Shore Conference wrestling top returning performers, rising stars, 2022 preview

What figures to be an exciting Shore Conference wrestling season begins this weekend with some dual-meets and the plethora of season-opening tournaments.

After a truncated season in 2021 that took place in the spring due to the pandemic, it is expected this season will be a full one and conclude with the NJSIAA Boys Individual Championships March 3-5 at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

There are some changes:

New weight classes

The major one is the NJSIAA revised the weight classes for this season. The new weight classes are 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215. They take the place of 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195 and 220.

Here are the 14 weight classes.

106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285.

New 'Elite Event' tournament designation

Another change is the NJSIAA has designated the following in-season tournaments as "Elite Events''

They are the Beast of the East this weekend at the University of Delaware, the Sam Cali Tournament Dec. 27-28 at Fairleigh Dickson University-Madison and the Escape the Rock Tournament at Council Rock South (Pa.) Jan. 15-16.

Under this designation, a team may send wrestlers to one of the "Elite Events'' and other wrestlers to another tournament or dual-meet on the same day.

However, a team may not have a wrestler at a weight in an "Elite Event'' and another wrestler at the same weight in another tournament or dual-meet on the same day.

8 new Shore head coaches

There are eight new head coaches in the Shore Conference. They are Billy George (Long Branch); Eleazar DeLuca (Rumson-Fair Haven); Lex Knapp (Donovan Catholic); Mike Oxley (Holmdel); Eric Morley (Middletown North); Brendan McCarthy (Barnegat); Matt Hughes (Matawan) and Alex Provenza (Asbury Park).

Billy George, the state third-place finisher at 189 in 2009 and 2010 - his junior and senior seasons at Long Branch and a former Cornell University wrestler - replaces his uncle Dan George, who retired last June after a legendary 22-season run and 30-season head coaching career. Bill

Dan George is the Shore's second all-time winningest coach with 447 behind Howell's John Gagliano, who has 500.

DeLuca, a former Rutgers University wrestler, replaces Bryan Heller, who resigned after last season. DeLuca was an NCAA Tournament qualifier at 149 pounds in 2018 and went 2-2 in that tournament. Heller during his eight seasons reestablished Rumson as a force both team-wise and individually.

Knapp, a former Rutgers wrestler, was the state runner-up at 220 pounds in 2012 - his senior season at Lacey. He replaces Steve Glawson.

Oxley was fifth in the state at 195 pounds in 2014, when he was a senior at Christian Brothers Academy. He replaces Danny Franke, who was Holmdel's head coach the last 10 seasons.

Morley, an assistant coach at Middletown North in recent seasons, replaces Matt Sirchio, who resigned this fall after a successful 15-year run.

Guide to the new season

Here is our Shore Conference preview package with this season's divisional alignment, past state tournament qualifiers, freshman to watch and key dates and matches.

Next week, we will count down the top 10 teams in the Shore Conference.

SHORE CONFERENCE DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENT

CLASS A NORTH

Christian Brothers Academy

Freehold Township

Howell

Long Branch

Manalapan

Marlboro

Middletown North

Middletown South

CLASS A CENTRAL

Holmdel

Monmouth Regional

Ocean

Raritan

Red Bank Catholic

Rumson-Fair Haven

St. John Vianney

CLASS A SOUTH

Brick

Brick Memorial

Central

Jackson Memorial

Southern

Toms River East

Toms River North

Toms River South

CLASS B NORTH

Colts Neck

Freehold

Manasquan

Matawan

Neptune

Red Bank

Wall

CLASS B CENTRAL

Asbury Park

Keansburg

Keyport

Point Pleasant Beach

Shore

St. Rose

CLASS B SOUTH

Barnegat

Donovan Catholic

Jackson Liberty

Lacey

Lakewood

Manchester

Pinelands

Point Pleasant Boro

PAST STATE QUALIFIERS BY PROJECTED WEIGHT CLASS

106

Kurt Wehner (Donovan Catholic): A transfer from Toms River East, Wehner qualified for the shortened NJSIAA Tournament last season at 106 pounds after a fourth-place finish at 106 pounds in the South Region in his freshman season.

