Below is my rundown of the New Jersey high school wrestling season as it stands just over a week into 2020.

Saw That Coming

Historic parity and strength in the top four.

So far, Bergen Catholic, Delbarton, and St Joe’s make up the most evenly matched top three we’ve seen in years. Throw in a crazy-deep Camden Catholic lineup, and you have a top-four that sits pretty clearly above the rest. Though I don’t expect any other teams to break into this top four, we could see the order change before the season is over. All four were at Beast of the East, where the top three placed a number of wrestlers but none had a champ. CC had no one place. Delbarton and St Joe’s may each have eight ranked wrestlers to Bergen’s seven, but where Bergen is good, it’s really good.

The Non-Public group playoffs are going to be awesome.

No. 1s are getting tested.

We’re only a month in, but a quick peek at the early season schedule would indicate we might see a number of individual matchups that are usually saved for February and March.

First came the 120lb Beast of the East semis when preseason #1 Alex Almeyda of St Joe’s faced returning state champion from St John Vianney, Dean Peterson. The match featured little action until late in the third when it looked like Almeyda locked up a cradle in short time but was unable to secure the points. Peterson went on to win in ride-outs and take over the #1 spot.

In the 113lb Sam Cali finals, Don Bosco’s Kelly Dunnigan became the second #2 to take out a #1 when he beat returning state finalist Tyler Klinsky 10-5. 

As I mentioned, Delbarton and Bergen look to be on a collision course for a postseason contest. At the Doc Buchanan in California, Delbarton’s Andrew Troczynski made a potential BC/Delbarton match much more interesting by knocking off #1 Joe Zargo in the pre-quarters. Zargo entered the season ranked #11 in the country and at the top of the heap of the 145lb group. Despite his active summer, Zargo has never placed in the state before, so it was expected he might be pushed at what looks to be a wide-open 145lb weight class. 

Didn’t See That Coming

How about these two Williamstown lightweights?

In the early rounds of Beast, I watched as 106 and 113lbers John Hildebrandt and Brady Conlin burned through the first two rounds and thought, “Where did these two Williamstown little guys come from?” The 47-seed in the bracket, Hildebrandt, scored 26 points in his first two matches before falling to Powerade champ and #7 in the country, Mac Church, 10-7 in a competitive pre-quarter. Conlin made a run to the quarters where he faced #10 in the country Brett Ungar of Notre Dame (PA), losing 5-0. Both went on to fall in the bloodround.

The sophomore Hildebrandt wrestles fast, has a ton of stuff, and is not afraid to hit it. Conlin, meanwhile, looks the part of an unassuming freshman but can handle a physical handfight, and with his long frame he is a bit of a wrangler on top. These guys are fun to watch and I have a feeling we might see both in the Region 8 finals in February.

Paulsboro is pushed out of the top 10.

In the beginning of the year, it was difficult for me to picture a NJ top 10 that didn’t include Paulsboro, but that’s where we stand today. 

With that said, this uncharacteristic start could just be the product of wrestling tough competition early on. Howell is shaping into a top-five team after flexing its muscles on Pboro in the first tournament of the year. And North Hunterdon proved its strength by taking out Kingsway immediately after beating Paulsboro. Don’t count out the Red Raiders quite yet.

Despite some early shortcomings, I’m still not sure Paulsboro will be threatened in the conference or in Group 1. After a 30-plus year conference undefeated streak was snapped back in 2008, Paulsboro rolled right into another one that is nearly 10 years in the making. Will it end this year?

I don’t think so. The biggest tests in the conference will come in the form of West Deptford and Haddonfield, and I think both teams are a bit short on the depth and firepower that is required to beat the Red Raiders in a given year. This year’s Paulsboro team may not be the state power we are used to, but, well . . . it’s still Paulsboro.

North Hunterdon is here.

I’ll admit that I was late to this one. 

