For the first time in 15 years, the Morris County Wrestling Tournament will have a new champion as previous winner Delbarton announced with their schedule release that they will not be participating this year.
The Green Wave had won an impressive 15 in a row, besting the previous marks of seven straight by Jefferson (1990-96) and Randolph (1997-2003).
While in recent years the rumors of Delbarton withdrawing from the tournament have circulated around the event, the reason the team pulled the trigger this year was simple. According to Head Coach Bryan Stoll, his squad was presented a great opportunity they couldn’t pass up.
“We love the MCT,” Coach Stoll said. “We just had an opportunity that was too good to pass up this year.”
That opportunity was a Quad at national powerhouse St. Edwards (Ohio) the same weekend. Delbarton finished as the eighth ranked team in country last season and St. Edwards was right behind them at nine.
It is not the only change on the schedule as they have elected to attend the National Wrestling Hall of Fame tournament on December 20-21 and not participate in the Beast of the East where the Green Wave finished an impressive sixth as a team last year with four medalists including champion Jayden James who won the 138 bracket.
With the Green Wave elsewhere on January 25th, that opens up the title opportunity for numerous other teams but looks to be headlined by Mount Olive. The Maraurders finished 2nd last year at the MCT and has been in the Top 5 for the last few seasons.
