Wrestling: Wadle's gold big plus for AC by numbers

Before we take one final look by the numbers at the 90th New Jersey State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall, let's hit some highlights, including another review of North Hunterdon's strong showing in Atlantic City.

For a second straight season, North, which finished No. 15 in the final New Jersey Writers Top 20, brough home three medals. But the bigger stat is that one was gold for the first time in 20 years. In doing so, senior Logan Wadle snapped the skid with his title victory at 106 pounds -- the program's 13th overall and first since four-time medalist Ricky Frondorf went back-to-back at 152 pounds in 2002-03.

Chris Vidak (2nd from L) was 2nd (1993) and 3rd (1992) for NH

Wadle (35-2), a three-time placewinner (second in 2021 and third in '22), is just the second to win a state title in the lightest weight class -- joining Gary Bendel, who made a Cinderella run to the 101-pound crown as a sophomore in 1983 at Princeton's Jadwin Gym. Bendel did not get back on the podium again until a third-place finish 122 pounds in '85.

The Lehigh-bound Wadle is the first to collect three medals for the Lions since Ryan Pomrinca, another Lehigh product and Hunterdon-Warren's all-time wins leader (155-13), placed seventh at 113 in 2012 and third twice at 126 in '14 and '15).

North also made a little history with three top-five placers as seniors Alex Uryniak (fifth at 190) and Brendan Raley (fourth at 215) earned their second medals. It's the first time three Lions finished that high on the podium in the same tournament since James Hughes (106), Steve Hemhauser (148) and Rich Boehmer (178).were fourths in 1972.

Now, here's everything you never knew you needed to know about the 2023 state championships: 

13 -- Wadle, who capped a tremendous career by winning his first state title and snapping the program's 20-year drought, moved the Lions into a tie with High Point and Hunterdon Central (13) for the fourth-most winners in the HWS area and 14th all-time in New Jersey. Brick Memorial raised its total to 14 and 13th all-time as senior Anthony Santaniello captured his second championship. St. Joseph-Montvale, which got a bump with wins by Michael Dellagatta (190) and Jimmy Mullen (285), and South Plainfield also stand at 13 overall. Wadle, a three-time district champ who  finished 109-17 overall, which is tied for fifth all-time at North -- joining Andrew Gapas (109-26 from 2008-14), Jack Delia (109-26 from 2007-11) and Chris Cancelliere (109-33 from 2007-11) -- and 61st in the Hunterdon-Warren area. Uryniak (111-19) ranks fourth on North's list and tied for 54th in H-W history. (122 have reached the century mark and 103 for Sussex).

Wadle on top of the podium at 106

41 -- Hunterdon County has now produced four state champions in the last five years. Wadle became the county's 41st overall, while Hunterdon Central's Brett Ungar and Voorhees' Lewis Fernandes, the Vikes' first two-time winner, won in 2019. Delaware Valley's Matt Roche brought home the Terriers' first medal since Kyle Lightner won the program's ninth state title in 2017. Matt Kolonia also was a seventh-place finisher that season. Central was shut out on the medal stand for the first time since 2015, but junior Anthony Rossi, who beat Old Bridge champ Logan Roman this season, and freshman Rhett Washleski, whose brother, Colton, was a two-time placewinner for the Red Devils, will be good bets in 2024.

141 -- Warren Hills senior Jarett Pantuso ran the program's string with at least one state medal to three straight years (28 total since 1990) as he earned his second medal with a fifth-place finish after taking seventh at 215 pounds in 2021. He's also the Blue Streaks' highest placer since Jon Slack (third at 285 in 2010). Hills, which now has 141 state medals as a program and ranks second on New Jersey's champions list with 46, has not had a finalist since Justin Colaluce went back-to-back in 1997-98. 

Pantuso capped his career with 90 victories

12 -- Hackettstown junior Aiden Scheeringa, who lost 4-2 to Wadle in the semifinals, finished sixth at 106 pounds -- giving second-year coach Jim Berringer, a state placer for Hopatcong in 1999, his first medal. Scheeringa (34-8) was bidding to become the Tigers' fourth finalist and first since Hank Deibel (second at 122) in 1979. The late Doug Blake is the program's only state champ (1967-68). Overall, the Warren County school has a dozen medals and Scheeringa's is the highest since Alex Carida, also a semifinalist, placed third at 145 in 2018.

13 -- The five public schools to win state team championships this season combined for 13 medals -- up seven from last year -- in Atlantic City. Group 5 champion Southern led the way with six, including the program's first champ since 2009 (Matt Henrich at 150), while Group 4 champion North Hunterdon --Wadle, Uyrniak (fifth at 190) and Raley (fourth at 215) -- and Group 3 winner Delsea each had three. Delaware Valley (Group 1) had one in Roche (eighth at 126) and Group 2 kingpin High Point was shut out for the first time since 2017. 

Who will be No. 34 for the 'Liners?

