 11 winners since 2017 and now ranks 10th on the state's all-time list with 21. Speaking of Morris, congrats to longtime Daily Record writer Joe Hofmann, the voice of wrestling in that county for decades, on receiving the John Vogeding Media Award prior to the finals. Rounding out things out are: Camden (62), Monmouth (47), Middlesex (44), Hunterdon (40), Essex (34), Burlington (26), Passaic (25), Atlantic (20), Cumberland (12), Hudson and Salem (8), and Cape May and Mercer (4).

Thank you! pic.twitter.com/Ph2opg9kn5

— BoontonHSWrestling (@BoontonHSWrest) March 7, 2022

1,086 -- Total number of state champions in New Jersey history. We will hit 1,100 next season. Bergen Catholic's Nick Suriano, an NCAA champion and now at Michigan, became No. 1,000 in winning his fourth title in 2016. This year's tournament was the 89th overall since 1934 -- when Newton's Leo Snover won the first state title and started the Sussex County school's run to a state record 82 champs. The last winner for the Braves was current assistant coach Andy Iliff, who won his second title in 1987.

Wrestling: Soldano pitches freestyle; medal recap

High Point ace Brian Soldano provided sound advice for present and future Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex wrestlers after winning his third state title on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City: If you want to be a champion, embrace freestyle wrestling.

Soldano and the other 13 champs (Cheryl Soldano).

"Being able to score on your feet is the most important in high school, especially in the state finals," said Soldano, who capped a fabulous career by joining Nick Francavilla (2009-11) as the only three-time winners for the Wildcats and earning the area's first Donald Ringler Award as the Outstanding Wrestler since Delaware Valley legend Jamie Wicks won his second title in 1988.

The area's weaknesses in the neutral position and on bottom showed over the grueling three-day event, something that's been an issue in these parts for quite some time. Soldano (38-0) didn't give up an offensive point in five state tournament victories after going 13-0 with all pins in winning four region championships.

Soldano, who won his last 75 high school bouts and logged 33 of his 99 career pins this season, is already planning for next month's Junior National trials in Nevada.

There was a bit of added High Point and state history as Soldano and Noelle Gaffney, who captured the first Sussex County girls title with her win at 165 pounds, became just the second set of male and female state champs from the same school in a season. HWS boasts both as Hunterdon Central's Brett Ungar and Stephanie Andrade were victorious at Boardwalk Hall in 2019, the first year for the girls tournament.

Soldano, who ranks ninth on the school's all-time wins list at 127-5, will be joined at Rutgers by two other state champs in Boonton's Joe Fongaro and Passaic Valley's P.J. Casale, a runner-up at 215 this season after winning a title in 2020. Fongaro, who will be Soldano's roommate at RU, is his school's second champ and first finalist since Francis Dunn won at 140 pounds in 1992. The Bombers are coached by former Kittatinny standout Dave Hughen, who also serves as the athletic director.  

Medal count

North Hunterdon captured three of the area's nine medals overall, including junior Logan Wadle, a 2021 runner-up who was the next-highest placer for HWS after Soldano with a third-place finish at 106. Junior Brendan Raley (eighth at 215) got his first medal and something to build on for next season, while senior Liam Akers, who missed last season after a seventh-place finish in 2020, capped his career with a fourth-place medal -- the 63rd in North's history. In doing so, he became only the second North heavyweight to place twice -- joining two-time runner-up Jack Delia (2010-11).

Wadle (32-7), who is 74-15 overall and will look to become North's first state champion since Ricky Frondorf went back-to-back at 152 in 2002-03, scored a 5-4 win over Mount Olive sophomore Tyeler Hagensen in their bronze medal clash. Wadle's father, Rudy, was a two-time fifth-sixth placer in 1992 and '93, as there were no fifth-place bouts contested in those years.

Raley (38-5), who came up short in the quarters, dropped a 5-0 decision to St. Joseph-Montvale's Aidan Schlett in their seventh-place bout, while Akers (39-3), 93-20 overall, was taken to his back and pinned by Paramus Catholic's Max Acciardi, the No. 2 seed and a third-place finisher in 2021, who scored a 3-2 win in the ultimate tiebreaker in a previous meeting on Dec. 28. His only other loss this season was to St. Joseph-Montvale junior Jim Mullen, who won his second state title on Saturday.

Pope John collected two medals as freshman Carson Walsh (sixth at 113) capped a fine rookie season with what could be the first of many, while senior Jack Stoll (fifth at 215) became a two-time placer after a sixth-place finish in 2021. Lenape Valley senior Daniel Haws (eighth at 126) is the Pats' first medal winner since Nick Palumbo captured the school's only state title in 2017.

