Wrestling: District schedules for HWS schools

Here are Saturday's schedules with times and ticket prices: 

District 1

At Phillipsburg High School

Area teams: Phillipsburg.

Rest of the field: Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson-Park Ridge, Jefferson, Lakeland, River Dell, Waldwick-Midland Park, Westwood.

P'burg has produced an HWS-best 383 champs

Schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 10 a.m.; semifinals to follow; third-place consolations (two mats), approximately 3 p.m.; championship finals to follow (one mat).

Ticket prices: $13 adults, $10 students/seniors (all-sessions pass, cash only); $5 adults, $3 students/seniors (finals, cash only).

Ethan Dalling can match his father, Steve, with a 4th title

District 3

At Kittatinny Regional High School

Area teams: Kittatinny, Newton, North Warren, Sparta, Vernon, Wallkill Valley.

Rest of the field: Bergen Catholic, DePaul, West Milford.

Schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9 a.m. (three mats); semifinals (two mats), approximately 11 a.m.; third-place consolations and championship finals to follow (two mats).

Ticket prices: $10 adults, $5 students/seniors (cash only).

District 4

At West Essex High School

Area teams: High Point.

Rest of the field: Butler, Hawthorne, Kinnelon, New Milford, Northern Highlands, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Wayne Hills, West Essex.

HP has crowned at least 1 champ every year since 2003

Schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; semifinals, noon; third-place consolations to follow (two mats); championship finals after consolations (one mat).

Ticket prices: $13 adults, $8 students/seniors (all-sessions pass); $5 adults, $3 students/seniors (per session).

District 7

At Warren Hills Regional High School

Area teams: Hopatcong-Lenape Valley, Warren Hills.

Rest of the field: Cedar Grove, Dover, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, Passaic Tech, Roxbury, Wayne Valley.

WH's last year without a champion was 2011

Schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9:30 a.m.; semifinals, 11 a.m. (approximately); third-place third-place consolations to follow (two mats); championship finals after consolations (one mat).

Ticket prices: $12 adults, $6 students/seniors.

PJ ace Carson Walsh eyes his 4th title

District 12

At Morristown High School

Area teams: Belvidere, Hackettstown, Pope John.

Rest of the field: East Orange, Hanover Park, Morristown, Newark Academy, St. Benedict's Prep, Whippany Park.

Schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 10 a.m.; semifinals, noon; third-place consolations and championship finals to follow (two mats).

District 14

NH's only year without a champ was 2008

At North Hunterdon Regional High School

Area teams: North Hunterdon, South Hunterdon.

Rest of the field: Brearley-Dayton, Bridgewater-Raritan, Irvington, Johnson, Millburn, New Providence, Summit-Chatham, Union.

Saturday schedule: Preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals (two mats), 9:30 a.m.; third-place consolations and championship finals (one mat), 3 p.m.

Ticket prices: $10 adults, $5 students/seniors (all-sessions pass); $5 adults, $3 students/seniors (finals only sale starting at 1 p.m.).

District 15

At Watchung Hills High School

Area teams: Delaware Valley, Voorhees.

Rest of the field: Bernards, Bound Brook, Middlesex-Dunellen, North Plainfield, Pingry, Somerville, Watchung Hills, Weequahic.

Jaden Perez can join 9 Terriers who won at least 3 titles

Schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; semifinals, 11 a.m. (approximately); third-place consolations (two mats) to follow; championship finals, 2 p.m. (approximately).

Ticket prices: $15 adults, $10 students/seniors (all-sessions pass); $10 adults, $8 students/seniors (semifinals through championship finals); $8 adults, $5 students/seniors (championships only). Purchase online or with credit or debit card at the door (no cash).

Rhett Washleski recently logged his 100th win

District 20

At Matawan High School

Area teams: Hunterdon Central.

Rest of the field: Hillsborough, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport-Hudson, Marlboro, Matawan, Red Bank Regional, Rutgers Prep.

Schedule: Preliminaries and quarterfinals, 9 a.m.; semifinals, 11 a.m. (approximately); third-place consolations and championship finals to follow.

Ticket prices (cash only): $15 adults, $10 students/seniors (all-sessions pass); $7 adults, $5 students/seniors (championship finals only).

Wrestling: Four rep HWS in final NJWWA Top 20

You got to believe. North Hunterdon's wrestling team certainly didn't lack confidence despite coming off the program's first losing season in eight years, with a new head coach who had never experienced measured success at the helm of a public school.

Yes, there were questions. But the Lions never wavered in the process. The result was North winning a third Group 4 title in five seasons (no team events due to the pandemic in 2021) with a 37-27 win over Phillipsburg on Sunday afternoon at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena. P'burg also dropped a 34-24 decision when the teams met during the regular season on Jan. 29. 

North (17-6), which captured its seventh state championship overall, along with an 18th sectional title, finished up as the highest-ranked team in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area at No. 12 in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, released on Wednesday morning.

Not bad for a program that went 7-13 last season under coach Dave Bell, who captured 11 state titles during his amazing 25-year career at Bergen Catholic. It was North's first sub-.500 campaign since finishing 9-10 in 2015-16.

"From the start of last year, we were all saying that we were going to win a state title," said sophomore Cayden Wadle, who set up North's previous win over P'burg with the first of two victories vs. freshman Zack Swingle at 106 pounds. "Just having that attitude and mentality, and working hard in the [practice room] all the time. That's really what got us here."

Phillipsburg (17-4), which won its 42nd sectional title and was denied its first state championship since 2022, ended up one spot behind at No. 13. Delaware Valley (19-3), which won the Group 1 title, checked in at No. 17. Pope John (11-6), which fell in the Non-Public B final, made it four area teams in the final poll as the Lions entered the rankings for the first time at No. 18.

