Wrestling: McGuinness among 2 vying for North job

It appears that North Hunterdon is zeroing in on its next head wrestling coach.

According to sources, former Somerville head coach Brent McGuinness appears to be the clubhouse leader among the candidates who recently completed a first round of interviews with administrators at the Hunterdon County school.

A second round of interviews, said to be scheduled for Monday, will also include North assistant coach Shawn Flesche, a social studies teacher in the district.

A decision is expected to be reached by the next scheduled Board of Education meeting on May 23.

Hrunka (with GR trophy) and Flesche (top left)

The North job opened when Chris Hrunka resigned following six seasons in charge of the Lions shortly after the 2022-23 campaign.

"It was not something easy to do, turning away from the [high school] program," Hrunka said in a March interview.

Former Delaware Valley state champion Ricky Krieger, who had head coaching stints at Franklin and Wilson (Pa.) Area High School, confirmed that he did submit an application. Roselle Park head coach Ryan Rooney was also thought to be a candidate.

Along with Hrunka, 33, who is now running Warren Hills' youth program, longtime and well-respected assistant coach Joe LaSpada, a 1971 state champion at 106 pounds for Bernards, decided not to return after spending 37 of his 40-year coaching career with the Lions. 

McGuinness, whose son, Dylan, will be a freshman in North Hunterdon's program next season, makes for an interesting and logical choice, despite the fact he hasn't coached in nearly a decade. The Rutgers alum currently is employed as a special services supervisor at Millburn High School. 

As a co-head coach with former Madison star Ben Weiland, McGuinness guided Somerville, his alma mater, for 10 seasons (2004-14) and had a state champion under his watch Jimmy Kirchner (125 pounds in 2008). McGuinness was inducted into the Somerset County school's Athletic Hall of Fame in '09. 

North coaches with state champ Logan Wadle in AC

McGuinness, 44, was a two-time Region 5 champion and three-time New Jersey state tournament qualifier (top-eight finish as a junior at 160 pounds in 1995) for the Pioneers under 2023 National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Mike Suk. McGuinness certainly has strong ties with the North program overall as he also serves as wrestling director for BaseCamp 31, an athletic facility in Clinton Township. 

Also involved with the club in some capacity, according to its web site, are former North wrestlers Eric Eisenhart (strategic advisor, board liason), Dr. Justin Bagley (team physician, coach), Mike Ciavarro (coach and 2014 state placewinner), three-time placewinner Ryan Pomrinca (coach) and Lions great Ricky Frondorf (coach), a two-time state champion (2001-02) and four-time medalist.

Additionally, Steve Kempinski, a former Phillipsburg state finalist and youth coach for North, also is on the club's staff.

Flesche, 30, who has also served as an assistant coach in North's field hockey program, was a former standout wrestler at Old Tappan (2011 graduate) and the University of Scranton, where he was a four-year letterwinner. He compiled an overall record of 77-45, and ranked fourth on the school's all-time wins list and second in pins (29) upon graduation. Flesche was voted District 13 assistant wrestling coach of the year for 2021-22.

Hrunka, a standout wrestler for Warren Hills and Edinboro University, succeeded former Phillipsburg star Tim Flynn, now the school's vice principal and Phillipsburg youth coach, as North's eighth head coach. But Hrunka felt it was time to lighten the workload. He lives in the Warren Hills district and said he wanted to spend more time with his wife, Ellie, and their two young children -- Raymond (6), a youth wrestler for the Blue Streaks, and Ruby (5).

It's hard to imagine going out on a higher note.

North (15-5), ranked No. 15 in the final the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, captured its second North 2, Group 4 sectional (third since 2020) and Group 4 state championships in three years. There were no team tournaments in '21 due to the pandemic. 

In addition, three wrestlers placed in the 90th State Championships at Boardwalk Hall in March, including senior Logan Wadle (35-2), who snapped the program's 20-year title drought with his victory at 106 pounds.

Hrunka, who also presided over North's 800th victory (59-15 vs. Montgomery on Jan. 4), is the second Lions head coach to capture two state team titles during their tenures. Fred Pierrro's teams, which went 83-28 from 1977-85, won Group 3 championships in '82 and '84.

During his reign, Hrunka's teams went 95-18 overall with two of the program's four 20-win campaigns, including North's only perfect season -- a school-record 23 wins in 2019-20.