Hunterdon Central senior Tanner Peake, who suffered heartbreaking losses in his semifinal and third-place bout, moved two steps higher on the podium after a sixth-place finish in 2021. Peake (40-6), a Davidson College recruit and 123-28 overall, won the rubber match against St. John Vianney's Jasiah Queen, 4-1, in the consolation semifinals. Peake avenged a 3-2 UTB loss to Queen in the District 17 finals with a 4-3 decision in their Region 5 final encounter last weekend.

Warren Hills senior Tyler McCatharn placed sixth at 285 for the second straight season to become the first two-time placer at heavyweight for the Blue Streaks since the great Dan Slack (third in 1976 and first in '77). McCatharn (38-7), who is the ninth member of the school's 100 wins club at 106-34, ran into Akers for a fourth time in their career, going 0-4 against the Lion with a 5-1 loss in the consolation semifinals.

Back points

High Point had a pretty big weekend for sure, but it could have been better. Senior Clayton Utter was seemingly on his way to the Blood Round, where his season ended the previous three seasons, when he was pancaked after building a 6-0 lead against Williamstown's John Hildebrandt in the third round of wrestlebacks at 120 pounds. Hildebrandt then took out Phillipsburg freshman Gavin Hawk with a 13-5 major en route to an eighth-place medal. Utter (23-5), who missed the early portion of the season with an injury, finished with 96 career wins and two district titles. Certainly one of the best 'Cats in recent years without a state medal.

Speaking of Hawk, you have to think he ends the Stateliners' three-year drought without a state medal at some point. That most unkind Blood Round for the locals also included losses for seniors James Day (126), Joey Innamorato (138) and David Pierson (215). Day (37-5), who went 112-32 overall, passed two-time placewinner and former head coach Dave Post (111-22 from 1999-2003) for 10th place on the school's all-time wins list with his win in the second round of consolations.

Soldano with the Donald Ringler Award.

Soldano, who gave High Point its 13th state title overall, is among 34 wrestlers in the 89-year history of the state tournament to win at least three. Francavilla and Soldano are among the seven from Sussex County, along with Pope John legend Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72) and Newton's Robert McKeeby (1941-43), Harry Lanzi (1946-48), William Dolan (1947-49) and Don Frey (1947-49). Phillipsburg's John Barna (1980-82) is the only other HWS wrestler to win three. Hunterdon County has six two-time winners in Delaware Valley's Wicks and Brent Conly (1992-93), Hunterdon Central's Tom Gibble (1979, '81), North Hunterdon's Dave Gaunt (1970-71) and Ricky Frondorf (2002-03), and Voorhees' Lewis Fernandes (2018-19).

There have been 21 wrestlers from HWS to earn the state tournament's Outstanding Wrestler Award -- 10 from Sussex County, including eight from Newton. That list includes former High Point head coach Jan Michaels, Vernon's only state champion, who won at 148 pounds in 1979. North Hunterdon's James McCormick (1964) and Tom McGourty (1985). along with Wicks and Jeff Seagreaves (1975), Del Val's first state champ, are the four from Hunterdon County, while there have been six from Warren County, including Barna (1981-82), the only two-time recipient from the area. Washington/Warren Hills has four OWs in Mike Fucci (1945), Ron Marinelli (1952), Lee "Corky" Castner (1966) and Brad "Buzz" Castner (1974). 

Michaels, a Division I All-American at North Carolina, most recently served as an assistant coach at Passaic Tech, which produced its first finalist. Laith Hamdeh, who is also the school's first two-time placewinner, dropped a 5-2 decision to Delbarton's Andrew Troczynski in the title bout at 150.

Region 2 collected the most medals with 24, followed by Region 8 with 17 and Region 3 with 14. Next was Region 1, 4 and 7 with 12 each, followed by Region 6 with 11 and Region 5 with 10. Region 1, along with Region 3 and 6, had a tournament-best three champs, while Region 2 had two. Region 4, 5 and 7 each had one, while Region 8 had no winners.  

Wrestling: 'It's all good': Soldano 3-time champ, OW

High Point senior Brian Soldano has never been a fan of those over-the-top displays of emotion following his numerous and sometimes historic victories. But you couldn't really blame the best to sport a Wildcats singlet if he was just a tad upset that he couldn't register a coveted 100th career pin.

In the end, even that really didn't matter much as the Rutgers recruit put the final stamp on a marvelous career with his 11-3 major decision against North Bergen junior Joshua Palacio at 190 pounds to secure a third consecutive title and the Outstanding Wrestler Award in the 89th State Championships on Saturday afternoon at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

"It's all good," Soldano said, when asked about not getting one last pin. "When I realized that it wasn't going to happen, I just kept going for more points to show dominance. I'm very happy with [my tournament performance]."  

Brian Soldano is the area's first OW since 1988.

