Phillipsburg ace Gavin Hawk has come a long way since a loss in his high school debut. In 151 bouts since a 13-2 setback in the opening round of the rugged King of the Mountain Tournament to start the 2021-22 season, Hawk has amassed 132 victories with 84 pins -- both program records.
"I'm so thrilled for Gavin," said sophomore Anthony Pettinelli, who scored a huge win of his own in a 5-4 upset of Warren Hills state qualifier Augie Szamreta with a third-period takedown at 113 pounds to avenge losses (a 9-1 major decision and a 16-1 technical fall) in their two previous meetings dating to last season.
Phillipsburg (11-2), which is sitting on 1,058 wins as a program heading into Wednesday night's showdown at North Hunterdon, holds steady at No. 11 in the latest New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, released on Tuesday morning.
Delaware Valley (11-3) checks in at No. 17 for the second straight week as the other Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area representative in a topsy-turvy statewide poll that saw a major shakeup in the bottom half this week. The Terriers will be heavy favorites next month to win a Group 1 state title after a 33-25 loss to Paulsboro in last season's championship match at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.
Pope John (8-5), which owns a notable 42-36 win over Paramus Catholic on Jan. 4, but also suffered a 42-26 loss to unranked West Morris on Dec. 18, and North Hunterdon (9-6) also received votes this week.
Hawk's milestone victory -- recognized at the conclusion of the match -- was one of 10 for P'burg in a dominating effort against Warren Hills (9-8), which fell into a 24-0 hole and did not surrender a takedown until the sixth bout. Meyer was on hand to congratulate Hawk, a Princeton recruit who will be a tough out at 157 pounds this postseason, helped the Stateliner 12th graders go 5-2 on Senior Night.
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| Hawk and Luke Geleta have combined for 256 wins |
It's not often that a wrestler turns the tables on an opponent after losing by technical fall just 16 days earlier. What was the difference for Pettinelli (20-6) in a third meeting with Szamreta, who logged two takedowns and seven back points en route to his first HWS title in the 'Liners home gym on Jan. 11?
"I went out a little scared and didn't wrestle my match," said Pettinelli, who also shocked the house by decking Pope John state medalist Jake Holly with a cradle in the county tournament semifinals. "After the HWS [final], I was reading how [Szamreta] was saying, 'he wrestled at his pace.' I had to switch that up and make him wrestle at mine, and just make my pace and my shots. This was one of matches I had circled. Senior Night, I'll be out here in two years. You want to get all the wins you can at home.
"That was a big pin for me [against Holly who was eighth in the state at 106 in 2024] and showed that I can wrestle with anybody in the state. It was just extra confidence for me and that really helps a lot."
North-ern lights
Delaware Valley won't get the chance to avenge a 34-33 loss to North Hunterdon at Daniel Hutchins Memorial Gym on Jan. 8 -- a match the Terriers probably should have won -- but coach Andy Fitz's lineup has been bolstered in recent days with junior Tristan Fawthrop (10-9) dropping to 106 and junior Julian Bednar (12-4) nailing down the starting spot at 120 pounds.
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| North's last win over P'burg was 32-23 at home in 2021 |
On paper, the 'Liners are solid favorites at seven weights and figure to produce more bonus-point wins. North, which features HWS runner-up Cayden Wadle (19-4 at 106) and state qualifiers Reid Buzby (18-7 at 126) and Aidan Yarussi (22-3 at 132) down low, was ranked in the NJWWA Top 20 earlier this season but was knocked out following a criteria loss to Ocean Township on Jan. 18.
Rumson-Fair Haven (14-1) moved up to No. 6 and claimed the role of top public school following wins over Brick Memorial (32-28 on Jan. 15), then-No. 17 ranked North Hunterdon (52-21 on Jan. 17), P'burg (44-25 on Jan. 20) and St. John Vianney (34-29 on Wednesday) in the Bulldogs' last four matches.
Here's how the rest of this week's poll shapes up:
Also receiving votes: Pope John (8-5) 11; St. Augustine (11-6) 9; North Hunterdon (9-6) 1.
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).
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