North had some tense moments and got a few late heroics, as it did in the first meeting with P'burg, to secure its latest championship. At one point, the Stateliners had made up five team points from their previous loss when senior ace Gavin Hawk pinned in the eighth bout at 157. But North won the flip and was able to move senior Joshua Joubert away from Hawk, and the Lion set the championship wheels in motion with a technical fall in the next bout to give North a 22-21 lead it would not relinquish.

North won 4 of its titles in G3 (1982, 84, '94 and 2002)

Two bouts later, unheralded sophomore Anthony DeSimone's 9-7 win at 215 -- his second this season over HWS champion Kevin Buonocore -- on a late third-period takedown sealed it. That's when Bell could finally relax after he had earlier stopped trying to keep tabs on the team-point situation. 

"I'm just a match-by-match guy," said Bell, who orchestrated the biggest turnaround at North since a 7-5 finish in 1982-83 preceded a Group 3 title run and a 17-2 record in Fred Pierro's final season as head coach in 1983-84. The Lions also went from 7-7 in 1980-81 to 17-2 and its first state championship in 1981-82.

"For awhile, I was talking to [assistant coach] Darren Schulman saying, 'Where are we?' Then I just said, 'Hey, we're just going to wrestle. I teach history. I'm terrible at math. OK, if we win 215, then we win. That's when I knew. I didn't know the whole time. I knew we lost [some points from the first meeting] and we made up some, but enough to win."

Bell also became the first HWS area head coach to lead two programs to state titles since Mike Rossetti did it at Jefferson (Group 2 in 1992, '93 and '94) and P'burg (1996 in Group 3, '97, '98 and '99 in Group 4). 

"That's rarified air. That's awesome company," said Bell, whose team will be home for the District 14 Tournament on Saturday. 

Dominant Del Val

DV has won 10-plus duals in 51 of its 63 seasons

Delaware Valley sure made it look easy in winning its third Group 1 title in four seasons with a 47-16 pasting of Hanover Park. The tight-knit Terriers outscored their five postseason opponents -- including three victories in capturing the program's 23rd sectional championship -- 328-40 (a 57.6 average margin). 

"I feel like we saved our best [performance] for last," said senior Jackson Bush, who picked up his 100th win in the title match with a pin at 150 pounds. "We kept improving throughout the whole year. Some teams talk about how it's a brotherhood and how they would do anything for each other. When we say that, we mean it. It's great to close out my team career on top."

Del Val, which won eight in a row to wrap up the dual season after a 34-29 loss to No. 16 Cranford on Jan. 24, also handed No. 19 Caldwell a 33-31 loss on Jan. 18.

On the adjacent mat in Non-Public B, Pope John gave Camden Catholic all it could handle in a 32-30 title-match loss. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's Lions, who dropped a 43-24 decision to the Irish on Jan. 4, did not have its best lineup in that one as the Sparta-based school tightened the gap this time with pins at 215 and 285, where Camden Catholic had previously logged falls at both weights. The top-ranked South Jersey school, which recorded its first unbeaten season in 50 years, also was able to dictate key matchups at 190 and 120 to close it out.

Tops in the state

St. Joseph-Montvale finally got its lineup together at the right time, and the result was a second Non-Public A championship and second No. 1 ranking in the final NJWWA Top 20 in the past three seasons. St. Joseph also defeated Delbarton in the 2023 Non-Public A final and finished No. 1, before Delbarton turned the tables last season.

Rumson-Fair Haven finished as the undisputed top public school and No. 5 overall after capturing its second straight Group 2 championship. The Bulldogs knocked off Southern (39-27 on Jan. 28), which won its third straight Group 5 title, North Hunterdon (52-21 on Jan. 17) and Group 3 winner Brick Memorial (32-28 on Jan. 15), as well as Phillipsburg (44-25 on Jan. 20). 

Rank	School	Record	Votes	Previous
1	St. Joseph-Montvale (8)	(14-3)	160	4
2	Delbarton	(23-4)	152	1
3	St. Peter's Prep	(16-3)	144	2
4	Christian Brothers Academy	(9-4)	136	3
5	Rumson-Fair Haven	(28-1)	128	5
6	St. John Vianney	(13-5)	120	7
7	Southern	(18-3)	109	9
8	Bergen Catholic	(11-3)	104	6
9	Camden Catholic	(17-0)	97	8
10	St. Augustine	(16-7)	87	11
11	Delsea	(21-2)	85	12
12	North Hunterdon	(17-6)	74	14
13	Phillipsburg	(17-4)	65	15
14	Mount Olive	(15-4)	57	10
15	Brick Memorial	(14-5)	47	16
16	Cranford	(20-4)	37	17
17	Delaware Valley	(19-3)	29	18
18	Pope John	(11-6)	27	NR
19	Caldwell	(24-2)	20	20
20	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(18-4)	16	13

Also receiving votes: High Point (19-6) 2; Middletown North (24-2) 2; Paramus Catholic (9-8) 1. 

Voting members listed in alphabetical order: Donald J. Brower (gardenstatehswrestling.com); Frank D’Esposito (shoreconferencewrestling.com); Steven Falk (Asbury Park Press and APP.com); Sean Farrell (The Record and NorthJersey.com); Tom McGurk (Courier Post and courierpostonline.com); Andy Mendlowitz (Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com); Michael Weilamann (Open Mike and mikeopen.blogspot.com), Brad Wilson (lehighvalleylive.com). 