113/120

Brady Carter (Lacey): Carter qualified for the state tournament as a freshman at 106 pounds in 2019 after he finished second in Region VII. He was 1-2 in that state tournament. Carter has had injuries each of the last two seasons.

120

Evan Tallmadge (Brick Memorial): Tallmadge is one of three returning state champions in the Shore and was one of Brick Memorial's state-record-tying four state champions last season. He won the 113-pound championship with an 8-7 win over Southern's Conor Collins in tiebreaker No. 1. He was fourth in the state at 106 in 2020 when he was at Brick Township High School and went 2-2 in the 2019 state tournament. He has signed with the United States Naval Academy.

Conor Collins (Southern): Collins was the state runner-up to Tallmadge at 113 last year after he won the South Region championship. He was the Region VIII champion at 106 in 2020 and one win away from being a state medalist.

Sebastian Ortega (Howell): Ortega was the state fifth-place finisher at 113 last year as a freshman. He was the Central Region runner-up to Tallmadge.

Alex Nini (Christian Brothers Academy): Nini was the state eighth-place and Central Region third-place finisher at 113 last year as a freshman.

120/126

James Farina (Ocean): Farina went 1-2 in last year's state tournament and was the Central Region third-place finisher at 106 as a freshman.

126

Jack Zaleski (Middletown South): Zaleski, a junior, is a two-time state top five finisher and a two-time region finalist. He was fourth in the state and the Central Region runner-up at 120 last year. In 2020, he was fifth in the state and the Region V champion at 106.

Garrett Totten (CBA): Totten is a two-time state seventh-place finisher - 120 last spring in his first season at CBA and at 113 in 2020 when he was a Northern Burlington. He was third in the Central Region last season and the Region VI runner-up to Middletown North's Tyler Klinsky in 2020. Totten is a three-time state qualifier.

Joe Giordano (St. John Vianney): Giordano went 1-2 in the 2020 state tournament and was the Region V third-place finisher at 106 pounds.

Blake Geibel (St. John Vianney): A transfer from Northern Burlington, Geibel was a state tournament qualifier in 2020 at 120 pounds after a fourth-place finish in Region VI.

Aidan Shaughnessy (Rumson-Fair Haven): Shaughnessy went 1-2 in the 2020 state tournament at 113 pounds after he won the Region V title.

Angelo Messina (Freehold): Messina, the younger brother of Rutgers University second year freshman 125-pound Nico Messina, went 2-2 in the 2020 state tournament and was the Region VI third-place finisher at 106.

Lucas Torre (Brick Memorial): Torre was a state tournament qualifier at 106 pounds in 2020 when he was at Point Pleasant Boro after a Region VI fourth-place finisher.

126/132

Phil Stolfa (Red Bank): Stolfa was a state tournament qualifier at 126 pounds last spring after a Central Region fourth-place finish.

132

Anthony Santaniello (Brick Memorial): Santaniello won the 2021 120-pound state championship with a last-second 4-2 win over Kinnelon's Evan Mougalian. It was payback for Santaniello after he was defeated 3-1 in the last season by Mougalian in the 2020 106-pound state final. Santaniello is a two-time region champion.

Nico Diaz (St. John Vianney): Diaz is a three-time state qualifier and a three-time region top three finisher. He was one win away from earning a state medal at 106 in 2019 and was the Region V champion at 126 in 2020.

138

Julian George (CBA): George, a junior, was eighth in the state at 132 last year and is a two-time state qualifier. He was one win away from being a state medalist at 126 in 2020. George won the Central Region title at 132 last season.

Giovanni Scafidi (Howell): A transfer from Freehold Township, Scafidi went 1-2 in last year's state tournament at 138 pounds after a second-place finish in the Central Region.

Matt Henrich (Southern): A sophomore, Henrich went 1-2 in last year's state tournament at 126 pounds after a fourth-place finish in the South Region.

144

David Hussey (Middletown South): Hussy is a two-time state qualifier. He was third in the Central Region at 138 last season and fourth in Region V at 120 in 2020.

