Wrestling: Cougars hit 700; HWS sends 5 to finals

Add another major milestone to an already lengthy list for the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area this high school wrestling season.

Kittatinny stands at 700-257-5 in 50 seasons

Kittatinny, which has its sights on the program's 26th sectional championship, picked up wins No. 699 and 700 overall on Monday night in advancing to the North 1, Group 1 title match at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Hampton Township.  

The Cougars (12-10), who easily dispatched Boonton (58-22 in the quarterfinals) and Emerson-Park Ridge (46-29 in the semifinals), celebrated becoming the eighth HWS school to amass 700-plus dual victories -- joining Hunterdon Central (1,064), Phillipsburg (1,062), Delaware Valley (874), Newton (860), North Hunterdon (833), Warren Hills (829) and High Point (808), which picked up its 800th earlier this season.

"I'm excited about it. It's like the one thing for our little tiny Group 1 school," said legendary coach John Gill, whose Kittatinny teams have gone 668-218-5 overall with 25 sectional and eight state championships across his 45 seasons in charge.

Phillipsburg (North 1, Group 4), North Hunterdon (North 2, Group 4), High Point (North 1, Group 2) and Delaware Valley (Central Jersey, Group 1) will also represent the area in Wednesday's sectional finals. HWS has captured no fewer than three titles and 209 overall since the tournaments began in 1980, and at least four in a season since 2015.

The sectional champions advance to Friday's state semifinal round to be hosted by the higher seed, with the winners then advancing to Sunday's state title matches at Rutgers' Jersey Mike's Arena. 

So much winning

When it comes to sectional finals, Phillipsburg and Kittatinny usually come out on top end -- with a combined record of 66-7 in title matches. 

P'burg won its only N1, G4 title in 2010

The Stateliners, whose 41 sectional championships in 44 finals appearances rank behind only Paulsboro (43), have lost on only three occasions (Warren Hills-1990, Hunterdon Central-2013 and North Hunterdon-2020). Mount Olive, which was the Group 4 runner-up last season and is 0-3 vs. P'burg all time -- including a 48-12 loss in the North 2, Group 3 final in 2003 -- looks to add to that list and avenge a 32-30 loss to the 'Liners on Dec. 21.

"If all 14 of us go out and do their job, we should do pretty well," said senior state medalist Luke Geleta, who at 129-26 is looking to become only the third Stateliner to amass 130-plus career wins, joining all-time leader Gavin Hawk (137) and former state finalist Brian Meyer (131).

Kittatinny, which is 25-4 under Gill in sectional finals and 88-31 overall in postseason matches, rates a solid favorite against New Milford, which has never won a sectional title and had to rally for a 42-35 win over Pompton Lakes in the North 1, Group 1 semifinals. That crazy quarterfinal draw nearly saw the Nos. 6 (Newton) and 7 (Butler) seeds battle for a spot in the title match. Pompton Lakes barely got by Newton (38-36), while New Milford pulled off a 41-36 win over Butler in the other first-rounder.

'Cats eyes on prize

High Point has waited nearly 365 days to get back into this position and reclaim the North 1, Group 2 championship, which eluded the Sussex County power last season after a 32-29 finals loss to nemesis Jefferson that ended the Wildcats' six-year reign.

HP went 6-1 in its previous 7 finals appearances

But the good news is that rookie head coach Billy Smith's team, which knocked off Lakeland (66-12 in the quarters) and Westwood (75-6 in the semis) on Monday, is once again the No. 1 seed. Thus, his 'Cats will enter Wednesday night's title match against Pascack Valley to the strains of John Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," after having to go on the road last season for the first time since 2016.

"It's nice. We worked hard this season to get [a chance to win] at home," said senior standout Nick Clayton (23-3 at 150), who improved to 107-33 overall on Monday to move past Kyle Stoll (105-26 from 2011-14) and Dom Gallo (105-30 from 2011-15) for 16th on the program's career victories list. 

Smith, who took over the boys program after John Gardner shifted to coach the girls this season, is no stranger to sectional titles having won three (2008-11) as a High Point wrestler and state champion his senior season in '11, while serving on Gardner staff as an assistant for another six. The 'Cats lead Sussex County with 30, which ranks third behind Paulsboro and P'burg statewide.

Hungry Lions

North Hunterdon, which also made things look relatively easy on Monday with lopsided wins over Woodbridge (61-3 in the quarters) and Rahway (55-19 in the semis), will hit the road to take on Middletown North in the North 2, Group 4 final.

North won G4 titles after section runs in 2020 and '23

Longtime coach Dave Bell, now in his second season with North, watched his Lions prevail in 21 of 28 bouts on Monday, including a pair of first-period pins by returning state qualifier Evan Kinney (25-3 at 190). The senior emphasized that his team's 34-24 win over Phillipsburg on Jan. 29 has provided the springboard for a run at North's 18th sectional title, which would break a tie with sister-school Voorhees.

"Ever since Phillipsburg, we've become a lot stronger team," said Kinney, who has embraced his role as one of the team's leaders after starting as a sophomore on North's Group 4 title team in 2023. "I really like how the team is shaking out. I feel like our confidence keeps stacking up and overall, we're going for the title." 

North eliminated Middletown North, which won its lone sectional title in 1996, with a 41-18 victory in last year's North 2, Group 4 semifinals before a 30-28 finals loss to eventual Group 4 champion Ridge.

Terrier tough

Delaware Valley has been the consensus favorite to capture both sectional and Group 1 state titles this season. So far, coach Andy Fitz's team hasn't been tested after blowout wins against Shore Regional (77-6 in the quarters) and Metuchen (73-6 in the semis) in the Central Jersey, Group 1 tournament on Monday.

Del Val is 8-4 in sectional finals since 2008

Del Val (16-3), which has logged double-digit wins in all but one of Fitz's 18 seasons (9-3 in the pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign) in charge of his alma mater, seeks the program's 23rd sectional title, which would match Hunterdon Central for the county lead, when it faces Manville in Alexandria Township. The Terriers won title matchups against Point Pleasant Beach in 2022, '23 and '24 by a combined score of 227-9.

Manville, which won the Skyland Conference Mountain Division title under veteran coach Pat Gorbatuk, seeks its fifth sectional title and first since 1994.

Here are Wednesday's matchups statewide: (Note: Only one No. 8 seed (Montville in 2024) has reached the finals since the field expanded to eight teams in 2017. In addition, Randolph and Wayne Valley (in 2024) are the only No. 7 seeds to win a semifinal match. Since '17, No. 8 seeds are 2-159 overall in the quarters and semis, while No. 7 seeds are 6-158 (Hawthorne and Scotch-Plains Fanwood in 2022 are the only other No. 7s to reach the semifinals).

