Wrestling: All signs point North, Wadle goes for gold

It's already been a fantastic two-day stay in Atlantic City. But North Hunterdon is most looking forward to see what Saturday brings in the 90th State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall.

North, which had four wrestlers make the journey south, locked up three of the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area's nine medals for a second straight season on Friday, including senior Logan Wadle, who will try to end the Lions' state title drought as the only local wrestler to reach the championship finals. Seniors Alex Uryniak (190) and Brendan Raley (215) lost in the semifinals, but secured their second medals with quarterfinal wins in the morning session -- making it an even dozen under sixth-year coach Chris Hrunka, a former state qualifier at Warren Hills.

Logan Wadle is now 108-17 overall.

The tournament continues at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with the consolation semifinals, followed by the third-, fifth- and seventh-place bouts. The girls championships will start no earlier than 2:30 p.m., followed by the boys finals at approximately 4:30 p.m. 

Wadle (34-2), a two-time placewinner (second in 2021 and third in '22) at 106 pounds, earned his second shot to bring home the gold with a 4-2 win over Hackettstown junior Aiden Scheeringa in a tightly contested semifinal. Wadle, the program's 24th finalist and its first three-time placer since Ryan Pomrinca (2012, '14, '15), is looking to become the school's 13th champion and first since Lions great Ricky Frondorf went back-to-back at 152 pounds in 2002-03. Gary Bendel (101 pounds in 1983) is the only champ at the first weight class. As we noted in '22, Wadle, whose father, Rudy was a two-time fifth-sixth place finisher for North, was a solid bet to be Hunterdon County's first winner since Voorhees heavyweight Lewis Fernandes (2018-19).

Scheeringa (34-6), who was looking to join Tigers legend and lone state champion Doug Blake (1967-68) and Hank Deibel (runner-up in 1979) as the program's fourth finalist, solidified its 12th state medal and first since Alex Carida (a semifinalist and third in 2018). 

Each converted a takedown as Scheeringa cut the deficit to 3-2 in the second period, but Wadle was just a bit better on the mat with two escapes in the period being the difference. He nearly had another takedown and potential back points when Scheeringa got caught underneath during a scramble in a scoreless third period.

Uryniak (37-3), who placed seventh at 190 in 2021, never really came close to scoring in a 5-0 loss to St. Joseph-Montvale's Michael Dellagatta, a returning placewinner who converted takedowns in the first and third period, rode Uryniak for the entire second. 

Raley (35-4), who finished eighth last year and picked up his 80th career win in the quarters, lost a 2-1 overtime heartbreaker to Southern stud Riley O'Boyle in the their 215-pound semifinal -- the only winners' bracket with four public school representatives. After Raley failed to get off the bottom in the first 30-second tiebreaker, O'Boyle escaped with just six seconds left in the second session to earn his first trip to the finals.

Warren report

Phillipsburg, which has not produced a champion since Brandon Hull in 2012 (the last Warren County winner) and a finalist since all-time wins leader Brian Meyer in '18, ended a program-first three-year medal drought. Sophomore Luke Geleta (37-7) guaranteed a sixth-place finish at 138 with a wild last-second pin of Kingsway's David DiPietro, who had a takedown that was nowhere near two wiped away in a tight bout at the time and was stuck going for a desperation move near the final buzzer. The win certainly lifted a tremendous weight off head coach Brad Gentzle and his staff as they no doubt felt the pressure to deliver from a wrestling-crazed fan base.

P'burg has earned 61 medals in AC since 1992.

Junior John Wargo, who could be a title contender in the heavyweight class next season, ended his day with a tough 9-8 loss to Jackson Memorial's Ryan Fischer. Wargo (37-4), a two-time Region 3 champion, rallied from a 7-3 deficit and tied it with a takedown at the edge late in the third period. But Fischer broke free in the closing seconds and Wargo spiked his headgear in disgust at the buzzer. 

Even so, his 52-second pin in the Blood Round gave P'burg two medalists for the first time since 2018. when Meyer, Cody Harrison (fourth at 138) and Travis Jones (seventh at 120) ascended the podium.

The Blood Round was not kind for a second straight year to sophomore Gavin Hawk (132), while senior Hunter Cleaver (165) also missed the cut.