Donovan DiStefano (Wall): A sophomore, DiStefano was a state qualifier at 145 pounds last season after a fourth-place finish in the Central Region.

150

Tyler Barrett (CBA): Barrett, a junior, was the Region VI 145-pound champion in 2020 and went 2-2 in that year's state tournament.

Ryan Smith (Brick Memorial): Smith, who did not wrestle in last spring's pandemic-shortened season, is a two-time state qualifier and a two-time region third-place finisher. He wrestled at 106 in 2019 and 132 in 2020. Smith went 1-2 in both state tournament appearances.

Cole Velardi (Southern): Velardi, a junior, was a state tournament qualifier at 152 in 2020 after a fourth-place finish in Region VIII.

157

Zander Silva (CBA): Silva, a junior, is a two-time state tournament qualifier. He was third in Region VI at 132 in 2020 and fourth in the Central Region at 160 last spring.

Jasiah Queen (St. John Vianney): A transfer from Elizabeth, Queen is a two-time state tournament qualifier. He was the North 2 Region runner-up at 138 last spring and the Region IV third-place finisher at 120 in 2020.

Joe McCullough (Toms River East): McCullough was a state tournament qualifier in 2020 when he was fourth in Region VII at 126 pounds.

165

Hunter Mays (Howell): Mays, who transferred from Conwel Egan (Pa.) High School to Howell in the summer of 2020, became Howell's fourth state champion when he won the 160-pound title with a 6-5 win over Kingsway's Dakota Morris last year. He has signed with Rider University.

175

Sabino Portella (Red Bank Catholic): Portella was the state runner-up at 170 pounds last spring and became Red Bank Catholic's first state finalist since Tom Seitz won the 108-pound championship in 1974. Portella is also Red Bank Catholic's only two-time region champion. He won the Region VI 160-pound title in 2020 and was one win from a state medal that season.

Shay Addison (Rumson-Fair Haven): Addison was the state fifth-place finisher and Region V champion at 160 in 2020. He was the Central Region 170-pound runner-up to Portella and was defeated by Portella again in the state quarterfinals last season.

D.J. Henry (Howell): Henry was a state qualifier last season, when he was third in the Central Region at 170.

175/190

Jared Tracey (Ocean): Tracey is a two-time state qualifier with two region fourth-place finishes. He was at 160 in 2020 and 182 last year.

190

Hudson Skove (Rumson-Fair Haven): Skove, the son of Thomas Skove of the famous Skove family of Long Branch, went 1-2 in last year's state tournament 195 pounds after a Central Region runner-up finish.

215

Chimdindu Molokwu (Jackson Liberty): Molokwu, a junior, was a state qualifier last season after his Central Region runner-up finish at 220 pounds.

HWT

Matt Jannucci (Colts Neck): Jannucci went 1-2 in last year's state tournament at heavyweight after a Central Region fourth-place finish behind state runner-up John O'Donnell of Toms River North, state champion David Szuba of Brick Memorial and state fifth-place finisher Joseph Teresi of Ocean.

FRESHMAN TO WATCH

BY PROJECTED WEIGHT

Information obtained from Frank D'Esposito at shoreconferencewrestling.com.

106

Patrick O'Keefe (St. John Vianney): O'Keefe won six state medals at various youth levels and is ranked No. 2 in the state at 106 by Full Circle.

Brendan Schuler (Lacey): Schuler was a state medalist at the youth level.

Gavin Martin (Brick Memorial): Martin was a very good wrestler at the youth levels.

Walker Skove (Rumson-Fair Haven): Skove is the younger brother of Rumson-Fair Haven sophomore 190-pounder and comes from the famous Skove family of Long Branch. His uncle Luke was a three-time state champion and a three-time NCAA All-Americans and his uncle Jude was an NCAA champion.

113

Anthony Knox (St. John Vianney): Knox is one of the most highly-touted freshman to ever come into the Shore Conference. He won championships at both the Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D. last summer and the Super 32 Tournament this past fall. He is ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Dezmond Lenaghan (Donovan Catholic): Lenaghan was a multiple state medalist at the youth level.