Coming into the season, North Hunterdon was hardly on my radar. Last weekend, the Lions showed up to Newton High School for the Henry Boresch Duals looking to prove they are of the toughest teams in the state, and that’s exactly what they did. 

Maybe it’s the South Jersey in me, but I just didn’t expect North Hunterdon to take out both SJ powers Paulsboro and Kingsway in the same day. As it was, North Hunterdon first beat Paulsboro in the semifinals 39-29 and followed it up by smacking Kingsway 40-21. The Kingsway match was over before the Dragons even got a chance to show off the meat of their lineup. 

Though North Hunterdon may have no state-ranked wrestlers at the moment, this is a rock-solid squad that features six seniors, two district champs, and three state qualifiers. 

The Group 4 bracket is a loaded one featuring Kingsway, Brick Memorial, and Jackson Memorial. Still, duals are about matchups and it’s hard to not consider North Hunterdon the favorite at the moment.

The Top 10

1. Bergen Catholic

The Crusaders continue to reign over New Jersey — for now.

Ranked wrestlers: 7

Notable results: 4th at Beast of the East

2. Delbarton

With BC as vulnerable as it’s ever been, it may be high time to ride the Green Wave.

Ranked wrestlers: 8

Notable results: 9th at Beast of the East, beat Pope John XXIII 48-21

3. St Joseph’s (Montvale)

All this talk about BC and Delbarton — what about us?

Ranked wrestlers: 8

Notable results: 11th at Beast of the East

4. Camden Catholic

South Jersey’s best may not be on the level of the top three, but this might just be the deepest lineup in the entire state.

Ranked wrestlers: 5

Notable results: 1st at Sam Cali Memorial

5. Howell

Howell is wrestling like it has unfinished business, eyeing a rematch of last year’s sectional final against Southern.

Ranked wrestlers: 5

Notable results: Beat Toms River North 32-30, Beat High Point 37-36

6. Southern

Lose six starters to graduation, hire a new coach, but same old Southern.

Ranked wrestlers: 4

Notable results: 1st at Hunterdon Central Tournament, beat Jackson Memorial 41-24

7. Pope John XXIII

With a returning state champ and the #1 guy at 145 leading the way, Pope John continues to be #blessed.

Ranked wrestlers: 4

Notable results: Beat St Peter’s Prep 37-30

8. High Point

Year in, year out, from top to bottom, High Point is rock solid.

Ranked wrestlers: 4

Notable results: 1st at Mustang Classic, Beat Kittatinny 48-24

9. North Hunterdon

With no state-ranked wrestlers, this team proves it’s better to be gritty than pretty

Ranked wrestlers: 0

Notable results: Beat Paulsboro 39-29, beat Kingsway 40-21

10. Kingsway

The Dragons fell to Group 4 foe North Hunterdon early, but this team is built for the postseason.

Ranked wrestlers: 3

Notable results: Beat Seton Hall Prep 37-30

What’s To Come

It’s Dual Season, baby! Check out some of my favorites from January’s upcoming slate.

• Brick Memorial @ #6 Southern - 1/9/20
• Buchanan (CA) @ #7 Pope John XXIII 1/10/20
• #4 Camden Catholic, St Augustine, St Peters, South Plainfield @ Virginia Duals 1/10/20-1/11/20
• #2 Delbarton, #3 St Joe’s (Montvale), Belmont Hill School (MA) @ Blair Academy 1/11/20
• #9 North Hunterdon @ Phillipsburg 1/15/20
• #2 Delbarton, #5 Howell @ Moorestown Jack Welch Duals 1/17/20-1/18/20
• Phillipsburg @ Easton (PA) 1/23/20 
• St Augustine @ #10 Kingsway 1/24/20
• #1 Bergen Catholic, #7 Pope John, Jackson Memorial @ #10 Kingsway 1/25/20
• Paulsboro @ West Deptford 1/27/20
• #8 High Point @ #6 Southern 1/30/20