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. 

Wrestling: McGuinness among 2 vying for North job

It appears that North Hunterdon is zeroing in on its next head wrestling coach.

According to sources, former Somerville head coach Brent McGuinness appears to be the clubhouse leader among the candidates who recently completed a first round of interviews with administrators at the Hunterdon County school.

A second round of interviews, said to be scheduled for Monday, will also include North assistant coach Shawn Flesche, a social studies teacher in the district.

A decision is expected to be reached by the next scheduled Board of Education meeting on May 23.

Hrunka (with GR trophy) and Flesche (top left)

The North job opened when Chris Hrunka resigned following six seasons in charge of the Lions shortly after the 2022-23 campaign.

"It was not something easy to do, turning away from the [high school] program," Hrunka said in a March interview.

Former Delaware Valley state champion Ricky Krieger, who had head coaching stints at Franklin and Wilson (Pa.) Area High School, confirmed that he did submit an application. Roselle Park head coach Ryan Rooney was also thought to be a candidate.

Along with Hrunka, 33, who is now running Warren Hills' youth program, longtime and well-respected assistant coach Joe LaSpada, a 1971 state champion at 106 pounds for Bernards, decided not to return after spending 37 of his 40-year coaching career with the Lions. 

McGuinness, whose son, Dylan, will be a freshman in North Hunterdon's program next season, makes for an interesting and logical choice, despite the fact he hasn't coached in nearly a decade. The Rutgers alum currently is employed as a special services supervisor at Millburn High School. 

As a co-head coach with former Madison star Ben Weiland, McGuinness guided Somerville, his alma mater, for 10 seasons (2004-14) and had a state champion under his watch Jimmy Kirchner (125 pounds in 2008). McGuinness was inducted into the Somerset County school's Athletic Hall of Fame in '09. 

North coaches with state champ Logan Wadle in AC

McGuinness, 44, was a two-time Region 5 champion and three-time New Jersey state tournament qualifier (top-eight finish as a junior at 160 pounds in 1995) for the Pioneers under 2023 National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Mike Suk. McGuinness certainly has strong ties with the North program overall as he also serves as wrestling director for BaseCamp 31, an athletic facility in Clinton Township. 

Also involved with the club in some capacity, according to its web site, are former North wrestlers Eric Eisenhart (strategic advisor, board liason), Dr. Justin Bagley (team physician, coach), Mike Ciavarro (coach and 2014 state placewinner), three-time placewinner Ryan Pomrinca (coach) and Lions great Ricky Frondorf (coach), a two-time state champion (2001-02) and four-time medalist.

Additionally, Steve Kempinski, a former Phillipsburg state finalist and youth coach for North, also is on the club's staff.

Flesche, 30, who has also served as an assistant coach in North's field hockey program, was a former standout wrestler at Old Tappan (2011 graduate) and the University of Scranton, where he was a four-year letterwinner. He compiled an overall record of 77-45, and ranked fourth on the school's all-time wins list and second in pins (29) upon graduation. Flesche was voted District 13 assistant wrestling coach of the year for 2021-22.

Hrunka, a standout wrestler for Warren Hills and Edinboro University, succeeded former Phillipsburg star Tim Flynn, now the school's vice principal and Phillipsburg youth coach, as North's eighth head coach. But Hrunka felt it was time to lighten the workload. He lives in the Warren Hills district and said he wanted to spend more time with his wife, Ellie, and their two young children -- Raymond (6), a youth wrestler for the Blue Streaks, and Ruby (5).

It's hard to imagine going out on a higher note.

North (15-5), ranked No. 15 in the final the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, captured its second North 2, Group 4 sectional (third since 2020) and Group 4 state championships in three years. There were no team tournaments in '21 due to the pandemic. 

In addition, three wrestlers placed in the 90th State Championships at Boardwalk Hall in March, including senior Logan Wadle (35-2), who snapped the program's 20-year title drought with his victory at 106 pounds.

Hrunka, who also presided over North's 800th victory (59-15 vs. Montgomery on Jan. 4), is the second Lions head coach to capture two state team titles during their tenures. Fred Pierrro's teams, which went 83-28 from 1977-85, won Group 3 championships in '82 and '84.

During his reign, Hrunka's teams went 95-18 overall with two of the program's four 20-win campaigns, including North's only perfect season -- a school-record 23 wins in 2019-20. 

Wrestling: End of era as Hrunka steps back at North

North Hunterdon's wrestling team is coming off one of the most successful stretches in the program's 67-year history. But head coach Chris Hrunka felt it's time to lighten the workload after six seasons in charge.

