Wrestling: Perez, Washleski, Szamreta rally in AC

ATLANTIC CITY -- Delaware Valley senior Jaden Perez knew he was destined for bigger things. That's why he made up his mind after two missed opportunities to not waste another moment.

Perez fashioned quite a fine high school career and put his name alongside some of the Terriers' elite by capturing a second medal in the 92nd State Wrestling Championships on Saturday afternoon at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

Perez rolled to a 16-6 major in the pre-quarters

With a seventh-place finish at 126 pounds, Perez (39-5), who was fifth as a junior, is only the eighth multiple medalist for tradition-rich Del Val and the first since Mike Pongracz (fifth place at this same weight class in 2012 and '13).

"I definitely came a long way," said Perez, whose freshman campaign ended in the first round of regions followed by a fifth-place finish and just missing a trip to AC as a sophomore. 

Perez was nearly joined on the podium by teammates Jackson Bush (150) and Luke Sinkewicz (157), who both fell one win shy with losses in the always gut-wrenching Blood Round. In all, nine from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area placed, including Hunterdon Central junior Rhett Washleski (seventh at 150), the only other wrestler from the county to medal.

"I always felt like I was good enough [to place in states]," said Perez (124-23), who ranks sixth in career wins at Del Val and 18th overall on the county list. "I just think I wasn't working hard enough. Once I took that [final] loss my freshman, then my sophomore year as well, that really pushed me. I think that's why I came back so much harder my junior year, placing fifth [in the state], and then ultimately just kept going."

Perez (far right) is Del Val's 45th placewinner

That he did. Perez won a pair of district titles and a Region 5 championship in 2024 before Watchung Hills ace Anthony DiAndrea upended the Drexel-bound Perez's bid to repeat this season. DiAndrea (39-3), a three-time state placewinner who earned a bronze in '25, accounted for three of Perez's losses this season -- 3-2 in a dual meet on Jan. 21, 8-4 in the District 15 finals on Feb. 22 and 4-1 in the Region 4 title bout the following weekend. A fourth meeting in the state semifinals never materialized as Perez dropped a 5-0 decision to Bergen Catholic's Nathan Braun, a two-time runner-up.
 

"It's definitely not what I came here to do, but it's better than nothing," said Perez, who went 2-1 in the wrestlebacks, including his career finale that resulted in a 15-0 technical fall of Point Pleasant Boro's Joseph DeAngelo, who he beat twice in AC, for seventh place. "I'm sure I'll be replaying the matches I lost in my head for awhile, but it's behind me. I've got college now and I'm super excited. When I get [to Drexel], I'll definitely be chasing that national title."

Perez, a three-time county finalist and champ this season, helped lead Delaware Valley to four section and three Group 1 titles during his tenure, including a 47-16 win over Hanover Park in this season's state championship match. Though his individual season didn't end with state gold, Perez has plenty to be proud of.

"It's always been a goal," Perez said of joining the list of Del Val greats. "I definitely wanted to be in that [state] final match and have that light on me, but it's definitely super cool and something that I'm going to take with me the rest of my life."

Family affair

Washleski wasn't about to fall short a third time in Atlantic City as Central's lone boys qualifier bounced back from a quarterfinal loss to go 2-1 in the wrestlebacks and finish seventh with a 4-1 win over Bergen Catholic's Sowzraca Tsay. 

Washleski is Central's 103rd placewinner

"My goal is always to win, but God has a plan and sometimes it doesn't work out," said Washleski, whose older brother, Colton, was a two-time placer for the Red Devils (fourth at 160 in 2021 and sixth at 145 in '20). "You just have to get the next best thing. I'm sad that I didn't get the next best thing, but I [finished seventh] so I'm proud of that."

Washleski (41-5) once again saw his run in AC upended by Michael Craft of Camden Catholic, who prevailed, 6-1, in their quarterfinal clash. Craft ended Washleski's season with a pin in the third consolation round in '23, while his brother, Austin Craft, sent the Red Devil home without a medal with a fall in the same spot in '24. Michael Craft was fourth this season.

"It definitely will fuel me," Washleski said of not attaining his ultimate goal of gold. "I'm really proud of what my brother did and all that he accomplished and is still accomplishing [at Rider], but it does light a little fire in my belly to place higher [next season]."

