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.