James Clarke | GardenStateHSWrestling.com | 01/06/23

Round 1:

West Morris Central over Morris Knolls (46-27)

       The Morris Knolls Golden Eagles did all they could to keep it close against West Morris Central but it wasn’t enough as they fell to the Wolfpack with a final score of 46-27. This win gives the Wolfpack their win second win on the year. One of the teams highlights in this victory came from 132lber, Jacob Harrison who was trailing against his Golden Eagles opponent, Ryan Perno, 10-3. Harrison was able to slip his way out of a Perno armbar and got the pin at the 3:11 mark that helped extend the Wolfpack’s lead to 18-9 after five bouts. Another victory that was one for the books was the marquee matchup between the Wolfpack’s Brandon Dean and Golden Eagles’ Gavin Gomes. Dean was able to narrowly escape with a win of his own, 3-2. However, Morris Knolls didn’t go away so easily as they were slowly cutting the lead of West Morris at one point to only 3 points separating the two teams 24-21 after a pin from Luke Shivas of Morris Knolls at 150lbs. However, the wrestler that was able to clinch it for the Wolfpack came at 215lbs as Tommy Borgia got a first period pin that secured a victory for the Wolfpack and AJ Codella was able to put an exclamation point on the victory with a win of his own, 2-0. 

Del Val over Kittatinny (37-21)

         There’s no secret that these two teams are brewing a rivalry between one another. Two teams historically outstanding with legendary head coaches always give New Jersey wrestling a great name for themselves. A matchup in what could very likely be a Group 1 semifinals/finals matchup in February, Del Val showed why they were the better team as they surpassed Kittatinny, 37-21. Del Val did such an outstanding job of not giving up any bonus points as many of their individual losses were all kept to decisions at 106, 113, 157, 165, and 175; and only gave up one pin at 215. Del Val’s two best wins in this dual came at 138lbs as Michael Hasson held onto a 2-0 after two periods to the Cougars Senior, Jacob Savage. Hasson, who was in control for most of the bout slipped up towards the end of the third as he gave up the reversal to Savage but quickly was in position to get the escape and close out to a narrow 3-2. Another thrilling matchup to put the exclamation point on the Terrior’s victory came at 285lbs where Senior Kyle Cooke, got a late takedown in the third period against Alex Laoudis with 11 seconds to go in regulation. Cooke gave up the escape but came out on top as a 6-5 winner. Cooke emotions after the matchup showed all that we needed to know on how he felt beating a quality opponent. 

Round 2: 

Del Val over West Morris Central (62-13)

      After losing to Del Val last year by only five points, 37-33, West Morris wanted revenge on that loss. However, that did not end up being the case as Del Val ran away with the victory, 62-13. Del Val won eleven out of fourteen bouts wrestled and many of their wins were based on multiple bonus points by pins and major decision scores. 157lb, Mitchell Sutter was a part of the pinning crew as it may have taken him nearly all three periods, but was once given that opportunity to get that pin with 13 seconds to go in the bout. After losing his first match, Sutter felt good about getting this victory for himself and helping his squad go 2-0 on the day with one dual to go. 

Kittatinny over Morris Knolls (44-18)

        When you lose a Group 1 favorite, people may think that you would not be able to get back on track in today’s quad. That was not the case for Kittatinny. As it has been for much of the earlier latter of the season, Kittatinny played from behind as they started out in a hole 12-0 through four bouts. However, many of their hammers were waiting to showcase their talents and blew away Morris Knolls, 44-18. 132lb for Morris Knolls, Ryan Perno looked like he was not going to win against his Kittatinny opponent, Blake Giangrasso as he was trailing 3-2. However, Perno had other plans to help out his team as he was able to get a late takedown of his own with less than five seconds to go and won that bout, 4-3. Questions were brewing as both sides saw it from their own perspectives on whether or not it was a takedown. After a Kittatinny major decision at 138lbs, 144lbs brought in with what happened to set up the momentum of what Kittatinny needed.  Kittatinny’s, Aran Kover and Morris Knolls’, Jaylin Jones showcased to us on what New Jersey wrestling is all about as both of the wrestlers gave each other a run for their money. However, the victory went towards Kover favor as he scored a last second takedown as he won his bout for the Cougars, 8-7 OR 10-7; there was a lot of discussion following the bout between the two head coaches and the official on what occurred at the time such as the locked hands call and when the takedown was given. It gave the Cougars the wake up call that they needed and pull away with the team win, including a solid, 1-0 win for Ethan Dalling over his Golden Eagles opponent, Gavin Gomes where Dalling rode out Gomes for the entire third period.

Round 3:

Del Val over Morris Knolls (58-12)

      Del Val ends the day as being victors of the matchup against the quad host, Morris Knolls, 58-12 and sweeps the quad as a whole. However, there were some highlights that the Golden Eagles definitely showed heart in, especially at 150lbs, as Kayden Montoya was trailing for most the bout with a score 7-0 against his Terrier’s opponent, Silas Johnson. Slowly but surely, he was working his way to cutting the lead and at one point, made it a one point bout, 7-6. Then, Montoya was able to get a takedown of his own that led him to get the pin with five seconds to go. It was the match of the day for the Golden Knolls despite the team loss. Heading into next week, Del Val will be at home for  back to back home matches between Cranford and Voorhees (01/09 & 01/10 respectively) and will travel to Phillipsburg High School on Saturday (01/13) for the annual, Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament. While, Morris Knolls will regroup and look for a bounce back with two home matches against Sparta and their crosstown rivals, Morris Hills (01/10 & 01/12 respectively). 

Kittatinny over West Morris Central (40-30)

        A pair of 1-1 teams on the day looking to end their day with a winning record. Kittatinny ended up being that team as they were down early but prevailed and escaped with the team victory 40-30 over West Morris Central. The Wolfpack jumped out to an early 19-3 lead getting pins from Mark Montoure (120) and Jacob Fahmi (126); a major decision by Jacob Harrison (132), and a decision  by Vincent Caruso (144). The Kittatinny hammers were waiting after the 150lbs bout with a Cougars win, as Reece Smith, Ethan Dalling, Bryce Coesfeld, and Kaleb Ogar all record first period pins to push the lead for the Cougars 31-19. West Morris Central’s hammer, Tommy Borgia  who needed a pin to keep his teams hopes alive, was held to a technical fall, 15-0 as he got the final takedown right before the buzzer. Tucker Lockburner clinched the match for the Cougars with his first period pin at 285lbs. Troy Sharp, who normally wrestles at 106lbs was bumped away from the Wolfpack’s astonishing freshman, Brody Neil (who went 3-0 on the day individually), to wrestle at 113lbs and earned an exciting 8-7 victory over Mason Vazquez. It is never easy when you are being asked to bump up a weight class but Sharp showed grit and perseverance to get the win that he wanted for himself and his team. Heading into next week, Kittatinny will travel to their longtime rivals High Point on Friday night and travel to Phillipsburg High School the following day for the annual, Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament. While West Morris Central will rest up and prepare for their upcoming dual meets at Morris Hills on Wednesday, (01/10) and a Saturday (01/13) morning match at Roxbury looking for any possible way to get a win.