Group 5

North 1

3-Clifton (15-7, 33.56) at 1-Passaic Tech (22-10, 37.78)

North 2

2-Union (18-7, 34.33) at 1-Bridgewater-Raritan (19-7, 40.00)

Central Jersey

2-Monroe Township (17-14, 39.11) at 1-Old Bridge (13-6, 40.44)

South Jersey

3-Washington Township (17-4, 40.44) at 1-Southern (15-3, 43.00)

Group 4

North 1

2-Mount Olive (15-3, 42.78) at 1-Phillipsburg (15-3, 42.67)

North 2

2-North Hunterdon (14-6, 41.22) at 1-Middletown North (20-1, 41.89)

Central Jersey

2-Colts Neck (12-11, 36.44) at 1-Long Branch (13-8, 39.00)

South Jersey

6-Toms River East (11-11, 35.67) at 4-Toms River South (18-1, 36.22)

Group 3

North 1

2-Wayne Valley (20-0, 38.56) at 1-Old Tappan (17-1, 38.56)

North 2

2-South Plainfield (15-5, 37.89) at 1-Cranford (19-3, 41.67)

Central Jersey

2-Brick Memorial (12-4, 40.89) at 1-Hopewell Valley (21-4, 41.22)

South Jersey

2-Lacey Township (19-2, 42.33) at 1-Delsea (18-2, 42.78)

Group 2

North 1

2-Pascack Valley (17-6, 36.67) at 1-High Point (18-5, 41.00)

North 2

3-Governor Livingston (16-7, 35.89) at 1-Caldwell (22-1, 41.67)

Central Jersey

3-Wall Township (17-4, 40.56) at 1-Rumson-Fair Haven (25-1, 42.22)

South Jersey

5-Middle Township (22-3, 37.56) at 2-Lower Cape May (20-4, 40.44)

Group 1

North 1

2-New Milford (15-1, 33.67) at 1-Kittatinny (12-10, 34.33)

North 2

2-Hasbrouck Heights (19-1, 34.89) at 1-Hanover Park (15-6, 40.00)

Central Jersey

2-Manville (21-5, 33.00) at 1-Delaware Valley (16-3, 42.11)

South Jersey

4-Schalick (25-1, 32.67) at 2-Paulsboro (14-7, 39.00)

Wrestling: North title 'ready' after sectional blitzes

CLINTON TWP. -- There's no time to rest now for North Hunterdon's wrestling team. After a week-long layoff, the Lions got back to business in pursuit of sectional and state championships.

North showed little signs of rust, dropping just seven bouts in a pair of postseason wins, including a 55-19 waxing of Rahway in a North 2, Group 4 semifinal on Monday night in the Lions Den. Coach Dave Bell's troops opened the proceedings with a 61-13 rout of Woodbridge in the quarterfinals. 

North eyes its 4th sectional title in 5 years

"I think they're ready," said Bell, whose second-seeded Lions will hit the road to battle for the program's 18th sectional title at top-seeded Middletown North on Wednesday. "I think we could've wrestled a little better tonight, but I think we're still wrestling well and peaking at the right time. We're healthy, which is good."

Phillipsburg (North 1, Group 4), High Point (North 1, Group 2), Kittatinny (North 1, Group 1 and Delaware Valley (Central Jersey, Group 1) will also represent the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area in Wednesday's sectional finals.

North (14-6), which had not stepped on the mat since a 62-9 thumping of Voorhees on Feb. 1, steam-rolled Woodbridge in the opener, while No. 6 seed Rahway scored an impressive 47-27 win over No. 3 Middletown South on the adjacent mat. With all the talk surrounding a wide-open Group 4 state title chase -- Phillipsburg will host Mount Olive in the North 1 sectional final -- Bell admitted that he was happy to get through this round.

"It's tough to keep them from looking ahead," said Bell, whose team won 21 total bouts vs. Woodbridge and Rahway, including 13 pins and four technical falls. "Hopefully, we regroup and get going on Wednesday."

North Hunterdon sophomore Cayden Wadle picked up two notable wins, including a wild 3-2 victory in the ultimate tiebreaker against Rahway junior Jaeczar Evans, a returning Region 4 qualifier. A stall warning on Evans, who was holding onto a leg, with two seconds left in the final tiebreaker was the difference, much to the chagrin of Indians coach Dan Garay, who lost a team point for arguing with referee Daun White.  

"We were the aggressor. We took a bunch of shots," said Bell, who earlier protested that Evans was just hanging on Wadle's leg. "My interpretation of the rule is the first time you drop to a leg in overtime, it goes to a stalemate. Second time, it becomes a stall. [Evans] dropped to a leg in the first period and the first rideout period to a leg. Then, he dropped again with no calls at all. When he dropped again a [fourth time], he got [the stall warning]. It was tough for both coaches both ways."

NH's 17 sectional titles rank 6th in the HWS area 

Wadle (23-7), who decked Woodbridge freshman Noah Perez (23-4) in his opening bout of the day, had escaped in the second rideout phase to tie it at 2. White -- after conferring with mat judge Barry Jackson -- also waved off what would have been a decisive takedown by Evans, who fought off a duck-under attempt by Wadle just before the third-period buzzer.

"I just knew I had to keep grinding and going hard after it," said Wadle, who yielded an escape in the first 30-second rideout. "Just had to keep moving and not give up no matter what happens. I thought it was a stall call, but it's the ref's decision so I just had to keep standing up and keep trying to get out. I thought I wrestled hard and gave it all I got."  

North sophomore Matthew Esposito jumpstarted his team in the opening bout at 144 pounds -- one of two big swing matchups won by the Lions -- as he reversed and cradled up Region 4 qualifier Adrian Harris for a stunning pin that erased a 13-3 second-period deficit. That one really hurt Rahway (13-5), which won the next two bouts to take a short-lived 11-6 lead.

Junior Owen Dandeo followed suit for North at 190, when he turned the tables on Andrew Avent for a pin in 5:21. Avent (21-7), who finished fifth in Region 4 at 190 last season, held a 10-6 lead before getting taken down to his back.

"We did have some swing matches, they wrestled us tough," Bell said. "It was lot closer than the [final] score. They're well coached and have tough kids."

North Hunterdon now turns its attention to Middletown North for a rematch of last season's sectional semifinal -- a 41-18 win for the Lions, who went on to suffer a tough 30-28 loss in the title match to eventual Group 4 champion Ridge.

"We really believe in our team," said North senior Evan Kinney (25-3 at 190), a returning state qualifier who logged two first-period pins against Woodbridge and Rahway. "I feel like our confidence keeps stacking up and overall, we're going for the title." 

North 2, Group 4 semifinal

NORTH HUNTERDON 55, RAHWAY 19

144 -- So. Matthew Esposito (12-8), NH, p. Jr. Adrian Harris (19-6), 3:21.

150 -- Jr. Daniel Gonzalez (24-3), R, tf. So. Dylan McGuinness (10-15), 18-0, 4:33.

157 -- Jr. Steven Samaniego (16-10), R, p. Sr. Vincenzo Darrow (11-9), 2:37.

165 -- Sr. Joshua Joubert (19-13), NH, p. Jr. Pablo Enrique Rodriguez (14-13), 3:09.

175 -- Sr. Evan Kinney (25-3), NH, p. So. Jair Jordan (8-13), 1:38.

190 -- Jr. Owen Dandeo (18-10), NH, p. Jr. Andrew Avent (21-7), 5:21.

215 -- So. Andrew DeSimone (8-15), NH, p. Sr. John Bunbury (5-13), 2:44.

