Wrestling: HWS trio headline first NJWWA Top 20

We're off and running as the 2023-24 high school wrestling season got underway this past weekend with a myriad of tournaments and a smattering of dual meets.

The season's first New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20 was released on Tuesday morning with three teams representing the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. 

Phillipsburg, last season's Group 5 state runner-up and fresh off a strong showing in the Vogeding Tournament at Paulsboro High School, checks in at No. 10 as the area's highest ranked team. 

The Stateliners, under first-year head coach Tim Longacre, had seven champions among their 11 finalists, including seniors Dawson McWilliams (2-0 at 126 pounds), Liam Packer (4-0 at 175) and John Wargo (3-0 at 285). Junior Luke Geleta (3-0 at 144) and Wargo are sitting on 69 career victories.

Perhaps even more significant was the fact that this was the first time that Phillipsburg traveled to Paulsboro since 2013. The traditional Garden State powers haven't met in dual meet since P'burg's 38-21 victory at The Pit in 2014. Paulsboro owns an 8-7 lead in a series that began in 1999. There was no meeting in '10.

Though the dual series ended under controversial circumstances nearly a decade ago, P'burg did a solid for Paulsboro during the 2016 Group championships, when the South Jersey team's bus was stuck at its hotel in Toms River.    

Phillipsburg opens its dual season at Bridgewater-Raritan on Wednesday before hosting a strong quad with No. 14 Delsea, No. 20 Mount Olive and unranked North Hunterdon on Saturday.

Hunterdon Central, which opened its season with an impressive 48-22 win over Warren Hills, checks in at No. 12. The Red Devils (1-0) followed up that performance by winning the Caldwell Tournament team championship on Saturday. Seniors Anthony Rossi (4-0 at 120), Evan Thompson (4-0 at 138) and Thomas Brunetti (4-0 at 190) are off to strong starts.

Delaware Valley rounds out the local contingent in the NJWWA Top 20. Coach Andy Fitz's senior-laden Terriers cruised to the team championship with six individual winners in their Wendy Pandy-Leh Tournament on Saturday. No. 13 Del Val, which opens the dual season at Hopewell Valley on Tuesday, is a strong favorite to win a third consecutive Group 1 championship. 

The Terriers won a program record four straight state titles in Group 2 from 1987-90 under longtime coach Vince Fitz (284-60-3 in 19 seasons from 1971-90). Andy, now in his 17th season in charge, is closing in on his father's program wins record at 266-93.

Two fixtures in recent seasons did not make the first Top 20. North Hunterdon, the reigning Group 4 champion and Warren Hills, which finished as the Group 3 runner-up the previous two seasons, have new head coaches and are in rebuilding mode. They'll meet in a Skyland Conference clash in Washington on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

North, now under longtime Bergen Catholic coach Dave Bell, finished third in the Ricky Iacono Memorial Tournament at Governor Livingston on Saturday behind a pair of champions -- sophomore Reid Buzby (5-0 at 106) and freshman Aiden Yarussi (4-0 at 120). North opened its dual season with a 43-28 win at home against rival Voorhees on Monday night. The Lions have won 10 straight in the series since a 26-25 loss in 2013 (teams did not wrestle during the 2021 Covid season), but it was the most points scored by the Vikings since a 38-26 victory over North in 2012. 

WH hosts North Hunterdon on Wednesday. (WH Facebook page) 

Warren Hills, which won five bouts in the loss to Hunterdon Central, finished third at the Caldwell Tournament on Saturday. The Blue Streaks can hang with a lot of teams from 106-144, but first-year coach K.C. Wanamaker's team is battling inexperience from 150 on up and is shorthanded at 215 and 285. Talented freshman Aidan Webb (4-0 at 113), who beat Hunterdon Central state qualifier Ryan Sherlock twice this weekend, is part of a strong group down low. Sophomore Davey Rhinehart (4-0 at 126), junior Tyler Redfield (4-0 at 132) and senior captain Josh Lee (4-0 at 144) are proven winners.

The first NJWWA Top 20 of the season has the same look at the top as the final one of the 2022-23 season.

St. Joseph-Montvale, which upended then No. 1 Delbarton 28-24 in a classic Non Public A championship match, begins the season ranked No. 1.

