Sunday, January 23, 2022

Wrestling: Who's the 1?; HWS notebook, rankings

Round and round we go. The triangle between Phillipsburg, North Hunterdon and Warren Hills is one of the most bizarre things we've seen in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area in quite some time.

Warren Hills is the new Open Mike area No. 1.
Let's sort this out. Warren Hills blitzed Phillipsburg, winning the first 10 bouts and 11 overall in a very impressive 35-15 rout at home on Friday, Jan. 14. Just seven days earlier, North Hunterdon handed the Blue Streaks a 33-22 defeat in Washington Township. In the most recent matchup, P'burg stormed to a 44-14 win over North last Wednesday -- a performance akin to the Stateliners' loss to Hills -- to snap a three-match skid in that series dating to 2020.

So how do you rank these three teams? Well, first-year Phillipsburg head coach Brad Gentzle has no doubt about where his team falls in the pecking order.

"This sport is all about matchups," Gentzle told Mike Moore of Stateliner Sports following the win against North in Lopatcong Township. "We knew that we matched up better with North Hunterdon. You would be hard-pressed to find anybody in this gym that's not going to put Phillipsburg atop of that list and that's where I'm going to put us.

"I judge us off where we are today, what we're going to do tomorrow and not what we did on Friday. I have a hard time believing anyone would have beat us tonight."

Well, it's not that simple. It's extremely hard to ignore that dominating win by Warren Hills, which held a 22-1 advantage in takedowns through the first 10 bouts against the Stateliners, who hadn't lost the first 10 bouts in a dual since a 51-9 loss to Blair Academy in 1997. Coach Dave Sbriscia's Streaks were also without starting 106-pounder Charlie Piccione against North, a potential 10-point swing or perhaps more, though the Lions were clearly better on that day.

Based on the latest results, Open Mike is giving the nod to Warren Hills in this week's rankings as the Streaks, who were No. 14 in the state last week and knocked off No. 12 Howell on Saturday, are surely set to crack the Top 10 in Monday's New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association poll. 

P'burg, which was No. 16 in the NJWWA Top 20, is No. 2 in the area this week, though Gentzle is sure to disagree. It's true that the Stateliners looked very good against North Hunterdon as they push toward the upcoming sectional tournaments, with big matches on tap against Easton (Pa.) and Southern this week in a potential Group 5 final preview, but few on the public side are wrestling as well as Warren Hills right now.    

Sectional stuff

The cutoff to qualify for the sectional tournaments, which begin on Feb. 7, is this Saturday and P'burg made sure to get the requisite 10 dual meets on the books with Sunday's 76-3 win over Belvidere. The County Seaters, who are struggling with numbers and inexperience, stepped up in a big way and it's a credit to head coach Dan McIntyre, a former standout at Liberty High School in Pennsylvania and one of the sport's good guys. Mac knows that match will also benefit his kids down the road.

Dan McIntyre got his 300th career win in 2021.

It may not have been necessary since word on the street has the NJSIAA poised to waive the 10-match minimum due to COVID-19. It makes sense that this was not announced earlier this season as the state didn't want teams resting down the stretch. It's the right move to institute a waiver since most programs have been scrambling due to postponements and cancellations. P'burg (7-1) has two scheduled in-state matches this week to reach 10.

Warren Hills (9-3) has perhaps cemented itself as the team to beat in Group 3 with a 39-22 win over Howell, which dropped a 37-21 decision to Delsea, which will also be in the state championship hunt. South Plainfield, which lost to North Hunterdon, 35-33, at the Boresch Duals, is expected to win the Central Jersey, Group 3 section.  

That P'burg-Southern match is big for one simple reason as the winner could potentially gain the top seed in Group 5, leaving the other to navigate through a what should be a tough semifinal matchup -- though under the new format its not as daunting as wrestling the semis and final on the same day -- against Howell or Hunterdon Central, the Central Jersey favorites. Of course, that's contingent on the 'Liners and Rams prevailing in North 2 and South Jersey. That's a much taller order for Southern, which should have to get past Kingsway in South Jersey.  

Match of the week

North Hunterdon at Hunterdon Central (Friday, 6:30 p.m.) -- The visitors rate as favorites, but the Red Devils will be home and looking to gain momentum heading into the sectional tournaments. North certainly has the edge up top with state placewinners Alex Uryniak and Liam Akers, along with junior Brendan Raley, but Central should be able to make noise from 144-175 (wherever Delusant isn't for the Lions) and in spots down low. Senior Nick Canonica (150) has been absent a good bit in Central's lineup, while senior Tanner Peake, a sixth-place finisher in New Jersey last season, was at 150 on Thursday under PIAA rules. We'll take a closer look at the county clash later this week.

Area rankings

1. Warren Hills (9-3) -- Blue Streaks claim the top spot for the first time this season after an impressive third-place showing at the tough Jack Welch Duals, scoring a 39-22 victory against Howell in their finale. Their lone defeat came against No. 1 Delbarton, 53-17. Seniors Jared Lee (20-1 at 144) and Stephen Malia (17-1 at 165) suffered their first losses. Lee picked up his 75th career win, while senior Tyler McCatharn (17-3 at 285) got his 85th. Saturday's match with Delaware Valley should decide this season's Skyland Conference Valley Division champion.

Up next: Hopatcong at Voorhees on Wednesday; Hackettstown at home on Friday; Delaware Valley at home on Saturday.

2. Phillipsburg (7-1) -- Stateliners opened last week with a 37-22 victory over No. 20 Livingston and looked sharp in their 44-14 win against North Hunterdon on Wednesday and a 57-6 rout of Kittatinny on Friday before capping the week with a 76-3 victory vs. Belvidere on Sunday -- No. 1,005 for the program. Senior James Day (20-2 at 126) entered the week with 95 career wins, while sophomore John Wargo (14-7 at 285) capped the win over Kittatinny by handing Ty Eldred a 6-2 loss. P'burg is 21-6 overall dating to 1994 (including nine road wins) and has won 12 straight against the Cougars.