Xavier Ortega (Howell): Ortega won several state medals at the youth level.

120

Jake Zaltsman (St. John Vianney): Zaltsman won a junior state championship in 2018 and won several other state medals at the youth level.

Alex DeLaurier (Raritan): DeLaurier won several state medals at the intermediate school level.

126/132

Michael Volek (Ocean): Volek won a state medal at the intermediate school state level.

132

A.J. Falcone (CBA): Falcone won a state medal at the youth school level.

Evan Ridgway (Rumson-Fair Haven): Ridgway was solid at the youth wrestling level.

138

Cole Stangel (St. John Vianney): Stangel was a Novice state champion in 2018.

Cole Pangborn (Rumson-Fair Haven): Pangborn won several state medals at the youth level.

Hayden Hochstrasser (Southern): Hochstrasser won several state medals at the youth level.

150/157

Riley Gutierrez (Donovan Catholic): Gutierrez is the younger brother of former Lacey state fifth-place finisher and two-time region champion Hunter Gutierrez.

175

Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial): Ludington won a Super 32 championship and was a decorated freestyle and greco wrestler at the youth level.

215

Connor Delaney (Rumson-Fair Haven): Delaney was a state medal winner at the youth level.

KEY DATES, MATCHES TOURNAMENTS

Friday: Opening day: TCNJ Pride Tournament at Middletown High School South (Bordentown, Brick Memorial, Colts Neck, Lacey, Livingston, Middletown South, Raritan, Robbinsville, West Essex).

Friday: Shore at Long Branch, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Robin Leff Invitational at Southern (Absegami, Blair "B'' team, Camden Catholic, Egg Harbor Township, High Point, Hopewell Valley, Jackson Memorial, Monroe, Moorestown, Mount Olive, Ocean City, Red Bank Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven, Shawnee, Southern, St. Mary's Ryken (Md.), Wall.).

Saturday-Sunday: Beast of the East Tournament at the University of Delaware, Newark, Del (Shore Conference teams: Brick Memorial (2 wrestlers, Evan Tallmadge, Anthony Santaniello); Christian Brothers Academy (six wrestlers); Middletown South (seven wrestlers); Rumson-Fair Haven (three wrestlers); St. John Vianney (14 wrestlers).

Dec. 22: Warren Hills at Raritan, 6 p.m.

Dec. 23: Donovan Catholic at Point Pleasant Boro, 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 27-28: Sam Cali Tournament at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Madison (Shore Conference teams: Middletown South, St. John Vianney).

Dec. 28: Mustang Classic at Brick Memorial (Absegami, Brick Memorial, Caldwell, Camden Catholic, Colts Neck, DePaul, Freehold, Jackson Liberty, Kingsway, Middletown North, Mount Olive, Ocean, Passaic Tech, Paulsboro, Red Bank Catholic, Wall), 10 a.m.

Dec. 28: Hunterdon Central Invitational at Hunterdon Central (Bound Brook, Bridgewater-Raritan, Buena, Cherokee, Delran, Gloucester City, Hackettstown, Hamilton North, Holmdel, Hunterdon Central, Jefferson, Middlesex, Northern Burlington, Notre Dame, Old Bridge, Rumson-Fair Haven, Shawnee, Southern, Toms River East)

Dec. 29-30: Powerade Tournament at Canon McMillian High School, Canonsburg, Pa. (Shore Conference team: Howell).

Dec. 30: Walter Woods Tournament at Middletown High School South (Shore Conference teams: Jackson Memorial, Middletown South, Point Pleasant Boro).

Jan. 3: Rumson-Fair Haven at Ocean, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 5: Christian Brothers Academy at Howell, 6 p.m.

Jan. 5: Ocean at Raritan, 6 p.m.

Jan. 5: Brick Memorial at Southern, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 7: Council Rock South (Pa.) vs. CBA at Jersey Mike's Arena, Rutgers University, 4 p.m.

Jan. 7: Point Pleasant Boro at Lacey, 6:30 p.m.

Jan 8: Southern at Mount Olive quad with Mount Olive, Paramus and Passaic Tech, 9 a.m.