The Green Knights have nine state placewinners and 10 state qualifiers from last season in their lineup. They began the season by finishing fourth in the team standings in the Beast of the East Tournament and had seven medal winners, led by 175-pound champion Ryan Burton.

Delbarton, which has four 2023 state placewinners, led by returning champion Alessio Perentin and Louis Cerchio, is No. 2. The Green Wave finished sixth at the Beast of the East and had four medal winners, led by 138-pound champion Jayden James.

St. Peter's Prep looks like a team that could give both St. Joseph-Montvale and Delbarton a run for the money. The Marauders return six state placewinners and 10 state qualifiers. They finished seventh at the Beast of the East -- two points behind Delbarton -- and had two medal winners, led by 132-pound runner-up Caedyn Ricciardi.

Reigning Group 5 champion Southern is the top ranked public school team and opens at No. 6. The Rams, who finished as the top public school team in last year's NJWWA Top 20, have seven returning state qualifiers and three state medal winners, led by returning 150-pound state champion Matt Henrich.

Southern began its season with a 73-6 win over Brick Township and had eight champions in its Robin Leff Tournament. That tournament included wrestlers from state-ranked Camden Catholic, Delsea and Mount Olive.

Here is the preseason NJWWA Top 20. The first regular season rankings will be posted on Wednesday, Jan. 3. The poll will then run on Tuesdays throughout the rest of the regular season beginning Jan. 9.

Rank	School	Record
1	St. Joseph-Montvale	(1-0)
2	Delbarton	(0-0)
3	St. Peter's Prep	(0-0)
4	Bergen Catholic	(0-0)
5	Paramus Catholic	(0-0)
6	Southern	(1-0)
7	Don Bosco Prep	(0-0)
8	Camden Catholic	(0-0)
9	Christian Bros. Academy	(1-0)
10	Phillipsburg	(0-0)
11	St. John Vianney	(0-0)
12	Hunterdon Central	(1-0)
13	Delaware Valley	(0-0)
14	Delsea	(0-0)
15	Seton Hall Prep	(0-0)
16	St. Joseph-Metuchen	(2-0)
17	Brick Memorial	(1-0)
18	Cranford	(0-0)
19	Paulsboro	(0-0)
20	Mount Olive	(0-0)

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/The Express-Times). 

Wrestling: HWS schedule for Dec. 14-23

Thursday, Dec. 14 

(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)

Skyland Conference

Voorhees at Pingry

Independent

Sparta at Pompton Lakes, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 15

(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)

Skyland Conference

Warren Hills at Hunterdon Central, 6:30 p.m.
Rutgers Prep at Belvidere

Saturday, Dec. 16

(All tournaments 9 a.m., unless noted)

High Point in Robin Leff Tournament at Southern
Kittatinny, Hunterdon Central, Warren Hills at Caldwell Tournament
Hopatcong-Lenape Valley, North Warren in Kris Hicok Tournament at Dover
Newton at Mountain Lakes Tournament, 9:30 a.m.
Pope John at Beast of the East Tournament, 8:30 a.m.
Hackettstown, Sparta at Morris Knolls Tournament, 10 a.m.
Vernon in Mustang Invitational at Clifton
Wallkill Valley at Ramsey Tournament
Voorhees in Wendy Pandy-Leh Tournament at Delaware Valley
North Hunterdon in Rick Iacono Tournament at Governor Livingston
Phillipsburg in John Vogeding Tournament at Paulsboro
Belvidere in Mike Dessino Invitational at Middlesex

Sunday, Dec. 17

Pope John at Beast of the East Tournament, 8:30 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 18

Skyland Conference

Voorhees at North Hunterdon, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 19

(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Kittatinny at Hackettstown, 6 p.m.
Newton at Jefferson
Vernon at North Warren, 5 p.m.
Pope John at West Morris
Roxbury at Sparta
Wallkill Valley at Parsippany, 6 p.m.