285 -- Sr. Jonathan Martinez (25-1), R, p. Sr. James Turner (5-9), 1:56. 

106 -- So. Cayden Wadle (23-7), NH, d. Jr. Jaeczar Evans (22-3), 3-2 UTB.

113 -- Fr. Phillip Griffin (16-6), R, d. Fr. Owen Fol (18-14), 11-4.

120 -- Sr. Joseph Celentano (18-12), NH, tf. Fr. Nicolas Evans (6-15), 17-1, 1:18.

126 -- Jr. Reid Buzby (23-8), NH, forfeit.

132 -- So. Aidan Yarussi (27-4), NH, forfeit.

138 -- Jr. Kieran Raley (16-16), NH, tf. Sr. Chris Valerio (16-9), 18-2, 2:00.

Note -- Rahway lost one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct after 106.

Records -- Rahway 13-5; North Hunterdon 14-6.

Officials -- Barry Jackson and Daun White.

North 2, Group 4 quarterfinal

NORTH HUNTERDON 61, WOODBRIDGE 13

138 -- So. Kieran Raley (15-16), NH, p. Sr. Leonidas Morales (22-8), 1:30.

144 -- So. Matthew Esposito (11-8), NH, p. Sr. Angelo Campos (18-10), 2:45.

150 -- Sr. Vincenzo Darrow (11-8), NH, tf. So. Lukas Valentin (21-10), 17-2, 3:37.

157 -- So. Dylan McGuinness (10-14), NH, p. Sr. Tyler Simkovich (12-12), 3:53.

165 -- Sr. Tyler Boelhower (26-4), W, d. Sr. Joshua Joubert (18-13), 8-3.

175 -- Sr. Evan Kinney (24-3), NH, p. Sr.. Shamar Wells (4-3), 1:49.

190 -- Jr. Owen Dandeo (17-10), NH, d. Sr. Zackaryus Guzman (22-8), 4-2.

215 -- Sr. Marcos Cordero (22-7), W, md. So. Andrew DeSimone (7-15), 13-1.

285 -- Jr. Jhonny Collado (4-1), W, p. Sr. James Turner (5-8), 3:18.

106 -- So. Cayden Wadle (22-7), NH, p. Fr. Noah Perez (23-4), 3:37.

113 -- Fr. Owen Fol (18-13), NH, tf. So. Lucas Perez (20-7), 22-3, 3:33.

120 -- Sr. Joseph Celentano (17-12), NH, p. Ian Vega (5-16), :52.

126 -- Jr. Reid Buzby (22-8), NH, p. Fr. Michael Hernandez (9-14), 1:19.

132 -- So. Aidan Yarussi (26-4), NH, p. So. Colten Quesada (0-4), :22.

Records -- Woodbridge 15-4; North Hunterdon 13-6.
Official -- Daun White.

Wrestling: HWS schedule for Feb. 10-16

Monday, Feb. 10

(All matches 5 p.m., unless noted)

NJSIAA sectional quarterfinals

Central Jersey, Group 5

Hunterdon Central at Monroe

North 1, Group 4

Leonia-Palisades Park at Phillipsburg, 5:30 p.m.

North 2, Group 4

Woodbridge at North Hunterdon

North 2, Group 3

Warren Hills vs. Nutley at South Plainfield, 6 p.m.

North 1, Group 2

Lakeland at High Point, 5:30 p.m.

North 2, Group 2

Hackettstown vs. Parsippany Hills at Caldwell, 5:30 p.m.

North 1, Group 1

Boonton at Kittatinny
Newton vs. Pompton Lakes at New Milford

North 2, Group 1

Belvidere at Hasbrouck Heights

Central Jersey, Group 1

Shore Regional at Delaware Valley

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Parsippany at Wallkill Valley, 6 p.m.

Independent

Pioneer Academy at North Warren
South Hunterdon at New Hope-Solebury (Pa.), 7 p.m.
Hopatcong-Lenape Valley at Ramsey, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 11

Non-Public B state quarterfinals

St. Thomas Aquinas at Pope John, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 12

(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)

NJSIAA sectional finals

North 1, Group 4

Mount Olive at Phillipsburg

North 2, Group 4

North Hunterdon at Middletown North

North 1, Group 2

Pascack Valley at High Point, 7 p.m.

North 1, Group 1

New Milford at Kittatinny

Central Jersey, Group 1

Manville at Delaware Valley

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Whippany Park at Hopatcong-Lenape Valley, 7 p.m.

Skyland Conference

Belvidere at Immaculata

Independent

Voorhees at Newton
Vernon at Bergenfield, 7 p.m.
South Hunterdon at Wallkill Valley
Hunterdon Central at Jefferson, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 14

(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)

NJSIAA Group semifinals

TBD

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

North Warren at Boonton
Hackettstown at West Morris, 7 p.m.

Independent

Wallkill Valley at Pompton Lakes, 5:30 p.m.
Hopatcong-Lenape Valley at Cedar Grove

Saturday, Feb. 15

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

Independent

Belvidere, Rutherford, Union at Bloomfield
Hopewell Valley, St. Thomas Aquinas at Voorhees
Newton, Butler, Parsippany at River Dell
Vernon, Wallkill Valley, Saddle Brook at Waldwick-Midland Park
Warren Hills at Roxbury quad

Sunday, Feb. 16

(Matches noon and 2:30 p.m.)

NJSIAA Group finals at Rutgers

TBD

HWS rankings: Graziano (100), Fitz (300) hit marks

It seems that hardly a week goes by without a coach, wrestler or team celebrating another milestone moment in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.

Hopatcong-Lenape Valley senior Gage Graziano entered the record books on Wednesday in becoming the 17th member of the Patriots' 100-wins club. Graziano (26-3 at 144 pounds) pinned Newton's Joey Melillo in 22 seconds as coach Anthony Grogan's team logged a 45-36 win -- snapping a seven-match skid in the series with the program's first victory over the Braves since a 56-12 blowout in 2016.

Graziano (center) flanked by the LV coaching staff

"It's been awhile since we beat the Braves," said Grogan, a former Lenape Valley wrestler and 2010 graduate whose brother, Paul, was a two-time district champion and state qualifier, as well as a member of the century club for wins at the Stanhope-based school.

It was a nice evening all-around for Hopatcong-Lenape Valley (8-10), which did not qualify for this week's sectional tournaments. The win over Newton, which gave the Patriots, who combined with Hopatcong after the 2022-23 season, a commanding 26-19-1 lead in a series dating to 1976, also vaulted Grogan's team into our area rankings for the first time this season.

Graziano, whose father, Doug, was a two-time district champion (1997 and '98) under former coach Bob Poggi, is the first to reach the century mark in wins for the program since Daniel Haws (109-27 from 2018-22), a three-time district champ and eighth-place state medalist in 2023, now wrestling at Centenary. Graziano (101-30), who announced via Instagram on Saturday that he will continue his wrestling career at East Stroudsburg University, is seven wins shy of matching Paul Grogan (108-31 from 2003-07), former Pats coach Gary Mikolay (108-17 from 1994-98) and Derek Nagy (108-22 from 1994-98) for eighth place on the school's career list.

