Let's review what happened in the six districts that house teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. There are 107 local wrestlers still competing for the second straight season.
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| Kittatinny won its 15th district team title (Twitter) |
The top three at each weight class advanced to the region tournaments on Friday and Saturday. Region 1 is at West Milford, Region 2 at Mount Olive, Region 3 at West Orange and Region 4 at Union.
Phillipsburg (13); Delaware Valley (12); Hunterdon Central (11); High Point (10); Kittatinny and North Hunterdon (8); Warren Hills (7); Pope John (6); Hackettstown, Hopatcong-Lenape Valley and Sparta (5); Newton, North Warren and Voorhees (4); Belvidere (3) and Vernon (2).
We had five schools win team championships: Kittatinny (D4), Phillipsburg (D6), Delaware Valley (D10), Pope John (D11), Hunterdon Central (D14).
Here's a closer look by the numbers:
We had five schools win team championships: Kittatinny (D4), Phillipsburg (D6), Delaware Valley (D10), Pope John (D11), Hunterdon Central (D14).
Here's a closer look by the numbers:
12 -- Washington High School became Warren Hills following the 1966-67 school year. Since then, only 12 wrestlers have won at least three district titles for the Blue Streaks. Junior Tyler Redfield (25-3) became the 12th wearing a Hills singlet as the District 2 champion at 132 pounds. He joined Dale Baldwin (1967-69), Rick Rhinehart (1967, '68, '70), Dan Slack (1975-77), Jim Miller (1977-79), Ben Oberly (1984-86), Corey Miller (1987, '89, '90), Dave Richmond (2003-06), Max Nauta (2013-15), Andrew Pacheco (2013-15), Jarod Ostir (2016-18) and Nick Galka (2017-19). Only Richmond won four. Streaks sophomore Augie Szamreta (26-6 at 106) won his first, while senior Josh Lee (23-3), a runner-up at 138, was denied a third title as Hills advanced seven to Region 1.
383 -- Phillipsburg dusted the field in District 6 at Roxbury, as junior Gavin Hawk (32-1 at 150) and senior John Wargo (29-1 at 285) became the 41st and 42nd to win at least three titles for the Stateliners, who crowned nine champions overall and advanced an area-best 13 to Region 2. Wargo recorded a seven-second pin in the quarters. Senior Dawson McWilliams (17-4 at 126) and junior Luke Geleta (31-2 at 144) won their second titles. Winning their first were freshman Owen Garriques (22-12 at 120), sophomore Gavin Geleta (26-9 at 132), seniors Patrick Day (17-7 at 157) and Liam Packer (31-3 at 175), and junior Derek Stone (26-9 at 190. Garriques' father, John, won three district titles (one at Hackettstown in 1994 and two for P'burg in '96 and '97), while Day made it five titles in his house as older brothers, Cullen (2017-18), and James (2020 and '22) each won two. Their uncle, Chris, won a title for Delaware Valley at 141 pounds in 1987 at The Pit. Hawk will look to join just eight others to win four district crowns for the 'Liners, who now have 383 champions overall and have had at least one winner since missing for the only time in 1950. This was also the third time with at least nine champs (2018 and '20) since a program-record 11 in '02.
8 -- Kittatinny sent eight to the Region 1 Tournament behind a pair of three-time champs in senior Reece Smith (34-3 at 150) and junior Ethan Dalling (33-2 at 165), who are the 13th and 14th Cougars to win at least three titles and first since Zach Mafaro (2017-19). Smith, who won at 144 pounds last year, made the successful drop from 157 for the postseason, while Dalling gave his family a total of nine district golds for the Sussex County school. Older brother, Steven, was a two-time winner (2020 and '21), while their father, Steve, a two-time state champ, was the first of five to win four district titles under New Jersey wrestling legend John Gill, who has coached at least one district champ since missing in 1993 and 126 of the program's 130 overall. Seniors Bryce Coesfeld (31-4 at 175) and Tucker Lockburner (27-5 at 215) won their second titles on Saturday, giving the program four winners in back-to-back years for the first time since 2013 (six) and '14 (four). Coesfeld is now four wins shy of becoming the 19th member in the program's 100-wins club, while Dalling picked up his 91st with a pin in the district finals.
