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Shore Conference district wrestling review - by the numbers

steven falk, asbury park press
·10 min read

Now, that the NJSIAA’s 32 district tournaments are in the books and the second part of the individual season takes place Friday and Saturday with the eight region tournaments, it is time to take a look by the numbers at how Shore Conference teams fared in the districts.

The seeding meetings for the eight region tournaments will take place Monday and Tuesday.

Much of the information in compiling this look is based on information from Frank D’Esposito of the Web Site shoreconferencewrestling.com.

232

Shore Conference wrestlers who qualified for region tournaments. Shore Conference teams are spread out over regions 5-8, as opposed when all of the conference’s teams were in Region 6 from 1992-2016. The number is 64 more than would have qualified under the format from 1992-2015.

More:Wrestling: Complete list of qualifiers for every region in New Jersey

213

How many district champions Jackson Memorial has had in its illustrious history. The most of any program in the Shore Conference.

199

How many district champions the storied Brick Memorial program has had - second in Shore Conference history behind Jackson Memorial.

157

How many district champions Howell has had - the most of any program in Monmouth County.

152

How many district champions Middletown North has had.

150

How many district champions Long Branch has had after its solid showing in the District 23 Tournament.

142

How many district champions Southern has crowned after its dominant showing in the District 25 Tournament.

96

Shore Conference wrestlers who won district championships. That is 40 more than would have been crowned champions under the format from 1992-2016.

More:Freehold wrestling's Angelo Messina completes family's perfect district title record

41

How many Shore Conference teams qualified at least one wrestler to a region tournament. The conference has 44 schools who have wrestling programs.

Also the number of seasons Brick Memorial has had a district champions, which is every season of the program’s existence and district tournaments were held.

26

How many consecutive seasons Point Pleasant Boro has had a district champion after sophomore Joey DeAngelis won at 106 in District 21.

17

The district championships won by the illustrious Skove family after Rumson-Fair Haven junior Hudson Skove won the District 19 215-pound title for his second district title. He joins his father Thomas and his uncles Jude and Simon as two-time district champions.

Hudson Skove’s uncles Luke and Andrew won four and three district championships and his uncles Matt and John each won one district title.

All of the other Skoves wrestled for Long Branch.

Luke Skove was a three-time NJSIAA champion and three-time NCAA All-American at Oklahoma State. Jude Skove was a state champion and an NCAA champion at Ohio State and Andre Skove was a state champion and NCAA sixth-place finisher at Ohio State.

13

District championships won by the storied Santaniello family of Brick Memorial after senior Anthony Santaniello won the District 23 132-pound championship.

Vinnie Santaniello, Anthony and Vincent Santaniello’s father won four district titles from 1987-90. Dan Santaniello, Anthony and Vincent Santaniello’s uncle won three district championships from 1994-96. Vincent Santaniello won three district championships from 2018-2021 and Anthony Santaniello has won three from 2020-23.

Brick Memorial's Anthony Santaniello (right) made it 13 district titles for family by winning the 132-pound championship at the District 23 Tournament.
Brick Memorial's Anthony Santaniello (right) made it 13 district titles for family by winning the 132-pound championship at the District 23 Tournament.

Only the pandemic, which resulted in the district tournaments not being held in 2021, prevented Vincent and Anthony Santaniello from joining their father as four-time district champions.

Vinnie Santaniello was the NJSIAA runner-up at 125 in 1990 and a three-time state top four finisher. Vincent Santaniello was the state champion at 126 in 2021, a two-time state finalist, a three-time state top three finisher and four-time state medalist. He is currently at Pitt. Anthony Santaniello was the state 120-pound champion in 2021 and is a three-time state finalist. He has signed with Oklahoma University.

13 is how many Region 7 qualifiers and District 25 finalists NJSIAA Group 5 champion Southern had.

Southern's Conor Collins, shown getting his hand raised after he pinned against Phillipsburg in the NJSIAA Group 5 championship match on Feb. 12 at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena, was one of 11 champions for Southern in the District 25 Tournament.
Southern's Conor Collins, shown getting his hand raised after he pinned against Phillipsburg in the NJSIAA Group 5 championship match on Feb. 12 at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena, was one of 11 champions for Southern in the District 25 Tournament.