Wrestling: Group wrap-up, tidbits (HWS rankings)

Celebrate good times, c'mon. The reasons may be varied, but Delaware Valley and North Hunterdon had good cause to party down as both represented the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area in style in Sunday's state team championships at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.

Delaware Valley ran absolutely roughshod through the postseason and capped its run with a 47-16 victory over Hanover Park in the Group 1 final. The Terriers (19-3) outscored their five opponents through the sectional and state tournaments by a combined score of 328-40, while capturing the program's 11th state championship and third in Group 1 since 2020. 

Only Paulsboro (34), Phillipsburg (23), Camden Catholic (19), Bergen Catholic (14) and South Plainfield (12) have won more titles than Del Val, third among public schools since the tournaments formed in 1982.

Del Val leads Hunterdon County with 11 state titles

"We had so much momentum from the week," said coach Andy Fitz, whose team waited nearly a year for a shot at redemption after a three-peat bid ended with a 33-25 title-match loss to Paulsboro in 2024. "I'm a big believer in momentum in this sport, it's a true team sport. We just had it rolling."

Driving that train was senior ace Jaden Perez (30-1), a Drexel recruit who won by technical fall against fellow state medalist Devin Ryan of New Milford in the Group 1 semis on Friday and again on Sunday vs. Hanover Park junior Nick DiFrancescantonio, who lost in the Blood Round at states last season at 120 pounds. The latter result happened with Del Val winning the flip and keeping Hanover Park from bumping up to open at 126 pounds in hopes of creating more desirable matchups down low.

"I've got the best support system there is, these guys are awesome," said Perez, who looks to become only the 10th to win at least three district titles for the Terriers on Saturday. "I can't wait."

Perez, who placed fifth at 126 last season, was joined in the program's 100-wins club by senior state qualifier Jackson Bush (27-4), who hit the century mark with his pin in the Group 1 final. Perez currently ranks eighth on the list at 115-19 overall. Next up is Nick LaFevre (116-30 from 2004-08).

Stick-to-itiveness

North Hunterdon sophomore Anthony DeSimone and junior Reid Buzby really came through in the clutch in a 37-27 victory over Phillipsburg in what was easily the most competitive and entertaining public final in Group 4.

DeSimone (9-17), who appeared to be tiring in the third period, converted a takedown with just 24 seconds left to pull off a match-clinching 9-7 win over HWS champion Kevin Buonocore at 215 pounds. Earlier in the third bout at 126, Buzby, a returning state qualifier pulled off his own late takedown with six seconds to go against Massimo Gonzalez for a heart-stopping 4-2 decision.

North also won G4 titles in 2020 and '23

"I'm real happy that I stayed in the sport," said DeSimone, who is just a second-year wrestler. "I just thought it would be really cool to win [a state title]. And to be in a spot where I need to win the match makes it all worthwhile.

"I knew starting at 113, it was going to come down to 190, 215 and heavyweight. I worked my butt off this offseason, didn't win some matches that I should have won. This really brings it full circle for me. It really feels good."

The Lions (17-6) fully believed that DeSimone could deliver a repeat performance after his stunning 12-7 win over Buonocore in North's 34-24 win over P'burg on Jan. 29.

"He's a hard worker in the room," senior Joshua Joubert said of DeSimone. "I roll with him all the time. Just because he's a new wrestler doesn't mean anything. I'm very confident in his abilities just like all my [teammates]. I knew he'd pull through for the team like he did when we wrestled them [earlier] this season."

Turning the corner

North Hunterdon's 7-13 campaign last season sure seems like a distant memory. The Lions have now beaten P'burg twice in a season for only the second time in program history after doing so during their only unbeaten campaign in 2019-20, which culminated with their first Group 4 title. 

North also has a history of rebounding after regular-season losses to the Stateliners, turning the tables to win Group 3 state championships in 1982, '84 and '93. North is now 3-0 at neutral sites in the series, which P'burg leads 59-13-1 overall since 1961. North, Warren Hills (1989-90) and Hunterdon Central (2009-10 and 2012-13) are the only HWS programs to defeat P'burg twice in the same season since the advent of sectional and state tournaments.   

NH logged its highest win total since 2020 (23-0)

"I think a lot of people doubted us coming into the season," Joubert said. "Our records don't really show how talented we truly are. I don't think there's many teams in the state that have as much trust in their guys as we do in one another."

How did North undergo such a stark transformation in one year?

"Those guys," veteran coach Dave Bell said pointing to his wrestlers and coaches. "Coach [Andrew] Gapas. Coach [Darren] Schulman. They just believed. The energy and the chemistry came together."

A rugged schedule also helped as North faced every public school champion -- beating Delaware Valley (Group 1) and falling to Southern (Group 5), Delsea (Group 3), which became the ninth public school to win four or more in a row, and Rumson-Fair Haven (Group 2).

"Wrestling those best teams in the state really prepared us," Joubert said.

Final area rankings

1. North Hunterdon (17-6) -- Lions, who logged 10-plus wins for the 44th time in the program's 68 seasons, knocked off P'burg twice and handed Delaware Valley a 34-33 loss along the way, while also earning the program's 18th sectional title.

2. Phillipsburg (17-4) -- Stateliners, now 6-4 in state title matches since 2014, captured the program's 42nd sectional title with a 31-29 win over Mount Olive before suffering their third straight state finals loss since winning the Group 5 title in 2022. Senior Luke Geleta moved into second place on school's all-time wins list at 132-26 overall.

Del Val is 305-99 in 18 seasons under Andy Fitz

3. Delaware Valley (19-3) -- Terriers picked up their 23rd sectional title -- matching Hunterdon Central for the county lead -- before knocking off Hanover Park in the Group 1 final for the program's 877th win. Del Val was one shy of its 12th campaign with 20-plus wins.

