2019-20 New Jersey High School Rankings

New Jersey High School Rankings: Team

The 2020 New Jersey wrestling season ended in an interesting way. Some might say that it ended just in time. When the 14 state champions were crowned Saturday, March 7 in Atlantic City, few could have imagined the next few months would be spent in isolation due to a worldwide pandemic. 

It is a crazy time in America, to say the least. With that said, it is also a time for real change. It’s been an opportunity for reflection and I urge everyone to continue to keep both their hearts and minds open as we continue to move forward with what has already been an eventful and overwhelming 2020.

Now, let’s take a look at the 14 best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the Garden State.

Pound-for-pound lists are difficult. It is never an exact science when trying to compare wrestlers who may be separated by as much as 150 pounds. Still, after plenty of review, I landed on the list below.

At the top sits two undefeated state champions in Poznanski and Peterson. Poznanski’s only loss in the past two seasons came in last year’s state final to Chris Foca, who will likely be starting for national title contender Cornell this year. Since then, Poznanski dismantled competition, winning Beast of the East and bonusing his way to a state title.

Peterson, also a Beast of the East champion this year, comes in just behind Poznanski after defending his state title at an ultra-competitive 120lb weight class.

Some might argue Robert Howard is truly the best pound for pound wrestler in this group, and I might even agree. Still, Howard was injured for most of the year. Due to his two losses on the season, even when considering the level of competition, it’s difficult to justify a ranking ahead of the other two.

Similar to Howard, Anthony Clark was banged up most of the year and did take a loss early on to Michael Cetta. However, Clark is a three-time champ who avenged that loss in the state semis. Throw in a number of noteworthy career wins, and he’s clearly one of the four best guys.

Some might be surprised to see Nardone all the way up at #10 here. Sure, he’s never made a state final and took two losses on the year, but the depth of the weight has to be considered. 126lb was far and away the toughest weight class in the state with the top five finishers at the weight all ending the season ranked in the country. A win over Howard means something. No one sitting below the Delbarton junior has made a Super 32 final or notched a win as notable as Nardone’s over Howard. If we’re talking pound for pound best, he needs to be included.

The 113lb champ Klinsky comes in at #11 followed by the champs from the top three weight classes in Casale, Cosgrove, and Mullen. All three of these guys are underclassmen and make up what might just be the best trio of upperweights the state has ever seen at once. 

What a season.

The future of New Jersey wrestling is bright.

Questions or comments? Contact Brendan via email (BSBrendanBS@gmail.com) or Twitter (@thescan_man).