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Top Terrier

Delaware Valley (14-3) is eagerly awaiting its chance to atone for last season's disappointing Group 1 finals loss to Paulsboro. As the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey, Group 1, the Terriers, ranked No. 18 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers statewide Top 20, are heavy favorites to capture the program's sixth straight sectional title and 23rd overall (tied with Hunterdon Central for the county lead).

Andy and Vince Fitz celebrate the 2024 sectional title

But first, Del Val took time to celebrate Andy Fitz's 300th coaching win, which came on Friday in a 37-15 victory over Hopewell Valley at Daniel Hutchins Memorial Gym. Coincidentally, Fitz picked up win No. 250 against the Mercer County school in 2023.

Fitz, now 300-19 overall in 18 seasons, passed his father, Vince, one of New Jersey's coaching legends, atop the school's list last season. The Terriers became a state power during Vince Fitz's tenure, going 284-60-3 overall in his 19 seasons from 1971-90, and winning seven sectional and six Group 2 titles. 

Andy Fitz now ranks seventh on HWS' all-time list behind only Kittatinny's John Gill (666-218-5 in his 45th season), Hunterdon Central's Russ Riegel (533-89-6 over 35 seasons from 1957-91), High Point's John Gardner (416-131-2 in 26 seasons), Hunterdon Central's Steve Gibble (348-119 in 23 seasons from 1991-2015), Rick Thompson (347-150-4 in New Jersey) and Voorhees' Bob Hall (332-99-5 in 23 seasons from 1975-99). North Hunterdon's Dave Bell and Belvidere's Dan McIntyre are also over 300 wins, including stints with schools outside the area.

Fitz's teams have won eight sectional and three state titles (2017, '22 and '23) -- the latter two in Group 1. The only other coach in Del Val history to win a state title was current assistant Paul Petro, who guided the 1998-99 team to a Group 2 championship.  

Sectional stuff

High Point (16-5) also has plenty of motivation for sectional week as the Wildcats' string of six in a row was snapped last season with a 32-29 loss to Jefferson in the North 1, Group 2 title match. Billy Smith, a state champion in 2011 and assistant coach on John Gardner's staff, recently made program history as the first head coach to log 15-plus wins in his rookie season. This is also the 'Cats' highest win total in a season since going 16-3 in 2018-19.

HP trails only Paulsboro (43) and P'burg (41) in section titles

"I think the kids are in a good spot to challenge whatever is in front of them," said Smith, who passed Jan Michaels (14-7 in 1993-94) for that Wildcat coaching honor, of his team's chances of acquiring the program's 31st sectional title. "Think we do a good job just embracing challenges and whatever name is in front of you -- individual or team. I think are kids are pretty aggressive and attack opportunities."

Warren Hills (10-10), which dropped a 47-23 decision to High Point in the regular-season finale for both teams on Wednesday, looks to make a finals run in North 2, Group 3. With top seed Cranford and No. 4 West Essex in the top half, the third-seeded Blue Streaks have what looks to be a favorable draw as they head to No. 2 South Plainfield to face No. 6 Nutley in Monday's opening round. 

"Our guys have been battle tested and we've seen significant improvement in really everybody in our lineup throughout the year," second-year Hills coach KC Wanamaker said. "This time of year is about being healthy getting your mind right and training properly, resting. We'll see what happens."

Area team rankings

1. North Hunterdon (12-6) -- Lions were idle this week as they gear up for a sectional title run as the No. 2 seed in North 2, Group 4. Coach Dave Bell, now in his second season, seeks his first with North after guiding Bergen Catholic to 16 of its 22 sectional championships. Senior Joseph Celentano leads the Lions, ranked No. 14 in the NJWWA Top 20, with 66 career wins, while sophomore Aidan Yarussi (25-4 at 132) is this season's leader.

Up next: Woodbridge in North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals at home on Monday.

P'burg is 41-3 all-time in sectional final appearances 

2. Phillipsburg (13-3) -- Stateliners wrapped up their regular-season slate with a 65-11 waxing of Kittatinny on Monday after a two-year hiatus in that series, which P'burg leads, 22-6, dating to 1994. Coach Tim Longacre's team faces perhaps the most daunting task of any top seed in a rugged North 1, Group 4 field, which includes last season's Group 4 finalists in reigning champion Ridge (No. 3 seed) and runner-up Mount Olive (No. 2 seed). P'burg, No. 15 in the NJWWA Top 20, owns wins over both (32-30 vs. Mount Olive on Dec. 21 and 36-23 vs. Ridge on Jan. 4).

Up next: Leonia-Palisades Park in North 1, Group 4 quarterfinals at home on Monday.

  

3. Delaware Valley (14-3) -- Terriers scored a 37-15 win over Hopewell Valley in their lone action this week on Friday -- win No. 872 overall for the Hunterdon County school. Senior ace Jaden Perez (25-1 at 126), who is 110-19 for his career, moved into a tie with former state medalist Cody Barbiche (110-25 from 2007-11) for ninth on the program's all-time wins list. Chris Kelly (111) sits in eighth place.

Up next: Shore Regional in Central Jersey, Group 1 quarterfinals at home on Monday.

 

Clayton stands at 105-33 overall

4. High Point (16-5) -- Wildcats kept humming along with a 47-23 regular-season-closing win over Warren Hills on Wednesday. Senior state qualifier Nick Clayton (21-3 at 150) was one of four to receive forfeit victories, but he remains focused on team and individual goals. 

"It's cool. Just another step," Clayton said of joining the century club for wins and putting his name up on the gym wall with the likes of coach Billy Smith earlier this season. "I think I can do a lot [in the postseason] and we'll see where it takes me."

Up next: Lakeland in North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals at home on Monday.

5. Pope John (9-5) -- Lions returned to action for the first time in 15 days with a 54-24 pasting of Governor Livingston on Wednesday. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's team drew the No. 2 seed in he Non-Public B state tournament. Camden Catholic, which is the top seed, handed Pope John a 43-24 loss on Jan. 4. Senior star Carson Walsh (24-1 at 138), a returning state finalist, is three wins shy of matching Robbie Garcia (126) for fourth place on the program's career list.

Up next: St. Thomas Aquinas in Non-Public B state quarterfinals at home on Tuesday.

WH won the last of its 7 section titles in 2023

6. Warren Hills (10-10) -- Blue Streaks concluded the regular-season dual slate with a 47-23 loss to High Point on Wednesday. Senior Charlie Piccione (26-2 at 120) logged a first-period pin of Carter Drouin for win No. 111 overall to move past former state medalist Ryan Kanewski (110-31 from 1993-97) for third on Hills' career list. Junior Davey Rhinehart (24-5 at 126) scored a wild 17-9 major of returning district champ Colton Jaust for his 81st career victory.

"Those guys are on a roll," second-year coach KC Wanamaker said. "Just continue to work. Enjoy the moment, have fun with it because it's easy this time of year to kind of get in your own head a little bit. Those guys, they wrestle loose and they wrestle fun. We're proud of them."

Up next: Nutley in North 2, Group 3 quarterfinals at South Plainfield on Monday.