Soldano (38-0) certainly went out in style as he joined Nick Francavilla (2009-11) as the only High Point wrestlers to win three state championships and is part of the first male-female duo to win titles for the 'Cats in the same year as senior Noelle Gaffney became the first Sussex girl to win a championship (at 165 pounds) two weekends ago. Soldano is also just the 34th in New Jersey history to win at least that many and the seventh from Sussex County. Pope John legend Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72), along with Newton's Robert McKeeby (1941-43), Harry Lanzi (1946-48), William Dolan (1947-49) and Don Frey (1947-49) are the only others from the county to win three.

In addition, Soldano became the 21st wrestler from HWS to receive the Donald Ringler Award as the OW and first since Delaware Valley legend Jamie Wicks captured his second title in 1988 at Princeton's Jadwin Gym. There are now 11 wrestlers from Sussex County to be named the OW, including former High Point head coach and Vernon state champion Jan Michaels, who was the county's previous recipient after his title victory at 148 pounds in 1979.

"That's insane," Soldano said when told he was the first area OW in 34 years. "I'm in very good company. [Michaels] has always been a big supporter of me. It's very special to have my name up there with some of the greatest wrestlers."

As Soldano left the mat for the final time in high school following his 75th straight victory, there were plenty of emotions. He embraced head coach John Gardner and assistant coach Billy Smith, both state champions for the 'Cats, and hugged his father, Pete, and mother, Cheryl, as they exited the arena floor.

"There's nothing better than having my coaches in the corner and then being in my dad's arms," said Soldano, the ultimate team-first wrestler. "It's special. Very special [to have two former champs in the corner]." 

Palacio (35-3) is the only opponent this season to last the full six minutes with Soldano, who logged 33 falls (27 in the first period and 16 under a minute) and one technical fall while picking up three forfeits in addition to the major. 

Soldano on the podium for a third time.

"Brian is a three-time state champ. That's pretty good," said Gardner, a winner at 189 pounds in 1990 who has coached both of High Point's three-timers. "For him, wearing our singlet mattered. Nothing changed today [by not getting another pin]. It was a wrestling match, that's all it was. [Rutgers] is getting a good one."

Soldano, who ranks 10th on the school's all-time wins list with a career mark of 127-5, went for the home run early, with an underhook and attempt for a standing cement job. He didn't get any points with the move, but it seemed to zap all the energy from Palacio, who was never in the bout. In fact, action was halted three times due to blood as Palacio seemed a bit woozy for most of the match. 

"I just wanted to keep it going," Soldano said of the breaks in action. "Being on the center mat, not much can throw you off."

Soldano converted a first-period takedown and rode with the legs in for a 2-0 lead. After an escape to start the second period, he went for a gator roll and was unsuccessful as the bout was stopped for a second time. He finished off another takedown -- single to a double -- for a 5-0 advantage as Palacio chose neutral to start the the third period. Soldano hit a sweet duck-under for his third takedown and added two more after allowing two more escapes.

How dominant was his performance this season and over the last three years? Soldano went 13-0 with all pins in winning four region titles -- joining Gardner and Francavilla as High Point's only four-time winners -- spending a total time of 1:35 on the mat in his fourth championship. Soldano also won his final 14 bouts in the state tournament, logging four pins in a total time of 3:14 in this last appearance. 

"He won by [almost] 10 points," Gardner said. "I don't think pinning people is the most important thing."

But the realization that it's over wasn't lost on Soldano, though he'll be ramping it up again shortly in preparation for the Junior National Freestyle trials in Nevada at the end of April.

"Going into [the state final] there was a lot of emotion," Soldano said. "After the final whistle it hit me hard. Not having this group with me after four years and seeing them is going to hurt a lot."

Spoken like an ultimate champion and teammate. Rutgers is getting a good one. 

Wrestling: Soldano 'unbelievable' in semis W; notes

High Point ace Brian Soldano is making it look way too easy. But he can't help it. The two-time state champion is head-and-shoulders above the field at 190 pounds.

Soldano, who decked Middle Township senior David Giulian in 1:40, salvaged what was an otherwise tough semifinal round for the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area on Friday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. With his 99th career pin, Soldano (37-0), a sure frontrunner for the Outstanding Wrestler Award, advanced to face North Bergen junior Joshua Palacio in Saturday's championships at approximately 3 p.m. 

"I would love to get [the OW Award]. That would be pretty cool," Soldano said after his semifinal win. "I'm feeling good, but one step at a time. First is to win the state title and get that 100th pin."

Soldano improved to 126-5 overall.

Four other area wrestlers weren't successful in their semifinal appearance as North Hunterdon junior Logan Wadle (106), a 2021 runner-up, and senior Liam Akers (285), along with Pope John freshman Carson Walsh (113) and Hunterdon Central senior Tanner Peake (157), will next compete in the consolation semifinals at 10 a.m. on Saturday. 