Jan. 8: Williamstown Duals at Williamstown High School (Brick Memorial, CBA, DePaul, Egg Harbor Township, Haddonfield, St. Peter's Prep, Williamstown, 10 a.m.

Jan. 11: Ocean at Lacey, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12: Middletown South at CBA, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 12: Colts Neck at Wall, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12: Southern at High Point, TBA

Jan. 12: Jackson Memorial at Howell as part of a tri-meet with Freehold Township.

Jan. 12: Lacey at Donovan Catholic, 6 p.m.

Jan. 14: Colts Neck at Point Pleasant Boro, 6 p.m.

Jan 14-15: War on the Shore at Stephen Decatur High School, Berlin, Md. (Shore Conference team: Southern).

Jan 15: Two-pound allowance.

Jan. 15: Henry Boresch Duals at Newton High School (Caldwell, Hanover Park, Howell, Lacey, Newton, North Hunterdon, South Plainfield, Toms River North).

Jan. 15: Middletown South Quad with Delsea, Paramus Catholic, St. Joseph (Metuchen).

Jan. 15: Jackson Memorial at Raritan as part of a quad meet with Marlboro and South Brunswick.

Jan. 15-16: Escape The Rock Tournament at Council Rock South (Pa.) High School (Shore Conference team: CBA).

Jan. 17: St. John Vianney at Rumson-Fair Haven, 7 p.m.

Jan. 18: Jackson Memorial at Southern, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 19: Wall at Jackson Memorial, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 19: Raritan at Rumson-Fair Haven, 7 p.m.

Jan. 21: Raritan at Delaware Valley, 6 p.m.

Jan. 21: Point Pleasant Beach at Point Pleasant Boro, 6 p.m.

Jan. 21: CBA at Bergen Catholic, 7 p.m.

Jan. 21-22: Jack Welch Duals at Moorestown High School: (Absegami, Bound Brook, Cherokee, Cinnaminson, Clearview, Delbarton, Delran, Delsea, Egg Harbor Township, Holy Spirit, Howell, Long Branch, Moorestown, Morris Hills, Newton, Warren Hills.

Jan. 22: Southern at South Plainfield, 1 p.m.

Jan. 23: Shore Conference Tournament seeding meeting at Point Pleasant Boro

Jan. 24: Raritan at St. John Vianney, 7 p.m.

Jan 25: Shore Conference Tournament preliminary round for seeds 13-20.

Jan. 25: CBA at St. Peter's Prep, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 26: Kingsway at Southern, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 26: Brick Memorial at Jackson Memorial, 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 27: Shore Conference Tournament round of 16 and quarterfinals at top four seeds.

Jan. 29: Shore Conference Tournament semifinals and final at Middletown South.

Jan. 29: Phillipsburg at Southern, 1 p.m.

Jan. 29: Cutoff for qualification for NJSIAA Team Tournament.

Feb. 1: NJSIAA Team Tournament seeding meeting.

Feb. 1: Long Branch at Raritan, 6 p.m.

Feb. 2: Red Bank Catholic at Rumson-Fair Haven, 7 p.m.

Feb. 7: NJSIAA Team Tournament sectional quarterfinals and semifinals at top two seeds in each section.

Feb. 8: Girls Individual State Tournament seeding meeting.

Feb. 9: NJSIAA Team Tournament sectional championship matches at highest remaining seed in each section.

Feb. 11: NJSIAA Team Tournament public school group semifinals at highest remaining seed.

Feb. 12: NJSIAA Girls Region Tournaments at Franklin (North) and Williamstown (South).

Feb. 13: NJSIAA Team Tournament public and nonpublic group championship matches at Franklin.

Feb. 19: NJSIAA Boys District Tournaments.

Feb. 20: NJSIAA Girls Individual Championships at Phillipsburg High School.

Feb. 21: NJSIAA Region Tournament seeding meetings.

Feb. 25-26: NJSIAA Region Tournaments.

March 1: NJSIAA Boys Individual Championships seeding meeting.

March 3-5: NJSIAA Boys Individual Championships at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ Wrestling: Top performers, rising stars, 2022 preview