Wrestling: Region (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) schedules, stats

Schedules and other information for the regions involving Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area schools. All tournaments will be held on Friday and Saturday.

The top four at each weight class advance to the 92nd State Wrestling Championships slated for March 6-8 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

P'burg has produced an HWS-best 132 region champs

There are 98 HWS area wrestlers still competing throughout five regions this weekend. Overall, here are the area qualifiers by season since realignment (which now changes every year) was introduced in 2017 -- 118 in '17 and '18; 125 in '19; 113 in '20 (no district tournaments in '21 due to the pandemic); 122 in '22, 107 in '23 and '24. The eight-year average is 114.

Here is the breakdown among our area schools:

North Hunterdon and Phillipsburg (12); High Point (11); Delaware Valley (10); Pope John (9); Newton (7); Sparta and Warren Hills (6); Hackettstown and Hunterdon Central (5); Kittatinny and Voorhees (4); Hopatcong-Lenape Valley and North Warren (3); Belvidere and Vernon (1).

Pope John senior ace Carson Walsh (Region 3 at West Orange) and Hunterdon Central junior Rhett Washleski (Region 5 at Franklin) will look to make HWS area history this weekend in bidding for their fourth and third titles, respectively. 

Walsh (129-15) ranks 4th on PJ's career wins list

Walsh (30-1 at 138), who won at 132 pounds in Region 3 last season after winning back-to-back titles while competing in Region 1 at West Milford in 2022 and '23, aims to become just the third Lion to capture four region championships. Former state champions Mike Frick (1969-72) and JoJo Aragona (2016-19) are the only others to win region titles in their first three seasons for the Sparta-based school.

Pope John senior Donny Almeyda (13-0 at 144), a two-time state fourth-place medalist, also is seeking his fourth region title after previously winning three at St. Joseph-Montvale. Delbarton's Alessio Perentin (165) and Hanover Park's Vincenzo LaValle (190) are also seeking their fourth titles this weekend in Region 3, while St. Peter's Prep's Caedyn Ricciardi (138) bids for his fourth at Region 5.

Washleski (34-2 at 150), who has won his second title last season in Region 4, looks to become only the sixth to win at least three region championships for the Red Devils and first since lone four-time winner Gary Dinmore (2011-14). Washleski's older brother, Colton, a former state medalist, won a region title for Central at 145 pounds in 2020.

Only 43 wrestlers from Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area schools have won three or more titles (just eight have won four) since the regional tournaments formed in 1961.

Note: Tickets must be purchased online in advance of the event.

Region 1

At West Milford High School

Area schools: High Point, Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Phillipsburg, Sparta, Vernon, Wallkill Valley.

Rest of the field: Bergen Catholic, Butler, Cresskill, Demarest, DePaul, Don Bosco Prep, Dumont, Emerson-Park Ridge, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, Indian Hills, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lakeland, Mahwah, New Milford, Northern Highlands, Old Tappan, Pascack Hills, Pascack Valley, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Dell, Waldwick-Midland Park, Wayne Hills, West Essex, West Milford, Westwood.

West Milford will host R1 for the seventh year since 2018

Returning champions (5): Jr. Nathan Braun (126), Bergen Catholic (113 in 2024, 106 in '23); Sr. Nick Clayton (150), High Point (132 in '24); Jr. Nevin Mattessich (190), Don Bosco Prep (190 in '24); Jr. Dante DeLuca (215), Don Bosco Prep (215 in '24); Sr. Mason Brancato (285), Pompton Lakes (285 in '24).

Previous champions (3): Sr. Gavin Hawk (157), Phillipsburg (132 in '23); Jr. Joey Canova (157), Bergen Catholic (138 in '23); Jr. Santino Rodriguez (165), Don Bosco Prep (120 in '23).

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (three mats), 5 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow.

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (three mats), 9 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations plus championship finals (three mats) to follow.

Ticket prices: $12 adults/seniors, $10 students (Friday and Saturday). Online prices are the same for each day and sold separately (no all-sessions options).

Region 2

At Mount Olive High School

Area schools: Hopatcong-Lenape Valley, Warren Hills.

Rest of the field: Bergenfield, Bogota-Ridgefield Park, Boonton, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Dover, Dwight Morrow, Elmwood Park, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Garfield, Hackensack, Hasbrouck Heights, Immaculata, Leonia-Palisades Park, Lodi, Manchester Regional, Montville, Morris Hills, Morris Knolls, Mountain Lakes, Mount Olive, Paramus, Parsippany, Parsippany Hills, Passaic, Passaic Tech, Passaic Valley, Paterson Eastside, Paterson Kennedy, Roxbury, Saddle Brook, St. Joseph-Montvale, Teaneck, Tenafly, Wayne Valley.

Szamreta looks to be WH's 1st repeat champ since 2015

Returning champions (9): Jr. Augie Szamreta (113), Warren Hills (106 in 2024); Jr. Charles Esposito (113), St. Joseph-Montvale (106 in '24); Jr. Mikey Bautista (126), St. Joseph-Montvale (120 in '24); Sr. Vincent Paino (132), St. Joseph-Montvale (126 in '24, 106 in '22); Sr. Adrian DeJesus (138), St. Joseph-Montvale (132 in '24, 120 in '23); Jr. Joseph Paretti (165), St. Joseph-Montvale (165 in '24); Sr. Ryan Burton (175), St. Joseph-Montvale (175 in '24, 165 in '23).

 

Previous champions (2): Jr. Johnathon McGinty (120), St. Joseph-Montvale (106 in '23); Sr. Anthony Harris (215), St. Joseph-Montvale (190 in '23, 165 in '22).