12

Christian Brothers Academy wrestlers who qualified for the Region 6 Tournament, including 10 champions

11

Southern wrestlers who won district championships, which is believed to be a record for most district champions by a Shore Conference team.

All of Southern’s finalists were seeded either first or second. The most notable wins came from Nick Bennet at 157 and Collin French at 190.

Bennet, who has been the ultimate team wrestler during his career, was wrestling in districts for the first time. He defeated No. 1 seed Nicholas Delorenzo of Toms River East 8-6. French defeated returning state qualifier Matt Coon of Lacey 7-5.

Eleven is how many finalists both CBA and NJSIAA Group 4 finalist Jackson Memorial had and how many region qualifiers for Brick Memorial (Region 6) and Long Branch (Region 6) and Manalapan (Region 5).

10

Christian Brothers Academy wrestlers who won District 21 title, which tied the program record set last year.

All of CBA’s champions were No. 1 or 2 seeds, but perhaps the most notable were junior Tyler Venet, who won at 120 and won his second title after struggling all season against a difficult schedule, and freshman Bobby Duffy, who won perhaps the deepest at District 21.

Ten is also how many Region 5 qualifiers NJSIAA Non-Public B runner-up St. John Vianney and NJSIAA Central Group 2 champion Raritan had.

Christian Brothers Academy's Julian George (left) was one of 10 CBA wrestlers who won titles at the District 21 Tournament.
Christian Brothers Academy's Julian George (left) was one of 10 CBA wrestlers who won titles at the District 21 Tournament.

9

How many district championships for the Stout family of Southern and Lacey after Southern sophomore Wyatt Stout won the 132-pound championship at District 25 for his second title.

Wyatt Stout’s father, John – the former Southern head coach – won two titles for Lacey in 1988 and 90. John Stout’s younger Bryan won a district title for Lacey in 1990 and two for Southern in 1991 and 92 and Wyatt’s older brother John won district championships for Southern in 2018 and 2019.

Southern's Wyatt Stout (top) made it nine district championships for his family by winning at 132 pounds in the District 25 Tournament.
Southern's Wyatt Stout (top) made it nine district championships for his family by winning at 132 pounds in the District 25 Tournament.

Bryan Stout won the state 189-pound champion in 1992, was a two-time state finalist and a three-time state top five finisher and a four-time NCAA All-American for Clarion (Pa.).

Wyatt Stout’s father was third in the state at 140 in 1990.

Also how many Jackson Memorial wrestlers who won District 24 championships - a record for that program. The most notable champion came from senior Christopher Wolf who stormed from the No. 9 seed to win the 144-pound title.  Seniors Nikki Rucci (132) Paul Novello (190) both came from the No. 4 seed to win titles.

Nine is also how many NJSIAA Central Group 5 champion Howell and South Group 3 finalist Jackson Liberty wrestlers qualified for the Region 6 Tournament. Jackson Liberty, which will host the Region 6 Tournament set program records for number of qualifiers and finalists (six).

8

St. John Vianney wrestlers who won Distict 17 titles, which tied the program record set last season. Most notable was sophomore Patrick O’Keefe, who jumped up four weight classes to 132 after winning and finishing second in the state at 106 last season.

Anthony Knox (top) was one of eight St. John Vianney wrestlers to win championships at the NJSIAA District 17 Tournament.
Anthony Knox (top) was one of eight St. John Vianney wrestlers to win championships at the NJSIAA District 17 Tournament.

7

District championships won by the Messina brothers of Freehold – Nico and Angelo.

Nico Messina won four titles from 2017-20 and was Freehold’s first three-time region champion and the program’s first state medalist since 1964, when he finished sixth at 126 in 2020.

Freehold's Angelo Messina (top) made it seven district titles for his family by winning the 138-pound title at the District 22 Tournament.
Freehold's Angelo Messina (top) made it seven district titles for his family by winning the 138-pound title at the District 22 Tournament.

Angelo Messina won district titles in 2020, 22 and 23. Only the pandemic prevented him from having a chance to win four titles.

Seven is also how many region qualifiers for Red Bank Catholic and Middletown South (Region 5), Point Pleasant Boro (Region 6), Wall (Region 6) and Donovan Catholic (Region 7). Red Bank Catholic tied a program record with its qualifiers.