All four can place as high as third as HWS secured a total of nine medals (North with an area-high three). North Hunterdon junior Brendan Raley (215) and Lenape Valley senior Daniel Haws (126) will wrestle for seventh place, while Pope John senior Jack Stoll (215) and Warren Hills senior Tyler McCatharn (285), both in the consolation semis, can finish no lower than sixth place.

Soldano, who is looking to join Nick Francavilla (2009-11) as High Point's only three-time champions and become just the seventh in Sussex County history to do it, started his day by pinning Mount Olive junior Anthony Moscatello for the third time this season in the quarterfinals. That one took just 1:10.

"He's unbelievable," said coach John Gardner, a 1990 champion at 189 pounds for the 'Cats, who has stated numerous times that Soldano is the best to ever don a High Point singlet.

In the semifinals, Soldano, a four-time region champ and the Wildcats' career pins leader, converted a single-leg takedown and used a merkle for two back points before stacking Giulian (35-5), a Region 8 runner-up, for the fall, which extended the Rutgers recruit's overall win streak to 74 and 13 straight in the state tournament since a 17-8 defeat to West Orange's Colin Morgan in the 2019 Blood Round. 

"My [older] brother, PJ, said I had to switch it up a little and do something else," Soldano said of using the winning stack move rather than locking his opponent around the chest and just horsing them over, which he's done quite a bit among his 33 pins this season -- three shy of heavyweight Kevin Williams' season mark of 36, then a New Jersey record set during his run to a third-place finish in 1991.

Soldano after winning his second state title at P'burg.

Despite being the biggest title favorite in AC, Soldano, who has 27 first-period pins and 16 of those in under a minute, is taking it all in stride on the eve of his final high school match.

"I don't really feel much pressure," said Soldano, whose last high school loss was to Lower Dauphin's Clayton Ulrey, a former PIAA Class AAA state finalist, 11-8, in the 2020 Sam Cali Tournament finals.

"I've been here before. My job is to get it done, whatever I have to do. It will be a special moment [winning three titles] if I'm able to come out on top. All I've dreamed about is being the best to wrestle for High Point and showcase what I can do."

Tough times

Wadle, who was looking to become North's first repeat finalist since Jack Delia, a two-time runner-up at heavyweight in 2010-11, dropped a 4-1 decision to St. John Vianney freshman Patrick O'Keefe. Down, 1-0, heading into the third period, Wadle took bottom and was turned with a half nelson. O'Keefe (35-6), a Region 5 champion, then switched to a double-arm bar for three huge back points and finished the bout in that position. Wadle's only losses in 24 bouts since dropping to 106 in mid-January are to O'Keefe (35-6), who scored a 5-3 victory when they met at the Patriot Duals on Jan. 22.

Walsh (24-3), who was bidding to become the just the second Pope John freshman to reach the finals, a distinction held by three-time state champion Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72), dropped a 3-1 decision to Eastern senior Jared Brunner, a three-time medalist. A first-period takedown was the difference.

In one of the most entertaining semifinals, Peake, a sixth-place finisher in 2021, lost a heartbreaker to Kingsway senior Dakota Morris -- 3-1 in sudden-victory overtime. Morris, who converted the winning single-leg takedown at the buzzer, nearly ended it in regulation when he put Peake to his back with a cradle as they rolled out of the circle with just under 30 seconds left on the clock. Peake escaped with 16 ticks left to force OT. 

Akers, who earned his second career medal after a seventh-place finish in 2020, was no match for St. Joseph-Montvale junior Jim Mullen, a 2020 champion, who rolled to a 12-2 major. Akers' lone points was a reversal down, 7-0, in the second period, as he joined Delia as the only two-time placers at heavyweight for the Lions. Akers will face McCatharn in the consolation semis and is 3-0 all-time against the Blue Streak dating to 2020, including two wins this season (6-0 in the dual meet and 1-0 in the HWS Tournament finals).

Back points 

Haws (35-6), who will face Bergen Catholic's Aidan Wallace in the seventh-place bout, roared back from a second-round technical-fall loss to Kinnelon senior Evan Mougalian, a three-time finalist and 2020 state champion. to secure Lenape Valley's 23rd medal. It's Haws' first in three state appearances  and the Patriots' first since Nick Palumbo became the Sussex County school's first state champion in 2017 after his third-place finish at 145 in '16. Haws, who is 109-26 overall, is tied with Mike LaBell (109-41 from 2007-11 and D.J. Barrett 109-46 from 2011-15) for sixth on the Pats' career wins list -- passing Gary Mikolay and Derek Nagy, both state medalists, as well as Paul Grogan, whose brother, Anthony, is the head coach.

The Blood Round was rough on the locals (who went 4-7) as North Hunterdon junior Alex Uryniak came up a win shy of his second medal at 190 pounds after a seventh-place finish at 182 in 2021. Phillipsburg's Gavin Hawk (120), James Day (126), Joey Innamorato (138) and David Pierson (215), Hunterdon Central sophomore Anthony Rossi (106) and Warren Hills senior Owen Frizzell (175), all were seeking their first. 