7. Kittatinny (10-10) -- Cougars have their sights on the program's 26th sectional title after wrapping up the regular-season schedule with a 47-28 win over Sparta on Friday -- giving Kittatinny 698 victories in 50 seasons and a 29-11 advantage all time in that series. Senior Ethan Dalling (28-2 at 175) matched Clarke Moynihan for 10th on the program's career list at 123 apiece. Coach John Gill's team is the No. 1 seed in North 1, Group 1.

Up next: Boonton in North 1, Group 1 quarterfinals at home on Monday.

8. Hackettstown (14-8) -- Tigers capped a 2-1 week with a 45-19 win over Wallkill Valley on Friday as sophomore Giovanni Gutierrez (22-6 at 126) picked up his 51st career victory. Coach Jim Berringer's team, which also beat Morris Knolls (37-21 on Monday) and lost to Bloomfield (47-25 on Wednesday), earned the No. 4 seed in the North 2, Group 2 section. Berringer knows about sectional titles as the former state placewinner helped lead Hopatcong to its lone championship in 1997 (North 1, Group 2).

Up next: Parsippany Hills in North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals at Caldwell on Monday; at West Morris on Friday.

Patriots are sitting on 555 wins in 50 seasons

9. Hopatcong-Lenape Valley (8-10) -- Patriots make their area rankings debut on the heels of a 45-36 win over former No. 9 Newton on Wednesday. In addition to Graziano earning his 100th victory, fellow senior Jakob Bell (15-13 at 150) scored a nice 10-7 decision over Braves region qualifier Mason Bucci, while senior Marc Pavese (21-9 at 138) picked up his 96th career win in the team's 58-21 thumping of Mountain Lakes on Friday.

Up next: at Ramsey on Monday; Whippany Park at home on Wednesday; at Cedar Grove on Friday.

10. Newton (8-12) -- Braves, who are the No. 6 seed in North 1, Group 1, wrapped up their regular season with a 45-36 loss to Hopatcong-Lenape Valley in a match that featured just one bout going the distance and a combined 11 pins, including falls from seniors Keegan Murtagh (16-5 at 126) and Aaron Stone (15-6 at 175) -- their 58th and 56th career victories, respectively. Coach Eric Bollette recently surpassed High Point's Jeff Hull (288-104-4 over 25 seasons) for eighth place on HWS' all-time list for coaching wins earlier this season at 291-246-1 in 24 seasons.

Up next: Pompton Lakes in North 1, Group 1 quarterfinals at New Milford on Monday; Voorhees at home on Wednesday; Butler and Parsippany at River Dell quad on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Wrestling: 'Cats 'in a good spot' after topping Streaks

WASHINGTON TWP. -- We've officially reached that focal point of the season for High Point's wrestling team.

With team sectional tournaments just five days away, the Wildcats made a successful final tune-up by winning nine bouts in a 47-23 victory over host Warren Hills in an independent clash on Wednesday night.

HP's series vs. WH stands at 13-13 dating to 1976 

High Point (16-5), which has won a Sussex-County record 30 sectional titles, drew the No. 1 seed in North 1, Group 2 as this season's championship will run through Wantage. The 'Cats, who open against No. 8 seed Lakeland on Monday, are still feeling the sting of last season's 32-29 finals loss to Jefferson, which snapped the program's run of six straight titles in former longtime coach John Gardner's final dual meet.

"It's nice. We worked hard this season to get [a chance to win] at home," senior ace Nick Clayton said of this season's NJAC Freedom Division champions being on the road last year as a non-top seed for the first time since 2016. "So we can be a section champ at home. Our team lacked chemistry last year and that's what we have this year to get that [title] back."

Clayton joined HP's 100-wins club on Jan. 18

"Everything's about the team goals," said rookie head coach Billy Smith, a 2011 state champion who was a key figure on three sectional title teams as a High Point wrestler and six as an assistant on Gardner's staff. "Our first team goal is winning a league title. That goal kind of leads into the next step, which is a sectional title. In our program winning sections is everything ... it's huge."

Warren Hills (10-10), which drew the No. 3 seed in North 2, Group 3, came into its final regular-season dual a bit shorthanded. The Blue Streaks issued four forfeits (match was a 5-5 split and 23-23 on the mat) and were without the services of senior Tyler O'Neill (20-10 at 165), who was at his 30-bout max before sectionals.

"It's kind of this weird week, [sectional] cutoff was [Saturday]," said second-year Hills coach KC Wanamaker, whose team will face Nutley in the opening round at South Plainfield. "We've been banged up a little bit, got some sickness and we have guys getting to the right weights and all that. We just need to be healthy. That was our main priority tonight."

Smith showed no ill will despite making the long bus ride and having four of his wrestlers -- including Clayton (20-3 at 157) and Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex heavyweight champion Gavin Mericle (24-2) -- essentially get the night off. 

"It's part of the sport and this close to sectionals, too," said Smith, whose team picked up its first win over Hills since 2018 after back-to-back losses (47-23 at home in 2023 and 41-28 here last season). "We've done it, too. It's not the end of the world."

Piccione (111) passed Ryan Kanewski (110) for 3rd on Hills' wins list

High Point jumped out to a 17-0 lead through three bouts after receiving forfeits at 215 and 285, and a technical fall win at 106. But the teeth of Warren Hills' lineup kicked in and quickly erased that deficit as the Streaks reeled off five straight wins, including senior Charlie Piccione's pin of 'Cats sophomore Carter Drouin on a roll through at 120. 

In the next bout, Streaks junior Davey Rhinehart scored a wild 17-9 major of Colton Jaust at 126 -- a seesaw affair that had both wrestlers taking turns fighting off their backs and an exchange of words at the conclusion. Rhinehart is now 2-0 in that series, scoring a 5-4 victory over Jaust, a district champ last season, in 2023. Senior Tyler Redfield picked up his 95th career win at 138, making it 23-17 through eight matchups.

But senior Jesse Huelbig's 13-0 major at 144 started High Point's run of six straight wins to close out the program's 806th victory, including junior Jayden Ruplall's match-sealing technical fall at 165. Junior Jack Kithcart's third-period turn and four back points produced an 8-4 decision over David Kocsor in a rematch of their HWS quarterfinal -- an 8-2 win for Kithcart -- at 190.

"We have a scrappy group of kids who are a privilege to coach," Smith said. "They're just good kids who learn and have gotten better. Anyone who has followed our program has seen that our kids have gotten better. I think we're in a good spot to challenge whatever is in front of them."