Hrunka, 33, informed his wrestlers on Friday morning that he resigned from his post. He also confirmed that longtime ace assistant Joe LaSpada, a 1971 state champion at 106 pounds for Bernards, won't return after spending 37 of his 40-year coaching career with the Lions. The search for North's ninth head coach is underway as positions will be officially posted on Monday.

Hrunka (with G4 trophy) celebrates with his staff

It became known in small area circles during the preseason that Hrunka, a Health and Physical Education teacher at North, would likely resign at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season. 

"I just wanted [the wrestlers] to focus on this season and not worry about what's next," said Hrunka, who will continue run things on the youth level. "It was not something easy to do, turning away from the [high school] program."

It's hard to imagine going out on a higher note.

North (15-5), ranked No. 15 in the final the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association Top 20, captured its second North 2, Group 4 sectional (third since 2020) and Group 4 state championships in three years. There were no team tournaments in '21 due to the pandemic. In addition, three wrestlers placed in the 90th State Tournament last weekend, including senior Logan Wadle (35-2), who snapped the program's 20-year title drought with his victory at 106 pounds.

Hrunka, who also presided over North's 800th victory (59-15 vs. Montgomery on Jan. 4), is the second Lions head coach to capture two state team titles during their tenures. Fred Pierrro's teams, which went 83-28 from 1977-85, won Group 3 championships in '82 and '84.

North celebrates the program's 17th sectional title

Hrunka was certainly burning the candle at both ends. In addition to high school duties, he also ran the youth program. It became too much, leaving high school practices and going straight to youth practices, along with attending club meetings, which made for some late nights.

"It was a lot. It was hard coaching two teams," said Hrunka, who plans to be a volunteer, along with two-time North state placewinner Chris Vidak, on the next high school staff should the new head coach approve. Vidak, who's been on the current staff and also has two young daughters, was a state runner-up in 1993 and third in '92 at 152 pounds.

Hrunka, who lives in the Warren Hills district, wants to spend more time with his wife, Ellie, and their two young children -- Raymond (6) and Ruby (5).

"My kids are getting older," he said. "I'm not one to do this halfway."

North celebrates the program's sixth Group title

During his reign, Hrunka's teams went 95-18 overall with two of the program's four 20-win campaigns, including North's only perfect season -- a school-record 23 wins in 2019-20. That magical year, which included handing Phillipsburg (39-3) just its third sectional finals loss, culminated with the Lions' first state championship since 2002 and their fifth overall at the time. It was the first unbeaten campaign (ninth overall) by a Hunterdon County school since Voorhees went 22-0 and captured the Group 3 title in 1986-87. Beating P'burg twice that season was also county first. 

The coaching staff also continued a tradition at Finnagels Pub and Restaurant on Route 31 in Clinton by clipping off the bottoms of their ties to hang over the bar.

"It all started when Jason Hawk's team [won a Group 3 title in 2002]," Hrunka said. "When we won in 2020, they wanted us to give them something to go over the bar and we cut off the [school] emblems on our polos. This year it was the ties."

Hrunka coached 28 district and nine region champions to go with 12 state placewinners -- including the Lehigh-bound Wadle, a three-time medalist (runner-up in 2021 and third in '22), along with two-time state placers Alex Uryniak (fifth in 2023 and seventh in '21) and Brendan Raley (fourth in '23 and eighth in '22, plus 81 career victories). Wadle (109-17) and Uryniak (111-19) became the 13th and 14th members of the program's 100 wins club this season.

The 2021-22 team produced eight district champs (second-most to a North record 10 in 1969) and four region winners, which had been done only once previously (1985) in program history. 

"It's been fun. It's been my baby for a long time," said Hrunka, who was busy this week tying up some loose ends and getting the high school girls program in order. "We're making changes with the girls [hiring a full-time coach]. I wanted to leave the program in good shape."

Wadle got his 100th win the district semifinals

North is expected to be in rebuilding mode next season with the loss of eight seniors, including the trio of state medal winners, as well as Daniel DeLusant (83 career wins), who, along with Wadle, is one of just 20 Lions to win three or more district titles. North, which had four sophomores in the lineup, also graduates everyone from 165-285 and doesn't return a wrestler with more than 38 career wins.

But sophomore Joseph Celentano (27-13 at 106-113) and junior Brian Wilson (22-13 at 157), a 2023 district champion, had solid campaigns, They will be counted on to lead a fairly young team next season, which looks to compete in what should again be a wide-open race for the Group 4 title.

"North brings back a solid core of kids who will be good next season," Hrunka said. 

The high school team will also get some help from the ranks below. Mason Tettambel was a New Jersey Grade School League champion at 130 pounds, while Kieran Raley was a runner-up at 100. Matt Esposito finished third at 106. 

"They'll start bringing in good young kids next year and they'll just keep coming," said Hrunka, who is excited to spend more time with a youth program that saw its numbers rise to 150-plus this season (40 more than the previous year). 