Independent

Delaware Valley at Hopewell Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Belvidere at Mendham

Wednesday, Dec. 20

(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

West Morris at High Point

Skyland Conference

Delaware Valley at Pingry
Hillsborough at Hunterdon Central, 6:30 p.m.
North Hunterdon at Warren Hills, 7 p.m.
Phillipsburg at Bridgewater-Raritan
Voorhees at Bernards, 7 p.m.
Belvidere at Montgomery, 6:15 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 21

(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference

Morris Hills at Kittatinny
Pequannock at Hopatcong-Lenape Valley
North Warren at Newton
Boonton at Vernon, 6 p.m.
Hackettstown at Wallkill Valley

Friday, Dec. 22

(All matches 5 p.m., unless noted)

Independent

Kittatinny at West Milford Duals, 3 p.m.
Voorhees at Monroe Township, 2 p.m.
Warren Hills, Hanover Park, West Morris at Randolph
Belvidere at Bangor (Pa.), 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 23

(All matches 9 a.m., unless noted)

Skyland Conference

Bernards at Delaware Valley, 11 a.m.

Independent
Bridgewater-Raritan, Governor Livingston, Jefferson at Hunterdon Central
North Hunterdon, Delsea, Mount Olive at Phillipsburg, 10 a.m.

Wrestling: Longacre choice to guide P'burg

Phillipsburg has a new leader, but the program didn't stray far in the search for its 14th head coach.

As first reported here on Aug. 16, longtime youth coach and high school assistant Tim Longacre was approved as the Stateliners' head coach during Monday night's scheduled Board of Education meeting.

P'burg won its 40th sectional title in 2023.

Earlier this month, after a wild offseason filled with coaching hires and future role reversals at several other prominent Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area programs, along with rumblings about a potential change at P'burg, Brad Gentzle resigned from his post as the Stateliners' head wrestling coach just months from the start of the 2023-24 season.

Perhaps even more stunning is that Gentzle is expected to remain on the Phillipsburg staff as Longacre's top assistant. According to sources, former P'burg wrestlers Bryan Kopesky and Jared Crouse are also staying on as assistants. Former two-time state finalist (three-time placewinner) and Lehigh University All-American Brandon Paetzell was also rumored to be joining the P'burg staff.

Longacre is a former P'burg wrestler and starter on the 1992 Group 3 championship team -- a run that included a 56-8 win over Belleville in an infamous sectional tournament final at The Pit in which there was a mid-match melee between fans and ended with six straight forfeits (eight in all) by the visiting team. 

Gentzle

Longacre received the second forfeit in that stretch at 152 pounds. He was a strong candidate the last time around, when Dave Post was not rehired shortly after the 2020-21 season. Gentzle, an assistant under Post, was hired on June 21, 2021 during what was then a trying offseason.

The hiring process this time around at P'burg was certainly brief.

According to several sources, there was only one round of interviews conducted this past Tuesday and Wednesday -- each lasting about 45 minutes. In addition to Longacre, at least five others were known to have applied for the job, but it was unclear if all were granted interviews. 

Former Phillipsburg great and head coach Rick Thompson was among those to submit an application, but was not granted an interview. Hunterdon Central head coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm and longtime area assistant and South Hunterdon coach Leigh Hall, as well as Notre Dame (Pa.) coach Matt Veres and former Phillipsburg assistant Josh Haines also made inquiries. 

Phillipsburg (15-3) is coming off winning the program's 40th sectional championship and a Group 5 state runner-up finish last season.

Under Gentzle, the Stateliners went 31-4 over his two seasons at the helm, winning a pair of North 2, Group 5 sectional titles and the 2022 Group 5 championship, the program's 23rd state title. 

Maybe most importantly to Phillipsburg fans, Gentzle's teams went 2-0 against archrival Easton. The 'Liners have won four straight and seven of the past nine meetings in that storied series since 2014, but are just 21-62 against the Red Rovers in a series dating to 1948.

This has without doubt been one of the craziest HWS area wrestling offseasons in recent memory, as North Hunterdon (Dave Bell) and Warren Hills (KC Wanamaker) hired new head coaches, while High Point legend John Gardner is set to serve his final season as the boys' head coach.

Wrestling: Gentzle resigns, what's next for P'burg?

In a stunning move, Brad Gentzle resigned from his post as the head wrestling coach at Phillipsburg just months from the start of the 2023-24 season.

Gentzle informed the wrestlers and parents that he was stepping down on Wednesday afternoon. Both he and school officials were not immediately available for comment.

Phillipsburg (15-3) is coming off winning the program's 40th sectional championship and a Group 5 state runner-up finish last season.

P'burg will begin a search for its 14th head coach

Under Gentzle, the Stateliners went 31-4 over his two seasons at the helm, winning a pair of North 2, Group 5 sectional titles and the 2022 Group 5 championship, the program's 23rd state title. 

