Wrestling: Who's 1?; Dalling hits 100 (HWS ranks)

Where do you stand on the earlier start date to the New Jersey wrestling season? The Garden State officially began on Dec. 9 -- about one week earlier than in previous years. 

So far the consensus among some Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area coaches is that it's great for those experienced teams, but for most in these parts, it's more about getting some wrestlers who are fairly new to the sport or fresh on the varsity scene up to speed. This is life in the public school ranks.

Hunterdon Central, which graduated 19 seniors from last season's Central Jersey, Group 5 sectional championship team, is in the midst of a major rebuilding campaign. In addition, senior heavyweight Tyler Suk (26-13 and a Region 4 sixth-place finisher as a junior) also was lost before the season with a knee injury. The Red Devils currently have no 113-pounder, along with some newcomers who have wrestled for only a few weeks.

"We realistically had two weeks of practice," Central coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm said after his team's 53-27 loss at Warren Hills on Wednesday. "You had the three tryout days [prior to Thanksgiving] and then you had two weeks, so it was like hurry up and get ready. Last year's team would have been in great shape with talented guys who are wrestling all year. 

"The season is long enough. I think starting the weekend before Christmas, [Dec.] 20th or 18th was [the start date] last year, to start earlier than that is asking a lot." 

Warren Hills, which returns a much more experienced lineup, was in the same boat as Central as far as newcomers to its lineup. The Blue Streaks are a handful from 120-144, but the upper weights are very inexperienced and without one starter from last season who opted not to wrestle and would have helped immensely.

"Most of our guys are multisport athletes. We're big on that," coach KC Wanamaker said. "We saw the opportunity to take the three weeks, train and get in wrestling shape after soccer and football and cross country."

There were a total of five dual meets involving area teams that opening week and a Saturday that featured a handful of tournaments and one quad meet.

It will be interesting to see how area programs will handle this moving forward.

Now, onto the season's first area rankings:

P'burg is the lone HWS area team in the NJWWA Top 20

1. Phillipsburg (0-0) -- Stateliners opened their season with a first-place showing at the John and Betty Vogeding Tournament last weekend behind seven champions -- sophomore Anthony Pettinelli (113), junior Massimo Gonzalez (126), sophomore Owen Garriques (132), senior Luke Geleta (144), junior Gavin Geleta (150), senior Gavin Hawk (157) and senior Derek Stone (175). P'burg, ranked No. 10 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20, will square off with No. 14 Mount Olive on Saturday in a potential North 1, Group 4 sectional final preview.

Up next: Governor Livingston and Mount Olive at home on Saturday; Bethlehem Holiday Classic at Liberty (Pa.) Dec. 28-29.

2. Delaware Valley (2-0) -- Terriers finished second in the their Wendy Pandy-Leh Tournament behind Ocean Township last weekend, while the Group 1 runners-up last season opened the dual-meet season with wins over Robbinsville (53-16) and Bridgewater-Raritan (40-26). Senior star and returning state medalist Jaden Perez (5-0 at 132) picked up his 90th career win on Wednesday.

Up next: Lawrence and Morris Hills at home on Saturday; John Goles Invitational at Warren Hills on Dec. 28.

3. North Hunterdon (0-1) -- Lions got a good look at Group 5 kingpin Southern, ranked No. 7 in the NJWWA Top 20, in last weekend's Robin Leff Tournament before a 55-18 loss to the Rams in dual action on Wednesday. Senior Evan Kinney (4-1 at 175) finished third in the tournament, while super sophomore and returning state qualifier Aidan Yarussi (3-2 at 132) placed fourth.

Up next: Ron Mazzola Memorial Tournament at Old Bridge on Saturday. 

Poalillo with coaches John Gardner and Billy Talmadge

4. High Point (0-0) -- Wildcats also opened their season at the rugged Robin Leff Tournament with former state champion and Rutgers alum Billy Smith at the helm. Junior Jack Kithcart (2-2 at 190) was the team's highest placewinner with a fourth-place medal, while senior Donald Weiss (3-1) was sixth at 215. The 'Cats are still getting their lineup together as they head into dual action. On the girls' side, state champ Ella Poalillo won a Beast of the East title on Friday.

