Wrestling: Ten best shots for state medals (HWS)

Phillipsburg senior Gavin Hawk has fashioned one of the finest careers in Stateliners history. But despite his numerous wrestling accolades, the always humble and respectful Princeton University recruit looks to atone for those second-place finishes in tournaments over the years. 

Hawk (36-1), a returning runner-up who drew the No. 1 seed at 157 pounds, remains steadfast in his pursuit to become Phillipsburg first state champion since Brandon Hull won at 220 pounds in 2012. Only Newton (82), Washington-Warren Hills (46) and Union (40) have produced more state champs since Phillipsburg (33).

In all, the Stateliners are sending six wrestlers to the 92nd State Championships, which will be held Thursday through Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Joining Hawk is fellow ace Luke Geleta (144), who seeks his second state medal, along with two-time qualifiers Owen Garriques (132) and Gavin Geleta (150), as well as first-timers Zack Swingle (106) and Anthony Pettinelli (113). In all, 38 from the HWS area will compete in the tournament. 

"It's always a really exciting experience going down there," Hawk, a four-time qualifier, said of AC following his Region 1 championship victory on Saturday at West Milford.

Geleta (36-1), who joined Hawk and Bob Jiorle (1968-71) as the only four-time region finalists for P'burg in winning his first title on Saturday, also has some unfinished business in AC. After placing sixth as a sophomore, Geleta came up short in the Blood Round at 144 last season.

"Last year, I got hurt during the states, but I kept going," said Geleta, who ranks second behind Hawk on the school's all-time wins list. "Now looking back on it, Blood Round is nowhere near satisfactory to me. I'm using that as motivation for this year to definitely get me up on that podium."

Here's our top picks for medals from HWS (Note: we cheated and listed 11):  

Hawk lost, 8-4, to Zach Ballante of SJM in the 2024 finals

Gavin Hawk (36-1), Phillipsburg -- The only thing left to do in an otherwise fabulous career is to capture that elusive state gold after a runner-up finish in 2024, following two straight losses in the Blood Round his first two seasons. The Stateliners' all-time wins and pins (94) leader and only four-time HWS Tournament champion, hadn't been pushed much outside the practice room this season until a 6-2 victory over Bergen Catholic junior and state medalist Joey Canova, a fellow Princeton recruit, in Saturday's Region 1 finals. They could very well hook up again in the state semis as Canova drew the No. 4 seed. Hawk has reeled off 28 straight wins since a 16-4 loss to Quakertown's Collin Gaj, a two-time PIAA Class AAA state finalist and champion in 2023 in the Bethlehem Holiday finals on Dec. 29. 

"I've had some tough competition," Hawk said. "It doesn't really matter because my teammates and coaches push me in the practice room all the time. I get challenged and pushed every day. It's all about being prepared."

Career mark: 146-20.

Previous appearances: 2-2, Blood Round at 120 pounds in 2022; 3-2, Blood Round at 132 in '23; 4-1, second place at 150 in '24.

First-round opponent: Paramus junior Joseph Aiello (28-10, R2-4).

Luke Geleta (36-1), Phillipsburg -- Geleta is on a mission in his fourth trip to AC after falling a win shy of his second state medal last season. That's all the motivation he needed to craft one of the finest campaigns in Stateliner history -- winning his third district and county titles, while getting that first region championship in dominating fashion. A hammer on top, Geleta, who drew the No. 3 seed and has a nice setup in his quarter of the draw, will have to be sharp at a stacked weight class, which includes reigning state champ Sonny Amato of Rumson-Fair Haven and Pope John senior Donny Almeyda, a two-time fourth-place finisher, and the No. 2 seed who lurks in the bottom bracket 

Career mark: 138-26.

Previous appearances: 2-2, at 132 in 2022; 4-3, sixth place at 138 in '23; 3-2, Blood Round at 144 in '24.

First-round opponent: Point Pleasant Beach senior Jude Bowers (34-7, R6-4).

Perez (second from right) on the podium in 2024

Jaden Perez (35-3), Delaware Valley -- Perez made it quite clear early on this season that was staying put at 126 pounds, one of the state's toughest weights with nine former medal winners, including three-time state champion Anthony Knox of St. John Vianney. "I want all the smoke," Perez said after winning a John Goles Invitational title on Dec. 28. All three of his losses are to Watchung Hills junior Anthony DiAndrea (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 finals on Saturday) who placed seventh (2023) and fifth ('24) in two previous appearances in AC. Perez, a seventh seed, is in the same quarter of the draw with Bergen Catholic's Nathan Braun, a No. 2 seed and former runner-up who finished fourth last season. Perez owns wins over six others at this weight, including a technical fall of New Milford's Devin Ryan, a two-time medalist.

