It wasn't exactly the toughest of evenings on the mat for a few local favorites.
Phillipsburg (North 2, Group 5), Delaware Valley (Central Jersey, Group 1), Kittatinny (North 1, Group 1). and Hunterdon Central (Central Jersey, Group 5) -- all No. 1 seeds -- were among six teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area to advance to Wednesday's sectional championship round.
Also moving on with quarterfinal and semifinal victories on Monday night were High Point (North 1, Group 2) and North Hunterdon (North 1, Group 4) -- both reigning state champions.
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| Central leads Hunterdon County with 22 titles |
The Red Devils were sparked by pins from seniors Evan Thompson (138) and William Cella (144) in the nightcap as coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm's team, which earned a rematch against Hillsborough (a 44-28 loser when the teams met in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division clash on Dec. 20) in the sectional final, won nine bouts before issuing a pair of forfeits to close things out.
Thompson (28-4) decked returning state qualifier Xavier Ortega in 2:22, while Cella (27-5) stuck Giovanni Scafidi in a battle between 2023 state qualifiers to put Central on the brink of its first sectional title since 2019 and the storied program's 23rd overall since the tournaments began in 1980. Senior Thomas Brunetti (31-0 at 190), a state qualifier in his sophomore season, also pinned for his 90th career victory.
Phillipsburg, ranked No. 9 in the NJWWA poll, racked up a combined 15 falls in shutout wins against Piscataway (74-0) in the quarters and Bayonne (77-0) in a North 2, Group 5 semifinal. The Stateliner faithful barely got a look at heavyweight John Wargo (23-1) as the seventh-place state medalist last season totaled two pins in 1:07 to set up a sectional final date with Bridgewater-Raritan in Lopatcong Township.
Bridgewater-Raritan (17-6), which has won one sectional title (2016) since the East and West (1981 champion) merger, dropped a 69-3 decision to P'burg in a Skyland Conference Delaware Division contest on Dec. 20.
Collision course?
Delaware Valley, a heavy favorite to three-peat in Group 1, opened with a 72-6 victory over No. 8 seed Asbury Park as coach Andy Fitz used only four starters in that one before rolling to a 75-0 win against Manville in the semifinals.
The Terriers (18-1), ranked No. 12 in the NJWWA Top 20, will host No. 2 seed Point Pleasant Beach for a third straight year in the title match on Wednesday at Daniel Hutchins Memorial Gym. Beach scored a total of nine points in those two previous losses (68-6 in 2022 and 78-3 in '23).
It was an historic evening in Alexandria Township as Fitz matched his father, Vince, for the program's all-time lead in coaching victories with 284 apiece. Vince Fitz (284-60-3 in 19 seasons from 1971-90) guided Del Val to the first seven of its 21 sectional titles, while Andy (284-95 in 17 seasons) has also led the Terriers to seven championships (2015, '16, '17, '19, '20, '22, '23) in 11 previous finals appearances.
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| Gill's teams have won titles in four different decades |
Kittatinny (18-3), which has captured 24 sectional titles overall, took another huge toward a potential rematch with Del Val as legendary coach John Gill's Cougars rolled past Hawthorne (60-12) and Butler (51-22) in the North 1, Group 1 quarters and semis. Gill, now 655-207-5 over his 44 seasons as head coach, is in his 46th campaign overall (two as an assistant under program founder Carl Bateman).
The Sussex County school, which is set to host Emerson-Park Ridge in Wednesday's title match and is 687-244-5 overall since in 49 seasons since its inception in 1975, dropped a 37-21 decision to Del Val on Jan. 6.
Champs still standing
High Point had to go on the road for the first time since 2016 in search of its seventh straight North 1, Group 2 title and last under longtime head coach John Gardner, who's shifting over to lead the girls program full-time for the 2024-25 season.
The third-seeded Wildcats advanced to a 14th consecutive championship match with wins over Pascack Hills (54-15) and Westwood (41-16). High Point, which is seeking a Sussex County-best 31st title, sits behind only Paulsboro (42) and Phillipsburg (40) in sectional championship history.
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| High Point last won seven in a row from 1986-92 |
High Point (10-8) earned a rematch with top-seeded Jefferson in Wednesday's title match. The 'Cats, who are 40-11 all-time vs. the Falcons in a series dating to 1967, are looking to avenge a 39-24 loss at home in an NJAC Freedom Division clash on Jan. 10. Jefferson (15-5), which won the last of its seven sectional titles in 2000, snapped a 23-match skid in the series with that victory. This will be the seventh postseason meeting with the 'Cats prevailing in the 2017, '18, '22 and '23 title matchups.
North Hunterdon, under first-year head coach Dave Bell, rolled to wins over Scotch Plains-Fanwood (61-18) and Middletown North (41-18) in the North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals and semifinals. The Lions (7-12), who will travel to top-seeded Ridge on Wednesday, seek a fourth straight sectional title and the program's 18th overall.
Here are Wednesday's public school matchups statewide: (Note: Montville is the first No. 8 seed to reach the finals since the field expanded to eight teams in 2017. In addition, Randolph and Wayne Valley are the only No. 7 seeds to win a semifinal match. Since '17, No. 8 seeds are 2-139 overall in the quarters and semis, while No. 7 seeds are 6-138 (Hawthorne and Scotch-Plains Fanwood in 2022 are the only other No. 7s to reach the semifinals).
Group 5
North 1
2-Clifton (19-4, 31.50) at 1-Passaic Tech (20-9, 31.90)
North 2
2-Bridgewater-Raritan (17-6, 37.10) at 1-Phillipsburg (16-0, 40.60)
South Jersey
3-Kingsway (14-1, 32.70) at 1-Southern (15-2, 36.30)
Group 4
North 1
7-Randolph (9-13, 26.70) at 1-Mount Olive (14-4, 37.70)
North 2
2-North Hunterdon (7-12, 35.80) at 1-Ridge (18-2, 36.30)
Central Jersey
2-Brick Memorial (11-4, 31.20) at 1-Colts Neck (17-3, 32.10)
South Jersey
2-Hammonton (17-8, 30.80) at 1-Northern Burlington (13-2, 32.10)
Group 3
North 1
8-Montville (16-7, 29.90) at 7-Wayne Valley (13-7, 30.70)
North 2
3-Cranford (17-2, 33.40) at 1-West Essex (15-1, 35.60)
Central Jersey
3-Ocean Township (17-3, 31.70) at 1-Hopewell Valley (20-2, 34.70)
South Jersey
3-Ocean City (17-3, 30.90) at 1-Delsea (16-4, 38.80)
Group 2
North 1
Central Jersey
3-Point Pleasant Boro (14-3, 30.70) at 1-Rumson-Fair Haven (15-1, 34.50)
South Jersey
2-Lower Cape May (21-5, 31.70) at 1-West Deptford (21-2, 35.00)
Group 1
North 1
2-Emerson-Park Ridge (19-4, 34.70) at 1-Kittatinny (18-3, 36.30)
North 2
2-Hasbrouck Heights (17-4, 30.30) at 1-Hanover Park (13-9, 31.50)
Central Jersey
2-Point Pleasant Beach (17-4, 28.60) at 1-Delaware Valley (18-1, 38.90)
South Jersey
3-Audubon (18-8, 31.20) at 1-Paulsboro (19-2, 34.70)
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