Uryniak (second from left) on the podium in AC

Hrunka, whose resignation ends an era spanning 23 seasons, learned the coaching ropes from two of the area's all-time best coaches -- serving as an assistant for six seasons from 2011-17 during Jason Hawk and Tim Flynn's tenures. Hrunka succeeded Flynn, who resigned after the 2016-17 campaign. Hawk (117-48 from 2000-09) stayed on as an assistant when Flynn (118-48) took over as the former Phillipsburg stars combined for 235 wins, four sectional titles and a Group 3 championship in 2002 (which was the program's first since 1994). 

LaSpada, who's widely regarded as one of the top assistants around, served under four North head coaches dating to the third of Dennis Haughey's 16 seasons at the helm in 1986-87. Haughey stands as the Lions' all-time victories leader (231-76) and his .752 win percentage ranks behind only Hrunka's program-best .841.

Hrunka also enjoyed success as a wrestler, winning district and region titles for Warren Hills his senior season in 2007 (91-27 career record), He went on to start at Edinboro University, where he twice placed fourth in the Eastern Wrestling League Championships at 174 pounds in 2011-12.

With his son wrestling in the Washington Y (Warren Hills) system, Hrunka should stay plenty involved in the sport. And much like Flynn, who also never ruled out a future return to coaching and now runs the Phillipsburg Middle School program, perhaps there may be a sequel for Hrunka down the road.

"I'm not saying I'll never coach again," he said.  "I love it. It's in my blood."

Wrestling: Wadle's gold big plus for AC by numbers

Before we take one final look by the numbers at the 90th New Jersey State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall, let's hit some highlights, including another review of North Hunterdon's strong showing in Atlantic City.

For a second straight season, North, which finished No. 15 in the final New Jersey Writers Top 20, brough home three medals. But the bigger stat is that one was gold for the first time in 20 years. In doing so, senior Logan Wadle snapped the skid with his title victory at 106 pounds -- the program's 13th overall and first since four-time medalist Ricky Frondorf went back-to-back at 152 pounds in 2002-03.

Chris Vidak (2nd from L) was 2nd (1993) and 3rd (1992) for NH

Wadle (35-2), a three-time placewinner (second in 2021 and third in '22), is just the second to win a state title in the lightest weight class -- joining Gary Bendel, who made a Cinderella run to the 101-pound crown as a sophomore in 1983 at Princeton's Jadwin Gym. Bendel did not get back on the podium again until a third-place finish 122 pounds in '85.

The Lehigh-bound Wadle is the first to collect three medals for the Lions since Ryan Pomrinca, another Lehigh product and Hunterdon-Warren's all-time wins leader (155-13), placed seventh at 113 in 2012 and third twice at 126 in '14 and '15).

North also made a little history with three top-five placers as seniors Alex Uryniak (fifth at 190) and Brendan Raley (fourth at 215) earned their second medals. It's the first time three Lions finished that high on the podium in the same tournament since James Hughes (106), Steve Hemhauser (148) and Rich Boehmer (178).were fourths in 1972.

Now, here's everything you never knew you needed to know about the 2023 state championships: 

13 -- Wadle, who capped a tremendous career by winning his first state title and snapping the program's 20-year drought, moved the Lions into a tie with High Point and Hunterdon Central (13) for the fourth-most winners in the HWS area and 14th all-time in New Jersey. Brick Memorial raised its total to 14 and 13th all-time as senior Anthony Santaniello captured his second championship. St. Joseph-Montvale, which got a bump with wins by Michael Dellagatta (190) and Jimmy Mullen (285), and South Plainfield also stand at 13 overall. Wadle, a three-time district champ who  finished 109-17 overall, which is tied for fifth all-time at North -- joining Andrew Gapas (109-26 from 2008-14), Jack Delia (109-26 from 2007-11) and Chris Cancelliere (109-33 from 2007-11) -- and 61st in the Hunterdon-Warren area. Uryniak (111-19) ranks fourth on North's list and tied for 54th in H-W history. (122 have reached the century mark and 103 for Sussex).

Wadle on top of the podium at 106

41 -- Hunterdon County has now produced four state champions in the last five years. Wadle became the county's 41st overall, while Hunterdon Central's Brett Ungar and Voorhees' Lewis Fernandes, the Vikes' first two-time winner, won in 2019. Delaware Valley's Matt Roche brought home the Terriers' first medal since Kyle Lightner won the program's ninth state title in 2017. Matt Kolonia also was a seventh-place finisher that season. Central was shut out on the medal stand for the first time since 2015, but junior Anthony Rossi, who beat Old Bridge champ Logan Roman this season, and freshman Rhett Washleski, whose brother, Colton, was a two-time placewinner for the Red Devils, will be good bets in 2024.