4. High Point (19-6) -- Wildcats picked up their Sussex County-best 31st sectional title before a tough 38-30 loss to Group 2 runner-up Caldwell in the state semifinals. Former state champion Billy Smith is the first in program history to log 19 dual-meet wins and the second to win a sectional title, joining Jan Michaels (1994), as a rookie head coach.

5. Pope John (11-6) -- Lions nearly pulled off a postseason stunner in a 32-30 loss to Camden Catholic in the Non-Public B final. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's team found a way to make up 17 points in the rematch after a 43-24 loss to the Irish on Jan. 4. Sophomore Braydan Lombreglia logged a decision at 165 pounds after missing the first meeting, while pins from Shawn Baumann (215) and Jared Cofrancesco (285) were 12-point swings in both from the previous matchup.

 

6. Warren Hills (11-11) -- Blue Streaks went 1-1 in the postseason, scoring a 36-35 win over Nutley before dropping a 33-32 decision to South Plainfield in the North 2, Group 3 sectional semis. Senior Tyler Redfield (29-3 at 138), who is at 97 career wins, aims to become only the fifth four-time district champion for the Streaks and first since Dave Richmond (2003-06) as Hills is set to host District 7. 

Kittatinny logged its 700th win in the N1, G1 semis

7. Kittatinny (12-11) -- Cougars saw their dual season end abruptly as they came up short in their bid for the program's 26th sectional title with a 38-31 loss to New Milford in the North 1, Group 1 final. Senior Ethan Dalling (31-2 at 175) looks to become the just sixth to win four district titles for the Cougars, along with his father, Steve (1988-91).

8. Hackettstown (14-10) -- Tigers lost a 42-30 decision to Parsippany Hills in the North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals before ending the dual slate with a 51-21 loss to West Morris. Sophomores Joe Rowinski (26-6 at 106), Steven Vidal (26-6 at 113) and Giovanni Gutierrez (24-7 at 120) all enter the postseason with 20-plus wins.

9. Hopatcong-Lenape Valley (11-13) -- Patriots wrapped up their dual campaign by going 3-3 last week, including a quad at West Essex, where senior Marc Pavese (25-11 at 138) became the 18th member of the program's 100-wins club -- joining fellow senior Gage Graziano (30-5 at 144).

10. Newton (11-14) -- Braves went 3-1 following a tough 38-36 loss to Pompton Lakes in the North 1, Group 1 sectional semis, including a 54-23 win over Voorhees on Wednesday. It was a Bollette family affair as Newton head coach Eric Bollette went against his younger brother and Vikes assistant coach J.P., whose son, Christian, a junior, scored a technical-fall win at 132 pounds for the visitors. 

Wrestling: North sweeps P'burg to win Group 4 title

PISCATAWAY -- North Hunterdon's transformation from sub-.500 team to championship club is complete.

In the process, coach Dave Bell's Lions pulled off a rare feat in beating Phillipsburg twice in one season as North won four of the last five bouts, including a clutch decision at 215 pounds, to score a 37-27 victory in the Group 4 state final on Sunday at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.

North's 7 titles matched High Point and Pope John

North Hunterdon (17-6), which endured a 7-13 campaign last season, captured its seventh championship (third in Group 4) overall and third since 2020. It also gave Hunterdon County a pair of winners for the second time in three years after Delaware Valley cruised to the Group 1 title with a 47-16 rout of Hanover Park. The Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area went 2-1 on the day, as Pope John gave unbeaten Camden Catholic all it could handle in a 32-30 loss in their Non-Public B matchup.
  

"We started at a great weight [113 pounds] and got rolling early," said North senior Joshua Joubert, who halted Phillipsburg's three-bout run with a technical fall win at 165 pounds and gave the Lions, who won nine bouts overall, a 22-21 lead they would not relinquish. "The lightweights, I knew they would pull through and get bonus. We got pretty amped after [Celentano] got his pin. I think from there it was barbecue chicken."

Once again it was North sophomore Anthony DeSimone delivering a knockout blow -- much like he did in North's 34-24 win over P'burg on Jan. 29 -- with his clutch 9-7 win over HWS champion Kevin Buonocore that sealed the title with two bouts remaining. DeSimone (9-17), a second-year wrestler who seemed to be tiring late, trailed by a point in the third period after being hit with a second stall warning and converted the go-ahead takedown -- his first since a pair in the first period -- with 24 seconds left on the clock. 

North also beat P'burg twice in its 2020 title run

"I just got an underhook and threw it by to a single, brought [his leg] up and tripped him," said DeSimone, who scored a 12-7 win over Buonocore in the regular-season dual. "I knew I had to get something. My double-leg really wasn't working so I had to switch it up."

"We told him that we had a lot of faith in him," veteran coach Dave Bell said of DeSimone. "He's the guy we wanted out there."

North sophomore Cayden Wadle iced the cake with a 4-1 decision in the final bout at 106 to earn his second win over P'burg freshman Zack Swingle. The Wadle family now has been a part of four state titles for North as Cayden's older brother, Logan, won two (2020 and '23), while their father, Rudy, helped the Lions capture a Group 3 title in 1994. 

"It's awesome. "It's a great feeling to have that with my family," Cayden said. "But we're going to come back and win another one next year."

Phillipsburg (17-4), which was seeking its first title since winning the Group 5 championship in 2022, seemed to be in good shape early in the match. The 'Liners got the major they wanted in the previous meeting to start it off at 113, and nearly pulled off what would have been a huge upset at 126, as North junior Reid Buzby pulled out a 4-2 win over Massimo Gonzalez by converting a takedown with six seconds left on the clock in the third period.

