Wrestling: 5 takeaways from Del Val's win over Hills

Don't think for one minute that Delaware Valley's wrestling team forgot that shellacking it took at the hands of Warren Hills a year ago. 

It was probably all the motivation necessary for the Terriers to avenge one of their worst defeats in the series and a create a logjam atop the Skyland Conference Raritan Division. 

Del Val was able to maneuver its lineup to record nine victories in an impressive 39-23 win on Saturday afternoon at Daniel Hutchins Memorial Gymnasium -- creating a two-way tie atop the division in the process and snapping the Hunterdon County school's first three-match skid in the series since Hills won four in a row from 1995-98.

Del Val is primed for another Group 1 title run.

Delaware Valley (11-3, 5-1 division), ranked No. 19 in the state by the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, avenged a 57-3 road loss in 2022 (the largest deficit since a 56-0 loss to the former Washington High School in 1963), The Terriers, who have won six of the last seven meetings at home in this series, also picked up their first win over a Top 20 team this season as Warren Hills came in at No. 12.

The Blue Streaks (13-3, 5-1) had ensured themselves at least a three-way share of the Raritan title with Thursday's 35-34 thriller over North Hunterdon, which was decided on criteria (most bouts won, 8-6). North, which is 4-1 in the division and handed Del Val a 35-33 loss here on Jan. 18, can create that three-way scenario with a win against Ridge at home on Tuesday.

Here's five takeaways from Saturday's clash in Alexandria Township:

1. Delaware Valley, which had not stepped on the mat in seven days since earning wins over Hanover Park and Ridge in a tri-meet last Saturday, certainly looked like the fresher and sharper team. The Terriers' match against Watchung Hills on Wednesday was cancelled by inclement weather, while Warren Hills and North Hunterdon moved their showdown back one day to Thursday. The Streaks also traveled to Hackettstown on Friday night -- a 59-15 victory -- giving them three duals in as many days. 

2. Winning the flip was critical for Del Val as Warren Hills had to show first at 175. That allowed Fitz to make a few bold moves to get a pin, then chase points at 190, where senior Garrett Tettemer, a PIAA Class AA state medalist for Notre Dame (Pa.) last season, held on for a 5-3 win over Streaks senior Michael Drazek. It also pushed junior Anderson Olcott up 20-plus pounds to 215, but he held a former state placewinner to a major. Bonus points -- getting and not giving up -- favored the Terriers, who collected three pins and three majors for 12 additional points on the board. Warren Hills had two falls and two majors (plus-eight), but the Streaks were looking for more at 215 and 285 (seniors Jarett Pantuso and Chris Whitehead combined for 11 of the team's 17 takedowns against 29 for Del Val). Hills senior Shawn Redfield rallied for a 12-9 win over Jackson Bush, who held a 6-5 first-period lead off three takedowns, with a cradle for three backs in the second. Redfield beat Bush by technical fall in last year's dual.

3. Warren Hills weathered an early storm and was actually in decent shape through three bouts as Del Val junior Matt Roche started things with a 14-1 major over sophomore Tyler Redfield, who trailed, 11-0, after one period in the opening bout at 126 and saved a point. Junior Josh Lee got the Streaks going by decking Jared Leeds at 132, followed by Shawn Redfield's victory. Sophomore Tyler O'Neill also saved a few points in a 12-3 loss to Del Val junior Ben Levy, who rated a big favorite at 144. But Del Val won four of the next five (three pins) to take a commanding 29-15 lead after Tettemer's win.

Hills sets its sights on the program's 7th sectional title.

4. Del Val, which now owns a 32-22 overall edge in the series, was able to put its A-lineup on the mat for the first time and as a result, juggled its lineup more effectively with the extra two pounds on top of the weight allowance. Juniors Jake Taylor and Matt Roche, along with sophomore Jaden Perez, dropped down a weight for the first time this season and neither surrendered a takedown while allowing a combined eight points. You could say this one was really won on the scales as the trio would have otherwise been in much tighter bouts. Not having senior Ryan Lundy (14-9), who has been out all week, in the lineup at 150, could have also have been a nine-point swing as Hills gave up a fall there. 

5. Warren Hills must now gear for a run at a second straight North 2, Group 3 title, when the sectional tournaments begin on Monday, Feb. 6. It's arguably the toughest bracket in the state with No. 16 Cranford, West Morris and West Essex, which dropped a 51-12 decision to the eventual Group 3 runners-up in last year's final. also in the field. In Group 1, reigning champion Del Val has all the momentum as it seeks a second straight state championship for the first time since winning four in a row in Group 2 (1987-90). Terriers coach Andy Fitz, a fifth-place state finisher as a senior in '90, was a part of all four title runs. Del Val has already beaten Kittatinny and Hanover Park, which rate as the favorites in North 1 and North 2, respectively.

DELAWARE VALLEY 39, WARREN HILLS 23

126 -- Jr. Matt Roche (20-7), DV, md. So. Tyler Redfield (19-6), 14-1. 
132 -- Jr. Josh Lee (19-6), WH, p. Jr. Jared Leeds (4-6), 4:57.
138 -- Sr. Shawn Redfield (22-3), WH, d. Jr. Jackson Bush (18-6), 12-9.
144 -- Jr. Ben Levy (17-3), DV, md. So. Tyler O'Neill (5-12), 12-3. 
150 -- Sr. Brayden Schneider (14-4), DV, p. So. Hamza Yassir (0-3), 1:19. 
157 -- Sr. Chris Colasurdo (15-4), DV, p. Fr. Ryan Hisko (0-6), 1:14.
165 -- Sr. Cody Miller (19-7), WH, p. Jr. Kevin Roman (16-10), 1:20.
175 -- Jr. August Savacool (9-7), DV, p. Sr. Luke Dugan (0-2), 1:00.
190 -- Sr. Garrett Tettemer (8-0), DV, d. Sr. Michael Drazek (21-4), 5-3.
215 -- Sr. Jarett Pantuso (22-2), WH, md. Jr. Anderson Olcott (18-5), 13-3.
285 -- Sr. Chris Whitehead (18-10), WH, md. Sr. Jake Lagun (1-2), 12-3.
106 -- Sr. Owen Kucharski (21-2), DV, md. Fr. Augie Szamreta (20-6), 11-3.
113 -- Jr. Jake Taylor (17-5), DV, d. Fr. Davey Rhinehart (21-7), 6-0.
120 -- So. Jaden Perez (18-2), DV, d. So. Charlie Piccione (20-5), 14-7.
Records -- Warren Hills 13-3, 5-1; Delaware Valley 11-3, 5-1.