What to know as NJSIAA district wrestling tournaments are contested
The road to Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall begins this weekend.
District tournaments will be contested at 32 different sites from across the Garden State - the first leg of the state individual wrestling tournament.
The top three place winners in each weight class will advance to the regional tournaments next weekend.
The state tournament will conclude in Atlantic City on March 2-4.
All of the district tournaments will be contested on Saturday (Feb. 18), here's a look at this weekend's action:
District 25
Where: Lacey
Teams: BCIT-Westampton, Burlington Twp., Central, Donovan Catholic, Lacey, Manchester Twp., Southern, Toms River East, Toms River South.
Defending team champion: Southern
Defending district champs: Kurt Wehner, Donovan Catholic; Conor Collins, Southern; Wyatt Stout, Southern; Hayden Hochstasser, Southern; Matt Henrich, Southern; Nicholas DeLorenzo, Toms River East; Cole Velardi, Southern; Matt Coon, Lacey; Cosmo Zaccaro, Central
Coach of the Year pick: Guiding his team to the distinction of the best public-school program in the Garden State this season, Southern’s Dan Roy deserves the award.
More:Who were South Jersey's best high school wrestlers never to win a state title?
District 26
Where: Rancocas Valley
Teams: Cinnaminson, Delran, Highland/Triton, Holy Cross, Pemberton, Rancocas Valley, Riverside, Seneca, West Deptford, Willingboro.
Defending team champion: Rancocas Valley
Defending district champs: Jackson Bauer, Seneca; Garrett Prendergast, Highland/Triton; Ismael Maldonado, Rancocas Valley; Kyle Pickard, Seneca; Richie DeFulvio, Holy Cross; Renaldo King, Rancocas Valley; Jonathan Graham, Highland/Triton (won title with Camden Catholic in 2022).
Best potential final: West Deptford’s Cole DuBois (34-2) dropped down to 190 where he’s the top seed in the bracket. He’ll likely meet second-seeded Andrew Shemelia (32-2), who led South Jersey with 26 pins in the regular season.
Toughest weight class: Delran’s Luke Theis (33-1) is the top seed at 165 and the other side of the bracket has second-seeded Joshua Wilkins (25-5), of Holy Cross, and third-seeded Isaiah Ruiz (30-4), of Cinnaminson.
Coach of the Year pick: Greg Bauer led Seneca to a 23-2 record, tying the mark for wins in a season originally set in 2007, and guided the Golden Eagles to the South Jersey Group 3 semifinal round. Seneca celebrated its 300th victory in program history – all under Coach Bauer, who established the team in 2003.
District 27
Where: Cherokee
Teams: Camden Catholic, Cherokee, Cherry Hill East, Cherry Hill West, Lenape, Maple Shade, Palmyra, Pennsauken, Shawnee.
Defending team champion: Camden Catholic
Defending district champs: Luke Sherlock, Shawnee; Trey Friedman, Lenape; Jackson Young, Camden Catholic; Wayne Rold, Camden Catholic; Austin Craft, Camden Catholic (won title with Rancocas Valley in 2022); Jason Brown, Cherokee.
Best potential final: While Camden Catholic and Shawnee are expected to battle for the team title, the two squads will likely produce a pair of the best championship bouts as well. At 113, Camden Catholic’s Dom DiGiacomo and Shawnee’s Ethan Staples are likely to tangle. However, DiGiacomo would have to get past Palmyra’s Trevor Young first for the opportunity to wrestle in the final.
At 285, Camden Catholic’s Tyler Byrd will likely face Shawnee’s Jackson Harris, who has been among the state’s pin leaders throughout the season.
Toughest weight class: At 138, there will be one very talented wrestler turning in his singlet at the end of the tournament while three others advance to regions. Camden Catholic’s Wayne Rold (26-5) is the No. 1 seed while Shawnee’s Chris Ahrens (25-5), Cherokee’s Jason Brown (20-8) and Cherry Hill West’s Ryan Schimpf (32-4) round out the second through fourth seeds.
At 120, Camden Catholic’s Sammy Spaulding will make his district debut while the rest of the bracket has two defending champions in Lenape’s Trey Friedman and Shawnee’s Luke Sherlock to go along with Pennsauken’s Lucas Silvestre, a fourth-seed who has a 25-3 record.
At 175, Lenape’s Ty Smith (19-5), the No. 1 seed, is the only wrestler with fewer than 20 wins in the top four seeds. Cherry Hill East’s Maurice Sample (23-2), Cherokee’s John Hangey (23-9) and Pennsauken’s Christopher Lamonthe (20-13) round out the top seeds.