Maybe most importantly to Phillipsburg fans, Gentzle's teams went 2-0 against archrival Easton. The 'Liners have won four straight and seven of the past nine meetings in that storied series since 2014, but are just 21-62 against the Red Rovers in a series dating to 1948.

This has without doubt been one of the craziest Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area wrestling offseasons in recent memory, as North Hunterdon (Dave Bell) and Warren Hills (KC Wanamaker) hired new head coaches, while High Point legend John Gardner is set to serve his final season as the boys' head coach.

The search is on for Phillipsburg's 14th head coach as the program heads into its 76th season. Longtime youth coach and current assistant Tim Longacre appears to be the frontrunner to succeed Gentzle, who is expected to remain on staff. In essence, they would swap roles for 2023-24.

Longacre is a former P'burg wrestler and starter on the 1992 Group 3 championship team -- a run that included a 56-8 win over Belleville in an infamous sectional tournament final at The Pit in which there was a mid-match melee between fans and ended with six straight forfeits (eight in all) by the visiting team. 

Gentzle

Longacre received the second forfeit in that stretch at 152 pounds. He has gone on to become one of the most popular and respected coaches, and he worked well with former coach Dave Post and Gentzle. Longacre was a strong candidate the last time around, when the job opened following the 2020-21 season.

Gentzle, an assistant under Post, was hired on June 21, 2021 during a trying offseason. Former P'burg coach Rick Thompson, who served three terms with the Stateliners, also applied for the job but did not get an interview.

It will be interesting to see who applies this time around. Former P'burg star and state runner-up John Garriques' name surfaced back in 2021, but the longtime and successful Centenary University men's wrestling coach did not submit an application. His son, Owen, an accomplished youth wrestler, will enter Phillipsburg as a freshman this fall.

Wrestling: Wanamaker set to guide Warren Hills

We're just past the halfway point through another calendar year, and Warren Hills has the program's next leader in place for the 2023-24 season.

Longtime assistant coach and former wrestler KC Wanamaker was approved as the Blue Streaks' ninth head coach during a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday evening.

This move comes nearly two weeks after North Hunterdon landed Dave Bell, who previously guided national power Bergen Catholic. Bell was unanimously approved as the Lions' ninth head coach in program history at a BOE meeting on June 27.

"Above anything else, it's about the kids," Wanamaker said via phone interview on Tuesday afternoon. "We will put the kids at the center of everything we do." 

Wanamaker (far middle left) and Hills celebrate a sectional title

Warren Hills started its search when Dave Sbriscia resigned after five seasons on June 2. As first reported by Open Mike, Sbriscia was recently named the first head women's wrestling coach at Centenary University in Hackettstown. 

The Cyclones' inaugural season will be 2024-25. 

Wanamaker, a 2012 Warren Hills graduate (60 career victories and one-time Region 1 qualifier) and former wrestler at King's College, emerged as the Streaks' choice during a a second round of interviews conducted early last week. According to sources, fellow Streaks assistant coach Zach Fisher and former Paramus head coach Steve Klass were also in the mix.

The first round of interviews also included current Streaks head football coach Marcus Gurdineer, who was a wrestler during his high school days at Minisink Valley in Slate Hill, N.Y. 

Fisher, a former Phillipsburg standout, who also has served as a head coach in both boys cross country and track and field at Warren Hills, is employed by the district as a Social Studies teacher. Wanamaker does not work in the district, but he works from his home near the middle school. 

Wanamaker

Wanamaker, 29, said that Fisher, who is in the building, will stay on staff, which should make for a seamless transition. Both are currently with the team at a camp hosted by the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Wanamaker also said that Gurdineer will be part of the coaching staff, and that he would love for former Streaks state champion Marty White to also return.

"Zach and I are really close friends. We're going to do this together as a team," Wanamaker said during a break at camp. "He'll lead a lot of things and I will lead things. We're better together than apart. Zach and I are smaller guys so Marcus can help with the upperweights."

Klass, a former two-time PIAA Class AA state placewinner at Wilson Area High School in the Lehigh Valley, has served as an assistant on legendary coach Dave Crowell's staff at Nazareth (Pa.) for the past five years. 