North has won 5 of the last 8 vs. P'burg since 2020

That's when P'burg made a head-scratching move. Instead of bumping sophomore Owen Garriques to 138, as they did the last time, Stateliner coaches sent him out at 132, where much-stronger Lions sophomore Aidan Yarussi racked up six takedowns in a 20-7 win. Junior Kieran Raley followed with a 17-4 major and nearly decked Anthony Ashford with a half in the third period. 

Raley handed Garriques a 7-2 loss with the match already sealed in the previous meeting and Yarussi scored a tech, so both duals resulted in eight team points for North at those weights. Needing to make up a 10-point deficit from the last dual, most figured P'burg needed a split of those two weights and Yarussi rated a strong favorite against any 'Liner. 

"We thought there were a few things they could do," said Bell, who guided Bergen Catholic to 11 Non-Public A championships and became the first HWS area head coach to lead two programs to state titles since Mike Rossetti did it at Jefferson (Group 2 in 1992, '93 and '94) and P'burg (1996 in Group 3, '97, '98 and '99 in Group 4). 

"We thought they might send out [state finalist Gavin] Hawk against Joubert," Bell said. "That's why we [took the odd bouts]. We would have taken the [Brad] Kisselbach-[Dylan] McGuinness match. I don't know why they didn't got for that [option]."

Joubert's win started the four-bout run that led to a championship finish.

"It was pretty special going out there," Joubert said. "I honestly thought I was going to [wrestle] Hawk, but I'm plenty happy to go out there and get a tech for my team. That's what they needed. Obviously, they needed Evan [Kinney] to get a tech, too, or a pin. I'm glad we could deliver."

NORTH HUNTERDON 37, PHILLIPSBURG 27
113 -- So. Anthony Pettinelli (28-6), P, md. Fr. Owen Fol (20-15), 9-1.
120 -- Sr. Joseph Celentano (20-13), NH, p. Fr. Matthew Velez (12-18), 2:44.
126 -- Jr. Reid Buzby (26-8), NH, d. Jr. Massimo Gonzalez (25-10), 4-2.
132 -- So. Aidan Yarussi (30-4), NH, md. So. Owen Garriques (23-9), 20-7.
138 -- So. Kieran Raley (19-16), NH, md. Sr. Anthony Ashford (9-13), 17-4.
144 -- Sr. Luke Geleta (30-1), P, p. So. Matthew Esposito (13-10), 2:18.
150 -- Jr. Gavin Geleta (25-6), P, tf. Sr. Vincenzo Darrow (12-11), 19-2, 4:18.
157 -- Sr. Gavin Hawk (30-1), P, p. So. Dylan McGuinness (10-18), :55.
165 -- Sr. Joshua Joubert (22-13), NH, tf. Sr. Benny Mendoza (11-8), 16-0, 4:35.
175 -- Sr. Evan Kinney (28-3), NH, tf. Sr. Derek Stone (20-10), 17-1, 4:41.
190 -- Jr. Owen Dandeo (20-11), NH, md. Sr. Jesus Alfaro (16-17), 14-3.
215 -- So. Andrew DeSimone (9-17), NH, d. Jr. Kevin Buonocore (16-12), 9-7.
285 -- Jr. Ben Ellis (20-12), P, p. Sr. James Turner (6-11), 2:41.
106 -- So. Cayden Wadle (25-8), NH, d. Fr. Zack Swingle (23-8), 4-1.
Records -- Phillipsburg 17-4; North Hunterdon 17-6.
Officials -- Cris Ormsby and Joe Venuto.

Wrestling: Bush's 100th W propels Terriers to G1 title

PISCATAWAY -- Delaware Valley's wrestling team has been on such a major roll that it probably didn't want the ride to stop. Fortunately for the Terriers, when it finally did, they boarded the bus home with trophy in hand.

Coach Andy Fitz's team capped one of the most dominant runs of this postseason with a 47-16 shellacking of Hanover Park in the Group 1 state final on Sunday afternoon at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.

Del Val is now 11-9 in state finals (8-7 in Group 2)

Delaware Valley (19-3), which captured its 11th championship overall and third in the past four years, won 10 bouts (seven with bonus) and finished with a staggering 29-7 edge in takedowns. In all, the Terriers outscored their opponents, 328-40 over five postseason matches, including a 64.6 average margin of victory in the run to a Central Jersey sectional title.

"I loved our vibe from the minute we woke up this morning," said coach Andy Fitz, who has guided the program to four of its state titles, three in Group 1 and a 30-28 win over Hanover Park in the Group 2 final 2017. "We had a practice back at Del Val and we were champing at the bit to get here. Unlike last year, everything went our way. Really proud of the guys."

Del Val, now 10-1 all-time vs. Hanover Park since 2002, left this arena with a much different feeling a year ago, when the favored Terriers dropped a 33-25 decision to Group 1 kingpin Paulsboro, which won its state-best 34th title and spoiled Del Val's bid for its first championship three-peat since winning four in a row from 1987-90 under Andy's father, Vince. The father-son coaching duo now has guided the Terriers to 10 of the program's 11 titles, while the other belongs to former head coach and current assistant Paul Petro (Group 2 in 1999).

"I think that [loss to Paulsboro] really helped us," said senior Jackson Bush, who picked up his 100th career victory by decking Hanover Park's Joey Borrello with an arm bar at 150 pounds. "Everybody kind of came together as a team. We had great chemistry this year. We had something to work for --  coming back after winning two straight, there's not as much motivation. This year, there was a lot of motivation. I feel like we saved our best for last."