Washleski, who can join Anthony Rossi as Central's only three-time county winners in 2026, is also chasing some prestigious program history. The two-time region champion and third this season is 111-15 overall, just 32 wins shy of Hunter Graf's school mark of 143, which ranks third all-time in the county. 

"It means a lot [to get the wins mark], but nothing means more than getting [back] down here and accomplishing my dreams of winning states," Washleski said. "That's my goal next year and I think I can do that so I'm excited for that and ready."

'Really cool'

Warren Hills junior Augie Szamreta got hot at the right time and made an inspired run through the wrestlebacks to finish eighth at 113 pounds. Szamreta (37-7) also became the Blue Streaks' first placewinner in the three lightest weight classes in 30 years. 

 

Szamreta sits at 92-28 overall after 3 seasons

"It was fun. It was a good time," Szamreta said. "Obviously the goal was to come here and place, but I really just wanted to get a couple of wins and keep rolling, do the best I can, and go out there and wrestle hard every match."

Mission accomplished. After an 18-9 loss in the Round of 16, Szamreta reeled off three straight wins in blasting through the Blood Round, including an impressive 18-4 major of Williamstown's Tyler Hildebrandt to secure a medal -- the first for the Streaks down low since Ryan Kanewski was a fifth-sixth (they didn't wrestle for it at that time) at 119 pounds in 1995. Hills assistant coach Marty White was a state champion at 130 in '91. 

"I feel like that's really cool," said Szamreta, who said he looked up to Justin Colaluce, the program's last state champ (1997-98), and was thrilled to join him on the medal list. "I know a bunch of [those former medalists] and they've all talked to me about wrestling and stuff like that so it makes me really happy. [Colaluce] coached me [on the youth level]. He's a great coach showed me so much stuff."

Back points

Pope John, which sent an area-best six to Atlantic City, brought home three medals as seniors Carson Walsh (138) and Donny Almeyda (144) lost their state final matches, while junior Dalton Weber (132) picked up his second medal with an eighth-place finish after taking third as a sophomore. The classy Walsh capped one of the finest careers in our area with a fourth medal, but a second straight title bout loss will most certainly motivate him on the Division I level at the University of Pittsburgh. Almeyda, a three-time placewinner (fourth twice at St. Joseph-Montvale) is head to Penn, where Kittatinny great Matt Valenti is an associate head coach.

Kittatinny senior Ethan Dalling (fifth at 175) is the only other Sussex County wrestler to place. He's heading to Bucknell University after making some family and Cougar history.

Only Washleski (111) and Weber (95) will enter next season with more wins than Szamreta, who needs eight to join Hills' century club. Classmate Davey Rhinehart, who went 1-2 at 126 pounds in his first AC appearance, sits at 89. Sparta junior Ryan Hrenenko, who qualified at 132, is nine shy of 100.

Hawk is headed to Princeton University

Phillipsburg seniors Luke Geleta (seventh at 144) and Gavin Hawk (157) were the only Stateliners to medal on the boys' side, but keep an eye on junior Gavin Geleta (150), who fell in the Blood Round, next season. Ellie Kisselbach (fourth at 114) became just the second P'burg female to medal, joining two-time champ Jewel Gonzalez (2019-20). Hawk joined Maury Mascari (1967-68), Mike Rossetti (1973-74) and Brandon Paetzell (2014, '16) as the only two-time runners-up for the 'Liners.

The HWS area, which had 38 qualifiers, went 14-10 in the second round of wrestlebacks, 6-8 in the third and 6-5 in the Blood Round. North Hunterdon sophomore Aidan Yarussi and Warren Hills senior Tyler Redfield -- both at 132 pounds-- were among those to fall one win shy of a medal. Redfield, who handed Yarussi a 6-4 loss in the prelims, was pinned by Weber in 3:22.

Region 3 led the way with 21 medalists, while Region 7 checked in next with 16 placewinners. Region 6 was next with 15, followed by Region 5 and 8 with 14 apiece. Region 1 had 13 and Region 2 had 12. Region 4 was last with seven and the only one with zero state finalists. Region 3 led with eight finalists, followed by Region 2 with six. Region 7 had four, while Region 1 and 6 each had three. Region 5 and 8 had two apiece. Regions 2, 3 and 7 all had three state champs, while Region 5 and 6 had two apiece. Region 8 had one, while Regions 1 and 4 had none.