Wrestling: District schedules for HWS schools

It's that time in the season when a lot of the chatter centers around the district and region alignments, which now spread the Non-Public schools throughout the state and will change yearly instead of two-year installments.

A lot of complaining is coming from the south, where northern-based Delbarton and St. Peter's Prep moved from Region 3 and 4, respectively, to Region 5 and 6, while Region 7 is a bear with Southern, Christian Brothers Academy, Paulsboro and St. John Vianney. Now the good folks down that way are going to experience what us northerners have known for the better part of four decades or longer. Guess some feel it's only right if the majority of the top Non-Publics only reside in northern regions.

P'burg will be on the road for District 6 at Roxbury

Loyal followers of Open Mike know we have tackled this issue for years. The realignments have always been a bad idea -- while good in theory -- and continue to be. It's watered down the districts, of which there are too many at 32, and erased a lot of tradition and history, while creating a miserable fan experience with long rides and nonsensical geographical alignments.

You know the old saying -- be careful what you wish for. Now, the south, which lobbied for realignment several years ago, gets to see how the other half  lived for a long time. Maybe, just maybe, they will work towards coming up with a better way moving forward. Let's hope.  

Anyway, there are plenty of storylines to watch for Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area schools in six district tournaments involving the 17 local teams on Saturday.

Hawk is 101-17 overall

Phillipsburg, which finished No. 9 overall and the second-ranked public school in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, has crowed an area-best 374 district champions in the program's illustrious history spanning 76 seasons. 

Junior Gavin Hawk (29-1 at 150) and senior John Wargo (26-1 at 285) -- two of the HWS area's best shots to make title runs in Atlantic City -- look to make Stateliner history as only the 41st and 42nd wrestlers to win at least three titles in the District 6 Tournament at Roxbury.

High Point will host a district tournament for the first time in recent history as most of the old District 3 -- which included seven of the nine Sussex County teams -- reassembles for District 4 in Wantage Township. Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Sparta, Vernon and Wallkill Valley are also among the nine-team field, along with two from Passaic County in DePaul and West Milford. By the way, kudos to High Point for scheduling one-mat championship finals.

Speaking of Vernon, the Vikings haven't had a champ since 2012, but could sophomore and returning Region 1 qualifier True DiGiuseppe (27-2 at 175) end that drought?

This is also the last district tournament for iconic High Point coach John Gardner, who is shifting over to the girls program full-time for 2024-25. Gardner won three district titles (1988-90) as a wrestler for the 'Cats -- one of 15 to do so -- along with assistant coach Billy Smith (2009-11). Longtime assistant Mickey Thomas was the program's first district champion (115 pounds) in 1968.

Warren Hills sophomore Davey Rhinehart (26-4 at 126) looks to become the fourth in his immediate family to win a title for the Blue Streaks, who will make the long trek to River Dell for the District 2 Tournament. Rhinehart looks to join his grandfather, John (1969), and great uncles, Rick (1967, '68, '70) and Rob (1976) as district champs.

Delaware Valley senior Jake Taylor (20-6 at 113), who made the drop from 120, bids to become his school's first three-time champ since Mike Pongracz (2010, '11, '13) in District 10 at Nutley, while Pope John junior Carson Walsh (28-3 at 132), a two-time state medalist, aims to be the 14th to win at least three titles for the Lions at District 11 in Morristown.

Here are Saturday's schedules with times and ticket prices: 

District 2

Hills has produced at least one champ since missing in 2011.

At River Dell High School

Area teams: Warren Hills.

Rest of the field: Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson-Park Ridge, Lakeland, New Milford, River Dell, Waldwick-Midland Park, Westwood.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9:30 a.m.; semifinals to follow; third-place consolations (two mats), approximately 3 p.m.; championship finals to follow (one mat).

District 4

At High Point Regional High School

Area teams: High Point, Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Sparta, Vernon, Wallkill Valley.

Rest of the field: DePaul, West Milford.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; semifinals to follow, third-place consolations (two mats) approximately 2 p.m.; championship finals (one mat) to follow.

Ticket prices: $10 adults, $5 students/seniors.

District 6

At Roxbury High School

Area teams: Hopatcong-Lenape Valley, Phillipsburg.

Rest of the field: Dover, Morris Knolls, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, Parsippany Hills, Randolph, Roxbury.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; semifinals to follow; third-place consolations and championship finals to follow after the consolation round.

Ticket prices: $15 adults, $10 students/seniors (all-sessions pass).

District 10

At Nutley High School

Area teams: Delaware Valley.

Rest of the field: Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Kearny, Livingston, Montclair, Nutley, Verona, West Orange.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9:30 a.m.; semifinals, 1 p.m.; third-place consolations and championship finals on adjacent mats (holding up until each weight class is completed) at approximately 2:30 p.m.

District 11

At Morristown High School

Area teams: Belvidere, Hackettstown, Pope John.

Rest of the field: Columbia, East Orange, Morristown, Newark Academy, West Morris, Whippany Park.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 10 a.m.; semifinals, noon; third-place consolations and championship finals to follow.

District 14

Central's Anthony Rossi (120) and Rhett Washelski (150) look to repeat

At Hunterdon Central Field House

Area teams: Hunterdon Central, North Hunterdon, Voorhees.

Rest of the field: Bernards, Bridgewater-Raritan, Middlesex-Dunellen, North Plainfield, Pingry, Somerville.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals, 10 a.m.; third-place consolations and championship finals, 3 p.m.

Ticket prices: $10 adults, $5 students/seniors (all-sessions pass).