Wrestling: Gardner hits 398, 'Cats roll to NJAC title

When it comes to Sussex County's most storied wrestling rivalry, it's usually wise to expect the unexpected when High Point and Kittatinny tangle on the mats.

There were two surprising results, both early and late, that went High Point's way as the Wildcats cruised to a 39-23 victory over their archrivals to clinch the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division title on Friday night at Kittatinny Regional High School.

High Point (4-3, 3-0 division) is firmly in a rebuilding mode as it chases another North 1, Group 2 title (its sixth in a row and a county-best 30th sectional championship overall) next month. Key pins by juniors Ty Woods and Dalton Yetter helped secure coach John Gardner's 398th career win and the program's 27th league or division crown. Gardner, whose teams have won 17 of those championships (five in the old SCIL), improved to 398-116-2 in 25 seasons and 13-11 against Kittatinny. The former High Point great and state champion (189 pounds in 1990) also went 4-0 in this rivalry as a wrestler.

High Point celebrates its 29th sectional title in 2022.

The anticipated strategy of bumping up in the first four weights paid off splendidly as High Point won the opening six bouts (eight overall) in racking up a commanding 27-0 lead. After freshman John Barron's pin at 106 pounds and key decisions by junior Carson Citro (113), along with sophomores Colton Jaust (120) and Nick Clayton (126), senior Roman Citro's pin at 132 set the stage for an much unexpected result at 138.

Woods got the gym jumping by using a chin whizzer to flatten Kittatinny senior Chris Casale, a returning Region 1 fifth-place finisher, in 4:51. Woods, who trailed 5-0 after one period and 5-3 going into the third, opted to give an escape after securing a second-period takedown. In fact, five 'Cats chose the neutral position, where they dominated early with an 8-0 advantage in takedowns through the first five bouts. 

Kittatinny (4-5, 2-1), which has now lost four of the last five meetings and is 14-32-1 all-time in the series, finally got on the board with senior Andrew Knutelsky's 3-0 decision over promising High Point freshman Jayden Ruplall at 144. But it was a harbinger of things to come as the Cougars, who won the flip to control what seemed to be a pivotal matchup at 165, just couldn't get enough in the bonus points department and trailed 27-3 at the turn.

Junior Reece Smith, a heavy favorite at 150 against High Point senior Will Gomez, managed just a regular decision and fellow junior Bryce Coesfeld, a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament runner-up, racked up six takedowns and had Nick Marangi on his back in the second period, but Coesfeld settled for a 13-3 major at 157. 

At 165, Kittatinny, which was seeking its first outright division title since 2017-18, wanted and got the matchup it wanted between sophomore state qualifier Ethan Dalling and 'Cats senior Shane Woolf. But Dalling, a returning state qualifier and HWS runner-up, needed a buzzer-beating takedown in the final period to eek out a 3-1 victory.

The next surprise came at 190, when Yetter stepped on the mat for the first time this season for High Point and stuck Alex Laoudis in 3:03 to seal the match. Yetter had recently decided to return to the sport after going 8-10 over the previous two seasons.

Kittatinny and legendary coach John Gill, now 13-29-1 against High Point, will have Saturday off as the Cougars, who still rate as the favorites in the North 1, Group 1 sectional tournament in February, will look to bounce back at Ridge in an independent clash on Tuesday. 

Gardner could reach the 400 milestone with a pair of wins at the rugged North Warren Patriot Duals on Saturday. North Hunterdon, ranked No. 17 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 and coming off a big 35-33 win over No. 16 Delaware Valley, will also be in the eight-team field, along with No. 11 St. John Vianney.

HIGH POINT 39, KITTATINNY 23

106 -- Fr. John Barron (10-8), HP, p. Fr. Troy Sharp (1-8), :46.
113 -- Jr. Carson Citro (9-8), HP, d. Fr. Nikolas Martinez (11-9), 4-3.
120 -- So. Colton Jaust (9-6), HP, d. Fr. Blake Giangrasso (4-8), 4-0.
126 -- So. Nick Clayton (11-8), HP, d. Jr. Jacob Savage (5-9), 6-1.
132 -- Sr. Roman Citro (14-2), HP, p. Sr. Anthony Ferrari (5-6), 5:42.
138 -- Jr. Ty Woods (9-7), HP, p. Sr. Chris Casale (10-9), 4:49.
144 -- Sr. Andrew Knutelsky (16-5), K, d. Fr. Jayden Ruplall (7-11), 3-0.
150 -- Jr. Reece Smith (11-4), K, d. Sr. Will Gomez (1-8), 3-0.
157 -- Jr. Bryce Coesfeld (16-2), K, md. So. Nick Marangi (2-11), 13-3.
165 -- So. Ethan Dalling (17-1), K, d. Sr. Shane Woolf (11-7), 3-1.
175 -- Jr. Kaleb Ogar (12-9), K, md. Fr. Jack Kithcart (3-8), 11-2.
190 -- Jr. Dalton Yetter (1-0), HP, p. Jr. Alex Laoudis (6-9), 3:03.
215 -- Jr. Tucker Lockburner (14-4), K, forfeit.
285 -- Sr. Arik Hums (10-8), HP, p. So. Bradley Kearney (2-9), 1:49.
Records -- High Point 4-3, 3-0; Kittatinny 4-5, 2-1.
Officials -- Frank Leitner and Barry Jackson.