Coach of the Year pick: Despite a lack of depth, injuries and waiting for transfers to be eligible, Camden Catholic’s Bill Heverly kept his club together through the tough times early in the season. He and the rest of the Irish would enjoy the benefits of being patient later when the team was crowned state Non-Public B champs.
District 28
Where: Collingswood
Teams: Audubon, Camden, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddon Township, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Moorestown, Paulsboro.
Defending team champion: Paulsboro
Defending district champs: Hayden Holmes, Paulsboro; Aundre Hill, Paulsboro; Chase Bish, Paulsboro; Nate Eife, Collingswood; Jacob Zearfoss, Gloucester City; Taylor Donnelly, Audubon; Sam Myers, Audubon; Scott Lynch, Audubon.
Best potential final: At 113, if Paulsboro’s Hayden Holmes (28-5) and Gloucester City’s Mason Johnson (26-8) face off in the title bout, the top two seeds in the bracket would meet for the third time this season. Johnson won the first bout 6-3 in December while Holmes earned a 12-2 major decision on Feb. 8.
Audubon’s Scott Lynch (30-2) bumped up to heavyweight for the postseason and a showdown against Moorestown’s Cai’leb Dias (23-7) likely awaits him in the final.
Toughest weight class: At 120, Moorestown’s D’Mario DeFelice is the top seed in a bracket that has seven wrestlers with 18-or-more wins. Paulsboro’s Aundre Hill, Gloucester City’s Gino Gambone and Collingswood’s Isaiah “Juicebox” Townsend round out the top four seeds.
And at 126, Paulsboro’s Logan Sichelstiel is the heavy favorite here, but there should be an interesting battle for the final two spots with Haddonfield's James Canuso (23-5), Audubon's Giovanni Patti (20-9) and Haddon Heights' Sam Teti (30-3) likely in the mix.
Coach of the Year pick: Haddonfield’s Eric Hamrick is among the favorites for the Mat Pack’s South Jersey Coach of the Year and should land the award in this district too. In just his fourth season, Hamrick led the Haddons to the program’s first-ever sectional title, winning the Group 2 crown by knocking off rival West Deptford. Also, a shoutout to Audubon’s John Walsh, who led the Green Wave to their first-ever division title.
District 29
Where: Kingsway
Teams: Clearview, Deptford, Gateway/Woodbury, Kingsway, Paul VI, Penns Grove, Pitman, Salem, Sterling.
Defending team champion: Kingsway
Defending district champs: Jason Meola, Kingsway; Nathan Lubonski, Kingsway; Brendan Callahan, Kingsway; Nathan Taylor, Kingsway; Branden Palcko, Paul VI; Nicholas Sindoni, Clearview; Ike Sholders, Gateway/Woodbury.
Best potential final: A district that has the potential for several interesting title bouts, Kingsway’s DJ DiPietro and Paul VI’s Branden Palcko should be a must-see event at 138. Also, keep an eye on Pitman’s Keros Cooper, who has the potential to grapple his way into the mix, too.
Don’t miss the final at 157 where Kingsway’s Ben Dryden and Pitman’s Ryan Datz should square off with the title on the line.
Toughest weight class: When you have 19 wins and only a fourth-seed, one knows how difficult the 113 bracket is in this district. Pitman’s Adriano Platt (30-4), Gateway/Woodbury’s Chris Howarth (20-9), Clearview’s Anthony Morales (21-10) and Penns Grove’s Devine Arce (19-9) are the top four seeds with Paul VI’s Cam Greco (15-9) is the fifth seed.
Coach of the Year pick: Gateway/Woodbury’s Jim Rutter. The veteran coach guided the Gators to a 16-10 record and a trip to the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs. Rutter also celebrated his 200th career win along the way.
District 30
Where: Williamstown
Teams: Buena, Eastern, Hammonton, Lindenwold, Overbrook, St Joseph Academy, Timber Creek, Washington Twp., Williamstown, Winslow.
Defending team champion: Washington Twp.
Defending district champs: Tyler Hildebrandt, Williamstown; Jackson Hoopes, Washington Twp.; Sebastiano Spina, Timber Creek; Gavin Haegele, Eastern; Roman Tamburrino, Williamstown; Justin Hatton, Washington Twp.; James Henhaffer, Washington Twp.; Mason Brown, Williamstown.