20 -- High Point ran its streak with at least one district winner to 20 straight tournaments as juniors Colton Jaust (18-11 at 120) and Nick Clayton (24-6 at 132) won their first titles in District 4 at High Point Regional High School, which hosted for the first time since the early 1970s. Jaust's uncle, Eric Space, won a title at 275 pounds in 1999, the second winner for iconic coach John Gardner in his inaugural season. The 'Cats, who boast 132 champs overall and haven't been shut out at the district level since 2003, advanced a tourney-best 10 to Region 1 at West Milford High School. Gardner won three titles (1988-90) for the Sussex County School, while longtime assistant Mickey Thomas was the first in program history at 115 pounds in 1968. Ace assistant Billy Smith (2009-11) is among 15 to win three or more for the 'Cats. Gardner, in his final tournament as the boys head coach, earned District 4 Coach of the Year honors as High Point made it a clean sweep of the awards. Clayton voted as the OW, while alum Chris Jones, a 1985 district winner at 129 pounds, was named the Assistant Coach of the Year in his final season on the North Warren staff.
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| Hawk is the first to win titles in his first three P'burg seasons since Brian Meyer |
129 -- Voorhees sophomore Christian Bollette (29-9 at 126) and senior Logan Wiecoreck (34-3 at 157) -- both runners-up last season -- and senior Trevor Zabroski (35-3 at 215) all won their first titles at District 14 -- raising the program's total to 129 in now the Vikings' 49th season. Runner-up Cameron Baumann (20-4 at 285), a champ last season, also advanced to Region 4 at Union. Bollette's father, J.P., was a 1997 district champ for Kittatinny at 130 pounds, while uncles, Eric and Brian, are also former standouts for the Cougars and head coaches at Newton and Morris Hills. J.P. and Eric ('94) were also seventh-eighth place medalists.
26 -- Delaware Valley lapped the field in District 10 at Nutley High School with a tournament-best six champions, including senior Jake Taylor (23-6 at 113), who is the ninth in program history to win at least three titles and first since Mike Pongracz (2010, '11, '13). Junior Jaden Perez (32-1 at 126) and seniors Matt Roche (29-2 at 132) and Anderson Olcott (29-2 at 190) won their second titles, while senior Ben Levy (26-5 at 150) and Kevin Roman (26-6 at 175) earned their first. The Terriers have had at least one winner in 26 straight tournaments since missing in 1997, and they produced six champs for only the third time in program history, joining the 2006 and '23 squads, one shy of a record seven (1993). Del Val coach Andy Fitz, who has coached 51 of the school's 133 champs, won a district title for the Terriers at 160 pounds in 1990. Fitz, whose team was the Group 1 runner-up, took home the Coach of the Year Award in District 10.
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| Smith logged his 84th career win in the finals |
"Ever since winning my sophomore year, I wanted to get three [titles]," said Smith, who decked High Point's Jayden Ruplall with a bar in 1:45. "It's been a big goal for me. I've been feeling really light all year at 157, so it was a no-brainer to drop down. I think I'll have more stamina and move a lot faster [at 150]."
40 -- Hunterdon Central produced six champions for the seventh time since 2003 in rolling to the team title in District 14 at the Field House. Senior Anthony Rossi (35-0 at 120) and sophomore Rhett Washleski (33-3 at 150) won their second titles, while seniors Ahmed Hussain (27-10 at 132), Evan Thompson (33-4 at 138), Thomas Brunetti (36-0 at 175) and junior Tyler Suk (25-10 at 285) picked up their first golds. The Red Devils, who have won 40 team championships overall, advanced 11 to Region 4, including senior runner-up William Cella (30-7 at 144), a 2023 champion.
35 -- North Hunterdon, which has gone just one season without a district winner (2008), added two more to the list as sophomore Reid Buzby (25-5 at 106) won his first title, while senior Brian Wilson (21-8 at 165) repeated at his weight class. The Lions, now with 234 champs overall in their 67-season history, moved eight wrestlers onto Region 4, including freshman Aidan Yarussi (25-10 at 113), senior Shane Wysocki (15-18 at 126) and junior Evan Kinney (18-14 at 175) -- all runners-up. In all, 35 from Hunterdon County schools will compete at the region level.