It is believed to be the most region qualifiers Donovan Catholic has ever had.

6

The number of district championships won by the Klinsky brothers - Tyler and Brady - of Middletown North after Brady Klinsky won at 106 for the second straight year at District 20.

Tyler Klinsky, now at Rider University, won four from 2017-2020. He was also the state 113-pound champion in 2020, a state finalist at 106 in 2019 and a four-time region champion.

It is also how many district titles won by the Hamann family of Jackson Memorial after senior Luke Hamann won the 165-pound title at District 24 for his second title.

Luke Hamann’s older brothers – Doug and Brian – also each won two district championships. Brian Hamann was a two-time state fourth-place finisher and three-time state top five finisher.

Six is how many champions both Brick Memorial and Manalapan and how many region qualifiers Middletown North (Region 5) and Lacey (Region 7) had. Manalapan set a school-record for district champions. It had five champions in 2017, 2002, 1996, 1985 and 1982.

5

Howell district champions and how many region qualifiers for Brick (Region 6), Colts Neck (Region 6), Freehold (Region 6), Matawan (Region 5),  Rumson-Fair Haven (Region 5) and Toms River East (Region 7).

4

The championships won by sophomore Frank Romeo (165), seniors Sabino Portella (175) and Michael Palmieri (190) and junior Lorenzo Portella (heavyweight at District 20 were a program record for district champions for Red Bank Catholic. The only other times the Caseys had more than two champions was in 1989 and 1973, when they had three each.

Also the number of district championships the Portella brothers – Sabino and Lorenzo - have combined. Both have won district titles the last two seasons. Sabino Portella was the state finalist at 170 in 2021 and is a two-time state top four finisher. Lorenzo Portella was seventh in the state at heavyweight last season.

The Ortega brothers - Sebastian and Xavier - have combined after they won at 120 and 126 in the District 22 Tournament for the second straight titles for both.

Four is also how many champions Long Branch had in District 23 and how many region qualifiers for Freehold Township, Point Pleasant Beach and Shore (Region 6), Red Bank (Region 5) and Manchester (Region 7).

3

The championships won by Richard Gomez (113), Lawrence Liss (120) and Colin Palumbo (150) at District 20 gave Matawan three district champions for the first time since 1978.

One of the champions in 1978 was Jim Jeffcoat at heavyweight. Jeffcoat went on to have a distinguished NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Also how many district champions Raritan (District 20), Wall (District 22), Freehold Township (District 23), Donovan Catholic (District 25) had.

Donovan Catholic won the three weights Southern did not in District 25 with junior and returning state seventh-place finisher Kurt Wehner (113), sophomore and returning state qualifier Dezmond Lenaghan (120) and senior Richard Davis (138). Wehner and Lenaghan both beat Southern wrestlers in their finals.

It is the first time since 2018 and just the third time ever the Griffins have had three champions. Raritan sophomore Alexander Delaurier (132) won one of the deeper weights in District 20.

The number of region qualifiers for Holmdel (Region 5), Manasquan and Ocean (Region 6) and Pinelands (Region 8).

2

The titles won by freshman Wyatt Pharo at 106 and senior Gavin Wagner at 175 in District 32 enabled Pinelands to have two champions for the first time when Jim Smith and Kenny Kline won at 160 and 171 in District 24.

The championships won by junior A.J. Todisco (150) and freshman Alexander Reyes (175) in District 18 were the first time since 2017 Holmdel had more than one district champion.

Also the number of district champions for Rumson-Fair Haven (District 19, Middletown North and Middletown South (District 20), Jackson Liberty (District 21) and Freehold (District 22).

Region qualifiers for Keansburg (Region 5), Neptune and Toms River North (Region 6), Central and Toms River South (Region 7) and Barnegat (Region 8).

It is the first time Keansburg has had a region qualifier since 2019.

1

Neptune’s Quincy Esannason with his 5-3 win in sudden victory over Brick Memorial’s Max Wright in the District 23 157-pound final became his school’s first district champion since 2017 and just the Scarlet Filers’ second in the last 10 seasons.

Also, the number of champions for Point Pleasant Boro (District 21) and Toms River North (District 21) and the number of region qualifiers for Lakewood (Region 6), Marlboro (Region 5) and Monmouth (Region 6).

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ Wrestling: District review by the numbers