Up next: Long Branch and Red Bank Catholic at Middletown South on Saturday; at Sparta on Monday.

5. Pope John (3-2) -- Lions already have five duals under their belt -- opening the season with a 39-33 win over Hanover Park before going 2-1 in a quad with victories over Immaculata (39-36) and host Parsippany (54-24) and a 48-33 loss to Kellenberg Memorial (N.Y.). Coach Mark Piotrowsky's team, which will be stronger down the line with the addition of transfer Donny Almeyda, a two-time state fourth-place finisher at St. Joseph-Montvale, dropped a 42-26 decision to West Morris on Wednesday. Senior star and Pitt commit Carson Walsh (3-0 at 138), a state runner-up last season, sat that one out.

Up next: Beast of the East Tournament on Saturday and Sunday; Sam Cali Invitational on Dec. 28-29.

Hills makes its 1st MK Tournament appearance

6. Warren Hills (1-1) -- Blue Streaks opened their season with a 53-27 win over Hunterdon Central on Wednesday behind seven pins before dropping a 53-13 decision to Mount Olive the following evening. The combined 80 points were the most in a series against Central, which owns a 47-15-1 edge dating to 1960, while Hills' team total also was a program best in 63 meetings. Juniors Augie Szamreta (2-0 at 120) and Davey Rhinehart (2-0 at 132) and senior Tyler Redfield (2-0 at 144) are off to fast starts.

Up next: Morris Knolls Tournament on Saturday; 66th John Goles Invitational on Dec. 28. 

Dalling (2nd at Caldwell Tourney)

7. Kittatinny (3-1) -- Cougars bounced back from a 57-15 season-opening loss to No. 19 Caldwell (2-5 vs. Kittatinny all time) by going 3-0 at the Kochajki Holiday Duals on Friday with wins over Bound Brook (65-8), River Dell (37-36) and host West Milford (55-15). Legendary coach John Gill's program now sits at 691 wins overall, while senior ace Ethan Dalling (6-1 at 175) became the 20th member of the Sussex County school's 100 wins club with three victories on Friday. He now stands at 101-22 overall. His father, Steve, a three-time state finalist and two-time champ for Gill, went 113-12 from 1987-91.

Up next: Linn Crawn Classic on Dec. 27.

8. Sparta (0-1) -- Spartans came up short in their only action to date -- a 39-34 loss to Pompton Lakes on Dec. 12. Senior Logan Hrenenko (1-0 at 150) is four wins shy of 90 for his career, while junior Ryan Hrenenko (1-0 at 138) is two wins away from 60. Coach Dan Trappe's team is like many in the area as it tries to get its best lineup on the mat. A solid set of upper weights is a huge plus.

Up next: Morris Knolls Tournament on Saturday; High Point at home on Monday.

9. Hunterdon Central (0-1) -- Red Devils opened their season with a seventh-place finish at the Caldwell Tournament last weekend before a tough 53-27 loss at Warren Hills on Wednesday -- the first action for junior star Rhett Washleski (1-0 at 150), who logged his 71st career win with a tech fall vs. Hills. Washleski, junior Grant Thompson (1-0 at 157) and senior Nehemiah Bugasch (1-0 at 175) will compete in the rugged Beast of the East Tournament on Saturday and Sunday.

Up next: Hunterdon Central Invitational on Dec. 28.

10. Hackettstown (1-0) -- Tigers rolled to a 66-12 win over North Warren in the season-opening dual for both Warren County schools on Wednesday. Zachary Calhoun (1-0 at 190), who received a forfeit, was the lone senior to step on the mat for coach Jim Berringer's team, which started 10 sophomores and racked up seven pins. Two of those sophs -- Joseph Rowinski (1-0 at 113) and Giovanni Gutierrez (1-0 at 132) will competed in the Beast of the East on Saturday and Sunday.

Up next: Morris Knolls Tournament on Saturday; Lenape Valley Tournament on Dec. 28.

Wrestling: Hills pins (7) down historic win vs. Central

WASHINGTON TWP. -- Longstanding rivalries and storied wrestling programs are synonymous with the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. 