HIGH POINT 47, WARREN HILLS 23

215 -- Sr. Donald Weiss (23-6), HP, forfeit.
285 -- Jr. Gavin Mericle (24-2), HP, forfeit.
106 -- Fr. Logan Takach (15-9), HP, tf. Fr. Nicholas Ricevuto (5-20), 16-0, 4:17.
113 -- Jr. Augie Szamreta (26-3), WH, p. Jr. Brady Conklin (6-8), 1:14.
120 -- Sr. Charlie Piccione (26-2), WH, p. So. Carter Drouin (20-9), 1:36.
126 -- Jr. Davey Rhinehart (24-5), WH, md. Sr. Colton Jaust (16-11), 17-9.
132 -- So. Aidan Webb (22-8), WH, md. Sr. Sean Licata (17-12), 15-2.
138 -- Sr. Tyler Redfield (27-3), WH, d. Sr. Michael Tidona (15-15), 6-0.
144 -- Sr. Jesse Huelbig (17-9), HP, md. Sr. Ethan Drazek (14-15), 13-0.
150 -- Fr. Gerard Empirio (8-3), HP, p. Fr. Landon Webb (7-6), 1:37.
157 -- Sr. Nick Clayton (21-3), HP, forfeit.
165 -- Jr. Jayden Ruplall (15-11), HP, tf. Jr. Ryan Hisko (11-19), 15-0, 3:15.
175 -- Jr. Giovoughni Dureny (13-9), HP, forfeit.
190 -- Jr. Jack Kithcart (16-12), HP, d. Sr. David Kocsor (19-10), 8-4.
Records -- High Point 16-5; Warren Hills 10-10.
Official -- Rick Solofsky.

Wrestling: HWS eyeing sectional success (pairings)

The postseason can be a great opportunity for some teams to finish up the dual meet campaign on a high note. For others, making title runs is an annual rite of passage.

Kittatinny (9-10), which has endured its share of struggles this season, has the opportunity to finish up strong when it hosts one half of the North 1, Group 1 sectional tournament on Monday in Hampton Township. The top-seeded Cougars, who have won 25 titles under legendary coach John Gill, open against No. 8 seed Boonton, while No. 5 Kinnelon squares off with No. 4 Emerson-Park Ridge on the adjacent mat at 5 p.m. The winners meet in a semifinal clash at 7. 

Kittatinny is 86-31 in the postseason under Gill

The championships for all 20 public schools will be contested on Wednesday at the higher seed. All sectional winners move onto the state semifinal round on Friday, Feb. 14 at the higher seeds. The state finals will be held at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 16. 

"We can have something to cheer about, something to be proud of," said Gill, whose program is three wins shy of 700, while his record stands at 665-218-5 over 45 seasons. "How many people have 26 [sectional titles]? I'd like to try to get it."

In all, 10 teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area qualified for the public tournaments, including No. 1 seeds Phillipsburg (North 1, Group 4), Delaware Valley (Central Jersey, Group 1) and High Point (North 1, Group 2), along with No. 2 seed North Hunterdon (North 2, Group 4). Pope John will participate in the Non-Public B state tournament that begins on Tuesday, Feb. 11. The Lions are a No. 2 seed.

Warren Hills (North 2, Group 3), Hackettstown (North 2, Group 2), Hunterdon Central (Central Jersey, Group 5), Belvidere (North 2, Group 1) and Newton (North 1, Group 1) round out the area public school contingent.

Kittatinny, which has never entered the sectionals under .500 in 34 previous appearances, closes out the regular season against Sparta at home on Friday. To answer Gill's question above about section titles, only Paulsboro (43), Phillipsburg (41), High Point (30) have won more than Kittatinny.

HWS teams have combined to win 219 sectional titles

"I'm excited about sectional week," said Gill, whose team has been battle tested with matches against state-ranked Phillipsburg, Delaware Valley and Caldwell, as well as reigning Group 4 champion Ridge. "This was a rough season for the Cougars. I'm hoping that [our tough schedule] pays off. I've never been undefeated. I'm sure I could try and play with the schedule and make an undefeated season. I'm old school. You want to be good, wrestle the best."

Kittatinny has plenty of new faces in the lineup, but you can trace the lineage of some to championship teams past. Freshmen Kyle White (15-11 at 113) and Kevin White (10-16) are the nephews of former two-time district champ Doug Morrow, while senior ace Ethan Dalling (27-2) is the youngest son of two-time state champion and three-time finalist Steve Dalling, who was a senior on the Cougars' first sectional title team in 1991. Freshman Carter DiCataldo's father, James, a four-time district winner and state medalist in 1997, was a key figure on the school's sectional title teams in 1994, '95 and '96. 

"We have some banners [in the practice room]," Gill said. "I point to them and tell the kids this is what we're here for. We try to talk about history, especially family history."

Speaking of history, Gill will once again oppose one of his former wrestlers as Boonton coach Dave Hughen brings his Bombers (0-4 all-time vs. the Cougars) to Sussex County. Hughen, a region runner-up as a senior in 1994, also serves as his school's athletics director.

'Liners eyeing 42

Phillipsburg, which has reached the title match in 44 previous tournaments, begins what should be a much tougher road than in recent seasons to a Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex record 42nd championship when it hosts one half of the North 1, Group 4 matchups in Lopatcong Township.

P'burg is 295-58-3 all-time vs. HWS area teams

The top-seeded Stateliners (13-3), who will have six days' rest between matches after a 65-11 rout of Kittatinny (win No. 1,060 overall) on Monday evening, will square off against No. 8 seed Leonia-Palisades Park for the first time in program history, while No. 5 Fair Lawn battles No. 4 Morris Knolls on the adjacent mat. 

"I was torn on getting another match later in the week and I'm glad we didn't," said P'burg coach Tim Longacre, whose team has been dealing with injuries and sickness of late. "It's our health more than anything. So that's where we are at now."

The unusual layoff is just fine with the P'burg wrestlers as well. Luke Geleta (25-1 at 144), one of two senior aces and returning state medalists along with Gavin Hawk (25-1 at 157), said the 'Liners, ranked No. 15 in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers statewide poll, are ready for another title run in unquestionably the state's toughest section.

"Usually, we have some buffer matches between to get us ready," Geleta said, "but honestly, I think we kind of like the long break because it gives us time to get together as a team and bond a little bit along with recovering. If all 14 of us go out and do their job, we will do pretty well." 

Championship contenders

HP (30 titles) trails only Paulsboro (43) and P'burg (41)

High Point, which saw its string of six straight sectional titles end in the 2024 North 1, Group 2 final, seeks the program's 31st championship and first under rookie head coach Billy Smith. The Wildcats (15-5), who did not have the No. 1 seed a year ago for the first time since 2016, could meet up again with No. 5 seed Jefferson (3-18), which dropped a 64-11 decision when the teams met on Jan. 21.

Delaware Valley, ranked No. 18 in the NJWWA Top 20, is on the hunt for its third Group 1 title in four seasons after being denied a third straight championship last season with a 33-25 loss to Paulsboro. The Terriers (13-3), who look to match Hunterdon Central (23) for the county lead in sectional titles, have been the consensus state championship favorites all season and own a win over Kittatinny (63-9 on Jan. 4).  

North Hunterdon (12-6), ranked No. 14 in the NJWWA Top 20, is on a major roll coming off wins over Phillipsburg (34-24 on Wednesday) and Ridge (35-29 on Friday). The Lions are seeking the program's 18th sectional title overall fourth in five years after winning the North 2, Group 4 sectional and state championships in 2023.

Stat corner

Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area programs have captured at least one title (six in 2023) in each of the previous 44 seasons since the tournaments began in 1980 (none were held in 2021 due to the pandemic), while capturing an area-best seven championships five times (1988, '94, '95, 2002, '22). 

Del Val has won a Hunterdon County-best 10 state titles

The seeding committee met on Tuesday to finalize the pairings in each section and break any existing ties based on head-to-head results, where applicable, followed in order by average of all duals, common opponents and winning percentage. Pairings became official at noon on Wednesday.