Best potential final: 132. Top-seeded Jackson Hoopes, of Washington Township, and Eastern’s Gavin Haegele, the No. 2 seed, appear to be on a collision course of defending district champs. Hoopes decked Haegele in the regular-season meeting.
Toughest weight class: 120. Washington Township freshman Dylan Hetzel sits atop the bracket, which boasts seven wrestlers, five of which have winning records with Hammonton’s Logan Walters, Buena’s Lucas Gellura, Timber Creek’s Brandon Myers and Overbrook’s Michael Walls.
At 126, Hammonton’s Luca Giagunto, Washington Township’s Robert DuCoin and Overbrook’s Michael Rosano is going to be an interesting battle to the podium.
Coach of the Year pick: Washington Township’s Eric Ring. The Minutemen put together one of its finest seasons in program history with a record 25 wins and another trip to the South Jersey Group 5 tournament. Washington Township climbed as high as No. 2 in the Mat Pack’s Mean 15 rankings for the region.
District 31
Where: Delsea
Teams: Cedar Creek, Clayton/Glassboro, Delsea, Holy Spirit, Middle Twp., Millville, Pennsville, Schalick/Cumberland, Vineland, Woodstown.
Defending team champion: Delsea
Defending district champions: Carter Pack, Holy Spirit, Max Elton, Holy Spirit, Alex Zimmermann, Delsea; Jamar Dixon Jr., Delsea; Giovanni DeGeorge, Delsea; Riley Boos, Delsea; Tyson Derenberger, Delsea; Jared Schoppe, Delsea; Danny DiGiovacchino, Delsea; John Vinciguerra, Woodstown.
Best potential final: Don’t miss the big fellas at 285 where Delsea’s Rocco Bennett and Millville’s Edison Andino should tangle in the title bout. Bennett, a Region 8 champ last winter, finished third at districts after he was decked by Millville’s Jaydan Wright in the semifinals. And keep and eye on Pennsville’s Gavin Watson, too. The third-seed split with Wright during the regular season, winning by pin in the first meeting.
Toughest weight class: The 132 bracket has plenty of wrestlers who can reach the top of the podium with top-seeded Giovanni DeGeorge, of Delsea, leading the pack. Vineland’s Breon Badger, a 24-bout winner, is the second seed while Clayton/Glassboro’s Conrad Raynor (25-2) is the third seed. Throw in Pennsville’s Travis Hagan (17-12), a fourth-seed, and it could be a battle to advance to regions.
Coach of the Year pick: While Greg Sawyer guided Delsea to a second straight state Group 3 title, The Mat Pack is going with Vineland’s Jake Homiak. The Fighting Clan established a program-record 19 wins this winter, which also ranked tops in the Cape-Atlantic League, and qualified for the team tournament for the first time in over 30 years. Middle Township’s Matt Wolf deserves strong consideration too as the Panthers captured their first Cape-Atlantic League division title in program history. And a shoutout to Holy Spirit’s Ralph Paolone, who is stepping down as head coach at the end of the season. Paolone, who was recently sworn in a Superior Court Judge, is one of the pure class guys in the sport.
District 32
Where: Absegami
Teams: Absegami, Atlantic City, Barnegat, Egg Harbor Twp., Lower Cape May, Mainland, Oakcrest, Ocean City, Pinelands, St. Augustine.
Defending team champion: St. Augustine
Defending district champs: Andrew Siteman, Mainland; Kaden Naame, St. Augustine; Sean Dever, Egg Harbor Twp.; Richie Grungo, St. Augustine; Jake Slotnick, St. Augustine; Sean Cowan, Absegami; Brock Zurawski, Lower Cape May; George Rhoades, Absegami.
Best potential final: If things go according to blueprints, a title bout at 190 between Absegami’s George Rhodes and St. Augustine’s Brock Zurawski would be one of the premier showdowns in any South Jersey district. The two are both defending district champs and are ranked No. 1 and 2 at 190 by The Mat Pack. Rhodes scored a 5-4 decision over Zurawski on Feb. 1.
Keep an eye on 157 where St. Augustine’s Dennis Virelli will likely meet Absegami’s Julian Rivera.
Toughest weight class: At 126, top-seeded Anthony DePaul, of St. Augustine, is the favorite, but there are seven wrestlers with winning records in the field.
Coach of the Year pick: St. Augustine’s Bill Ward. The Hermits won the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference and qualified for the state Non-Public A tournament.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: District wrestling gets underway in the NJSIAA state tournament