The 63rd meeting between Hunterdon Central and Warren Hills was somewhat different than years past as a high-scoring affair featured teams a little thin in spots and trying to get some wrestlers up to speed for what lies ahead this season.

Warren Hills ran off five straight pins to open the Skyland Conference cross-divisional match and never looked back in a 53-27 victory on Wednesday night in the dual-meet opener for both teams. It's the most points scored by the Blue Streaks (previous was a 42-27 win in 2006) and the largest combined total in a series dating to 1960. Hills, now 15-47-1 overall vs. Central, has won 10 of those meetings since 1990.

Warren Hills has won two of the last three vs. HC

"Proud of the guys tonight," said Streaks coach KC Wanamaker, now in his second season at the helm. "The big five [Augie Szamreta, Charlie Piccione, Davey Rhinehart, Aidan Webb and Tyler Redfield], they came through big and did what they needed to do."

Central (0-1), which came in a bit shorthanded and currently without a 113-pounder on its roster, is in the midst of a major rebuilding campaign after going 21-3 and capturing the Central Jersey, Group 5 sectional title last season. Starting at 120 pounds and the beginning of Warren Hills' run of talented lower weights was not ideal and put the Red Devils in a 30-0 hole through five bouts. 

"We knew they were going to be loaded down low," said Central coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm, now 7-3 all-time against Warren Hills. "We went head-to-head with all those guys. They're super talented down low. It hurt not having [freshman] Aidan Thompson [illness]. That would have given us the ability to slide up from 144, 150 and 157, and at least make it a little bit closer."

Warren Hills (1-0), stepping on the mat for the first time this season, took it right to Central out of the gate. The first turning point came in the second bout at 126, as Piccione, a senior and two-time state qualifier, overcame 1-0 second-period deficit to flatten Red Devils junior Jace Brownlie with a cradle at the buzzer -- his 86th career win.

Central won its 23rd sectional title last season

Central ace Rhett Washleski, a two-time state qualifier, finally got his team on the board with a technical fall of Justin Hage at 150, as the Red Devils won four of five bouts -- sandwiched around Tyler O'Neill's pin for the Streaks at 165 -- through the middle to make it a 15-point deficit (36-21).

"Justin Hage has been on JV his whole career and went out and battled against a state wrestleback three, and stayed off his back to save us a team point," said Wanamaker, whose team next faces Mount Olive (1-0), ranked No. 14 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20 poll, in an independent clash tonight at 7. 

"Same with Dom D'Aconti (175) and Ethan Drazek [157], and then of course the big pin from David Kocsor. They all just went out and battled from every position."

Kocsor's unexpected pin at 215 sealed it for Warren Hills. The senior, coming off a 10-20 campaign as a junior, overcame a 3-1 first-period deficit and gave the Streaks an insurmountable 42-21 lead with three bouts to go. Only two of 12 contested matchups reached the third period. 

"We're going to take our lumps," said Cantagallo-Rohm, who lost 19 seniors from a team that also won the HWS Tournament team title last season and returning heavyweight Tyler Suk (season-ending knee injury) who logged 26 wins and finished sixth in Region 4 as a junior. "A lot of underclassmen, a lot of kids with first-time varsity experience, a lot of kids who are brand new to wrestling. 

"We're going to have to scratch and claw to not give up bonus points, and try and pull out some matches in the third period. It's going to be a lot of learning this year, but I think it bodes well for the future."

