Wrestling: Stateliner stars Geleta, Hawk win R1 titles

WEST MILFORD -- Phillipsburg seniors Luke Geleta and Gavin Hawk aren't done yet, but the Dynamic Duo has already authored numerous successful chapters within New Jersey's most storied program. 

The pair of four-time finalists reached the top step on the Region 1 podium on Saturday afternoon, with Geleta winning his first title and Hawk capturing his second as Phillipsburg produced six top-four finishers in all at West Milford Township High School. 

P'burg leads all HWS schools with 134 champs

Geleta finally broke through in his fourth trip to the region finals with a dominating 11-4 win over West Essex sophomore Reid Clausi in their 144-pound title bout, while Hawk, a state runner-up last season, pulled off a thrilling 6-2 victory over Bergen Catholic junior and state medalist Joey Canova at 157.

"I've been working hard and the team has been working hard. They've been pushing me," said Geleta, a three-time district champion and sixth-place state medalist as a sophomore. "This is my fourth final and I couldn't leave here empty-handed. I just did what I had to do and wrestled smart, wrestled hard, and came out with the win today."

Phillipsburg led the way among all Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area schools in Region 1 with six state qualifiers, while High Point and Sparta each sent three to the 92nd State Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The area will be represented by 38 next week, including Phillipsburg sophomore Anthony Pettinelli (second at 113) and third place-finishers Zack Swingle (106), Owen Garriques (132) and Gavin Geleta (150). High Point senior Nick Clayton (150) was the area's only other champion in Region 1.

Luke Geleta and Hawk have been rewriting the Phillipsburg record books all season with a combined 284 victories as the top two on the Stateliners' all-time list. Hawk, who also holds mark for pins (94), is the career leader at 146-20, while Geleta is next at 138-26. A pair of three-time region champions -- Brian Meyer (third in wins with 131) and Cody Harrison -- were also in attendance on Saturday, along with former district champion Lance Wissing.

Hawk (4) and Geleta (3) combined for 7 HWS titles

"They created a big legacy and it's our job to do the same," Geleta said.

Geleta (36-1) got the area, which was 0-4 in the finals up until his title bout, going with a takedown and three back points off a scramble in the second period after a scoreless first. He added a reversal and two more backs with a tilt in the final period.

"I knew he was tough," Geleta said of Clausi, a returning state qualifier. "I knew he'd be kind of difficult to score on. But I got around it and scored a bunch of points."

Hawk (36-1), a two-time region runner-up and champion in 2023, had a more difficult task in earning his second region title. After a scoreless first period, Canova took a 2-1 lead after reversal into the final period. Hawk escaped to tie it before a wild scene unfolded when Canova signaled for injury time as the Stateliner was on the brink of taking him to mat for a go-ahead takedown.

Referee Rick Solofsky granted the timeout, but did not initially award the takedown, which falls under the imminent scoring rule in that scenario. After a verbal protest by P'burg coach Tim Longacre and an ensuing conference with head official Tony Tabbachino, Solofsky signaled three for the takedown to give Hawk a 5-2 lead. He later got choice, took bottom and escaped when Canova, who was favoring his right knee, took a second injury timeout.

Hawk is the only 4-time HWS champ for P'burg

"I'm just really grateful for this opportunity," said Hawk, who said Canova will be a future teammate of his at Princeton University. "Grateful for my coaches and teammates pushing me. [Canova] is a great wrestler. I'm just glad he was there to push me."

For Hawk, one of just nine four-time district champs for the P'burg, winning this one in his final attempt was particularly rewarding after second-place finishes the past two seasons at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic, plus two region finals.

"I've gotten second place at so many tournaments in high school," Hawk said. "It's good because it helps push me and motivate me, but it's a much better feeling when you win."

Legend

Bergen Catholic (BC), Butler (B), Cresskill (C), Demarest (Dem), DePaul (Dep), Don Bosco Prep (DB), Dumont (Du), Emerson-Park Ridge (EPR), Glen Rock (GR), Hawthorne (Haw), High Point (HP), Indian Hills (IH), Jefferson (J), Kinnelon (Kin), Kittatinny (Kit), Lakeland (L), Mahwah (Mah), New Milford (NM), Newton (New), Northern Highlands (NH), North Warren (NW), Old Tappan (OT), Pascack Hills (PH), Pascack Valley (PV), Pequannock (Pe), Phillipsburg (Pb), Pompton Lakes (PL), Ramapo (Rama), Ramsey (Rams), Ridgewood (Rid), River Dell (RD), Sparta (Spa), Vernon (Ve), Waldwick-Midland Park (WMP), Wallkill Valley (WV), Wayne Hills (WH), West Essex (WE), West Milford (WM), Westwood (West).

