The coveted four-peat has proven elusive for many a state medalist or title contender over the years in perhaps the most grueling of all county wrestling events.
Two of New Jersey's biggest stars will look to add their names to an elite list as the 15th Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament commences at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Phillipsburg High School.
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| P'burg eyes its record 9th team championship |
Four other returning HWS champions grace this year's field as Pope John senior Jake Holly (113) and P'burg senior Luke Geleta (150) look to become only the 11th and 12th to wrestlers to win three titles, while PJ junior Dalton Weber (132) and Delaware Valley senior Jackson Bush (150) look to go back-to-back. Hunterdon Central junior Rhett Washleski (150), a 2023 champion, is a returning runner-up.
Speaking of Del Val, senior star Jaden Perez (126), a two-time finalist and 2024 state fifth-place medalist, is on a mission to win his first HWS title.
"I've never won a title so it's up there [as a big goal]," Perez said after winning a third John Goles Invitational title on Dec. 28. "I've gotten a lot better from last year ... a lot better. I've definitely put in a lot of work. I'm chasing [state gold]."
We've ranked the top five in each projected weight class and noted some of the head-to-head results. Entries are subject to change as official seeds and pairings will not be released until Friday evening.
(Records through Thursday's matches)
106 pounds
1. So. Joseph Rowinski (9-3), Hackettstown
2. So. Cayden Wadle (11-1), North Hunterdon
3. Fr. Zack Swingle (9-4), Phillipsburg
4. Fr. Logan Takach (5-5), High Point
5. Fr. Hunter Coppolella (10-4), Hopatcong-Lenape Valley
Others to watch: Fr. Cole Dahl (7-4), Voorhees
Notes: Rowinski, who has competed exclusively at 113 this season, makes the drop and is the favorite after a third-place finish last season. ... Wadle was undersized as a freshman and is now a legit title contender here. His brother, Logan, now wrestling at Lehigh, was a 2020 champ at this weight. ... Watch out for Swingle, who is more than capable of spoiling someone's party.
113 pounds
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| Warren Hills has a total of 10 HWS champs |
2. Jr. Augie Szamreta (12-1), Warren Hills
3. So. Anthony Pettinelli (11-4), Phillipsburg
4. Jr. Conor Hallowich (7-5), North Warren
5. Fr. Owen Fol (5-7), North Hunterdon
Others to watch: So. Steven Vidal (10-3), Hackettstown; Jr. Tristan Fawthrop (7-6), Delaware Valley; So. Tyler Ondovik (5-5), Voorhees; Fr. Kyle White (7-6), Kittatinny
Notes: Holly, an eighth-place state medalist who won back-to-back HWS titles at 106, looks to become the fifth at his school to win at least three. ... Szamreta, a returning state qualifier, looks like his team's most improved wrestler and is out to avenge consecutive finals losses to Holly (10-4 in 2023 and 9-2 in '24). ... Hallowich, a returning state qualifier, was fourth and Pettinelli fifth at 106 in '24 ... Fol, who hung tough in a 5-2 loss to Szamreta on Jan. 3, may win a few of these before he's done.
120 pounds
1. Sr. Charlie Piccione (11-2), Warren Hills
2. So. Bryan Dougherty (9-3), Hackettstown
3. Sr. Joseph Celentano (6-6), North Hunterdon
4. Sr. Lucas Beyers (10-6), Delaware Valley
5. Jr. Patrick Bruseo (10-4), Sparta
Others to watch: So. Johnny D'Andrea (9-2), Voorhees
Notes: Piccione, a two-time medalist and runner-up last season, is four wins shy of 100 for his career. ... Drouin scored a 21-11 win over Celentano in the Robin Leff Tournament at Southern to open the season and handed Dougherty a 13-5 loss on Tuesday. ... Celentano was nearly decked by Beyers, but came off the deck to score a key 15-10 decision in North's 34-33 win over Del Val on Wednesday. High Point sophomore Carter Drouin (12-5), who would have been a finals contender, was a scratch.
126 pounds
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| Perez (left) was DV's OW in the NH match |
2. Jr. Massimo Gonzalez (14-3), Phillipsburg
3. Jr. Davey Rhinehart (11-2), Warren Hills
4. Jr. Reid Buzby (10-4), North Hunterdon
5. So. Giovanni Gutierrez (11-3), Hackettstown
Others to watch: Fr. Chase Brodersen (6-6), Sparta; Sr. Keegan Murtagh (3-0), Newton
Notes: Perez is head-and-shoulders above here. He became the 14th member of his school's 100-wins club when he decked Buzby with a first-period cradle on Wednesday. ... Gonzalez is really coming into his own this season and looks to improve on a third-place finish a year ago ... Buzby scored an 11-10 win over Jaust in the Robin Leff Tournament.
132 pounds
1. Jr. Dalton Weber (6-2), Pope John
2. So. Aidan Yarussi (12-2), North Hunterdon
3. Jr. Ryan Hrenenko (15-2), Sparta
4. So. Owen Garriques (11-3), Phillipsburg
5. Jr. Christian Bollette (9-1), Voorhees
Others to watch: So. Aidan Webb (8-5), Warren Hills; Jr. Tye Falkenstein (11-5), Delaware Valley; Jr. Nikolas Martinez (10-5), Kittatinny
Notes: This is a contender for deepest weight class. Weber will be a tough out as he seeks his second straight HWS title. The shame of it is that we won't see a fourth installment of his rivalry with Perez, who avenged a 16-9 loss in last year's county finals with a 10-9 victory in their Region 3 title matchup. That HWS final was one of the most entertaining in years! ... Yarussi and Hrenenko, a three-time top-four finisher, both placed third in 2024. Webb was a runner-up at 113 a year ago.