Hanover Park (17-7), which was seeking its second state title and first since 2015, was up against it before the first whistle after losing the flip and not being able to navigate away from Del Val senior ace Jaden Perez, a returning state medalist. The Drexel recruit got things going with a technical fall of Nick DiFrancescantonio at 126 pounds. 

Del Val's 11 titles rank 4th among public schools

"We haven't won a toss in maybe three weeks," said Fitz, who did a fist pump coming back to the bench after winning the flip. "We needed all positive vibes. When we won the toss, we felt very good about our chances. We've been wrestling great all week and we got the matchups we wanted and the kids performed. It started at an ideal weight, we were able to beat one of their A-list guys in DiFrancescantonio. We just kind of rolled from there."

Perez, who improved to 115-19 overall, knew his job was to set the tone and wasn't surprised that his team dominated from the opening bout.

"I definitely wanted to get the guys ready to wrestle and hyped up," said Perez, who's been on fire of late despite battling a recent illness. "I think I got that going and we showed up exactly how I thought we were going to do. I'm not shocked at all."

After the teams split the first four bouts, Bush's milestone pin sparked a five-bout run (three pins and two tech falls) that was capped by senior Branden Sozanski's match-clinching fall at 190, which gave Del Val an insurmountable 38-7 lead through 10 bouts. Senior Luke Sinkewicz also decked Hanover Parks' Nando Otto at 157 to win the rubber match in their series after splitting two bouts last season.

"Yeah, good timing," Bush said of becoming the 15th member of the Terriers' 100-wins club. "We kept improving throughout the whole year and I think that showed out there today," Bush said. "I think we wrestled our best match of the season right there when the pressure was on."

Del Val, which is sitting on 876 wins as a program, was clearly on a mission and was not going to be denied this time around. 

"That junior year being ripped away from us really [stunk]," said Perez, who helped this senior class win four sectional and three state titles during their time in Del Val singlets. "I think that really lit a fire under us, including me. The chemistry of this team is something I've never experienced before. It truly is like a family. I know this is probably the best team I will ever be a part of so it's awesome."

DELAWARE VALLEY 47, HANOVER PARK 16

126 -- Sr. Jaden Perez (30-1), DV, tf. Jr. Nick DiFrancescantonio (26-7), 17-0, 4:35.
132 -- Sr. Santino Danise (10-1), HP, md. Jr. Tye Falkenstein (22-9), 9-1.
138 -- Jr. Michael Hasson (24-8), DV, tf. Sr. Cristian Cesaro (21-12), 19-4, 5:37.
144 -- Sr. Joey Tantawi (20-3), HP, d. Jr. Sebastian Dobak (17-6), 4-2.
150 -- Sr. Jackson Bush (27-4), DV, p. Sr. Joey Borrello (23-10), 3:39.
157 -- Sr. Luke Sinkewicz (25-5), DV, p. Sr. Nando Ott (23-10), 4:50.
165 -- Jr. Olivier Paul (22-7), DV, tf. Sr. Joe Filippone (10-12), 19-4, 2:30.
175 -- So. Marcus Gary (11-5), DV, tf. Jr. Ronny Madera (5-18), 16-1, 4:13.
190 -- Sr. Vincenzo LaValle (32-3), HP, p. Sr. Oren Nahum (7-14), :31.
215 -- Sr. Branden Sozanski (15-4), DV, p. Sr. Luke Stephenson (12-7), 4:20.
285 -- Jr. Luken Alberdi (24-7), DV, d. Jr. Aeeden Hamilton (21-11), 2-1.
106 -- Jr. Tristan Fawthrop (17-9), DV, d. So. Gabriella Conte (19-4), 6-4.
113 -- Sr. Giovanni Conte (22-10), HP, d. Fr. Tanner Donaruma (9-6), 4-0.
120 -- Jr. Julian Bednar (18-4), DV, d. Fr. Ethan Kaup (14-13), 14-10.
Records -- Hanover Park 17-7; Delaware Valley 19-3.
Officials -- Zac Papa and Anthony DeFlumeri. 

Wrestling: Group 4, 1, Non-Public B finals previews

Safe to say that North Hunterdon's wrestling team got its wakeup call this week.

The Lions escaped in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final with a slim 32-31 road win over Middletown North on Wednesday. 

"It definitely caught us off-guard," said junior Reid Buzby, who logged one of seven pins for North Hunterdon at 126 pounds in a 61-12 dismantling of Toms River South in the Group 4 semifinals on Friday in the Lions Den. "It showed us that we can't fool around [against teams] in the postseason."

HWS had no champs last year for the 1st time since 2019

Sophomore Kieran Raley's major decision in the final bout of that sectional final is the reason we're on the brink of the most talked about rematch in these parts as coach Dave Bell's team squares off against Phillipsburg at 2:30 p.m. in the Group 4 final on Sunday at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena.

"We talked about it that night and when we got back home," Bell said. "Simple formula -- consistency and effort. I don't know what it was with the environment. I could tell their focus wasn't there. When we got off to a bad start it just snowballed from there. 

"Thank God, we were able to pick it up, which says a lot for the guys. It looked pretty bleak for awhile and they fought back. You had this feeling that it just doesn't feel like it's our night -- and it ended up being our night."

North Hunterdon (16-6), which handed Phillipsburg a 34-24 loss in the Lions Den on Jan. 29, enters as the favorite, which is rare in these circumstances against the Stateliners (17-3), who have won 23 state titles -- second only Group 1 kingpin Paulsboro (34). North is the last Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area program to hand P'burg losses in the regular and postseason -- 30-24 in a road dual and a 37-12 blowout victory in the 2020 North 2, Group 4 sectional final in the Lions' only unbeaten season. 