Klass, a science teacher at Paramus and Easton (Pa.) resident, placed fourth (125 pounds in 1992) and second (135 in '93) in Pennsylvania during Crowell's tenure at Wilson. Klass, who went on to wrestle and graduate from Bucknell University, was also a candidate at Warren Hills when Sbriscia was hired as head coach in the spring of 2018. 

Klass previously coached at Wilson, Seton Hall Prep and Paramus, which became a major force in New Jersey during his 10 seasons at the Bergen County school. The Spartans made six sectional finals appearances and captured the North 1, Group 3 title in 2015 (finishing as the Group 3 runner-up and beating Sparta, 29-24, in the sectional final) during Klass' nine seasons at the helm. 

Hills won the Caldwell Tournament title in 2022.

Paramus also won a sectional title in 2012, the program's sixth overall and first since 1999. The 2016 also won a sectional championship that season after Klass' dismissal on Jan. 26 for using an ineligible wrestler. 

Under Sbriscia, Hills went 78-23 overall (earning the program's 800th victory in 2023) and enjoyed a bit of a rebirth with its back-to-back North 2, Group 3 sectional championship runs -- falling short to Delsea in 2022 and '23 in the quest for the Warren County school's third Group 3 title and first since 1997. 

Warren Hills (18-4) is coming off one its most successful seasons (the program's 87th overall) in which it captured the program's seventh sectional title overall and just its third since going back-to-back for the only other time in 1997 and '98. The Streaks ranked No. 13 (fifth among public schools) in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20.

The Streaks return five key wrestlers for 2023-24, including Region 3 runners-up Charlie Piccione (32-9 at 113) and Tyler Redfield (27-8 at 120), both juniors. Josh Lee (33-9), a senior with 63 career wins, finished third in Region 3 at 126 pounds. Augie Szamreta (25-13 at 106) and Davey Rhinehart (29-9 at 113 and 132), both sophomores, were Region 3 qualifiers.

Wrestling: Dave Sbriscia out as Warren Hills coach

This is certainly shaping as the craziest offseason in high school wrestling in recent memory around the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.

After weeks of rumors and speculation, Warren Hills on Friday morning announced it's looking for the program's ninth head coach. Former wrestler Dave Sbriscia, who has guided the Blue Streaks to back-to-back sectional titles and Group 3 finals appearances the past two seasons, will not return for the 2023-24 campaign.

Sbriscia confirmed via text message that he informed the wrestlers of his resignation. According to sources, he is expected to be named head coach of the inaugural women's program at Centenary University in Hackettstown.

Athletic director Mike Jones thanked Sbriscia for his contributions to the Warren Hills program.

"I wish him well," said Jones, who hopes to have a replacement by the July 11 Board of Education meeting. "Dave took care of all the summer stuff, which I give him credit for."

Warren Hills celebrates a sectional title win

Warren Hills (18-4) is coming off one its most successful seasons (the program's 87th overall) in which it repeated as North 2, Group 3 sectional champions -- the program's seventh title overall and just its third since going back-to-back for the only other time in 1997 and '98. The Streaks ranked No. 13 (fifth among public schools) in the final New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20.

Sbriscia addressed the Warren Hills community via Facebook:

I have spent the past 20 years being a part of the Blue Streak wrestling family. Carrying the roles of wrestler, camp clinician, volunteer coach, assistant coach, and head coach. I have made many friends along the way, some I refer to as family. I cannot thank those who have supported me enough as I have followed my dream to lead my alma mater. It is with a heavy heart at this time I announce my resignation from the position of head wrestling coach at Warren Hills Regional. At this stage in my life it’s time to close one door and open another. I wish nothing but the best to my Blue Streak wrestling family and will miss each and every one of you mat side. A special thank you to my wife Kristyn and my children Emily, Tucker and Brody who have supported me along this journey through the countless highs and lows. I would also like to thank my parents Donna and Duane; Dad knew I could do this even before I knew I could.

Go Streaks 

David Sbriscia

“Proud to Be a Blue Streak”

Sbriscia, a two-time district champion (2005 and '06) and state qualifier for Warren Hills, was named the school's eighth head coach in 2018 after his coach, former Phillipsburg wrestler and coach Jarrett Hosbach, stepped down after 13 seasons.