P'burg and Warren Hills, which each had an area-best eight qualifiers, combined for one medal as McCatharn, who finished sixth last season, became the first Blue Streak since Dan Slack (third in 1976 and first in '77) to place twice at heavyweight (though back then you had to reach the semis to medal for at least a fourth-place finish). Stoll, who finished sixth at 220 last season, one-upped his older brother, Kyle, who placed sixth at 195 in 2013 for High Point, as a two-time medalist.

Phillipsburg had no state placewinners for a third straight year -- a program first -- and the sixth time since 2005, which snapped a run of 26 straight tournaments with at least one since missing in 1978. P'burg, which became a varsity program in 1947-48, came up empty for the first time in '50 as well as '55. Last year was the first time that the 'Liners went back-to-back without a medal since 1961-62 and 1964-65.

Warren County did not have a wrestler in the semifinals for a third straight year and the fifth time since 2013. Cody Harrison (third at 152 in 2019) was the last for Phillipsburg, while Andrew Pacheco (sixth at 285 in 2014) was the last to reach the semis for Warren Hills, which has not produced a state champ since Justin Colaluce went back-to-back in 1997-98. Brandon Hull (220 in 2012) is the last male to win a title for the 'Liners.

Region 2 flexed its muscles again with a tourney-high 12 semifinalists, followed by Region 3 and Region 6 with nine each and Region 8 with seven. Region 1 and Region 5 were next with six, while Region 4 had four and Region 7 had three. Of the 56 wrestlers in the semis, 29 represented Non-Public schools. 

As for the championships, Region 2 advanced seven to the finals, followed by Region 6 with five and Region 3 and Region 8 with four apiece. Region 1 and Region 5 have three and Region 4 and Region 7 each have one finalist.

Wrestling: NH (4) leads at quarter pole; HWS notes

It was a tough opening day all-around for the Hunterdon-Warren Sussex area, but the upper weights saved the evening, as North Hunterdon pushed an area-best four into the quarterfinals in the 89th New Jersey State Wrestling Championships on Thursday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

HWS put 11 wrestlers into the quarterfinals.

Also leading the charge was two-time High Point state champion Brian Soldano, who added two more pins to advance to the Round of 8 at 190 pounds. In all, 11 from the HWS area stayed in contention for gold medals, including North Hunterdon juniors Logan Wadle (106), Alex Uryniak (190) and Brendan Raley (215) and senior Liam Akers (285) to give the Lions a perfect 4-for-4 second round after going 4-3 in the prelims. 

Phillipsburg has two in the quarters with freshman Gavin Hawk (120) and senior David Pierson (215), while Pope John freshman Carson Walsh (113) and senior Jack Stoll (215) were among three from Sussex County, along with Soldano, to win in the Round of 16. 

Warren Hills senior Tyler McCatharn (285) and Hunterdon Central senior Tanner Peake (157) round out the local contingent in Friday's quarters, which are scheduled to begin at approximately noon. The area, which hasn't had fewer than 10 quarterfinalists since nine in 2015 (the 2021 states at P'burg aren't factored in since it was a reduced field due to the pandemic), had just four pre-quarterfinal winners through 11 weights before seven came through in the final three. There are 38 locals who will be competing in the wrestlebacks starting at 9 a.m. on Friday.

HWS went 21-28 in the first round and 11-10 in the pre-quarters.

Lion pride

Wadle (29-6), a Region 4 champion and 2021 state runner-up at 106, opened his day with a 14-1 major of Hackettstown's Aiden Scheeringa in the prelims, followed by a 9-5 win over Shawnee's Luke Sherlock. Wadle, who surrendered the first points in that one on a takedown, looks to become North's first repeat finalist since two-time heavyweight runner-up Jack Delia (2010-11). The No. 2 seed will next face West Milford's Benjamin Marchetto (39-3), a Region 1 runner-up and the No. 10 seed.

Uryniak (far left) improved to 73-13 overall.

Uryniak (33-3), a No. 3 seed who finished seventh in the state at 182 pounds in 2021, kept rolling with a first-period pin in his opener, followed by a workmanlike 7-2 decision (three takedowns) over Don Bosco's Kai Argyros. He will next face North Bergen's Joshua Palacio (33-2) in the quarters.

Raley (37-2), whose only losses this season are to Pierson, reached the quarters for the first time in his career with a 14-10 victory over St. Joseph-Montvale's Aidan Schlett. Raley will take on Bergen Catholic's AJ Fricchione (26-7), the No. 3 seed and a 2021 runner-up, in the Round of 8.