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (four mats), 5 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow (four mats).

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (four mats), 10 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations, plus championship finals (three mats) to follow at the conclusion of wrestlebacks.

Ticket prices: $10 adults/seniors, $8 students (Friday and Saturday). Online prices are the same for each day and sold separately (no all-sessions options).

Region 3

At West Orange High School

Area schools: Belvidere, Hackettstown, Pope John.

Rest of the field: Barringer, Becton-Wood-Ridge, Belleville, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cliffside Park-Ridgefield, Cranford, Delbarton, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Governor Livingston, Hanover Park, Hoboken, Kearny, Livingston, Lyndhurst-North Arlington, Madison, Mendham, Montclair, Morristown, Newark Academy, Newark Collegiate, North Bergen, Nutley, Orange, Randolph, Rutherford, St. Benedict's Prep, St. Mary-Rutherford, Secaucus, Union City, Verona, Weehawken, West Morris, West Orange, Whippany Park.

Kyle Blew is the 8th County Seater to log 100+ wins

Returning champions (13): So. Cameron Sontz (113), Delbarton (106 in 2024); Jr. Michael Daly (113), Cranford (106 in 2024); So. Ryan DeGeorge (132), Delbarton (126 in '24); Sr. Carson Walsh (138), Pope John (132 in '24, 126 in '23, 113 in '22); Sr. Chase Quenault (138), Delbarton (132 in '24, 126 in '23); Sr. Donny Almeyda (144), Pope John (138 in '24, 132 in '23, 120 in '22); Jr. Jayden James (150), Delbarton (138 in '24, 113 in '23); Sr. Alessio Perentin (165), Delbarton (165 in '24, 157 in '23, 138 in '22); Sr. Jordan Chapman (175), Cranford (165 in '24, 157 in '23); Sr. Temuulen Mendbileg (175), St. Benedict's Prep (175 in '24); Jr. Carl Betz (190), Delbarton (157 in '24); Sr. Vincenzo LaValle (190), Hanover Park (190 in '24, 190 in '23, 190 in '22); Jr. Tommy Borgia (285), West Morris (215 in '24).

Previous champions (1): Jr. Dalton Weber (132), Pope John (113 in '23).

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (three mats), 4:30 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow (three mats).

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (three mats), 10 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations, plus championship finals (three mats), approximately 2 p.m.

Ticket prices: $12 adults/seniors, $10 students (Friday and Saturday). Online prices are the same for each day and sold separately (no all-sessions options).

Region 4

At Union High School

Area schools: Delaware Valley, North Hunterdon, South Hunterdon, Voorhees.

Rest of the field: Abraham Clark, Bayonne, Bernards, Bound Brook, Brearley-Dayton, Bridgewater-Raritan, Carteret, Colonia, Columbia, Elizabeth, Hillside, Irvington, JFK-Iselin, Johnson, J.P. Stevens, Linden, Middlesex-Dunellen, Millburn, Newark East Side, New Providence, North Plainfield, Paramus Catholic, Pingry, Plainfield, Rahway, Ridge, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Seton Hall Prep, Somerville, South Plainfield, Summit-Chatham, Union, Watchung Hills, Weequahic, Westfield.

Returning champions (3): Jr. Anthony DiAndrea (126), Watchung Hills (113 in 2024); Jr. Jaden Perez (126), Delaware Valley (126 in '24); Jr. Nicholas Pallitto (132), Paramus Catholic (132 in '24).

NH's season record for champs is 4 (1985 and 2002)

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (four mats), 5 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow (four mats).

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (four mats), 9 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations, plus championship finals (three mats), 2 p.m.

Ticket prices: $12 adults/seniors, $10 students (Friday and Saturday). Online prices are the same for each day and sold separately (no all-sessions options).

Region 5

At Franklin High School

Area school: Hunterdon Central.

Rest of the field: East Brunswick, Edison, Franklin, Highland Park, Hillsborough, Holmdel, Hopewell Valley, Keansburg, Keyport-Hudson, Manville, Marlboro, Matawan, Metuchen, Middletown North, Middletown South, Monmouth, Monroe, Montgomery, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, Princeton, Raritan, Red Bank Regional, Rumson-Fair Haven, Rutgers Prep, Sayreville, South Brunswick, South River, Spotswood, St. Joseph-Metuchen, St. Peter's Prep, West Windsor North, West Windsor South, Woodbridge.

Washleski looks to raise HC's total of 106 champs

Returning champions (9): Jr. Giovanni Schinina (132), St. Peter's Prep (132 in '24); Sr. Zachary Beadling (132), St. Joseph-Metuchen (126 in 2024); Sr. Caedyn Ricciardi (138), St. Peter's Prep (138 in '24, 126 in '23, 126 in '22); So. Sonny Amato (144), Rumson-Fair Haven (144 in '24); Jr. Rhett Washleski (150), Hunterdon Central (150 in '24, 144 in '23); Sr. Maxwell Nevlin (157), St. Peter's Prep (157 in '24); Jr. Anthony Verdi (175), St. Peter's Prep (175 in '24); Jr. Alexander Reyes (190), Holmdel (190 in '24); Sr. Connor Reynolds (285), St. Peter's Prep (285 in '24).

Friday schedule: Preliminaries (four mats), 4 p.m.; quarterfinals to follow (four mats).

Saturday schedule: Semifinals and wrestlebacks (four mats), 10 a.m.; third-place and fifth-place consolations (four mats), approximately 12:15 p.m.; championship finals, 2 p.m.

Ticket prices: $12 adults/seniors, $10 students (Friday and Saturday). Online prices are the same for each day and sold separately (no all-sessions options).