Career mark: 120-21.

Previous appearance: 4-2, fifth place at 126 in 2024.

First-round opponent: Caldwell senior Dom Holler (30-8, R3-3).

Dalton Weber (23-3), Pope John -- It sure would have been fun to see Weber and Perez go at it again this season after two memorable meetings in 2024 -- a 16-9 win for Weber in the HWS Tournament finals and a 10-9 victory for Perez in the Region 3 finals. Weber, a returning third-place finisher, is at one of the most wide open weight classes as the No. 2 seed at 132 pounds. He has plenty of history with the No. 1 seed -- Sammy Spaulding of Camden Catholic, who is 3-1 vs. Weber dating to 2023-24, including a pair of wins (7-0 and 4-1 in duals this season). That one loss came in last year's state third-place bout, which Weber won by pin in 1:55. Weber also scored a 4-2 win over state champion Ryan DeGeorge of Delbarton in Saturday's Region 3 finals and has beaten five others in the weight class this season, including an 18-5 major of North Hunterdon's Aidan Yarussi, a Region 4 runner-up.

Career mark: 92-15.

Previous appearances: 2-2, Blood Round at 113 in 2023; 5-1, third place at 126 in '24.

First-round opponent: Clearview senior Anthony Morales (23-6, R8-4).

North matched P'burg with 6 state qualifiers

Aidan Yarussi (35-5), North Hunterdon -- The talented sophomore seeks his first state medal coming off his first region finals appearance, which resulted in a second 4-2 loss to Paramus Catholic's Nick Palitto, a No. 10 seed in AC, this season. Yarussi, an integral part of North's run to sectional and Group 4 state titles this season, has benefitted from a rugged schedule as the District 14 and HWS Tournament runner-up and gave Camden Catholic ace and No. 1 seed Sammy Spaulding all he could handle in a 1-0 loss for third place at the Robin Leff Tournament in December. Yarussi also bumped up a weight to hand Warren Hills senior Tyler Redfield, a four-time district champ, a 7-2 loss on Jan. 3. Interestingly, they'll meet out of the gate in Thursday's preliminary round.

Career mark: 65-18.

Previous appearance: 1-2, at 113 in 2024.

First-round opponent: Warren Hills senior Tyler Redfield (35-4, R2-3).

Walsh is a 4-time HWS champ and this season's OW

Carson Walsh (32-2), Pope John -- Walsh was derailed in a bid to become just the third four-time region champion for the Lions, when he was pinned by Delbarton state medalist Chase Quenault at Region 3 in West Orange. That loss snapped Walsh's 23-match win streak, which began after being decked by St. Peter's Prep star Caedyn Ricciardi in the Beast of the East finals in December. It's a strong bet that Walsh, a No. 4 seed and runner-up at 132 last season, finds a way to bounce back in his final AC appearance as the Pitt commit seeks a fourth state medal. It's another brutal weight -- one that also includes state champion Adrian DeJesus of St. Joseph-Montvale, who drew the No. 3 seed, and Ricciardi, the No. 2 seed.

Career mark: 131-16.

Previous appearances: 3-3, sixth place at 113 in 2022; 4-2, fifth place at 126 in '23; 4-1, second place at 132 in '24.

First-round opponent: Union junior Ariel Azeredo (35-6, R4-3).

Donny Almeyda (16-0), Pope John -- The transfer from St. Joseph-Montvale got a late start after sitting 30 days, but he's seemingly rounding into shape at the right time. After winning a District 12 title, Almeyda scored a 4-2 win over Delbarton's Nicholas Schwartz to claim his fourth region title on Saturday at West Orange. As the No. 2 seed behind reigning state champion Sonny Amato of Rumson-Fair Haven, Almeyda and Phillipsburg's Luke Geleta, the No. 3 seed, could be on a collision course in the semifinals. Almeyda did not compete in the HWS Tournament on Jan. 11. Of his 16 wins, eight have been by technical fall to go with three pins, two forfeits and one major decision. His only other victory by regular decision was 4-2 over St. Augustine's Anthony Depaul, the No. 8 seed and a returning fifth-place state medalist. Another returning placewinner, Jake Zaltsman of St. John Vianney, is the No. 7 seed.

Career mark: 108-23.

Previous appearances: 1-1, at 120 in 2022; 5-2, fourth place at 132 in '23; 5-2, fourth place at 138 in '24.

First-round opponent: Delaware Valley junior Sebastian Dobak (22-8, R4-4).

