The Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex wrestling tournament has historically been one of the strongest county tournaments in the state of New Jersey. It continues to showcase some of the best wrestling that the state has to offer in 2024. This past Saturday, (01/13/24), did not disappoint. After a forgettable showing against Phillipsburg on Wednesday (01/10/24), Hunterdon Central rebounds and avenges some of their losses suffered during that match and put it to the test as the Red Devils win the team title for the first time in school history scoring 225 points. Head Coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm could not have been more proud for his wrestlers to have the day they did.

         “The last two days, we spent fine tuning some of the mistakes we have made and I told the boys that if everybody goes out to wrestle to their potential, don’t look at the team score and if we do what we need to do, we’ll be in the running for the team title, Cantagallo-Rohm said of his team. 

         Much of the Red Devils were able to do just that. However, one particular Red Devil wrestler opened many people’s eyes as some probably would have written him off from even finishing in the top three. 113lb Senior, Ryan Sherlock had to avenge some of his losses to get himself an individual title as he defeated Phillipsburg’s, Massimo Gonzalez in overtime, 3-2, in the semifinals, and defeated Warren Hills’ standout and promising Freshman, Aidan Webb 7-6 after a buzzer beating takedown to clinch the win. Not only was Sherlock expressing his excitement of his victory, but his coaches, teammates, and the Hunterdon Central community as well. The motto that was said as he walked off the mat with his hand raised, “you never stop wrestling.”

          “I kind of threw it out there,” Sherlock said of his thrilling finals win. ” A week ago, those shots would not have happened. I know that deep in my heart to just change mentally, physically, everything. My confidence is back to where it needs to be.”

             Sherlock went through some early season struggles with being sick with the flu and with his mind being merely wrestling ready. But that all immediately changed as Saturday approached and Coach Cantagallo-Rohm couldn’t be any more prouder of his performance. 

               “[He’s] taken some losses at this point in the year that didn’t reflect to who he was as a wrestler,” Cantagallo-Rohm said of Sherlock. “To work with him directly, just to fine tune some of the things to have his headspace right and coming in here, we knew we had a shot at Webb and Gonzalez. [He] avenged both of those losses to Gonzalez on Wednesday and [the two losses to Webb.] Without [Sherlock] today, we may not win it as a team.”

              Other Red Devils wrestlers who earned a team title includes, 120lbs Anthony Rossi (who earned his 100th career win earlier in the day) over Warren Hills’ Charlie Piccione by tech fall, 18-3, and Thomas Brunetti defeats Del Val’s Anderson Olcott, 9-0; both who remain unbeaten at this point in the season.

              Phillipsburg goes four for four in the finals as 144lbs Luke Geleta, 150lbs Gavin Hawk (who also was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler), 175lbs Liam Packer, and 285lbs John Wargo all won their respective titles and the team finishing strong with a second place finish in their home gym. 

               Another highlight of the day came into play when North Warren Senior, James Dacunto had the biggest win of his Senior season by winning in a narrow 1-0 decision over Kittatinny Junior, Ethan Dalling, who was defeated by Dalling twice (one including a 4-1 defeat at the Linn Crawn Memorial Tournament at Kittatinny High School). Dacunto walked off the mat fired up as it gives North Warren’s third ever H.W.S. title in school history since 2016.

             “I was pretty pumped to get this win today,” Dacunto said of his win. “I have nothing but respect for [Dalling] as an opponent, he’s given me some of my hardest matches in my high school career.”

               Dacunto’s win and his season as been the most healthy that he has been in four years so this win means something a little more special. He expects more of himself as the season is at the midway point where the individual postseason will begin to play a part for wrestlers trying to make a name for themselves. Dacunto feels that he can make that happen.

               “Throughout my high school career, I feel like I have been disrespected. [An article said] that I was a 30th seed [in the NJSIAA State Tournament] and I wouldn’t win a match. Clearly, that’s not how it went…… I have a good chip on my shoulders this season and this is step in the right direction. I want to see how far I can go this season,” Dacunto said of himself as the season progresses. 

             Like Dacunto and Sherlock, don’t sleep on any of these H.W.S. place winners as many of them can definitely make some noise throughout the rest of the regular season into the post season.