Under Sbriscia, Hills went 78-23 overall over the past five seasons (including earning the program's 800th victory in 2023) and enjoyed a bit of a rebirth with its championship runs -- falling short to Delsea in 2022 and '23 in the quest for the Warren County school's third Group 3 title and first since 1997. 

The Streaks also captured a three-way share of the Skyland Conference Raritan Division title -- their fifth straight division championship (three outright). 

Warren Hills also accomplished something the program had done just once previously (1997-98) as the Streaks captured their seventh sectional title and second straight in North 2, Group 3 with an impressive 41-21 win over Cranford in Washington Township. The victory also avenged a 33-22 loss to the Cougars in the 2017 title match.

Sbriscia coached 24 district champions (including a program-record 11 in 2022), along with four region champions (Duro Ajayi in 2019, Tyler McCatharn in '20, Stephen Malia in '22 and Jarett Pantuso in '23) and four state placewinners (McCatharn sixth at 285 in '21 and '22 and Pantuso eighth at 215 in '21 and fifth in '23). That five-year run of district winners was the most since 1947-51, when the former Washington High School crowned 27 under the legendary John Goles.

Former Paramus and current Nazareth (Pa.) assistant Steve Klass, who applied when Sbriscia was hired, is expected to be a leading candidate. 

Current assistant coach and former Phillipsburg wrestler Zach Fisher could also be a candidate for the vacant Streaks post. Former state champion Marty White and Streaks wrestler K.C. Wanamaker are also on staff, but White already coaches two sports at Delaware Valley (girls soccer and baseball) and had indicated previously that he was happy in his current role as assistant.

The search for Sbriscia's successor is underway as North Hunterdon continues seeking a replacement for Chris Hrunka, a teammate of Sbriscia's and a 2007 region champion for Warren Hills. Hrunka stepped down following the 2022-23 season after six seasons in charge and a pair of Group 4 state championships under his watch.

North appeared to have its new head coach last month, but the Lions and former Somerville coach Brent McGuinness could not come to terms, according to sources, though Open Mike learned that former Bound Brook star Nick Accetta was offered the North job. Former Delaware Valley state champion Ricky Krieger, who served as head coach at Franklin and Wilson Area (Pa.), was among those to interview with the Lions.

Over in Sussex County, iconic High Point coach John Gardner announced the 2023-24 season will be his last in charge of the boys program. Gardner will focus on the girls, while longtime assistant and former 'Cats state champion Billy Smith will take over the boys for 2024-25.

Wrestling: Gardner, Smith shifting roles at High Point

You could call it a changing of the guard somewhat for High Point's wrestling program as iconic head coach John Gardner is transitioning from his everyday duties with the boys to be more involved on the the girls side -- effective at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Gardner informed Open Mike late Wednesday evening that this winter will be his last in charge of a boys program that became a consistent New Jersey powerhouse during his 25 seasons at the helm.

Smith and Gardner 

The plan is for former Wildcats state champion Billy Smith, who's been the heir apparent since joining the staff seven years ago straight out of Rutgers University, to be promoted from assistant to boys head coach for the 2024-25 season. 

Longtime boys assistants Mickey Thomas and Mark "Otto" Veltri are also expected to remain in their current roles beyond 2023-24 -- meaning the entire staff essentially remains in tact. Erin Bang will continue as Gardner's assistant on the girls' side.

A wrestling room dedicated solely to the girls is also in the works at the Wantage-based school.

"I think it's the perfect time," said Gardner, who led the High Point boys to a Sussex County-best 30th North 1, Group 2 sectional title and its seventh state championship this past season. "We have a lot of horses coming up [in the youth program on the boys side] and I think it's one of the best decisions in the interest of the program."

It's the second major coaching change in the area this offseason as Chris Hrunka stepped down as head boys coach at North Hunterdon. The Lions captured their third sectional title and second Group 4 state championship in four years. 

As first reported by Open Mike, former Somerville head coach and Rutgers alum Brent McGuinness was the favorite to succeed Hrunka, but the sides were recently unable to come to terms, according to sources, and the search has opened back up. This past Tuesday's Board of Education meeting had no candidates for approval on the agenda and the next regular session is scheduled for June 27.

Gardner, whose teams have gone 406-122-2, wanted to make it clear that he isn't going anywhere. But he feels this move is necessary in order to get the girls program where it needs to go, while also giving Smith a long-awaited and deserved opportunity to be a head coach.