Washleski is 36 shy of matching HC's wins mark

Rhett Washleski (37-3), Hunterdon Central -- The junior was denied a third region title with a 6-2 loss to St. Peter's Prep junior Joseph Ruiz, the No. 8 seed in the 150-pound state bracket. Washleski, who finished third in Region 5, hasn't gotten past the third round of wrestlebacks in two previous AC appearances, but this could be the year. Washeski, the No. 6 seed, owns wins over Bergen Catholic's Sowzrawca Tsay (4-0 at Beast of the East), as well as state qualifiers Jackson Bush of Delaware Valley (10-2 on Jan. 11) and Gavin Geleta of Phillipsburg (5-4 on Jan. 31). Interestingly, the Crafts at Camden Catholic ended Washleski's two previous seasons in the wrestlebacks -- Michael with a pin in 5:41 in 2023, and Austin with a fall in 5:10 in '24. Michael Craft is the No. 3 seed and in the same quarter of the draw with Washleski. That could be a fun matchup.

Career mark: 107-13.

Previous appearances: 2-2, at 144 in 2023; 2-2, at 150 in '24.

First-round opponent: Eastern senior Cole Pettet (29-4, R8-4).

Gavin Geleta (31-7), Phillipsburg -- Geleta has made major strides this season and officially entered the chat as a bona fide state medal contender. He was right there with High Point star Nick Clayton, a two-time region champion, in a 2-1 loss in Saturday's Region 1 semifinals and finished third. Geleta, the No. 10 seed at 150 pounds, also gave Washleski all he could handle in a 5-4 loss during their matchup in a dual meet on Jan. 31. The Stateliner also split a pair of 4-1 decisions with Delaware Valley senior Jackson Bush, a three-time state qualifier and the No. 14 seed.

Career mark: 71-32.

Previous appearances: Did not qualify in 2023; 0-2, at 132 in '24.

First-round opponent: Paramus Catholic freshman Harry Astarian (23-10, R4-4).

Only 3 of Clayton's 17 bouts at 150 have gone 6 minutes 

Nick Clayton (31-3), High Point -- Clayton, who became only the 13th wrestler at his school to win two-plus region titles on Saturday, looks primed to make a strong run at his first state medal following hard-fought wins over Gavin Geleta of Phillipsburg (2-1 in the Region 1 semifinals at 150) and Charles Shaddow of Ridgewood (7-6 in the finals) on Saturday at West Milford. Clayton, who is the No. 9 seed, is a gamer and tough on the mat. He has logged 14 pins and nine technical falls to go with two major decisions. In addition, Clayton, who reached the third round of wrestlebacks in AC last season, is 21-0 since dropping to 150 on Jan. 15. All three of his losses were at 157 pounds in December. 

Career mark: 115-33.

Previous appearances: Did not qualify in 2022; 0-2, at 120 in '23; 2-2, at 132 in '24.

First-round opponent: Mount Olive sophomore Justin Bullock (27-10, R2-2).

Ethan Dalling (36-3), Kittatinny -- Dalling should also be wrestling with a chip on his shoulder after being pinned by Bergen Catholic's Genti Idrizi in Saturday's Region 1 finals at 175 pounds. Dalling, a four-time state qualifier and three-time region runner-up who decked Idrizi in the District 3 finals, was leading, 4-0, before being tossed to his back near the edge of the mat late in the third period in a bid to become the Cougars' first region winner since 2016. Dalling's past experience in AC should help as the No. 7 seed looks to earn the program's 45th state placewinner and first since Jackson Crawn (fourth at 220 in 2021). His father, Steve, was Kittatinny's first state champ -- winning titles in 1990 and '91 after a runner-up finish in '89. 

Career mark: 131-24.

Previous appearances: 0-2, at 165 in 2022; 1-2, at 157 in '23; 2-2, at 165 in '24.

First-round opponent: Delbarton sophomore Jesse DeNegri (23-11, R3-4).

Other area qualifiers (27)

Pope John -- Lukas Katsigiannis (150), Braydan Lombreglia (157), Cole Dunham (165), David Thomson (175)

North Hunterdon -- Cayden Wadle (106), Owen Fol (113), Reid Buzby (126), Joshua Joubert (157), Evan Kinney (175)

Phillipsburg -- Zack Swingle (106), Anthony Pettinelli (113), Owen Garriques (132), Gavin Geleta (150)

Delaware Valley -- Sebastian Dobak (144), Luke Sinkewicz (157)

Warren Hills -- Augie Szamreta (113), Charlie Piccione (120), Davey Rhinehart (126), Tyler Redfield (132)

High Point -- Carter Drouin (120), Gavin Mericle (285)
Sparta -- Ryan Hrenenko (132), Logan Hrenenko (138), Jake Brown (190)

Hackettstown -- Joseph Rowinski (113)

Hopatcong-Lenape Valley -- Gage Graziano (144)
North Warren (1) -- Logan Garriques (175)