33 -- P'burg still hasn't had a state champion since Brandon Hull (220 in 2012), who's also the last for Warren County. The Stateliners' total stands at 33 -- fourth all-time behind Newton (82), Warren Hills (46) and Union (40). But sophomore Luke Geleta (sixth at 138) and junior John Wargo (seventh at 285) snapped a program-first three-year drought on the podium and gave the 'Liners a pair of medals (a first since a trio in 2018). If you didn't see Geleta's fifth-place bout with Raritan's Zach Reilley, you missed arguably the best matchup in the tournament -- five lead changes and a 15-point second period with both on their backs late. Reilley, who is the Rockets' 11th placewinner in program history and had the last three takedowns going into OT, prevailed, 14-12, by converting his fourth takedown 36 seconds into sudden victory. Sophomore Gavin Hawk (132) fell a win shy with his second loss in the Blood Round. The HWS area as a whole went 3-5 in that round (4-7 in 2022). Amazingly, P'burg has produced just two boys state champs in 23 years, while it's captured 14 of its 23 Group titles during that span. 

Congratulations to Jarett Pantuso for finishing 5th in the state at 215lb. Excellent career, we are proud of your accomplishments and are excited to see you compete at the collegiate level. #pushthepace @WHRSDAthletics pic.twitter.com/oTmgw6zaIF

— Warren Hills Wrestling (@WHR_Wrestling) March 4, 2023

69 -- The Non-Public schools are as usual a hot topic with the most medalists -- 69 (including Pope John's Carson Walsh's fifth at 126) out of a possible 112 -- since district and region realignment was introduced in 2017. The Non-Public totals -- 38 in '16 -- leading up to this season were: 33 in '17, 34 in '18, 40 in '19, 36 in '20, 41 in '21 and 59 in '22. Of the 344 schools in New Jersey, 30 are private. That's 8.7 percent. The Non-Publics made up 53% of the quarterfinalists (59), 59% of the semifinalists (33, including all four at 120 and 144), 68% of the finalists (19, only 132 and 215 involved two publics) and 57% of the champions (8). Interestingly, Non-Public medals totaled 21 from 106-120 (all eight at 120) and just 13 from 175-285 (only two at 215).

24 -- Region 2 dusted the field once again with 21 medals (24 in 2022). Region 3 was next with 17, including a tournament-best six finalists and four champs from Delbarton for a second straight year -- Tyler Vazquez (138), Alessio Perentin (157), Louis Cerchio (165) and Simon Ruiz (175), who helped push Morris County's title total to 85, along with Roxbury's Luke Stanich (R2's only winner at 126 among four finalists). Region 4 (three finalists, one champ) was next with 14, followed by Region 1 (three finalists, two champs) and Region 8 with 13 medalists (two finalists, one champ). Region 5 (five finalists, three champs, including Old Bridge junior Logan Roman (113) and Rumson-Fair Haven junior Hudson Skove who are the first for their schools) and Region 7 (two finalists, one champ) each had 12 and Region 6 had 10 (three finalists, one champ). Region 1 had just two weight classes without a state placer (138 and 157), while Region 2 had at least one at all 14 weights. Region 3 had just one weight (126) without a state medal.

As you can clearly see, the balance of power is up north, but you conveniently won't hear the powers that be (namely the Shore Conference) talking about an unfair advantage (47 medals (42%) total between Regions 5-8). Region 6 accounted for 8.9%. Ironic, isn't it? 

9 -- Delbarton junior Daniel Jones (first at 106 in 2021), DePaul sophomore Adrian DeJesus (a winner at 106  in '22) and Brick Memorial sophomore Harvey Ludington (first at 175 in '22) were thwarted in their bids to win a second title as a total of nine wrestlers who have won at least one championship could be in next year's field. St. John Vianney sophomore Anthony Knox won his second title and the 120-pounder sure looked like the best wrestler in the arena. Ludington dropped a 3-2 decision to Delbarton's Ruiz, a four-time medalist who won his second straight gold. St. Joseph-Montvale stud Jim Mullen won his third at 285 -- in thrilling fashion with a buzzer-beating takedown in a 5-3 victory over Paramus Catholic's Max Acciardi --  and very well could have been a four-timer if not for taking a season off in 2021 to compete at the Cadet World trials.

Boardwalk Hall hosted its first tournament in 1992

27 -- Boardwalk Hall has been the tournament home for 27 of the last 31 years. Atlantic City has hosted five 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 four years -- a disastrous stint at the AC Convention Center (pillars and all) when Boardwalk Hall was unavailable due to a Lady Gaga concert in 1999, 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.

136 -- Bergen County is the all-time leader with 136 state champions, surpassing Union County (129) within the last six years. In 2017, Union led Bergen by 10, but Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph-Montvale and Don Bosco Prep have produced a combined 14 since that time. Westfield's Christian Barber (2011) is the last champ from Union County. Sussex ranks third with 121, while Morris County, which has gotten a big boost from Delbarton in recent sesasons, moved into a fourth-place tie with Warren County at 85. The Green Wave has produced 15 winners since 2017, and is tied with Bergen Catholic and Bound Brook for eighth place on the state's all-time list with 25. Warren has produced only four winners since 1996 (Phillipsburg's Brandon Hull was the last in 2012 and the Stateliners' 33rd overall). Next up is Ocean (72), Gloucester (67) and Somerset (66). 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).

1,100 -- Total number of state champions in New Jersey history. This year's tournament was the 90th 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 went back-to-back in 1986-87.