That prematch flip of a red and green disc and the winner's choice between odd and even -- often a non-factor in many statewide high school wrestling dual events -- is becoming more critical with each passing season as top-heavy lineups lack depth and experience.
Delaware Valley's 34-28 victory over Hunterdon Central on Wednesday at Daniel Hutchins Memorial Gym in Alexandria Township is a perfect example. The Terriers, who have that rare depth nowadays, got the flip and opted to send out first on the even bouts.A huge deal with the match starting at 138 pounds and the Red Devils shorthanded there without the services of senior Evan Thompson (24-4). Del Val coach Andy Fitz wisely maneuvered his lineup around two of Central's biggest stars -- sophomore Rhett Washleski (23-3) and Thomas Brunetti (27-0) -- at 150 and 190 as it bumped away to win at 157 and 215 to help secure its biggest win to date against a fellow state-ranked team and the program's first in the series (Central leads 27-18 dating to the 1965-66 season) since 2020.
The Terriers, who also scored a 61-12 win over Voorhees on Jan. 10, would sweep the three-dual season series against Hunterdon County foes with a victory over North Hunterdon tonight, which in turn would also snap a six-match skid vs. the Lions since Del Val's 35-25 win on Jan. 18, 2017.
Phillipsburg (13-0) jumped to No. 9 following a 2-0 week, which included wins over Del Val (39-22) and Ocean Township (66-18). The latter, which was the first in 'Liners history to feature 14 pins since New Jersey went to 14 weights in 1994-95 and the highest combined score since a 76-6 win over Franklin in 2001, capped a special evening in Stateliner Country as the program honored its illustrious history by raising a banner listing the names of all 35 (33 male) of the program's individual state champions.
Among those in attendance were: John Barna (1980-82), the only three-time champ, and former three-time head coach Rick Thompson (1971 and '73), who was among five two-time winners along with Bob Zaro (1968-69), Greg Troxell (1989-90), now the Superintendent of Schools, Pete Poretta (1993-94) and Jewel Gonzalez (2019-20), who made history as the program's and Warren County's first female champ.
Also on hand or represented by family members were: Sid Fowler (1951-52), the first P'burg champion, Jim Bronico (1953), Bob Stem (1957), Dave Osmun (1959), Buddy Morris (1967), Bob Duckworth (1967), Don Jessamine (1969), Jack Thompson (1970), Blair Miers (1972), Dave Boncher (1984-85), Mike Barna (1984), Ed Moore (1990), Scott Frinzi (1992), Mike Coyle (1994), Tim Moore (1996) and Brandon Hull (2012), the last to win on the boys side.
Hunterdon Central (16-2), which bounced back with wins over No. 17 Delsea (36-25) and reigning Group 2 champion High Point (57-12) on Saturday, falls one spot to No. 13. The Red Devils claimed their first team championship in the Hunterdon-Warren Sussex Tournament just three days following a decisive 45-13 loss to P'burg. Yet, Central lost a close one against Del Val despite finishing 34 1/2 points ahead of the Terriers with one fewer wrestler at HWS.
That's the wild and weird life in the local wrestling ranks as we know it.
Moving on up?
Del Val went 2-1 during its most difficult stretch of the season, starting with a trip to Phillipsburg that preceded a home date with Central and another road date at Warren Hills (a 45-32 win over the gritty Blue Streaks) in the span of five days last week.
It wasn't an ideal situation and Fitz, whose team cruised to a 65-12 win over Franklin (with only five starters in the lineup) on Monday to clinch the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title, said being in the Raritan Division has created some scheduling issues when trying to fit in dates for those traditional local rivalries against schools in the bigger Delaware Division.
Fitz would like to eventually get his team in the upper division, which currently houses seven teams, to create more scheduling flexibility.DV 65, Franklin 12
— Del Val Wrestling (@DVRWrestling) January 30, 2024
Win #851
Next match is Tuesday at North Hunterdon at 7PM pic.twitter.com/HezKOPyOQm
"We're in the middle division and it's given us some non-traditional rivals on some important nights," Fitz said following the loss to P'burg contested on the odd Tuesday. "Wednesday nights are filled with teams that we don't normally wrestle. In order to wrestle all of these local opponents, we have to wrestle in odd circumstances. We were fortunate to get Central on a common Wednesday night.
"I was presented the schedule I was presented. They are going to have to perform in the postseason, in dual meets, maybe not back-to-back, but every other night against tough kids. Certainly in regions and states. This is great training for the postseason, but I will admit it is a very difficult week."
Sectional stuff
Official pairings and seeds for the sectional tournaments are slated to be released later today.
As it stands, Phillipsburg and Hunterdon Central (North 2 and Central, Group 5), reigning Group 4 champion North Hunterdon (North 2, Group 4), Warren Hills (North 2, Group 3), Delaware Valley (Central, Group 1) and Kittatinny (North 1, Group 1) will host quarterfinal and semifinal matches on Monday.
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| High Point eyes its seventh consecutive sectional title |
Hackettstown and Voorhees (North 2, Group 2), Sparta (North 1, Group 3) and Pope John (Non-Public A) also will be in the mix among HWS schools, while Newton was on the bubble in North 1, Group 1.
We will have more on the tournaments tonight and through the week so check back here for all the details.
Here is this week's top 20 with first-place votes in parentheses followed by voting points.
Also receiving votes: Cranford (14-2) 10; Kittatinny (15-1) 7.
Voting members listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (gardenstatehswrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (shoreconferencewrestling.com); Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record and NorthJersey.com); Tom McGurk (Courier Post and courierpostonline.com); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike and mikeopen.blogspot.com), Brad Wilson (lehighvalleylive.com/The Express-Times).
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