Akers (37-1), who didn't medal last season at 285 after a seventh-place finish in 2020, advanced with two pins, needing just 1:48 to flatten Hightstown's Brenden Hansen for his 91st career victory in the pre-quarters. Akers will square off with Cilfton's Joseph Abill (38-3), who placed fourth at heavyweight last season. North, which has 12 state champions, seeks its first since Ricky Frondorf, a four-time medal winner, won back-to-back titles at 152 pounds in 2002-03.

Back points

Hawk (35-7), who seems poised to win a few state medals before he's done wearing the Garnet and Grey, reached the Round of 8 and a quarterfinal date with Southern's Conor Collins, a the top seed and a 2021 runner-up, with a 3-2 win over Butler's Brett Redner. In doing so, he became the second P'burg quarterfinalist with that last name, joining former assistant and North Hunterdon head coach Jason Hawk (no relation). Jason Hawk, who was watching from the seats behind Mat No. 4, along with former P'burg great and two-time state champion Rick Thompson, was a two-time placer and 1987 runner-up for the Stateliners, as well as a member of the school's 100 wins club (101-20-4 from 1984-88).

Senior James Day nearly gave P'burg a third quarterfinalist, giving two-time state placewinner Joe Manno of St. Joseph-Montvale all he could handle in a 3-1 sudden-victory loss. Day (35-4), a Region 3 runner-up, tied the bout with an early third-period escape and was in deep several times on Manno, who converted the winning takedown with just seven seconds left on the clock in OT. 

Walsh (23-3), a talented freshman and Region 1 champion, made a grand debut with an impressive 4-3 win over South Plainfield's Jeffrey Jacome, a No. 2 seed and 2021 fourth-place finisher at 113, in the Round of 16. Stoll (21-3), who placed sixth last season, gave the area three quarterfinalists at 215 with two pins and setting up a Round of 8 clash with Passaic Valley's P.J. Casale, a 2020 state champion for Delbarton.

Soldano extended his win streak to 72 dating to 2020.

Soldano (35-0), who logged his 96th and 97th career pins, is three wins shy of becoming just the third three-time state champion for Sussex County in the modern area. High Point's Nick Francavilla (2009-11) and Pope John's Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72) are the others. Newton's Robert McKeeby (1941-43), Harry Lanzi (1946-48), Bill Dolan (1947-49) and Don Frey (1947-49) also won three. The only other three-time winner from the HWS area is Phillipsburg's John Barna (1980-82). 

How good is Soldano? Well, the Rutgers recruit dazzled once again in the pre-quarters. Marlboro's Mike Malucelli got in deep on Soldano's right leg for what would have been a a takedown against mortal opponents, but Soldano dropped his hip and as both fell to the mat, he was able to horse Malucelli onto his back for the 44-second pin. Just amazing stuff. Soldano, who will next face Mount Olive junior Anthony Moscatello (pinned in their two previous meetings this season) in the quarters, improved to 124-5 overall and passed Gavin Tarsa (123-34 from 2004-08) for ninth on the school's all-time wins list. 

Peake (38-4), who is two wins shy of matching Peter Nace for seventh on Central's career list, had little trouble in his two victories on Thursday, including a 7-1 decision over DePaul's Ryan Burton. Peake will take on Ocean Township's Shane Cartagena-Walsh in the quarters.

McCatharn (35-4), who placed sixth at 285 in 2021, rebounded from a disappointing third-place finish in Region 1 last weekend by decking Delsea's Rocco Bennett in 5:33 to reach the quarterfinals. The bout was tied, 1-1, when McCatharn took down Bennett to his back for the fall. The two didn't meet in the Group 3 final, as the Crusaders forfeited the final bout in a 29-28 victory over the Blue Streaks, who went 3-5 in the opening round. McCatharn, who slimmed down to about 215 pounds at the end of the regular season, is looking to become the Streaks' first two-time medal winner at heavyweight since Dan Slack (third in 1976 and first in '77), who is also the last heavyweight finalist for Hills.

It was an especially tough night for the region fourth-place finishers. According to media coordinator extraordinaire Bob Behre, only four won their first-round matchups, knocking off a pair of No. 7 and No. 8 seeds. Only 13 of the Nos. 29-32 seeds made it the full six minutes. 

Region 2 was clearly the deepest this season and it showed with 24 wrestlers in the quarterfinals. Next was Region 8 with 16 and Region 3 with 15, followed by Region 6 with 14, Region 1 and 5 with 12, Region 4 with 11 and Region 7 with eight.

Wrestling: Five best shots for state medals (HWS)

We may not fully appreciate what High Point ace Brian Soldano has accomplished on the high school wrestling scene until years from now. And while numbers alone don't tell the full story, they're a good starting point as one builds a case for Soldano as the best ever in these parts.

Gardner, Soldano and Francavilla have a combined 6 state titles.