Under the format adopted last season, Non-Public schools are housed in either A or B brackets and no longer divided into North and South sections. As a result there are no non-public sectional finals as the semifinal winners in A and B automatically advance to the state title round. 

Here are the matchups with final power points (records through Saturday's cutoff):

Group 5

North 1

At Passaic Tech

1-Passaic Tech (17-8, 37.78) vs. 8-Passaic (13-6, 28.22)

5-Morristown (12-5, 33.11) vs. 4-Bloomfield (19-7, 33.11)

At Livingston

3-Clifton (12-7, 33.56) vs. 6-North Bergen (12-5, 33.00)

7-West Orange (9-12, 31.44) vs. 2-Livingston (13-8, 35.33)

North 2

At Bridgewater-Raritan

1-Bridgewater-Raritan (14-7, 40.00) vs. 8-Kearny (7-11, 28.11)

5-Elizabeth (17-5, 30.67) vs. 4-Columbia (9-6, 31.00)

At Union

3-Bayonne (16-3, 32.44) vs. 6-Newark East Side (13-6, 30.56)

7-Piscataway (7-9, 29.33) vs. 2-Union (13-5, 34.33)

Central Jersey

At Old Bridge

1-Old Bridge (11-5, 40.44) vs. 8-Trenton Central (5-12, 27.11)

5-Edison (10-7, 36.11) vs. 4-East Brunswick (5-10, 32.78)

At Monroe

3-Hillsborough (11-9, 38.56) vs. 6-North Brunswick (12-9, 30.22)

7-Hunterdon Central (2-14, 27.11) vs. 2-Monroe Township (14-13, 39.11)

South Jersey

At Southern

1-Southern (12-3, 43.00) vs. 8-Cherokee (13-11, 34.67)

5-Rancocas Valley (20-3, 38.00) vs. 4-Kingsway (10-9, 40.56)

At Howell

3-Washington Township (15-4, 40.44) vs. 6-Highland-Triton (12-12, 37.00)

7-Lenape (15-2, 36.56) vs. 2-Howell (15-4, 41.78)

Group 4

North 1

At Phillipsburg

1-Phillipsburg (12-3, 42.67) vs. 8-Leonia-Palisades Park

5-Fair Lawn (13-8, 32.56) vs. 4-Morris Knolls (14-4, 36.22)

At Mount Olive

3-Ridge (16-5, 40.56) vs. 6-Northern Highlands (10-8, 32.00)

7-Ridgewood (6-9, 28.78) vs. 2-Mount Olive (11-3, 42.78)

North 2

At Middletown North

1-Middletown North (17-1, 41.89) vs. 8-Westfield (12-7, 35.56)

5-Sayreville (15-7, 37.78) vs. 4-Watchung Hills (16-3, 39.44)

At North Hunterdon

3-Middletown South (18-5, 39.78) vs. 6-Rahway (12-3, 37.00)

7-Woodbridge (12-2, 32.33) vs. 2-North Hunterdon (12-6, 41.22)

Central Jersey

At Long Branch

1-Long Branch (10-8, 39.00) vs. 8-Jackson Memorial (7-12, 30.11)

5-Manalapan (10-8, 33.89) vs. 4-Steinert (11-6, 33.89)

At Colts Neck

3-Hightstown (14-6, 35.67) vs. 6-West Windsor North (10-16, 32.44)

7-Freehold Borough (10-10, 31.67) vs. 2-Colts Neck (9-11, 36.44)

South Jersey

At Williamstown

1-Williamstown (13-6, 38.44) vs. 8-Central Regional (15-10, 34.11)

5-Hammonton (12-7, 35.89) vs. 4-Toms River South (15-1, 36.22)

At Northern Burlington

3-Shawnee (11-13, 36.56) vs. 6-Toms River East (8-11, 35.67)

7-Clearview (11-8, 34.89) vs. 2-Northern Burlington (9-10, 36.89)

Group 3

North 1

At Old Tappan

1-Old Tappan (14-1, 38.56) vs. 8-Becton-Wood-Ridge (16-3, 29.89)

5-River Dell (15-6, 33.89) vs. 4-Ramapo (8-8, 34.44)

At Wayne Valley

3-Montville (17-4, 38.11) vs. 6-Paramus (10-5, 32.56)

7-Demarest (10-10, 30.44) vs. 2-Wayne Valley (18-0, 38.56)

North 2

At Cranford 

1-Cranford (15-3, 41.67) vs. 8-Morris Hills (8-12, 32.44)

5-Roxbury (12-9, 35.67) vs. 4-West Essex (7-5, 36.56)

At South Plainfield

3-Warren Hills (10-9, 37.67) vs. 6-Nutley (13-6, 35.33)

7-Mendham (14-6, 32.89) vs. 2-South Plainfield (12-5, 37.89)

Central Jersey

At Hopewell Valley

1-Hopewell Valley (18-3, 41.22) vs. 8-Matawan (8-11, 30.44)

5-Allentown (12-6, 34.67) vs. 4-Robbinsville (14-7, 36.89)

At Brick Memorial

3-Jackson Liberty (8-6, 39.78) vs. 6-Burlington Township (15-6, 31.67)

7-Brick Township (12-7, 31.11) vs. Brick Memorial (10-4, 40.89)

South Jersey

At Delsea

1-Delsea (16-2, 42.78) vs. 8-Barnegat (10-7, 30.44)

5-Moorestown (12-7, 35.56) vs. 4-Ocean City (13-4, 38.89)

At Lacey

3-Seneca (17-2, 41.89) vs. 6-Deptford (14-5, 32.89)

7-Absegami (7-15, 30.67) vs. 2-Lacey Township (17-2, 42.33)

Group 2

North 1

At High Point

1-High Point (15-5, 41.00) vs. 8-Lakeland (5-7, 29.56)

5-Jefferson (3-18, 30.89) vs. 4-Westwood (13-4, 32.56)

At Pascack Valley

3-Pascack Hills (12-7, 31.56) vs. 6-West Milford (6-16, 30.56)

7-Manchester Regional (13-3, 30.22) vs. 2-Pascack Valley (14-6, 36.67)

North 2

At Caldwell

1-Caldwell (16-1, 41.67) vs. 8-Madison (3-13, 26.67)

5-Parsippany Hills (7-10, 30.11) vs. 4-Hackettstown (12-7, 31.56)

At West Morris

3-Governor Livingston (13-6, 35.89) vs. 6-Bernards (9-9, 27.11)

7-Elmwood Park (9-10, 26.89) vs. 2-West Morris (11-6, 39.00)

Central Jersey

At Rumson-Fair Haven

1-Rumson-Fair Haven (20-1, 42.22) vs. 8-Delran (17-3, 35.67)

5-Holmdel (14-3, 38.00) vs. 4-Point Pleasant Borough (12-3, 40.00)

At Ocean Township

3-Wall Township (15-3, 40.56) vs. 6-Raritan (8-8, 37.00)

7-Manasquan (11-4, 35.78) vs. 2-Ocean Township (15-3, 41.44)

