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Wrestling: These are the 2022 Boys All-Herald First and Second Teams

andrew tredinnick, new jersey herald
·6 min read

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR

Brian Soldano

High Point senior (190)

Brian Soldano of High Point, left, and Joshua Palacio of North Bergen wrestle in the 190-pound final on Day 3 of the NJSIAA state wrestling championships in Atlantic City on Thursday, March 5, 2022.
Brian Soldano of High Point, left, and Joshua Palacio of North Bergen wrestle in the 190-pound final on Day 3 of the NJSIAA state wrestling championships in Atlantic City on Thursday, March 5, 2022.

It was a fitting end for the High Point senior, who closed his Wildcats career with the 190-pound title in Atlantic City.

The win marked the conclusion of one of the most decorated wrestling careers in Sussex County history. It was the Rutgers commit's third state title, making him the seventh three-time winner in county history and second in program history.

Soldano was a perfect 38-0 on the season, including 33 pins, and won 75 straight matches to end his time at High Point. He finished with 99 pins and 127 wins throughout his career.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Pope John

Jack Stoll of Pope John XXIII, right, and P.J. Casale of Passaic Valley wrestle in a 215-pound bout on Day 2 of the NJSIAA state wrestling championships in Atlantic City on Thursday, March 4, 2022.
Jack Stoll of Pope John XXIII, right, and P.J. Casale of Passaic Valley wrestle in a 215-pound bout on Day 2 of the NJSIAA state wrestling championships in Atlantic City on Thursday, March 4, 2022.

The Lions were banged up to start the season and needed to scramble to pick up matches to qualify for the state tournament, but when it all shook out, they won the Non-Public B crown.

Pope John trailed by 19 points midway through their match against Red Bank Catholic before notching five pins down the stretch and emerging with a 42-31 victory.

The Lions closed the season with a 10-4 record. Over the course of the season, they were led by senior Jack Stoll and freshman Carson Walsh, who each medaled in Atlantic City.

They also led the area with three Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex champions in Walsh, Justin Holly and Collin Neal.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Kittatinny' wrestling coach John Gill talks to one of his wrestlers during a home match against North Warren on Jan. 6, 2016, at Kittatinny Regional High School.
Kittatinny' wrestling coach John Gill talks to one of his wrestlers during a home match against North Warren on Jan. 6, 2016, at Kittatinny Regional High School.

The Cougars were inexperienced at the lower weights, but Gill was be able to squeeze all of the potential out of his young lineup.

Kittatinny finished with a 19-3 record, including wins over Delaware Valley, Jefferson, Hanover Park and River Dell. They fell just short in the Group 1 championship in a rematch against Delaware Valley to close the season.

Gill was named the District 4 Coach of the Year after the Cougars advanced nine wrestlers on to the Region 1 tournament.

FIRST TEAM

Bryce Coesfeld

Kittatinny sophomore (144)

Cut weight for the state tournament and ended up picking up a District 4 runner-up and Region 1 fifth-place finish. Was 30-10 over the course of the season, including big wins against Delaware Valley and was runner-up at the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament at 150 pounds.

Steven Dalling

Kittatinny senior (157)

Closed with a 34-6 record, including a District 4 title and a third-place medal in Region 1 at 150 pounds. He won a pair of matches in Atlantic City against Mendham's William Schlegel and South Plainfield's Nick Campagna. Finished the regular season with 15 straight wins.

Daniel Haws

Lenape Valley senior (126)

After early exits in the state tournament in the past, Haws achieved his dream of medaling at the individual state tournament when he took eighth at 126 pounds. Lost to state champion Evan Mougalian of Kinnelon in the pre-quarters, but won three straight in the consolation bracket. Was 35-7 on the season with a District 8 crown and Region 2 runner-up.

Justin Holly

Pope John sophomore (132)

Qualified for his first state tournament in Atlantic City with a third-place finish at Region 1 after taking runner-up honors at District 3. Claimed a tri-county title and took sixth at the Sam Cali Invitational. Was 22-10 on the season, including his first state match in the consolation bracket.

Michael Mastroeni

Hopatcong senior (165)

Rose up despite a shorthanded lineup and made a run to his first individual state championships. Earned a win in the preliminary round as the No. 9 seed. Ended up with a 35-9 record with District 8 runner-up and Region 2 third-place finishes.

Michael Melillo

Newton junior (138)

Turned in one of the best seasons among Newton's grapplers, racking up a 22-8 record and reaching Atlantic City. He was the runner-up in District 3 and third in Region 1. Finished in first place at the John Goles Wrestling Tournament.

Collin Neal

Pope John senior (150)

Lions senior overcame offseason shoulder surgery to punch his first ticket to the individual state championships, where he won one match in the consolation round. Neal closed his high school career with a 21-8 record, which included a H/W/S and District 3 titles and a runner-up finish in Region 1.

Dylan Patscher

Jefferson senior (285)

Made his first trip to the individual state championships and won matches against Washington Township's John Stone and Eastside's Arthur Edmonds before losing in the quarterfinal round. He won 35 straight matches to start the season and finished 39-3, including a Morris County and District 4 title.

Aidan Scheeringa

Hackettstown sophomore (106)

Greater Sussex County's lone state representative at 106 pounds after he won a District 10 title and finished third in Region 3. Closed his sophomore season with a 25-9 record including a runner-up medal at the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament.

Jack Stoll

Pope John senior (215)

Grabbed his second straight state medal by taking fifth at 215 pounds, one season after finishing sixth. Battled through an injury suffered at Beast of the East and ended with a 24-5 record, including a sixth-place finish at Beast of the East and District 3 title

Troy Tiger

High Point senior (175)

Came up just one win short of reaching Atlantic City, taking fifth place in Region 1 after finishing up as runner-up in District 1. On the way to a 19-8 record, Tiger was also fifth at the Sam Cali Invitational. Also had a big pin in the Group 2 final against Raritan.

Clayton Utter

High Point senior (120)

Proved to be one of the Wildcats' top wrestlers in his final season, clinching a state spot with a District 3 title and third-place finish at Region 1. He won a pair of matches in A.C., including a preliminary round win over Egg Harbor's Sean Dever. Was 23-5 on the season.

Carson Walsh

Pope John freshman (113)

Broke onto the scene as a freshman and made waves as the No. 15 seed at 113 pounds, reaching the semifinals and taking sixth in the state. Walsh was the Lions' lone Region 1 champion and racked up a 24-6 record.

SECOND TEAM

Melkart Abou-Jaoude, Newton senior (190)

Nicholas Balella, Hackettstown sophomore (126)

Andrew Brevot, High Point senior (138)

Chris Casale, Kittatinny junior (132)

Nick Clayton, High Point freshman (106)

Ty Eldred, Kittatinny senior (285)

Ethan Dalling, Kittatinny freshman (165)

Peter Delaportas, Jefferson senior (215)

Zach Haase, North Warren sophomore (113)

Tyler Lockburner, Kittatinny sophomore (175)

Shane Nelson, Kittatinny senior (120)

Thaylor Sibblies, Newton junior (144)

Takeo Sibblies, Newton senior (157)

Shane Woolf, High Point junior (150)

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: NJ wrestling: 2022 All-Herald First and Second Teams