But first, Soldano looks to become only the second at his school to win three state titles. The Rutgers recruit is among 49 wrestlers representing the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area in the 89th State Championships, which begin on Thursday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Soldano (33-0), who joined head coach John Gardner and three-time state champ Nick Francavilla as the only Wildcats to win four region titles on Sunday, is perhaps the biggest favorite among the 14 weight classes to secure another gold medal. No Garden State opponent has been near Soldano's level the past two seasons -- winning his first title at 160 pounds as a sophomore and at 182 at Phillipsburg High School in last season's pandemic-shortened campaign.

"Ever since I got to high school, my goal was to be the best ever at High Point," Soldano said during a preseason interview. "I can't be the best ever because I don't have four state medals. I think Nick is still better than me. But I feel like I've put up a pretty good resume."

Francavilla, who placed seventh as a freshman and Soldano's club coach at Iron Horse in Sparta, and Gardner, a 1990 state champ and New Jersey's all-time wins leader at the time, have freely admitted that Soldano is the best to ever don a High Point singlet.  

Brian Soldano is 12-2 all-time in state matches. 

It's hard to dispute, when you consider that Soldano enters his final state tournament riding a 70-match win streak. His last high school loss came against Lower Dauphin's Clayton Ulrey, a PIAA Class AAA state runner-up that season and coached by former Pemberton state champ Kemal Pegram, 11-8, in the Sam Cali Tournament finals on Jan. 4, 2020. Ulrey is now a sophomore at Virginia Tech.

Soldano, who has won nine straight state tournament bouts, has not suffered a postseason loss since he fell in the 2019 Blood Round -- 17-8 to West Orange's Colin Morgan -- in AC. His 13 pins (seven in the first period) in as many region bouts is unprecedented -- neither Gardner, Francavilla or Pope John's Mike Frick and JoJo Aragona, the other four-time region champs from Sussex County, pinned every opponent. Had it not been for COVID-19, the career numbers -- 122 wins, 95 pins (29 this season) -- would be even more staggering.

Here's our top picks for medals from HWS (Note: We could have easily listed 10)   

Brian Soldano (33-0), High Point -- Soldano is making winning look way too easy, just steamrolling his opponents, with 29 of his victories coming by fall (23 in the first period and 15 in fewer than one minute) to go with one technical fall and three forfeits. He's only gone to the third period once (Delsea's Danny Digiovacchino, who was pinned twice by Soldano) this season and hasn't gone the distance in 35 straight since a 3-0 win over Butler's Justin Chrostowski in the 2021 North 1 Super Region final. The technical fall this seasonwas against North Hunterdon's Alex Uryniak, a 2021 state placewinner, in the HWS Tournament finals. Uryniak was also pinned in 1:34 in their rematch at the Patriot Duals on Jan. 22. Soldano is looking to join Francavilla, Newton's Robert McKeeby (1941-43), Harry Lanzi (1946-48), Bill Dolan (1947-49) and Don Frey (1947-49), and Pope John's Mike Frick (1969, '71 and '72), a four-time finalist along with Lanzi and Frey, as the only other three-time winners from Sussex County.

Career mark: 122-5.

Previous appearances: 3-2, at 160 pounds in 2019; 5-0, first place at 160 in '20; 4-0, first place at 182 in '21.

First-round opponent: Newton senior Melkart Abou-Jaoude (18-7, R1-4).

Logan Wadle (27-6), North Hunterdon -- A runner-up at 106 last season, Wadle seems to be peaking at the right time after a tough start to the season, as he competed up at 113 early on. The catalyst for a state title run may be a 7-6 win over St. Peter's Prep freshman Adrian DeJesus in last weekend's Region 4 finals as Wadle, whose father, Rudy, was a three-time region champion for the Lions, won his first title and the Outstanding Wrestler Award. DeJesus (20-3), the top seed at 106, decked Wadle in a December dual encounter that was not close. Even though Wadle doesn't have experience on the big stage in AC, last year's tournament was at P'burg, he's delivered plenty in big spots over the last three years. Wadle, the No. 2 seed and 19-1 at 106 since dropping on Jan. 15, could see St. John Vianney's Patrick O'Keefe in the semis. O'Keefe gave Wadle his lone loss at 106 -- 5-3 on Jan. 22.

Career mark: 69-14.

Previous appearances: 3-1, second place at 106 pounds in 2021.

First-round opponent: Hackettstown sophomore Aiden Scheeringa (26-8, R3-4).

Tanner Peake (36-4), Hunterdon Central -- One of nine returning placewinners from the HWS area, Peake, the No. 3 seed at 157, is riding high following his win over St. John Vianney stud Jasiah Queen -- 4-3 in the Region 5 finals. That victory avenged a 3-2 UTB loss to Queen in the District 17 finals. Peake, a sixth-place finisher at 152 in 2021, would likely have finished his career as the Red Devils' all-time wins leader if not for COVID-19, but he'll surely settle for joining former teammate Colton Washleski (sixth in 2020 and fourth in '21) as Central's latest two-time medal winner. Peake's only other loss to a New Jersey opponent this season is 4-1 to Kingsway senior Dakota Morris, the No. 2 seed and a 2021 state finalist, in the Beast of the East wrestlebacks.