P'burg's last championship was in Group 5 in 2022

"They're prideful kids and they want to go out and do their best," second-year coach Tim Longacre said after the Stateliners' impressive 31-29 win over Mount Olive in the North 1 sectional final. "Our goal is always state titles. Right now, we're healthy, everyone feels good. We've been to Rutgers. We know what it feels like to lose [45-21 to Southern in last year's Group 5 final]. So I think [our kids] are going to come hungry."

"A lot of our guys stepped up in big places," said senior Joshua Joubert, a sophomore on the 2023 North team that won the Group 4 title. "Our heavy guys stepped up, we won a lot of tossup bouts. I'm just excited for the rematch."

Ditto. Now, let's take a closer look at all finals involving HWS area schools:

Group 4

Titles: Phillipsburg 23 — (Group 5) 2022. (Group 4) 1986, '87, '88, '97, '98, '99, 2000, '12, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18. (Group 3) 1983, '89, '91, '92, '95, '96, 2003, '04, '09. North Hunterdon 6 — (Group 4) 2020, '23. (Group 3) 1982, '84, '94, 2002.

Series history: Phillipsburg owns a 59-12-1 edge dating to 1961, including a 7-4 mark in postseason meetings. North scored a 34-24 win at home on Jan. 29 to snap the Stateliners' three-match win streak. The Lions had previously won three straight for the first time in series history with a 32-23 victory at home on March 23, 2021. The Lions, who logged consecutive wins on only one other occasion in 1961-62, snapped their 17-match skid in the series with a 30-24 win on the road in 2020 and added a dominating 37-12 win in the North 2, Group 4 sectional final en route to the Group 4 state title and the program's only unbeaten season. North's other wins came in the Group 3 finals (1982, '84 and '93), and regular-season dual meets in 1961, '62, '65, '75 and 2007.

Phillipsburg Stateliners (17-3)

Fr. Zack Swingle (23-7) 106; So. Anthony Pettinelli (27-6) 113; Fr. Matthew Velez (12-17) 120; Jr. Massimo Gonzalez (25-9) 126; So. Owen Garriques (23-8)/Fr. Mason Hawk (2-2) 132; Sr. Anthony Ashford (9-12) 138; Sr. Luke Geleta (29-1) 144; Jr. Gavin Geleta (24-6)/Jr. Brad Kisselbach (3-2) 150; Sr. Gavin Hawk (29-1)/Sr. Benny Mendoza (11-7) 157-165; Sr. Derek Stone (20-9) 175; Jr. Kevin Buonocore (16-11)/Sr. Jesus Alfaro (16-16)/Sr. D'Angelo Hernandez (1-5) 190-215; Jr. Ben Ellis (19-12) 285.

North Hunterdon Lions (16-6)

North eyes its 7th state title and third in 5 years

So. Cayden Wadle (24-8) 106; Fr. Owen Fol (20-14) 113; Sr. Joseph Celentano (19-13) 120; Jr. Reid Buzby (25-8) 126; So. Aidan Yarussi (29-4) 132; So. Kieran Raley (18-16) 138; So. Matthew Esposito (13-9) 144; So. Dylan McGuinness (10-17) 150; Sr. Vincenzo Darrow (12-10) 157; Sr. Joshua Joubert (21-13) 165; Sr. Evan Kinney (27-3) 175; Jr. Owen Dandeo (19-11) 190; So. Anthony DeSimone (8-17) 215; Sr. James Turner (6-10) 285.

Breakdown: It's finally here. The matchup everyone up north has been looking forward to since late January. North was on top of its game that night, while P'burg was unable to meet the moment and uncharacteristically flat on the bench. That was addressed and you should expect a much different version of the 'Liners this time around. Can P'burg make up a six-point deficit? Sure. But two key matchups (106 and 215), which went to North last time, loom big. Also, the 'Liners need more bonus points where they didn't get them last time, perhaps 113 (Pettinelli p. Fol in the HWS Tournament) and 157 or 165 with Hawk. North could say the same at 175 and perhaps 126 as Buzby seems to be on another level right now. Both teams are wrestling well of late as evidenced by the lopsided semifinal results as P'burg rolled to a 55-12 win over Long Branch. P'burg will likely need to make that move again at 132, away from Yarussi who would be favored over Garriques, who avenged a loss to Matteo Eagleson of Mount Olive and aims to do it again after dropping a 7-2 decision to Raley in the dual at North. That may not be the only move of the lineup for P'burg in the middle. P'burg has had 17 days to stew over that loss and I think it wins enough of the closes ones and saves points in spots it lost big last time to pull this off. 

The pick: Phillipsburg, 30-25.

Group 1

Titles: Delaware Valley 10 — (Group 2) 1984, '85, '87, '88, '89, '90, '99, 2017. (Group 1) 2022, '23. Hanover Park 1 — (Group 2) 2015.

Hanover Park Hornets (17-6)

So. Gabriella Conte (19-3) 106; Sr. Giovanni Conte (21-10) 113; Fr. Ethan Kaup (14-12) 120; Jr. Nick DiFrancescantonio (26-6)/So. Kyle Dunn (11-13) 126; Sr. Santino Danise (9-1) 132; Sr. Cristian Cesaro (21-11) 138; Sr. Joey Tantawi (19-3) 144; Sr. Joey Borrello (23-9) 150; Sr. Nando Ott (23-9) 157; Sr. Joe Filippone (10-11) 165; Jr. Ronny Madera (5-17) 175; Sr. Vincenzo LaValle (31-3)/Sr. Luke Stephenson (12-6) 190; Sr. Christian Carter (8-7) 215; Jr. Aeeden Hamilton (21-10) 285.

