CONTENDERS: Lenape Valley will return, loaded at the lower weights.  Pete Lipari, Glenn Haines and Dominick Benvenuto combined for 106 wins last year. All three look on track to duplicate that success. Jefferson is another team to keep an eye on. Bryan Damon leads the team at the lower weights after completing a 32-5 record at 106 pounds in 2011. In addition to Damon, both Luke Bohn and Nils Holley make Jefferson a formidable lineup. Kittatinny is another squad to keep an eye on.  While they lost Clarke Moynihan, fourth at 152 pounds in 2012, they have seven wrestlers who won at least 20 matches last year. Dylan Wunder, Kieran Gerrity and Jake Brook all won at least thirty matches while Garrett Armstrong chipped in 22. The team looks poised for another great year.

DARK HORSE: Hackettstown Hackettstown only lost one winning wrestler to graduation in 2012 and will look to build the program. Tyler Kozimor will be the focal point for Hackettstown in 2013. Kozimor was a state qualifier a season ago and posted a 32-15 mark.

OTHERS: Hopatcong, Newton, North Warren, Wallkill Valley

OUR PICK: Jefferson: With a deep, strong lower weight trio and a junior dominated team, Jefferson looks to have enough tools to win the Freedom Division and make a run in the team tournament. The biggest test will be against Kittatinny on January 15th. If Jefferson can navigate through the gauntlet of upperweights, they should win the match.