Wrestling: Four! HWS adds to sectional title history

There aren't many things more reliable than the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area producing sectional wrestling championships.

Phillipsburg continued to crank them out almost like clockwork as the storied program collected its 41st with a 57-13 victory over Bridgewater-Raritan in the North 2, Group 5 final on Wednesday night in Lopatcong Township. 

"This team is believing that if they do everything right and we stay healthy, we're going to give everybody a run," first-year P'burg head coach Tim Longacre told iconic wrestling broadcaster Mike Moore of Stateliner Sports.

Central celebrates a county-best 23rd title

Hunterdon Central (Central Jersey, Group 5), Delaware Valley (Central Jersey, Group 1) and Kittatinny (North 1, Group 1) also brought home titles -- giving the area at least four winners for a ninth straight season.

All four locals earned the right to host state semifinals on Friday. Winners advance to the Group state championships on Sunday at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.

High Point (North 1, Group 2) and North Hunterdon (North 2, Group 4) were denied in bids to repeat as sectional champions. The 'Cats, who won the Group 2 title last season, lost a tough 32-29 decision to Jefferson in legendary coach John Gardner's final dual meet with the boys program after 26 memorable seasons. It was quite a run as High Point reached its 14th straight sectional final and suffered its first title loss since 2016. 

North, which won Group 4 a year ago, came up short in a 30-28 loss to Ridge, which won its second sectional title and first since 1986.

The tri-county has produced no fewer than three titles -- including an area-best seven five times (1988, '94, '95, 2002, '22) -- in all 44 tournaments dating to 1980 (there were no team events held in 2021 due to the pandemic).

P'burg proud

The Stateliners (17-0), who won their quarterfinal and semifinal matchups by a combined score of 151-0 on Monday, finally lost a bout in a title rematch vs. Bridgewater-Raritan, which dropped a 69-3 decision when the teams met in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division clash on Dec. 20. 

It was also the first sectional championship as a head coach for Longacre, who won three as a Stateliner wrestler (1989, '91 and '92). The latter was the infamous North 2, Group 4 title match against Belleville, in which a brawl erupted and sent the visitors heading for the bus after just seven bouts. The evening ended with six P'burg wrestlers trotting out from the locker room one-by-one to have their hand raised in forfeit wins, including Longacre at 152 pounds.

"That was the team's sectional title. They earned it. I'm just a vessel to help guide them," said Longacre, whose team is seeking the program's second Group 5 title in three seasons after winning it all in 2022 (No. 23 overall). "All the performance is on them." 

Junior Gavin Hawk (27-1) took another step toward program history as he improved to 99-17 overall with a 35-second pin -- one of seven for P'burg -- at 157 pounds.

P'burg ranks second behind only Paulsboro (43) in titles

Freshman Owen Garriques (120) and junior Derek Stone (190), along with seniors Patrick Day (150), Liam Packer (175), Nathan Smith (215) and John Wargo (285), also registered falls as P'burg improved to 41-3 all-time in sectional finals -- missing against Warren Hills (1990), Hunterdon Central (2013) and North Hunterdon (2020).    

Hawk will look to become the 28th wrestler at Phillipsburg -- and first since James Day (112-32) in 2022 -- to reach the century mark in wins when the 'Liners host North 1 champion Clifton in one semifinal at 6 p.m. on Friday. Hunterdon Central takes on Southern in the other matchup and the winners will meet in the Group 5 title match on Sunday.

Hunterdon Central rolled to a 40-30 win over Hillsborough to pick up the program's 23rd sectional title and first since 2019. It was also the fourth under coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm, now 180-40 overall in his 10 seasons at the helm.

The Red Devils (21-2), who also scored a 44-28 win over Hillsborough in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division tilt on Dec. 20, seek their first Group 5 title appearance since a 34-27 loss to Southern on Feb. 10, 2019.

Ones to watch

It was a supremely special night for Delaware Valley, which cruised to the program's fifth straight title and 22nd overall with an 81-0 rout of Point Pleasant Beach in the Central Jersey, Group 1 final at Daniel Hutchins Memorial Gym.

Andy and Vince Fitz share a moment after the title win

The Terriers (19-1), who are seeking a third consecutive Group 1 title, engaged in a dual celebration as Andy Fitz became his alma mater's all-time winningest coach at 285-95 in 17 seasons -- surpassing his father, Vince (284-60-3), who guided the program to seven sectional titles and six Group 2 titles in 19 seasons from 1971-90.

Del Val, which has won 10 state titles (second only to Phillipsburg's 23 in the HWS area), racked up 13 pins, including 11 before the third period, along with a 7-6 win. In three consecutive finals meetings, the Terriers have outscored Beach, 227-9, including losses of 68-6 in 2022 and 78-3 in '23.  

Kittatinny claimed its third consecutive title in North 1, Group 1 with a 35-21 victory over Emerson-Park Ridge in Hampton Township.

Kittatinny celebrates a title and its 688th win

The Cougars (19-3), who have won titles in four decades under legendary coach John Gill, advanced to meet South Jersey power Paulsboro on Friday, while Delaware Valley takes on Hanover Park in the other Group 1 semifinal on Friday. Del Val owns wins over Kittatinny (37-21 on Jan. 6) and Hanover Park (50-18 on Jan. 20) this season.

Kittatinny also matched Camden Catholic for fourth place on the all-time sectional titles list at 25 -- behind only Paulsboro (43), Phillipsburg (41) and High Point (30). Gill, whose teams are 656-207-5 in 44 seasons, seeks his first career win over Paulsboro, which has won a record 33 state titles.