Delaware Valley Terriers (18-3)

Del Val seeks its Hunterdon County-best 11th title 

Jr. Tristan Fawthrop (16-9) 106; Fr. Tanner Donaruma (9-5) 113; Jr. Julian Bednar (17-4)/Sr. Lucas Beyers (14-10) 120; Sr. Jaden Perez (29-1) 126; Jr. Tye Falkenstein (22-8) 132; Jr. Michael Hasson (23-8) 138; Jr. Sebastian Dobak (17-5)/Jr. Jacob Edwards (9-3) 144; Sr. Jackson Bush (26-4) 150; Sr. Luke Sinkewicz (24-5) 157; Jr. Olivier Paul (21-7)/So. Marcus Gary (10-5) 165; So. Matthew Sencher (8-9) 175; Sr. Branden Sozanski (14-4) 190; Sr. Oren Nahum (7-13) 215; Jr. Luken Alberdi (23-7) 285.

Breakdown: These small-school programs have a little history as Del Val scored a 30-28 win over Hanover Park in a memorable Group 2 final in 2017. The Terriers have been the prohibitive state-title favorites all season and are seeking redemption here after a disappointing 33-25 loss to Paulsboro in last year's championship match. Safe to say that coach Andy Fitz hasn't let his team, which has won seven in a row since a 34-29 loss to North 2, Group 3 champion Cranford on Jan. 24, forget in order to keep his wrestlers humble entering this one. A lineup shift with Fawthrop dropping to 106 and Bednar taking over at 120 has made Del Val stronger down low, presenting another issue for Hanover Park facing this fairly well-balanced lineup. The Hornets are no longer a bit weak in the upper weights, something that had hampered coach Tyler Branham's teams in recent seasons. Branham, a former Kittatinny star, picked up his 100th coaching win earlier this season. The biggest problem facing Hanover Park is that Delaware Valley may just be a bit better where the Hornets normally win. The flip could also be big as Branham will look to run DiFrancescantonio away from Perez, who is red-hot right now and coming off a technical fall of fellow state medalist Devin Ryan of New Milford in the Terriers' lopsided semifinal win. Those bouts at 132, 138 and 144 are huge, while the Hornets, who will be favored at 113, 126 or 132 wherever Perez is not, and 190 with LaValle, a two-time state runner-up and three-time medalist, would also like to get 175 and 215. Del Val has the edge at 106 (slight), 120, 126 (Perez), 150, 157, 165 and 285. Barring an upset or two, Del Val should prevail in eight bouts.

The pick: Delaware Valley, 34-21.

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Non-Public B

Titles: Camden Catholic 18 — (Non-Public A) 1996, '99, 2000, '01, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09. (Non-Public B) 2002, '10, '11, '12, '13, '19, '20, '23. Pope John 7 — (Non-Public B) 1982, '83, '86, '92, '94, 2018, '22.

Camden Catholic Irish (16-0)

So. Zach Reali (5-6) 106; So. Chase Martino (17-10)/Sr. Dom Digiacomo (10-0) 113; So. Stevo Pisasale (8-3) 120; Jr. Lazarus Joyce (18-5) 126; Jr. Sammy Spaulding (29-3) 132; Fr. EJ Bonnette (12-3) 138; Fr. Terrance Barnes (11-11)/So. Eric Swanson (6-2) 144; Jr. Michael Craft (25-4) 150; Jr. Kage Jones (27-5) 157; Jr. Terry Terch (17-5) 165; Jr. Jaden Simpson (25-5) 175; So. Chris Owen (13-9)/Jr. Tristan Owen (15-7) 190; So. Madden Rosario (3-7) 215; So. Lars Stegner (14-9) 285. 

Pope John Lions (11-5)

So. Taylor Struble (0-6) 106; Sr. Jake Holly (15-5) 113; So. Matthew Reilly (4-12) 120; So. Frank Spagnola (8-10) 126; Jr. Dalton Weber (17-2) 132; Sr. Carson Walsh (26-1) 138; Sr. Donny Almeyda (9-0) 144; So. Lukas Katsigiannis (19-8)/So. Daniel Arroyo (11-7) 150; So. Braydan Lombreglia (13-6) 157; Jr. Cole Dunham (23-3) 165; Sr. Kevin Wilson (9-3)/So. Matthew Sutton (8-11) 175; Jr. David Thomson (20-6) 190; Jr. Shawn Baumann (9-10) 215; Sr. Jarrod Cofrancesco (5-4) 285.

Breakdown: We saw a preview of this one back in early January, when Camden Catholic rolled to a 43-24 win over Pope John in a home tri-meet. The Lions are definitely the more battle-tested team having competed against Delbarton (55-12 loss), St. Augustine (41-24 win), Mount Olive (34-27 loss), which have all been ranked in the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Top 20 all season. Coach Mark Piotrowsky's lineup features a pair of state medalists in Almeyda, who recently logged his 100th career win, and Walsh (125-15 overall), a Pitt recruit and three-time placewinner (runner-up last season). Weber is sitting on 86 career wins. Pope needs a repeat at 113 (Holly d. Martino, 7-6) and trim the 19 additional bonus points it surrendered last time. In fact, 10 of the 12 bouts wrestled resulted in bonus. If Pope wins the flip it will likely run Weber up to 138 away from Spaulding and bump from there up to 175. I think the Lions make this one slightly closer, but the Irish are just a bit better in too many spots.

The pick: Camden Catholic, 43-26 (42-30 if PJ wins the flip).