WARREN HILLS 53, HUNTERDON CENTRAL 27

120 -- Jr. Augie Szamreta (1-0), WH, p. Fr. Joey Cassidy (0-1), 1:40.
126 -- Sr. Charlie Piccione (1-0), WH, p. Jr. Jace Brownlie (0-1), 3:59. 
132 -- Jr. Davey Rhinehart (1-0), WH, p. So. Brandon Voll (0-3), 1:19.
138 -- So. Aidan Webb (1-0), WH, p. Jr. Liam Walker (0-1), :18.
144 -- Sr. Tyler Redfield (1-0), WH, p. So. Andrew Zinko (1-3), 1:08.
150 -- Jr. Rhett Washleski (1-0), HC, tf. Sr. Justin Hage (0-1), 17-1, 2:53.
157 -- Jr. Grant Thompson (4-1), HC, tf. Sr. Ethan Drazek (0-1), 17-2, 4:23.
165 -- Sr. Tyler O'Neill (1-0), WH, p. Fr. Messiah Phelps (0-1), 1:06.
175 -- Sr. Nehemiah Bugasch (1-0), HC, tf. So. Dominick D'Aconti (0-1), 16-1, 4:19.
190 -- Sr. Joseph Rawlins (2-2), HC, forfeit.
215 -- Sr. David Kocsor (1-0), WH, p. Jr. Vance LiBrizzi (1-3), 2:41.
285 -- Jr. Declan Joyce (3-1), HC, p. So. Max Cruz (0-1), :21.
106 -- Fr. Nicholas Ricevuto (1-0), WH, tf. Fr. Jackson Sabo (0-1), 18-2, 3:59.
113 -- So. Braiden O'Hern (1-0), WH, forfeit.
Records -- Hunterdon Central 0-1; Warren Hills 1-0.

Wrestling: P'burg leads HWS in first NJWWA Top 20

We're off and running as the 2024-25 New Jersey high school wrestling season began in earnest this past week. But things will really start to heat up on Wednesday, with 12 dual meets on the docket, including Hunterdon Central at Warren Hills.

Quite a rarity as both teams with storied traditions are sitting outside the state rankings to open the season.

Phillipsburg, which is the only Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area team to grace the initial New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20, returns to where it once reigned as the 10th-ranked Stateliners shift to Group 4 for the first time since the pre-pandemic days after spending the past three seasons housed in Group 5. As a result, coach Tim Longacre's team goes from Group 5 underdog (Southern is the frontrunner there) to Group 4 title favorite.

But make no mistake, winning a North 1, Group 4 title will be a major challenge in what is arguably the state's most loaded public sectional field, which includes reigning Group 4 champion Ridge and runner-up Mount Olive. Ridge won its second sectional title and first since 1986 last season before rallying for its first state championship with a thrilling win over No. 14 Mount Olive, which travels to P'burg on Saturday as part of a tri-meet that also includes Governor Livingston.

P'burg, which won its lone Group 5 title in 2022, has won 23 sectional titles in Group 4, most recently in 2019, including one in North 1 (2010). The 'Liners (18-1) were denied in their bid for a 24th state championship and the program's first perfect season since 2014, with a 45-21 loss to Southern in last season's title match at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena. 

You can also expect Phillipsburg and Southern to rekindle their rivalry in the regular season now that both programs can't meet in the state team championships.  

Southern owns an 11-7 edge in a series dating to 1997, including nine postseason meetings. The Rams, who have won three straight vs. the 'Liners, also prevailed in title matchups in '23 (41-14) and '05 (30-25). P'burg, which scored a 27-25 win in the '22 Group 5 semifinals, was victorious in the '97 (53-9) and '14 (32-21) finals in Group 4. 

P'burg has captured an area-best 41 titles -- second all-time in New Jersey history behind Group 1 kingpin Paulsboro, which has won 43 out of a possible 44 since the tournaments began in 1980. The South Jersey power missed only in 2008, when Kittatinny won its first and only Group 1 title by knocking off Collingswood.

High Point, which is now under the direction of new head coach and former Wildcat state champion Billy Smith, is next on the state sectional championship list with 30. Kittatinny and Camden Catholic (25) are tied for fourth place.

Kittatinny won its 25th sectional title in 2024

Speaking of Kittatinny, there have been some erroneous media reports circulating that this is definitely legendary Cougars coach John Gill's last go-round with the Sussex County-based program. Nothing is further from the truth. Gill, whose teams are 656-209-5 in his 45 seasons at the helm, has made no such decision to step down at season's end.

In fact, Gill is having is much fun now as he did when he took the reigns from Carl Bateman for the 1980-81 campaign after serving as Bateman's assistant for two seasons. The school is now 50 years old, and Gill has been as much a fixture there as anyone. Heck, the Cougars, who entered their 50th season with 688 wins overall, should erect his statue out front when he does decide to hang it up. 