South Jersey

At West Deptford

1-West Deptford (17-7, 40.56) vs. 8-Manchester Township (6-10, 28.89)

5-Middle Township (16-3, 37.56) vs. 4-Collingswood (19-7, 38.11)

At Lower Cape May

3-Gloucester City (12-8, 38.44) vs. 6-Haddonfield (13-11, 36.22)

7-Sterling (10-11, 29.56) vs. 2-Lower Cape May (14-4, 40.44)

Group 1

North 1

At Kittatinny

1-Kittatinny (9-9, 34.33) vs. 8-Boonton (9-4, 27.78)

5-Kinnelon (9-5, 29.44) vs. 4-Emerson-Park Ridge (9-10, 30.67)

At New Milford

3-Pompton Lakes (14-4, 32.33) vs. 6-Newton (8-11, 28.11)

7-Butler (9-7, 27.78) vs. 2-New Milford (13-1, 33.67)

North 2

At Hanover Park

1-Hanover Park (12-5, 40.00) vs. 8-Roselle Park (8-10, 26.33)

5-Secaucus (8-12, 28.89) vs. 4-Whippany Park (9-6, 27.22)

At Hasbrouck Heights

3-Cedar Grove (13-5, 34.44) vs. 6-Rutherford (7-11, 27.67)

7-Belvidere (7-9, 26.44) vs. 2-Hasbrouck Heights (16-1, 34.89)

Central Jersey

At Delaware Valley

1-Delaware Valley (13-3, 42.11) vs. 8-Shore Regional (7-11, 26.11)

5-Keansburg (8-6, 28.11) vs. 4-Metuchen (10-7, 29.67)

At Manville

3-Point Pleasant Beach (14-7, 30.00) vs. 6-Bound Brook (6-12, 27.89)

7-New Egypt (15-5, 27.44) vs. 2-Manville (18-4, 33.00)

South Jersey

At Audubon

1-Audubon (20-4, 40.89) vs. 8-Pitman (10-10, 26.11)

5-Haddon Township (7-13, 29.00) vs. 4-Schalick (22-1, 32.67)

At Paulsboro

3-Woodstown (14-7, 37.44) vs. 6-Pennsville (11-11, 28.67)

7-Palmyra (6-11, 27.22) vs. 2-Paulsboro (10-7, 39.00)

Non-Public Group A

At Delbarton

8-Paramus Catholic (6-7, 37.33) vs. 9-St. Joseph-Metuchen (11-3, 37.22), winner to meet 1-Delbarton (21-3, 42.56)

At St. John Vianney

5-Bergen Catholic (10-2, 36.78) vs. 12-St. Benedict's Prep (8-15, 30.00)
4-St. John Vianney (11-4, 40.56) vs. 13-Pingry (5-10, 25.33)

At Christian Brothers Academy

6-St. Joseph-Montvale (10-3, 38.89) vs. 11-Seton Hall Prep (8-6, 38.56), winner to meet 3-Christian Brothers Academy (9-3, 39.78)

At St. Peter's Prep

7-St. Augustine (13-6, 40.22) vs. 10-Don Bosco Prep (10-5, 36.78), winner to meet 2-St. Peter's Prep (15-1, 41.56)

Non-Public Group B

1-Camden Catholic (13-0, 39.89) vs. 8-Holy Cross (3-17, 24.78)
5-DePaul (3-14, 28.33) vs. 4-Immaculata (9-7, 35.67)

3-Red Bank Catholic (8-6, 37.89) vs. 6-St. Mary-Rutherford (5-14, 25.89)

7-St. Thomas Aquinas (2-16, 28.89) vs. 2-Pope John (8-5, 36.89)

Wrestling: North joins P'burg, DV in NJWWA Top 20

Welcome to the weekly statewide shakeup with each new edition of the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20. 

North Hunterdon caused a ripple effect with its 34-24 victory over Phillipsburg on Wednesday as the No. 14 Lions (12-6) re-enter the rankings, which were released on Tuesday morning. Coach Dave Bell's team has this week off in preparation for the North 2, Group 4 sectional tournament that begins on Monday.

Official pairings and seeds for the 20 public school brackets (North 1, North 2, Central and South) in five groups will be released on Tuesday. North is expected to be the No. 2 seed as it gears up for a run at the program's 18th sectional title.
  

Phillipsburg (13-3), which dropped four spots to No. 15 in the latest Top 20 poll, will be the top seed in the North 1, Group 4 section, which includes No. 10 Mount Olive and Ridge, the Group 4 runner-up and champion last season and the likely Nos. 2 and 3 seeds. 

The 'Liners have beaten both this season, but a potential rematch vs. Mount Olive, which was without two starters in a 32-30 loss on Dec. 21, figures to be a much tougher proposition. P'burg, which captured the Skyland Conference Delaware Division title this season, also scored a 36-23 win over Ridge on Jan. 4.

"Not really happy with the [section alignment] as are a bunch of coaches, but it is what is," 'Liners coach Tim Longacre said following his team's 65-11 rout of Kittatinny on Monday night. "The cream rises to the top and we'll see how it all plays out."

Phillipsburg, which has won 41 of a possible 44 sectional titles (second only to Paulsboro's 43) since the tournaments formed in 1980, faces a much more dauting task in pursuit of the program's 24th state championship and first since 2022, after falling to Southern in the last two Group 5 finals.

North Hunterdon, which won its last Group 4 title in 2023, followed up its first win over P'burg since 2021 with a 35-29 over Ridge, despite losing eight bouts in that one. That victory also secured the Skyland Conference Raritan Division championship. 

Delaware Valley (13-3), which dipped one spot to No. 18, has its sights set on the program's Hunterdon County-record 11th state championship as the Terriers look to avenge a 33-25 loss to Paulsboro in last season's Group 1 final.

Coach Andy Fitz's team looked sharp in a 45-22 waxing of Warren Hills on Saturday -- its third in a row against the Blue Streaks -- as Del Val improved to 34-22 all-time in that series dating to 1963. 

Rank	School	Record	Votes	Previous
1	Delbarton (8)	(21-3)	160	1
2	St. Peter's Prep	(15-1)	147	2
3	Christian Brothers Academy	(8-3)	143	3
4	St. Joseph-Montvale	(9-3)	139	4
5	Rumson-Fair Haven	(21-1)	125	6
6	Bergen Catholic	(10-3)	123	5
7	St. John Vianney	(11-4)	114	7
8	Camden Catholic	(13-0)	105	8
9	Southern	(12-3)	96	10
10	Mount Olive	(11-3)	78	12
11	St. Augustine	(13-6)	77	NR
12	Delsea	(16-2)	75	9
13	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(10-3)	68	13
14	North Hunterdon	(12-6)	59	NR
15	Phillipsburg	(13-3)	50	11
16	Brick Memorial	(10-4)	43	15
17	Cranford	(15-3)	31	16
18	Delaware Valley	(13-3)	18	17
19	Paramus Catholic	(6-7)	17	18
20	Caldwell	(16-1)	7	20

Also receiving votes: Pope John (8-5) 6; Middletown North (17-1) 6; Don Bosco Prep (10-5) 5; High Point (15-5) 3. 

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).