141 -- Warren Hills senior Jarett Pantuso ran the program's string with at least one state medal to three straight years (28 total since 1990) as he earned his second medal with a fifth-place finish after taking seventh at 215 pounds in 2021. He's also the Blue Streaks' highest placer since Jon Slack (third at 285 in 2010). Hills, which now has 141 state medals as a program and ranks second on New Jersey's champions list with 46, has not had a finalist since Justin Colaluce went back-to-back in 1997-98. 

Pantuso capped his career with 90 victories

12 -- Hackettstown junior Aiden Scheeringa, who lost 4-2 to Wadle in the semifinals, finished sixth at 106 pounds -- giving second-year coach Jim Berringer, a state placer for Hopatcong in 1999, his first medal. Scheeringa (34-8) was bidding to become the Tigers' fourth finalist and first since Hank Deibel (second at 122) in 1979. The late Doug Blake is the program's only state champ (1967-68). Overall, the Warren County school has a dozen medals and Scheeringa's is the highest since Alex Carida, also a semifinalist, placed third at 145 in 2018.

13 -- The five public schools to win state team championships this season combined for 13 medals -- up seven from last year -- in Atlantic City. Group 5 champion Southern led the way with six, including the program's first champ since 2009 (Matt Henrich at 150), while Group 4 champion North Hunterdon --Wadle, Uyrniak (fifth at 190) and Raley (fourth at 215) -- and Group 3 winner Delsea each had three. Delaware Valley (Group 1) had one in Roche (eighth at 126) and Group 2 kingpin High Point was shut out for the first time since 2017. 

Who will be No. 34 for the 'Liners?

33 -- P'burg still hasn't had a state champion since Brandon Hull (220 in 2012), who's also the last for Warren County. The Stateliners' total stands at 33 -- fourth all-time behind Newton (82), Warren Hills (46) and Union (40). But sophomore Luke Geleta (sixth at 138) and junior John Wargo (seventh at 285) snapped a program-first three-year drought on the podium and gave the 'Liners a pair of medals (a first since a trio in 2018). If you didn't see Geleta's fifth-place bout with Raritan's Zach Reilley, you missed arguably the best matchup in the tournament -- five lead changes and a 15-point second period with both on their backs late. Reilley, who is the Rockets' 11th placewinner in program history and had the last three takedowns going into OT, prevailed, 14-12, by converting his fourth takedown 36 seconds into sudden victory. Sophomore Gavin Hawk (132) fell a win shy with his second loss in the Blood Round. The HWS area as a whole went 3-5 in that round (4-7 in 2022). Amazingly, P'burg has produced just two boys state champs in 23 years, while it's captured 14 of its 23 Group titles during that span. 

Congratulations to Jarett Pantuso for finishing 5th in the state at 215lb. Excellent career, we are proud of your accomplishments and are excited to see you compete at the collegiate level. #pushthepace @WHRSDAthletics pic.twitter.com/oTmgw6zaIF

— Warren Hills Wrestling (@WHR_Wrestling) March 4, 2023

69 -- The Non-Public schools are as usual a hot topic with the most medalists -- 69 (including Pope John's Carson Walsh's fifth at 126) out of a possible 112 -- since district and region realignment was introduced in 2017. The Non-Public totals -- 38 in '16 -- leading up to this season were: 33 in '17, 34 in '18, 40 in '19, 36 in '20, 41 in '21 and 59 in '22. Of the 344 schools in New Jersey, 30 are private. That's 8.7 percent. The Non-Publics made up 53% of the quarterfinalists (59), 59% of the semifinalists (33, including all four at 120 and 144), 68% of the finalists (19, only 132 and 215 involved two publics) and 57% of the champions (8). Interestingly, Non-Public medals totaled 21 from 106-120 (all eight at 120) and just 13 from 175-285 (only two at 215).

24 -- Region 2 dusted the field once again with 21 medals (24 in 2022). Region 3 was next with 17, including a tournament-best six finalists and four champs from Delbarton for a second straight year -- Tyler Vazquez (138), Alessio Perentin (157), Louis Cerchio (165) and Simon Ruiz (175), who helped push Morris County's title total to 85, along with Roxbury's Luke Stanich (R2's only winner at 126 among four finalists). Region 4 (three finalists, one champ) was next with 14, followed by Region 1 (three finalists, two champs) and Region 8 with 13 medalists (two finalists, one champ). Region 5 (five finalists, three champs, including Old Bridge junior Logan Roman (113) and Rumson-Fair Haven junior Hudson Skove who are the first for their schools) and Region 7 (two finalists, one champ) each had 12 and Region 6 had 10 (three finalists, one champ). Region 1 had just two weight classes without a state placer (138 and 157), while Region 2 had at least one at all 14 weights. Region 3 had just one weight (126) without a state medal.