Career mark: 119-26.

Previous appearances: 3-2, at 138 pounds in 2020; 3-3, sixth place at 152 in '21.

First-round opponent: Northern Highlands senior Logan Hurwitt (22-7, R1-4).

Uryniak, far right, is making his first AC appearance.

Alex Uryniak (31-3), North Hunterdon -- One of the strongest upper weights around, Uryniak, who  has set several weightlifting marks at the school, has quietly put together a solid season in the shadow of Soldano, whose given the 2021 seventh-place state medalist two of his three losses (the other was 5-0 to Central Bucks East's Quinn Collins in the Sam Cali semifinals). Uryniak isn't flashy, but he's been on quite a roll since that second loss to Soldano (a pin in 1:34 on Jan. 22) -- winning 10 in a row, including six pins and one major decision en route to District 13 and Region 4 titles. The other bit of good news is that he's the No. 3 seed and in the opposite bracket from Soldano so a potential third meeting is a strong possibility.

Career mark: 71-13.

Previous appearances: 3-2, seventh place at 182 pounds in 2021.

First-round opponent: Cherry Hill East senior Alex Katsikis (19-6, R7-4).

Liam Akers (35-1), North Hunterdon -- A slimmer version of the North big man didn't make it on the podium in 2021, but Akers, the No. 5 seed, is primed to make a medal run this season. The District 13 and Region 4 champion's only loss is to Paramus Catholic's Max Acciardi, 3-2, in the ultimate tiebreaker in the Sam Cali finals on Dec. 28. That loss to the No. 2 seed in AC sent Akers into the top bracket with heavy title favorite Jim Mullen of St. Joseph-Montvale, the 2020 state champ at 285. It' s shame because Akers matches up well against everyone else in the draw and should see Mullen in the semis. The last North heavyweight to reach the finals was Jack Delia, a runner-up in 2010 and '11. Akers, who finished seventh in 2020, has reeled off 28 in a row (15 pins) since the loss, including two wins over 2021 sixth-place finisher Tyler McCatharn of Warren Hills.

Career mark: 89-18.

Previous appearances: 5-2, seventh place at 285 pounds in 2020; 1-2 at 285 in '21.

First-round opponent: Brick Memorial senior Sam Azzaretti (28-6, R6-4).

Other area qualifiers (44)

Phillipsburg -- Gavin Hawk (120), James Day (126), Luke Geleta (132), Joey Innamorato (138), Hunter Cleaver (157), Nate Zastowny (165), David Pierson (215), John Wargo (285)
Warren Hills -- Kevin Riedinger (113), Shawn Redfield (132), Jared Lee (144), Stephen Malia (165), Owen Frizzell (175), Ryan Galka (190), Pantuso (215), McCatharn (285)
North Hunterdon -- Nick DeLorenzo (132), Daniel Delusant (138), Luke Yager (175), Brendan Raley (215)
Hunterdon Central -- Anthony Rossi (106), Peter Plesh (113), Aidan Portnoy (144), Nick Canonica (150), Thomas Brunetti (165)
Delaware Valley -- Owen Kucharski (106), Chris Colasurdo (150), Matt Schneider (190), Trevor Bowen (215)
Pope John -- Carson Walsh (113), Justin Holly (132), Colin Neal (150), Stoll (215)
High Point -- Clayton Utter (120), Andrew Brevot (138)
Kittatinny -- S. Dalling (150), Ethan Dalling (165), Ty Eldred (285)
Hackettstown -- Aiden Scheeringa (106), Nicholas Balella (120)
Newton -- Michael Melillo (138), Melkart Abou-Jaoude (190)
Hopatcong -- Michael Mastroeni (165)
Lenape Valley -- Daniel Haws (126)

Open Mike championship picks

106 -- Logan Wadle, North Hunterdon
113 -- Anthony Knox, St. John Vianney
120 -- Alex Nini, Christian Brothers Academy
126 -- Evan Mougalian, Kinnelon
132 -- Anthony Santaniello, Brick Memorial
138 -- Joseph Cangro, Bergen Catholic
144 -- Ty Whalen, Clearview
150 -- Andrew Troczynski, Delbarton
157 -- Simon Ruiz, Delbarton
165 -- Hunter Mays, Howell
175 -- Michael Dellagatta, St. Joseph-Montvale
190 -- Brian Soldano, High Point 
215 -- P.J. Casale, Passaic Valley
285 -- Jim Mullen, St. Joseph-Montvale