The season's first New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 released before the new year was unusually light where the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area is concerned. Same for the second as Phillipsburg remains the only local representative in the latest poll, which dropped on Tuesday morning.
But there's another local team looking to join the party as North Hunterdon gears up for a big Skyland Conference showdown with Delaware Valley on Wednesday night in Alexandria Township. Hunterdon County bragging rights will be on the line in a match that should give the winner a leg up in a very competitive Raritan Division title chase.
North (3-2), which owns a 31-26 lead in a series dating to 1963, dropped a 37-25 decision to Del Val at home in last season's meeting -- snapping the program's six-match win streak vs. the Terriers, who finished as the Group 1 runners-up. The Lions had won 10 of the previous 12 meetings in the rivalry.
"I'm excited about it," second-year North coach Dave Bell said following his team's 65-11 loss to Delsea in the Henry Boresch Duals title match at Newton on Saturday. "Last year, they were the better team. That was probably one of our better dual meets, we wrestled hard. We had them on their heels, not really in danger of beating them, but they knew they wrestled us.
"This year, I think we're a little better matched. Should be a great environment [on Gold Rush Night at the Daniel Hutchins Memorial Gym]."
Lion hearted
North, which wrestles perhaps the area's most rugged schedule, hasn't exactly eased into a new season. The Lions have already faced the state's top two publics -- opening the dual slate with a 55-18 loss to Southern on Dec. 18. Bell's club also participated in the Rams' tough Robin Leff Tournament and won the Ron Mazzola Memorial Tournament team title in Old Bridge before taking a needed 12-day break prior to returning to the mat in a 37-23 win over Warren Hills on Friday.
 |
| NH after its 2nd runner-up finish at the Boresch since 2022 |
"I think it was a good day for us," said Bell, whose team features state qualifiers Reid Buzby (8-2 at 126), Aidan Yarussi (8-2 at 132) and Evan Kinney (9-1 at 175). "I knew that we were kind of overmatched by Delsea, but I told [our team] that will be us one day. We'll catch them one day."
North has definitely been battle tested early on, which may give them an edge vs. Del Val, which is eyeing back-to-back wins in the series for the first time since 2016-17. The hosts also hope to celebrate senior ace Jaden Perez (14-0 at 126), who looks to become the 14th member of his school's 100-wins club at 99-18 overall.
"It's been a good stretch," Bell said. "This was a strange season, not a lot of time to prepare. It was two [practice] weeks then a late Thanksgiving and an early start. We're all in the same boat, but I like where we are now. It's a good group. They're pretty positive about what they're doing and they fight -- even in defeat."
'Liner notes
P'burg, which is at 1,052 wins overall and travels to unbeaten Watchung Hills (5-0) on Wednesday, has also kept busy to start the season -- knocking off two fellow North 1, Group 4 sectional title contenders within the span of 14 days.
After gutting out a 32-30 win over reigning Group 4 state runner-up Mount Olive on Dec. 21, coach Tim Longacre's team secured a 36-23 victory over Ridge, last season's Group 4 champion, as part of the Cranford Duals on Saturday.
 |
| Hawk was the OW at HWS in 2024 |
Talented seniors Luke Geleta (12-1 at 144) and Gavin Hawk (11-1 at 157) lead the way there, while junior Gavin Geleta (9-3 at 150) looks to take that next step. Down low, freshman Zack Swingle (8-4 at 106) has been a fine addition, while sophomores Anthony Pettinelli (10-4 at 113) and Owen Garriques (10-3 at 132) are proven winners.
Hawk, a returning state finalist and 121-20 overall, is tied with former state runner-up Robert Melise (121-22 from 2013-17) for fifth place on Phillipsburg's all-time wins list. Hawk is looking to become the program's first four-time HWS Tournament champion on Saturday, while Pope John senior ace Carson Walsh (14-1 at 138), a state runner-up in 2024, also looks to join that exclusive club.
Only two others have won four in the event's 15-year history -- JoJo Aragona (2016-19) and Eddie Ventresca (2017-20) -- both former state champs for PJ.
Also receiving votes: Seton Hall Prep (2-5) 9.
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).
No comments:
Post a Comment