As you can clearly see, the balance of power is up north, but you conveniently won't hear the powers that be (namely the Shore Conference) talking about an unfair advantage (47 medals (42%) total between Regions 5-8). Region 6 accounted for 8.9%. Ironic, isn't it? 

9 -- Delbarton junior Daniel Jones (first at 106 in 2021), DePaul sophomore Adrian DeJesus (a winner at 106  in '22) and Brick Memorial sophomore Harvey Ludington (first at 175 in '22) were thwarted in their bids to win a second title as a total of nine wrestlers who have won at least one championship could be in next year's field. St. John Vianney sophomore Anthony Knox won his second title and the 120-pounder sure looked like the best wrestler in the arena. Ludington dropped a 3-2 decision to Delbarton's Ruiz, a four-time medalist who won his second straight gold. St. Joseph-Montvale stud Jim Mullen won his third at 285 -- in thrilling fashion with a buzzer-beating takedown in a 5-3 victory over Paramus Catholic's Max Acciardi --  and very well could have been a four-timer if not for taking a season off in 2021 to compete at the Cadet World trials.

Boardwalk Hall hosted its first tournament in 1992

27 -- Boardwalk Hall has been the tournament home for 27 of the last 31 years. Atlantic City has hosted five more than Princeton University's Jadwin Gym (22 from 1970-91) -- as the event shifted to AC in '92. It's since been there for all but four years -- a disastrous stint at the AC Convention Center (pillars and all) when Boardwalk Hall was unavailable due to a Lady Gaga concert in 1999, a two-year move to the Meadowlands in 2000 and '01, as Boardwalk Hall underwent renovations, and at Phillipsburg in 2021 due to the pandemic. Others sites include the Elizabeth Armory (nine times, 1947-55), Rutgers (seven from 1959-65) and Asbury Park Convention Hall (four, 1966-69). Besides Phillipsburg, there have been 10 other high school sites -- Union, Somerville, Roselle Park, Teaneck, Grover Cleveland Jr. (Elizabeth), Springfield, Thomas Jefferson, Rahway and Belvidere (1946). Union hosted the first four tournaments from 1934-37.

136 -- Bergen County is the all-time leader with 136 state champions, surpassing Union County (129) within the last six years. In 2017, Union led Bergen by 10, but Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph-Montvale and Don Bosco Prep have produced a combined 14 since that time. Westfield's Christian Barber (2011) is the last champ from Union County. Sussex ranks third with 121, while Morris County, which has gotten a big boost from Delbarton in recent sesasons, moved into a fourth-place tie with Warren County at 85. The Green Wave has produced 15 winners since 2017, and is tied with Bergen Catholic and Bound Brook for eighth place on the state's all-time list with 25. Warren has produced only four winners since 1996 (Phillipsburg's Brandon Hull was the last in 2012 and the Stateliners' 33rd overall). Next up is Ocean (72), Gloucester (67) and Somerset (66). Rounding out things out are: Camden (62), Monmouth (47), Middlesex (44), Hunterdon (40), Essex (34), Burlington (26), Passaic (25), Atlantic (20), Cumberland (12), Hudson and Salem (8), and Cape May and Mercer (4).

1,100 -- Total number of state champions in New Jersey history. This year's tournament was the 90th overall since 1934 -- when Newton's Leo Snover won the first state title and started the Sussex County school's run to a state record 82 champs. The last winner for the Braves was current assistant coach Andy Iliff, who won went back-to-back in 1986-87.

Wrestling: Lion King: Wadle ends North's title drought

So much for 13 being an unlucky number. 

It sure was golden for North Hunterdon senior Logan Wadle as he ended the program's 20-year wait for another title with a 3-1 win over Bergen Catholic freshman Nathan Braun at 106 pounds in the 90th State Wrestling Championships on Saturday evening at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Wadle on top of the 106-pound podium (photo by Chris Hrunka)

Wadle (35-2) is North's 13th champion (tied with Hunterdon Central for the county lead and High Point for fourth place on Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex's all-time list) and its first since Lions great Ricky Frondorf, a four-time medalist, went back-to-back at 152 in 2002-03.
 

Frondorf, who's the school's only four-time region winner to go with four district titles and ranks No. 2 on the career wins list (124-6), was in attendance and still plays a big part in the program as a youth level coach with two young boys also involved in the sport.

"It's very difficult to win a New Jersey state title," said sixth-year coach Chris Hrunka, who joined the legendary Harold Vandermark (seven from 1963-71 including Dave Gaunt who's the only other two-time champ), Fred Pierro (three from 1983-88) and former Phillipsburg star Jason Hawk (Frondorf) as the only North coaches to produce a champion on their watch.