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| PJ (26) is 2nd behind P'burg (37) in HWS titles |
1. Sr. Carson Walsh (16-1), Pope John
2. Sr. Logan Hrenenko (11-4), Sparta
3. Sr. Tyler Redfield (11-2), Warren Hills
4. Jr. Michael Hasson (12-3), Delaware Valley
5. So. Cole Castles (11-3), North Warren
Others to watch: Sr. Marc Pavese (9-4), Hopatcong-Lenape Valley; So. Kieran Raley (7-8), North Hunterdon
Notes: Walsh, a champion at the Sam Cali Invitational, looks to become only the fourth wrestler to make four finals appearances. The Pitt recruit is a three-time state medalist. ... Hrenenko, who placed fifth at Sam Cali, is sitting on 96 career wins. ... Redfield, a three-time district champ who recently dropped from 144, finished third in the county last season. His older brother, Shawn, was a runner-up in 2023. ... Hasson has made great strides as evidenced by a 7-4 sudden-victory-overtime loss to Redfield in the John Goles Invitational finals.
144 pounds
1. Sr. Luke Geleta (13-1), Phillipsburg
2. Sr. Gage Graziano (12-1), Hopatcong-Lenape Valley
3. Jr. Sebastian Dobak (7-2), Delaware Valley
4. Sr. Jesse Huelbig (4-5), High Point
5. Jr. Sean Brown (6-3), Sparta
Others to watch: Sr. Ethan Drazek (7-5), Warren Hills; So. Daniel Arroyo (4-5), Pope John
Notes: Pope John senior Donny Almeyda (2-0), a two-time fourth-place finisher in AC, recently entered the lineup after transferring from St. Joseph-Montvale but is not entered. ... Geleta, a fifth-place state finisher last season who's 115-26 overall, looks to join Hawk as the only Stateliners to win three HWS titles. He's tied with former state champ Marc DeFrancesco (115-24 from 1992-96) for 10th on the school's all-time wins list. Graziano is a returning third-place finisher.
150 pounds
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| Central has produced 21 HWS champs |
2. Sr. Jackson Bush (14-1), Delaware Valley
3. Jr. Gavin Geleta (10-3), Phillipsburg
4. So. Lukas Katsigiannis (8-6), Pope John
5. Sr. Mason Bucci (5-1), Newton
Others to watch: Sr. Aiden McClain (10-5), Kittatinny; Fr. Landon Webb (4-2), Warren Hills
Notes: Washleski, who's 85-12 overall, looks to become only the seventh to win at least two titles for Central, which won its first team championship in 2024. His older brother, Colton, now wrestling at Rider, was a runner-up in 2020 and two-time state placewinner. ... Bush, who's also a returning state qualifier, looks to join Cody Barbiche (2010-11) and Mike Pongracz (2012-13) as two-time county winners for the Terriers. High Point senior Nick Clayton (9-3), a state qualifier, placed third in 2022 and fourth the previous two tournaments, but is not entered. Geleta was fourth in '24.
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| Hawk was the 3rd P'burg county OW in 2024 |
1. Sr. Gavin Hawk (12-1), Phillipsburg
2. Sr. Luke Sinkewicz (13-1), Delaware Valley
3. Jr. Grant Thompson (13-4), Hunterdon Central
4. So. Braydan Lombreglia (7-2), Pope John
5. Jr. Tyler Morodan (9-4), Newton
Notes: Hawk, who's primary goal is to end the Stateliners' state title drought and first champ since Brandon Hull (220 in 2012), owns the program's career pins mark with 79. He's also fifth on their victories list at 122-20 overall. ... Sinkewicz was fourth here last year, while Thompson is a returning runner-up. His father, Matt, was a Hunterdon-Warren champ at 171 pounds and fourth-place state medalist in 1992. Joubert took home a bronze medal in 2024.
165 pounds
1. Jr. Cole Dunham (13-2), Pope John
2. Jr. Olivier Paul (13-2), Delaware Valley
3. Jr. Jayden Ruplall (6-7), High Point
4. Sr. Joshua Joubert (7-7), North Hunterdon
5. Sr. Tyler O'Neill (7-7), Warren Hills
Others to watch: Jr. Trevor Ekeland (7-7), Sparta; So. Charlie Cole (9-3), Voorhees; Jr. Brad Kisselbach (1-0), Phillipsburg
Notes: Someone here is going to win their first HWS title. Dunham may be Pope John's most improved wrestler, while Paul, who majored O'Neill in the John Goles Invitational semifinals, is enjoying a breakout season in his first varsity campaign. Ruplall is a returning fourth-place finisher.
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| Dalling is a two-time runner-up |
1. Sr. Ethan Dalling (15-2), Kittatinny
2. Sr. Evan Kinney (12-1), North Hunterdon
3. Sr. Derek Stone (10-2), Phillipsburg
4. Jr. True DiGiuseppe (8-1), Vernon
5. Sr. Aaron Stone (7-2), Newton
2. Jr. Owen Dandeo (7-5), North Hunterdon
3. Jr. David Thomson (11-4), Pope John
4. Jr. Jack Kithcart (6-8), High Point
5. Sr. Luke Brown (6-6), Sparta
2. Jr. Shawn Baumann (6-5), Pope John
3. Jr. Yandel Rodriguez-Castagnetto (8-4), Belvidere
4. So. Trevor Greenwood (9-8), Kittatinny
5. Sr. Oren Nahum (5-6), Delaware Valley
2. Jr. Luken Alberdi (12-3), Delaware Valley
3. Jr. Declan Joyce (9-4), Hunterdon Central
4. Jr. Ben Ellis (7-6), Phillipsburg
5. Sr. Bradley Kearney (6-4), Kittatinny
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