Kittatinny, which opened its dual season with a 57-15 loss to No. 19 Caldwell, is back in action at the West Milford Duals on Friday. The Cougars will face Bound Brook, River Dell and West Milford as senior star Ethan Dalling, who is 98-22 overall, looks to become the 20th member of the program's 100-wins club.    

Now, here's the season's first Top 20:

Rank	School	Record
1	Delbarton	(0-0)
2	St. Joseph-Montvale	(0-0)
3	St. Peter's Prep	(1-0)
4	St. John Vianney	(1-0)
5	Camden Catholic	(0-0)
6	Christian Brothers Academy	(1-1)
7	Southern	(0-0)
8	Don Bosco Prep	(0-0)
9	Delsea	(0-0)
10	Phillipsburg	(0-0)
11	Rumson-Fair Haven	(2-0)
12	Bergen Catholic	(0-0)
13	Paramus Catholic	(1-0)
14	Mount Olive	(0-0)
15	Ridge	(2-0)
16	Seton Hall Prep	(0-0)
17	St. Augustine Prep	(0-0)
18	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(2-1)
19	Caldwell	(1-0)
20	Washington Township	(0-0)

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). 

Wrestling: HWS schedule for Dec. 16-22

Wednesday, Dec. 18

(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Hackettstown at North Warren, 6 p.m.
Vernon at Hopatcong-Lenape Valley
Pope John at West Morris
Delbarton at Sparta
Boonton at Wallkill Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Skyland Conference

Delaware Valley at Bridgewater-Raritan, 6 p.m.
Hunterdon Central at Warren Hills
Voorhees at Somerville, 6 p.m.
Belvidere at Rutgers Prep, 6 p.m.
South Hunterdon at Bound Brook

Independent

Wayne Hills at Newton
North Hunterdon at Southern, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 19

Independent

Warren Hills at Mount Olive, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20

(All events 7 p.m., unless noted)

Skyland Conference

Voorhees at Bridgewater-Raritan, 4 p.m.

Independent

Kittatinny, Bound Brook, Clifton, Ramapo, Wayne Valley at West Milford Duals, 3 p.m.
Roselle Park at Belvidere

Saturday, Dec. 21

(All events 9 a.m., unless noted)

Tournaments

Hackettstown, Sparta, Warren Hills at Morris Knolls Tournament, 10 a.m.
North Hunterdon in Ron Mazzola Memorial Tournament at Old Bridge
Newton at Mountain Lakes Tournament, 9:30 a.m.
Hunterdon Central, Pope John at Beast of the East, 8:30 a.m.
Vernon at Clifton Mustang Invitational

Tris and quads

Hopatcong-Lenape Valley at Roxbury quad
Wallkill Valley, Hasbrouck Heights at Bernards
High Point, Long Branch, Red Bank Catholic at Middletown South
Lawrence, Morris Hills at Delaware Valley, 9:30 a.m.
Governor Livingston, Mount Olive at Phillipsburg, 10 a.m.
South Hunterdon, Bordentown, Lakewood at Barnegat

Sunday, Dec. 22

Hunterdon Central, Pope John at Beast of the East, 8:30 a.m.

Wrestling: HWS schedule for Dec. 9-14

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Pope John at Hanover Park, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 11

Independent

Caldwell at Kittatinny,, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 12

Independent

Pompton Lakes at Sparta, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 13

Independent

Robbinsville at Delaware Valley, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14

(All events 9 a.m., unless noted)

High Point, North Hunterdon in Robin Leff Tournament at Southern
Hunterdon Central, Kittatinny at Caldwell Tournament
Lenape Valley, North Warren at Dover Tournament
Pope John, Immaculata, Kellenberg at Parsippany
Voorhees in Wendy Pandy-Leh Tournament at Delaware Valley
Phillipsburg in Vogeding Tournament at Paulsboro
Belvidere in Mike Dessino Invitational at Middlesex

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Vernon at Boonton, 9:30 a.m.