"You get [to the arena] at 7:30 [a.m.] to weigh in and you wait until about 5:30 [p.m.] to wrestle [in the finals]. That's a long time to think about the match. Logan was in a big spot with a lot of pressure as a No. 1 seed. He did what he needed to do to win every match."

Wadle, the lone Skyland Conference champion and one of three North medalists along with seniors Alex Uryniak (fifth at 190) and Brendan Raley (fourth at 215), opened the tournament with a pin and a 6-2 decision on Thursday, but had his hands full in the quarters on Day 2 -- a 5-3 sudden-victory win over St. Joseph-Montvale freshman Johnathon McGinty, who decked Hackettstown's Aiden Scheeringa in 1:16 with a toss in their fifth-place bout. Scheeringa, a junior who was bidding to be his school's fourth finalist and first since 1979, dropped a 4-2 decision to Wadle in the semis.    

"He [trailed] a bit in the quarterfinals, but we always felt he was in control," Hrunka said of the Lehigh-bound Wadle. "At times he probably needed to be more aggressive, but he did what he needed to do."

Against Braun (28-6), Wadle got ahead early with a double-leg takedown and allowed an escape as he was caught riding a bit high with just two ticks left on the clock in the second period. That's how it stood until Braun, needing a takedown to tie and perhaps force overtime, gave up the escape with 29 seconds left in the third to no avail --prompting a celebratory backflip center mat then a bearhug with Hrunka.

"He's always been good on top, but he beat guys on their feet [in AC], said Hrunka, who joined Pierro (1982, '84) this season as the only North coaches to win a pair of Group titles. "There wasn't really any earned takedowns [against Wadle], he probably decided to bail at times and didn't need to force it. He scored enough points to where [his opponents] needed to let him out [from bottom]."

Wadle with his coaches (Vidak 2nd from L and LaSpada 2nd from R)

Wadle, a runner-up in 2021 and third in '22 at this weight class, certainly had a wealth of state tournament experienced coaches in his corner with Bernards state champion Joe LaSpada (1971 at 106 pounds), considered one of the top assistants in the area if not the entire state, and former North star Chris Vidak (second in 1993 and third in '92 at 152 pounds). Hrunka was a region champ for Warren Hills in 2007.

Logan's father, Rudy, was also a standout for the Lions, winning three district and region titles to go with his pair of fifth-sixth place state finishes his junior and senior seasons in 1992 and '93.

"It's an immense amount of pressure. I was nervous, so I'm sure [Logan] had some nerves," Hrunka said. "But we talked to him a lot. He wanted to watch his teammates' matches. That's typical Logan."

How dedicated was Wadle, who is tied for fifth on the school's career victories list at 109-17, on winning that coveted title? Hrunka said that Wadle had a picture of the state finals placed on the center circle of the mat where he drills in practice.

Wadle, who is the HWS area's 244th champion and Hunterdon County's 41st champion, and first since Central's Brett Ungar (106) and two-time Voorhees heavyweight winner Lewis Fernandes took home golds in 2019, has done plenty of winning with his North teammates over the past four seasons. The program had its first unbeaten season going 23-0 in 2020 and a combined dual meet record of 59-10 to go with three sectional and two Group 4 championships (2020 and '23). But this first individual state title ranked right up there for Hrunka.

"It's a similar feeling [to winning a pair of Group 4 titles], but you take a lot of pride seeing how hard they work and how bad they wanted to win. This has been on his radar since he started [in high school]."

Wrestling: Weiss puts Sparta on championship map

There was certainly no shortage of history-making wins for the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

In addition to Logan Wadle becoming North Hunterdon's 13th state champion and its first in 20 years, Sparta freshman Paige Weiss became her school's first female champ and Sussex County's second with a 7-6 win over Theresa Zeppetelli of Bogota/Ridgefield Park at 100 pounds in the the fifth New Jersey girls state championships.

Weiss (19-3), who went 12-7 for the boys team, put Zeppetelli on her back twice, including a five-point move as she stepped over a takedown attempt by Zeppetelli in the first period that helped Weiss join High Point's Noelle Gaffney (165 in 2022) as the county's lone female champs and Sparta's first since John Place became the school's third male winner at 188 pounds in 1983.

Zeppetelli (17-5), a senior, did her best to spoil the party, with a pair of takedowns in the second period, the latter with just five seconds left on the clock to make it 6-4. She gave Weiss an escape to start the third period and got another takedown to make it a one-point deficit. Zeppetelli tried to cut Weiss loose with 34 seconds left in order to try for a tying takedown, but Weiss fought it off, and Zeppetelli had to try for a turn on top. She nearly succeeded, applying a power-half to close out the final 10 seconds.