High Point celebrates its 7th state team title

High Point (12-9), which stood at 5-5 on Jan. 21 and took on Group 5 kingpin (Southern) and the Group 3 (Delsea) champion and runner-up (Warren Hills) along the way, rallied to reclaim the Group 2 title with a 36-34 win over Governor Livingston at Jersey Mike's Arena.

In doing so, the 'Cats earned the program's 780th victory in 57 seasons and its seventh state championship -- matching Pope John and moving one back of archrival Kittatinny, which ranks 10th on the state's all-time list with eight, for the Sussex County lead. Sparta (Group 2 in 1983) is the only other county program to win a state title.

"The goal is not to go undefeated in [dual meets], but to be ready when it comes time for Groups," Gardner said leading up to the 2023 postseason.

Gardner, a four-time region and 1990 state champion at 189 pounds for the 'Cats who ranks seventh on the school's all-time wins list as a wrestler (131-8-1 from 1986-90), joined Kittatinny's John Gill (629), Hunterdon Central's Russ Riegel (533 with the Red Devils and another 305 with Harrison County High School in Kentucky) and Phillipsburg Hall of Famer Rick Thompson (477 overall and 347 in New Jersey with P'burg, Hackettstown, Voorhees, Franklin and Mountain now West Orange) as the only Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex coaches to log 400-plus wins.

HP  celebrated Gardner's 400th coaching win on Jan. 24

"I've been very lucky. I really enjoy what I do," Gardner said earlier this season after that milestone victory.

In all, High Point, which sits behind only Paulsboro (42) and Phillipsburg (40) with 30 sectional titles in New Jersey wrestling history, is now 7-11 in state championship matches -- winning its first in 2008 and all seven (two in Group 3) under Gardner, a member of four sectional championship teams guided by former coach Jeff Hull.

Smith, 29, a special education and history teacher, has been on staff at his alma mater since the 2016-17 season. He was a key member of those great High Point teams (98 wins in his four years) in the mid-to-late 2000s -- going 138-20 overall from 2007-11. The 'Cats finished No. 1 in New Jersey for the 2007-08 and 2010-11 seasons. The only public school since to rank No. 1 was South Plainfield in 2011-12.

During that time, High Point won three sectional and two Group 3 championships, including the program's first in '08. Smith was a three-time district and two-time region champion, capturing the 285-pound state title in '11, one of three 'Cats seniors to win gold medals, along with three-timer Nick Francavilla, two-timer Ethan Orr and Drew Wagenhoffer during that magical 2011 state tournament in Atlantic City. 

All four will be inducted into the High Point Athletic Hall of Fame next month. Gardner's nephews and former 'Cats state placewinners, Joe and Jason Gaccione, are now serving as coaches at the youth level.

Smith went on to a successful collegiate career at Rutgers -- one of just four wrestlers for the Scarlet Knights at the time to make four consecutive national tournament appearances, joining Scott Winston (2009, 2011-13), Dan Rinaldi (2010-13) and Andy Roy (2002-05). Smith, who finished a round shy of All-American status at 285 pounds as a senior, went 105-39 overall and was one of just 16 to record 100 wins at the school upon graduation.

Gardner's teams were consistently ranked among the best in New Jersey from 2006-11, with the 2007-08 club arguably the best of them all. That team finished No. 1 in the state with a school-record 30 victories against one loss and captured the Group 3 title. The 'Cats have won 17 sectional titles under Gardner, who has coached 81 district ( a school-record nine in 2008 and at least one every year but 2000, '01 and '03), 34 region and 11 of the Sussex County program's 13 individual state champions since winning his own, including the only three-time winners in Brian Soldano (2020-22), now a starter at Rutgers University and Top 16 finisher at 184 pounds in this year's NCAA Division I Tournament, and Francavilla (2009-11). Gardner, Francavilla and Soldano are the school's only four-time region champs.

Additionally, Gardner's second region champion David Zabriskie, a 2005 district and state champion as well that season, made collegiate history as the first three-time heavyweight All-American at Iowa State, where he became the only NCAA Division 1 champion (2010) produced by the 'Cats. Zabriskie, who placed fifth (2009) and sixth ('08) his junior and sophomore seasons, finished 116-22 overall for the Cyclones.