Warren Hills senior Jarett Pantuso (215), who earned his second state medal in three years, fell short in his bid to become the Blue Streaks' first champ and finalist since Justin Colaluce went back-to-back in 1997-98 with a 7-3 loss to Rumson-Fair Haven's Hudson Skove in the semis. Pantuso (37-3), a No. 6 seed who placed eighth at 215 in 2021, was on a major roll through his 89th career win in the quarters -- 12-10 over Bergen Catholic's AJ Fricchione (third in '22 and second in '21), the No. 3 seed. The loss to Skove snapped Pantuso's 21-bout win streak following a 6-2 loss to Delsea's Rocco Bennett on Jan. 20. His only other defeat was 6-3 to Raley in the HWS Tournament finals.

Hills sent a total of seven wrestlers to AC -- including junior Josh Lee (126) and senior Michael Drazek (175) as both fell in the third round of wrestlebacks. 

Hum(s)-dinger

Hums and fellow district champ John Barron

Pope John sophomore Carson Walsh (126), who is Sussex County's lone medal winner after a fourth-place finish last season at 113 and the area's only other semifinalist, was up against it in a 6-1 loss to Roxbury's Luke Stanich, a 2022 runner-up. Stanich broke it open with two back points (after Walsh took bottom) and a takedown in the second period. Lions freshman Dalton Webber (113) fell in the Blood Round.

High Point senior Arik Hums nearly pulled off a medal during his seemingly improbable run to the Blood Round at 285. Hums (31-12) put himself in position with a stunning pin of Watchung Hills. Hunter Seubert in the afternoon, and nearly scored another upset in a 10-6 loss to Audubon's Scott Lynch. The 'Cats, who had just one other qualifier in sophomore Nick Clayton (0-2 at 120) went without a medal for the first time since 2017.

Back points

Delaware Valley also snapped its medal drought and gave Hunterdon County its fourth as junior Matt Roche (126) reached Sunday's seventh-place bout. Roche (35-11) is the Terriers' first placewinner since the 2017 duo of Kyle Lightner (champion at 195) and Matt Kolonia (seventh at 138). It was a rough finish for senior Garrett Tettemer, who fell 4-1 to Absegami's Sean Cowan in the Blood Round at 165. Tettemer didn't wrestle in the postseason as a freshman and transferred back to Del Val after two seasons at Notre Dame-Green Pound, where he placed seventh in Class AA as a junior.

For the second straight year, HWS collected nine medals. Here are the totals since 2011 -- (13) 2021; (10) 2020; (16) 2019; (18) 2018; (11) 2017; (8) 2016; (6) 2015; (9) 2014; (4) 2013; (7) 2012; (7) 2011.

It's amazing to think that Phillipsburg has only produced two state champions in 27 years -- Marc DeFrancesco in 1996 and Hull in 2012. Since '97, the 'Liners have won 14 of their 23 state team championships.    

Hunterdon Central, which put four in the tournament, did not have a placewinner for the first time since 2015. But keep an eye on freshman Rhett Washleski, who 2-2 at 144. His brother, Colton, won a pair of medals (sixth in 2020 and fourth in '21). Junior Anthony Rossi, who ended Warren Hills sophomore Charlie Piccione's season in the 113-pounds consolations, came up short in his third trip to states -- falling 5-4 to top-seeded Kaden Naame of St. Augustine Prep in the third round of wrestlebacks. Rossi (35-6), a Region 5 runner-up, will enter next season at 82-15 overall.

Newton's 82 state champions are the most in New Jersey history, but the Braves have been stuck on that number since current assistant coach Andy Iliff won his second straight in 1987. But the Sussex County school will have its first finalist -- albeit the girls side -- since Teddy Sibblies in 1989, as Lilly Zaku-Ramos tries to deny Bloomfield's Kira Pipkins from becoming the first four-time girls champion in their 126-pound title bout. Zaku-Ramos placed third at 107 in 2021, under then coach John Gill as Kittatinny became a co-op with Newton this season. Paige Weiss, who is Sparta's first medalist, is the only other finalist from HWS as she goes for gold at 100 pounds.