Championships

165 -- 6-Jr. AJ DiGiovanni (18-10), BC, d. 1-Jr. Santino Rodriguez (31-5), DB, 7-3.

175 -- 3-Sr. Genti Idrizi (23-10), BC, p. 1-Sr. Ethan Dalling (36-3), Kit, 5:26.

190 -- 1-Jr. Nevin Mattessich (32-3), DB, tf. 2-Sr. Zak Darwish (26-3), Rama, 16-1, 4:13.

215 -- 1-Jr. Dante DeLuca (26-0), DB, md. 2-Sr. Adam Mashfej (33-4), WH, 19-5.

285 -- 1-Sr. Benjamin Shue (31-6), BC, p. 2-Sr. Mason Brancato (34-2), PL, :51.

106 -- 1-Fr. Matthew Mulligan (26-6), BC, md. 2-Fr. Will Webb (24-12), DB, 13-2.

113 -- 1-Fr. Marcos Asan (21-7), BC, d. 3-So. Anthony Pettinelli (33-7), Pb, 4-2.

120 -- 2-Jr. Joseph Rizzuto (30-6), Dep, md. 4-So. Michael Echeverri (31-5), NH, 13-5.

126 -- 1-Jr. Nathan Braun (19-6), BC, md. 2-Sr. Devin Ryan (31-4), NM, 8-0.

132 -- 3-So. Brian Little (13-3), DB, tf. 1-Jr. Ryan Hrenenko (33-5), Spa, 19-4, 4:09.

138 -- 1-Fr. Gideon Gonzalez (29-5), BC, md. 2-Sr. Logan Hrenenko (32-7), Spa, 10-1.

144 -- 1-Sr. Luke Geleta (36-1), Pb, d. 2-So. Reid Clausi (35-7), WE, 11-4.

150 -- 2-Sr. Nick Clayton (31-3), HP, d. 4-Sr. Charles Shaddow (35-5), Rid, 7-6.

157 -- 1-Sr. Gavin Hawk (36-1), Pb, d. 2-Jr. Joey Canova (31-4), BC, 6-2.

Outstanding Wrestler Award -- Gavin Hawk, Phillipsburg.

Coach of the Year Award -- Ray Cottiers, New Milford.

Assistant Coach of the Year Award -- Matt Ulrich, New Milford.

Third-place consolations

106 -- 4-Fr. Zack Swingle (29-9), Pb, p. 3-So. Johnny Emes (32-8), GR, 3:48

113 -- 5-Jr. Alec Murado (36-7), Dem, d. 4-So. Frank Figel (28-12), J, 11-8.

120 -- 3-So. Chace Severs (27-9), L, p. 8-So. Carter Drouin (28-13), HP, 5:23.

126 -- 3-So. Andrew Bonita (23-11), DB, d. 4-So. Delvan Rotte (28-10), Dep, 3-1.

132 -- 2-So. Owen Garriques (29-10), Pb, d. 4-Jr. Adan Cedeno (33-6), PV, 6-2.

138 -- 4-So. Isaias Hernandez (26-13), Dep, d. 8-Sr. Jack Drucker (27-9), OT, 6-3.

144 -- 4-Sr. Joey Fulco (32-4), Rama, d. 11-Jr. Joseph Petriello (19-7), Du, 6-1.

150 -- 3-Jr. Gavin Geleta (31-7), Pb, d. 1-Jr. Sowzrawca Tsay (22-8), BC, 8-2.

157 -- 6-So. Benjamin Marques (28-10), WE, d. 3-Sr. Christian Fojon (32-7), Rams, 12-6.

165 -- 2-So. Chad McConnell (35-4), PL, p. 5-Sr. Cody Aniche-Farrell (26-12), Dep, :47.

175 -- 2-Sr. Carmine Masi (33-6), WE, md. 5-Sr. Logan Garriques (28-6), NW, 11-2.

190 -- 5-Sr. Luke Brown (17-11), Spa, md. 3-Jr. Redon Xheladini (30-10), PL, 13-3.

215 -- 3-Jr. Wyatt Sisco (33-6), Kin, p. 5-Jr. Jeffrey Papienuk (28-7), WM, 4:32.

285 -- 3-Jr. Gavin Mericle (33-5), HP, p. 11-So. DJ Fiore (25-16), WE, 1:57.