6 -- Pope John extended its streak with at least five champions to six straight tournaments by crowning five in District 11 at Morristown High School. Junior Carson Walsh (31-3 at 132), a two-time state medal winner, became the 15th at his school to win at least three titles, while sophomore Dalton Weber (30-3 at 126) and senior Justin Holly (25-6 at 138) won their second championships. The only Lions to win four titles are: Mike Frick (1969-72), Hugh Albora (1972-75), Brian Unkert (1987-90), Jake Rotunda (2015-18) and Eddie Ventresca (2017-20).
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| Jaust and Clayton (HP social media) |
19 -- North Warren, coming off a tough dual-meet campaign, produced at least one champion for the third straight year as sophomore Conor Hallowich (24-11 at 106) and senior James Dacunto (33-1 at 157) won their first titles in District 4 in coach Kellen Bradley's final season at the helm. It's also just the second time in program history and first in 25 years that the Patriots have had multiple winners (Matt Miller at 140 and Jeff Tierney at 171 in 1999). Hallowich, who was third last season, is only the second at his school to win a title at the first weight class -- joining Matt Ritchie (103 in 2011). Dacunto, who dropped from 165 for the postseason, stuck Kittatinny's Aiden McClain in 3:01 after turning him with a cradle in the first period. North, which now has 19 champions in program history, advanced four to the Region 1 Tournament, as freshman Cole Castles (25-10 at 120) and junior Logan Garriques (26-9 at 175) finished third. Garriques' father, Todd, who was in attendance, won back-to-back titles for Hackettstown in 1991 and '92. Bradley was a two-time champion for Kittatinny in 2003 and '04.
"It's good to get some recognition for the program to bring more eyes to wrestling and get more to sign up to get our program more deep and diverse," said Dacunto, whose team struggled in duals due to low numbers and forfeits. "Even when I'm no longer here, I still care how the program does."
5 -- Lenape Valley's streak with at least one champion ended at 19 straight tournaments as the Patriots were shut out for the first time since 2003. Now combined with Hopatcong, Lenape Valley advanced five to the Region 2 Tournament at Mount Olive High School, including junior Gage Graziano (29-5 at 144), who finished third after winning his first title in 2023, the program's 78th champ overall. Junior Jakob Bell (19-12 at 157) became a two-time runner-up, while junior Marc Pavese (33-5 at 138) finished third for a second straight season. Hackettstown, which did not have a champ for the first time since 2015, also advanced five to Region 3 at West Orange. Freshmen Joseph Rowinski (27-8 at 106) and Giovanni Gutierrez (28-8 at 120), and seniors Nicolas Balella (30-6 at 132) and Jose Alvarenga Giron (25-7 at 165), were all runners-up in District 11.
3 -- Sparta, which sent five to the championship round at District 4, came away with three gold medals as sophomore Ryan Hrenenko (32-4 at 126), junior Logan Hrenenko (28-8 at 138) and junior Luke Brown (26-3 at 190) won their first titles. The Spartans have logged 20 district winners since 2014 after being shut out from 2008-13 and in '22. Seniors Peter Donnelly (13-8 at 113) and Connor White (29-6 at 215) were runners-up as the Sussex County school was bidding for its most winners in 31 years (five in 1983). White dropped a 4-1 decision and is now 1-2 vs. Lockburner dating to last season after decking the Kittatinny senior in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament finals on Jan. 10.
9 -- Belvidere, Newton and Vernon combined for one champion and nine region qualifiers. The lone winner was County Seaters junior Kyle Blew (34-4 at 190) in District 11 -- the Warren County's 59th champion overall. Newton was shut out for the first time since 2013, but the Braves advanced four to Region 1 with an exciting consolation round in District 4. Junior Mason Bucci (23-10 at 138) got the ball rolling with a pin as the Braves went 4-for-5 in third-place bouts. Vernon sophomore True DiGiuseppe (29-3 at 175), who was looking to become his school's first champion since 2012, dropped a 6-3 decision to Coesfeld in their District 4 final.
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