Up next: Easton (Pa.) at home on Tuesday; at Montgomery on Wednesday; at Southern on Saturday.

3. North Hunterdon (11-4) -- Lions bounced back from a 44-14 loss to Phillipsburg with a 59-7 win vs. Bridgewater-Raritan on Friday before finishing third in the rugged Patriot Duals at North Warren on Saturday, which included a 39-28 victory over High Point (No. 792 overall for North). Senior Nick DeLorenzo (132) and junior Daniel Delusant (138) closed out the 'Cats with back-to-back pins, while junior John Van Doren added a key major at 126.

Up next: Delaware Valley at home on Tuesday; at Hunterdon Central on Friday.

4. Hunterdon Central (9-3) -- Red Devils rolled to victories over Ridge (54-25 on Wednesday) and Central Bucks East (Pa.) (43-21 on Thursday), and went 2-1 in their home quad on Saturday, which included a 43-24 loss to No. 9 Mount Olive. Senior Tanner Peake (21-3) picked up his 100th career win against Ridge -- the 27th in program history to reach the century mark -- and scored a 2-1 victory in the UTB over Michael Murphy, a 2021 state qualifier, in the team's 47-12 win over Westfield.

Up next: at Bridgewater-Raritan on Wednesday; North Hunterdon at home on Friday; High Point and Watchung Hills at Delsea on Saturday.

John Gardner with his dad, Ralph, at a recent match.
5. High Point (5-4) -- Wildcats are starting to click as evidenced by their impressive 43-21 victory over archrival Kittatinny (huge wins by Shane Woolf at 150 and Noah Ripley at 215) on Wednesday and a strong showing at Saturday's Patriot Duals, which included a 31-28 win over West Essex and losses to North Hunterdon (39-28) and No. 5 Kingsway (34-31). Coach John Gardner's team seemed to be a bit shorthanded against North as freshman Nick Clayton (13-5 at 106) and junior Roman Citro (10-4 at 120-126) did not compete in that one as the 'Cats lost a key decision at 126. Two-time state champion Brian Soldano (18-0 at 190), who is 107-5 overall, passed Kyle Stoll and Dom Gallo (each with 105) for 15th place on the career wins list.

Up next: Emerson-Park Ridge at home on Tuesday; at Morris Hills on Wednesday; River Dell at home on Thursday; Hunterdon Central and Watchung Hills at Delsea on Saturday.

6. Kittatinny (11-2) -- Cougars were denied their first 12-0 start since 2016 with Wednesday's 43-21 loss to High Point in Wantage, dropping three of the last four meetings in that series. Coach John Gill's team was overmatched in a 57-6 loss to Phillipsburg at home on Friday -- its 12th straight loss in the series and worst defeat since 2015 (59-6 at home). Senior state placewinner Steven Dalling (17-3 at 150-157) scored a 7-1 win over Hunter Cleaver and Reece Smith (15-4 at 144) added a decision.

Up next: at Newton on Tuesday; at River Dell on Wednesday; Somerville, Westfield at Livingston on Saturday.

7. Delaware Valley (11-2) -- Terriers capped their 5-0 week by sweeping a quad at Ridge on Saturday, which included wins over Hillsborough (39-23), Hanover Park (43-26) and the host team (46-23). Coach Andy Fitz's squad also scored a 34-32 win over Group 2 title contender Raritan on Friday in the renewal of their once intense postseason rivalry. Junior Chris Colasurdo (15-4 at 150) sealed it with a decision in the final bout.  

Up next: at North Hunterdon on Tuesday; at Somerville on Wednesday; at Warren Hills on Saturday.

8. Pope John (5-3) -- Lions rebounded from a 46-24 loss to Mount Olive earlier last week with three victories, including back-to-back meetings against Hopatcong (72-6 and 70-9), and a 65-18 win over Parsippany Hills on Friday. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's team seems to be getting near full strength as transfers Jack Nauta (2-0 at 138) and Nicolas Castorina (2-0 at 215) made their season debuts.

Up next: West Morris at home on Tuesday; Parsippany at home on Wednesday.

9. Newton (6-5) -- Braves opened last week with a tough 36-34 loss to Jefferson in an NJAC Freedom Division clash on Wednesday and went 2-2 in their annual appearance at the Jack Welch Duals. Coach Eric Bollette's team scored wins over Egg Harbor Township (53-15) and Holy Spirit (48-30) and lost to Clearview (43-24) and Delsea (67-6). Juniors Michael Melillo (11-3 at 138) and Thaylor Sibblies (11-3 at 144) went 3-1 in the two-day event at Moorestown.

Up next: Kittatinny at home on Tuesday; at Hackettstown on Wednesday; Hillsborough at Cranford on Saturday.

10. Voorhees (8-4) -- Vikings went 4-0 last week, scoring a 47-24 victory over Bernards in a Skyland Conference Valley Division showdown and sweeping a quad at Belvidere on Saturday with wins against Piscataway (58-21), Kearny (36-31) and the County Seaters (57-18). Senior Mike Mosier (13-5) and sophomore Logan Wiecoreck (15-5) had solid weeks. Coach Ricky Kurtz's team already has an many wins as the two previous seasons combined and eyes the program's first winning campaign since 2019.

Up next: Bridgewater-Raritan at home on Monday; Hopatcong and Warren Hills at home on Wednesday; at Manville on Friday; Sparta at Lenape Valley on Saturday.

Posted by Mike Weilamann at 7:13 PM

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