Zaku-Ramos and Weiss on the podium.

Weiss may have been a leading candidate for the Outstanding Wrestler Award -- beating a pair of state champions to reach the finals as only the finalists moved on from Phillipsburg High School to Atlantic City. But the OW deservedly went to Bloomfield's Kira Pipkins, who dominated Newton-Kittatinny junior and two-time placer Liliana Zaku-Ramos in an 11-1 victory in the title bout at 132 pounds to become New Jersey's first four-time girls champion. Pipkins (23-0), who is also the state's all-time female wins leader at 106-9 overall, received a commemorative plaque for her historic achievement.

Pipkins, who is heading to Columbia University, hit a five-pointer with a standing cradle, one that awkwardly bent Zaku-Ramos to her back, in the opening period and never looked back. But Zaku-Ramos, who was third at 107 last season, made history by becoming the newly unified Newton-Kittatinny program's first finalist.

Six other girls from the HWS area earned medals (raising the tri-county overall total to 44) the previous weekend at Phillipsburg High School, including a pair from Newton-Kittatinny in Gianna Simeone (eighth at 107) and Kailin Lee (fifth at 165).

Vernon picked up its second and third medals as two-time placewinner and sophomore Caitlin Hart finished third at 185 after taking fifth a year ago, while senior Allison Brandt was fourth at 235 under Ashley Iliff, a former Newton wrestler and the daughter of two-time Braves champion Andy Iliff (1986-87), who still holds the distinction of being the school's state-record 82nd and last gold medalist. Ashley was named North 1 Region Coach of the Year.

Warren Hills junior Olivia Raia gave her school its fifth medal overall with a fourth-place finish at 185, while High Point senior Carney Wyble (sixth in 2022) secured her second medal and the school's HWS-leading 12th with an eighth-place finish at 138.

Hunterdon Central, which has five placewinners, including the county's first girls champion and lone two-time winner Stephanie Andrade (2019-20), was shut out on the medal stand for the first time.

Wrestling: Two-time placers fuel HWS medal count

It would have been interesting to see a Hunterdon-Warren rematch rematch at 215 pounds in Atlantic City. 

Though we didn't get one, North Hunterdon's Brendan Raley and Warren Hills' Jarett Pantuso closed out their fine high school careers in style with a second state medal on Saturday in the 90th State Wrestling Championships at Boardwalk Hall.

Raley (fourth), who beat Pantuso (fifth) 6-3 in the Hunterdon-Warren Sussex Tournament finals, joined North's Alex Uryniak (fifth) and Pope John's Carson Walsh (fifth at 126) as two-time state placewinners as the area produced a total of nine medals for a second straight season. 

Hackettstown junior Aiden Scheeringa (sixth at 106), Delaware Valley's Matt Roche (eighth at 126) and Phillipsburg's Luke Geleta (sixth at 138) and John Wargo (seventh at 285) were all first-time medalists.

North's trio stands alone

Raley (36-5), who moved up four spots on the podium after an eighth-place finish at this weight a year ago, had to rally from a tough 2-1 overtime loss to Southern's Riley O'Boyle in Friday night's semifinals. He opened the consolation semifinals with a 3-1 victory over St. Joseph-Montvale's Aidan Schlett before dropping another OT affair -- 2-1 in a rematch with two-time Clifton state medalist and No. 1 seed Joseph Abil, who lost 7-4 to Raley (81-15 career) in the quarterfinals.

"Raley was a heartbreaker," coach Chris Hrunka said of losing that one to O'Boyle [Southern's first champ since 2009] and being right there in the title hunt. "We knew he could've been in [the final] match."

Uryniak (2nd from left) is in NH's 14-member 100 wins club

Uryniak (38-4), who was seventh at 190 as a sophomore, capped his career by decking Howell's D.J. Henry with an armbar in 3:03. A four-year starter, Uryniak, a three-time state qualifier and twice a semifinalist who ranks fourth on North's career wins list (111-19) behind only Ryan Pomrinca (155), Ricky Frondorf (124) and Beau Vrancken (112), helped lead the Lions to their first unbeaten season (23-0 in 2020) and a four-year dual meet record of 59-10 to go with three sectional and two Group 4 championships (2020 and '23).

North Hunterdon finished with the two highest placers and an area-best three overall -- three in 2022 as well -- as senior Logan Wadle (34-2) snapped the program's title drought with a 3-12 win over Bergen Catholic freshman Nathan Braun at 106. Wadle, who finished 109-17 overall and is the first at North to win three medals (second in 2021 and third in '22) since Ryan Pomrinca (2012, '14 and '15). 

