'Stay hungry': Perez, Dalling surge to state quarters

ATLANTIC CITY -- Just call this a redemption tour for Delaware Valley senior Jaden Perez and Kittatinny senior Ethan Dalling.

Both wrestlers are attacking the 92nd State Wrestling Championships a little wiser and with something to prove as they were among eight from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area to win pre-quarterfinal matchups on Thursday afternoon at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

Perez put D'Angelo on his back twice in the 3rd period

Perez overcame some stomach issues before pulling away late for a 16-6 major of Point Pleasant Boro's Joseph D'Angelo at 126 pounds, while Dalling was dominant in a 15-2 major of Long Branch's Tornick Kajaia in their 175-pound clash.

"Something was wrong with my stomach," said Perez, who opened the day by decking Caldwell's Dom Holler in 3:33 in the prelims. "In the beginning [of the bout with D'Angelo], I could feel it bubbling. I got back into that rhythm and got through."

Joining Perez and Dalling in the quarters were Phillipsburg stars Luke Geleta (144) and returning runner-up Gavin Hawk (157), along with Hunterdon Central's Rhett Washleski (150) and the Pope John trio of Dalton Weber (132), Carson Walsh (138), a three-time state medalist, and Donny Almeyda (144).

It was a tough first two rounds for the area, which went 18-20 in the preliminaries and 8-10 in the Round of 16. The eight quarterfinalists matched the lowest total for HWS in 11 years (eight in 2014). 

The tournament continues on Friday with the quarterfinals and third round of wrestlebacks at 11 a.m., followed by the Blood Round at approximately 1:30 p.m. The semifinals are slated for 6 p.m.

Feeling it

Perez (37-3), who is looking to become Del Val's eighth multiple medalist and first since Mike Pongracz (fifth in 2012 and '13), was clinging to a tight 6-5 lead entering the third period against D'Angelo. But Perez got thing rolling, with a pair of takedowns and two sets of back points.

Perez (second from right) on the podium in 2024

"I think I started to kind of mentally win that match," said Perez, who reached the quarters for a second time following last year's fifth-place finish at 126 pounds. "He started to break a little bit. It tends to happen when you get into the third period, and guys are battling."

Perez, who's the No. 7 seed and will next face two-time Bergen Catholic medalist Nathan Braun, also moved closer to a fourth meeting this season against Watchung Hills junior Anthony DiAndrea, who advanced to the quarters with an 8-0 major of Delsea's Gage Summers. 

A Perez-DiAndrea rematch won't be easy for either wrestler as DiAndrea, a two-time medalist, will face St. Joseph-Montvale star Mikey Bautista in the other Round of 8 matchup in the bottom bracket.

"I would love that [in the semis]," Perez said of facing DiAndrea, who won all three of their matchups, in the semis. "That would be nice. [The losses] definitely helped me stay hungry and keep my eyes on the prize."

Perez believes he can win that fourth one against DiAndrea should it occur in the semis or wrestleback rounds. DiAndrea prevailed, 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.

"I always feel like I'm outwrestling him and keeping the pace high," said Perez , who is 122-21 overall and one win from matching former state runner-up Bobby Stevely for sixth on Del Val's career list. "He does a very good job of slowing it back down and getting the match super close. Just very good at keeping it tight. Then, anything can happen."

Be smart

Dalling fell in the 3rd wrestlebacks in 2024

Dalling (38-3), who will face Cranford star and Rutgers recruit Jordan Chapman in the quarters, isn't about to make the same mistake twice this weekend after being derailed on Saturday in his bid for Kittatinny's first region title since 2016. Leading, 4-0, going into the third period, Dalling went for a takedown and was thrown to his back and pinned with 34 seconds left against Bergen Catholic's Genti Idrizi, who was pinned by Dalling in the District 3 finals a week earlier.

"We were in over-unders, went for a single and he jammed me right to my back," said Dalling, a four-time state qualifier who reached his first quarterfinal. "Stupid mistake. Not a move I'm going to do for the rest of the tournament. I've got to learn from my mistakes."

Dalling, whose father, Steve, was a two-time state champion in 1990 and '91, and the first for the Cougars, took a 2-0 lead into the third period before opening it up with a takedown and two sets of back points, including a six-pointer off a reversal.

"I just want to keep scoring points," said Dalling, now 133-24 overall and tied with Austin Scrivani (133-29 from 2012-16) for sixth on the Cougars' career list. "Keep on scoring, don't make sloppy mistakes like I did in the [Region 1] final."

Quarterfinal matchups

126 -- Sr. Jaden Perez (37-3), Delaware Valley, vs. Jr. Nathan Braun (21-6), Bergen Catholic
132 -- Jr. Dalton Weber (25-3), Pope John, vs. Jr. Giovanni Schinina (26-4), St. Peter's Prep
138 -- Sr. Carson Walsh (34-2), Pope John, vs. Jr. Chase Hansen (40-0), Lower Cape May

144 -- Sr. Luke Geleta (38-1), Phillipsburg, vs. Fr. Nicholas Schwartz (25-14), Delbarton;
144 -- Sr. Donny Almeyda (16-0), Pope John, vs. Sr. Jake Zaltsman (34-3), St. John Vianney
150 -- Jr. Rhett Washleski (39-3), Hunterdon Central, vs. Jr. Michael Craft (34-4), Camden Catholic
157 -- Sr. Gavin Hawk (38-1), Phillipsburg, vs. Jr. Brendan Boyer (24-11), Christian Brothers Academy
175 -- Sr. Ethan Dalling (38-3), Kittatinny, vs. Sr. Jordan Chapman (37-4), Cranford

Back points

There are 24 wrestlers from the HWS area -- 32 of the area's 38 qualifiers will be competing on Day 2 -- in the second round of wrestlebacks, which begin at 9 a.m. on Friday. The quarterfinal losers drop to the fourth wrestleback session (Blood Round) and will need just one win to guarantee a top-eight finish.

North Hunterdon has five still in the hunt for medals in the second round of wrestlebacks with Cayden Wadle (106), Reid Buzby (126), Aidan Yarussi (132), Joshua Joubert (157) and Evan Kinney (175). Warren Hills has four in Augie Szamreta (113), Charlie Piccione (120), Davey Rhinehart (126) and Tyler Redfield (132), while Phillipsburg has three in Zack Swingle (106), Owen Garriques (132) and Gavin Geleta (150). Sparta has three in Ryan Hrenenko (132), Logan Hrenenko (138) and Jake Brown (190), while Pope John has Lukas Katsigiannis (150), Braydan Lombreglia (157) and Cole Dunham (165).

High Point's Nick Clayton (150) and Gavin Mericle (285), Delaware Valley's Jackson Bush (150) and Luke Sinkewicz (157), Hackettstown's Joseph Rowinski (113) and Hopatcong-Lenape Valley's Gage Graziano (144) are also in the second round of consolations.  

On the girls' side, six from the area reached the semifinals, including state champions Ella Poalillo of High Point (152) and Paige Weiss of Sparta (120), who won a title in 2023. Newton-Kittatinny's Eva Barry (138), a runner-up in 2024, and Paige DeCaro (165) are looking to become their school's first winner since coach Andy Iliff (1986-87). High Point freshman Elle Changaris (114) and Vernon's Caitlin Hart (235) are also in the title hunt.