Wrestling: Newton, Hills to meet at Jack Welch Duals

Pairings and seeds for the 16th Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown High School.

Wrestling begins on Friday at 4:45 p.m., with the second and third rounds to follow at 6:45 and 8:45. Action resumes at 11 a.m. on Saturday with round No. 4 and final session at 1 p.m.

Warren Hills (6-1), ranked No. 12 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, and Newton (1-6) are the only Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area teams in the tournament.

Hills celebrates its Caldwell Tournament title (WH Facebook page)

Hills, which is sitting on 793 wins, is coming off a thrilling 30-26 win over Hunterdon Central this past Thursday and a second-place finish at the HWS Tournament on Saturday. The third-seeded Blue Streaks will renew their longtime rivalry with the 14th-seeded Braves in the opening round on Friday.

The locals were slated to meet here in 2019, but inclement weather forced the teams to head home early on Day 2. The series renewed for the first time in 25 years in '15, and Newton, which owns a 30-16-2 lead against Washington/Warren Hills dating to 1940, had dropped three in a row in the series since '15 before a 55-13 win here in '18. The Braves also earned their program's 800th victory with a 68-3 waxing of Moorestown in this event in '19. 

Newton has finished second twice in 13 prior appearances under veteran coach Eric Bollette, who at 267-216-1 in 23 seasons is one win shy of matching legendary Streaks coach John Goles (268-154-8 from 1943-79) for ninth place on the HWS area's career victories list. The Braves are led by senior Thaylor Sibblies (12-1 at 157 pounds). Hills is making its fifth appearance at the Jack Welch Duals.

Warren Hills, led by state qualifiers and seniors Shawn Redfield (14-2 at 138) and Jarett Pantuso (14-1 at 215) could be headed for a semifinal showdown with Delsea, ranked No. 5 in the NJWWA Top 20. The Crusaders prevailed, 28-27, over the Streaks in a classic Group 3 title match last season. Hills went 4-1 in last year's Jack Welch Duals, including a 53-17 loss to Delbarton, which also pinned a 48-18 loss on Delsea en route to the championship.

B. Bollette, Gill, Sylvester after a 2022 dual.

The top seeded Green Wave (7-2) and champion in four of the previous five events, are ranked No. 1 in the NJWWA Top 20. There was no tournament in 2021 due to COVID-19.

Morris Hills drew the No. 7 seed and is slated to meet No. 10 Delran in the opening round on Friday. The Scarlet Knights (8-5) are coached by Brian Bollette, who is Eric's younger brother and a fellow Kittatinny alum, along with assistants Will Livingston, Bryant Wanamaker and Dave Sylvester. The Knights handed John Gill's Cougars a 37-36 loss on criteria (5-4 on pins) on Jan. 4.

(Records through Tuesday's matches).

Pool 1

1-Delbarton (7-2) vs. 16-Bound Brook (1-6)
8-Moorestown (10-4) vs. 9-Cinnaminson (9-1)

Pool 2

5-Howell (8-5) vs. 12-Holy Spirit (4-1)
4-Kingsway (4-3) vs. 13-Cherokee (2-7)

Pool 3

3-Warren Hills (6-1) vs. 14-Newton (1-6)
6-Long Branch (8-3) vs. 11-Clearview (5-4)

Pool 4

7-Morris Hills (8-5) vs. 10-Delran (6-2)
2-Delsea (9-0) vs. 15-Egg Harbor Township (3-10)

Previous champions

2007 -- Delran
2008 -- St. Benedict's Prep
2009 -- Camden Catholic
2010 -- Haddonfield
2011 -- Camden Catholic
2012 -- Camden Catholic
2013 -- Camden Catholic
2014 -- Long Branch
2015 -- St. Peter's Prep
2016 -- No champion (weather-shortened event)
2017 -- Delbarton
2018 -- Delbarton
2019 -- Howell

2020 -- Delbarton
2021 -- No event (COVID-19)
2022 -- Delbarton