"We've been a little spoiled with the talent we've had," said Hrunka, whose teams have produced 11 medals since he took over the program in 2017. "It's awesome. It's great. It's not easy to do nowadays [competing] with the Non-Publics."

Senior Daniel DeLusant (32-5) went 1-2 and did not place at 144, but he was among North's HWS-best four qualifiers. DeLusant finished with 83 career wins.

Stateliner duo deliver

Phillipsburg waited four years for another state medalist and got two as Geleta snapped the skid in Friday's Blood Round. 

Geleta (37-9), who went 4-3 overall in his first AC appearance, was involved in one of the most entertaining bouts of the tournament in a 14-12 sudden-victory loss to Raritan's Zach Reilley. The epic fifth-place bout featured five lead changes and a 15-point second period that saw both on their backs late. The third period was also wild as Reilley secured a go-ahead takedown with just nine seconds on the clock before Geleta's buzzer-beating escape to force OT. 

Reilley (43-3), a first-time region champion who picked up his school's 11th medal and first since Pat Toal's fifth in 2014, got the winning takedown 36 seconds into the one-minute tiebreaker. Reilley dropped a tough 3-1 decision in overtime to Long Branch fourth-place finisher Joey Giordano in the quarters.

Wargo (38-4), who stuck Delsea's Rocco Bennett with a good-looking throw in 1:25 for seventh, made a little program history as the junior became just the fourth P'burg heavyweight to medal and first in 25 years -- joining state champions Blair Miers (1972) and Greg Troxell (1989-90) and Zach Miers (seventh in 1998). 

P'burg has earned 61 medals since AC became host in 1992

To clarify, Steve Kempinski (second in 1999 and fourth in '98 at 215), Robert Melise (second in 2016, fifth in '17 and '15 at 220) and Brandon Hull (first in 2012 at 220 and eighth in '11 at 215) were not technically heavyweights since the 215- and 220-pound weight classes did not exist prior to '95.

The three-year medal drought was the longest in Phillipsburg history and only the sixth time since 2005, which snapped a run of 26 straight tournaments with at least one since missing in 1978. P'burg, which became a varsity program in 1947-48, came up empty for the first time in '50 as well as '55. The 2021 tournament marked the first time that the 'Liners went back-to-back without a medal since 1961-62 and 1964-65.

Back points

Roche, who fell 5-0 to Camden Catholic's Jackson Young in the seventh-place bout, gave Hunterdon County four medals and ended Delaware Valley's five-year skid without a placewinner since 2017 --when Kyle Lightner won the 195-pound title and Matt Kolonia finished seventh at 138. The Terriers have collected nine medals overall (including runner-up Bobby Stevely in 2010, one fourth, two fifths, and three eighths) under 16-year head coach Andy Fitz, who was fifth for Del Val at 160 pounds in 1990. Fitz (266) will enter the 2023-24 season 18 wins shy of his father, Vince, who is the program's all-time leader with 284.

Pantuso is the 28th to medal for WH since 1990.

Scheeringa and Pantuso, who is Warren Hills' highest finisher in 13 years (Jon Slack was third at 285 in 2010) gave Warren County a semifinalist for the first time since 2019 and third in the last 11 tournaments. Pantuso (38-4) capped his career by rallying for a 7-5 decision in sudden-victory over St. Joseph-Montvale's Aidan Schlett -- his 90th career win.  

Andrew Pacheco (sixth at 285 in '14) had been the last to reach the semifinals for Warren Hills, which has not produced a state champion or finalist since Justin Colaluce went back-to-back in 1997-98. Cody Harrison (third at 152 in '19) is the last to reach the semis for Phillipsburg, while Hull (220 in '12) is still last of 46 boys champions for the 'Liners and the county. Jewel Gonzalez became the county and P'burg's first by going back-to-back in 2019-20.

Scheeringa (34-8), who hung tough in a 4-2 semifinal loss to Wadle, came up short in his bid to become Hackettstown's fourth finalist and first since 1979, when Hank Deibel was a runner-up at 122 pounds. The Tigers' only state champion is two-time winner and county legend Doug Blake (1967-68), who died at age 70 in 2021. Scheeringa, a junior, is the school's 12th medal winner and first since Alex Carida placed third at 145 in 2018. Scheeringa also is the first for second-year coach and longtime assistant Jimmy Berringer, a seventh-eighth place finisher in 1999 for Hopatcong. 

Walsh (37-4), who was fourth as a freshman at 113 and Sussex County's lone medalist this season, finished with a 9-3 win over Kingsway's Nathan Taylor in their fifth-place bout. Freshman Dalton Webber, one of five qualifiers for Pope John, was a win shy of a medal with his loss in the Blood Round.