Joe Hofmann Wrestling Notes + Boys Wrestling Top 20

Last year, Whippany Park’s Sean Dill was a mere freshman in a stacked upper weight class.

It was a little too much to ask to get out of District 12.

He placed fourth – but he went out and did something about it.

The Wildcats 175-pounder spent many offseason hours at Jersey 74 in Cedar Knolls.

These days, he has a full head of steam and has the look of someone ready to advance to the regions.

“He has goals to prolong his season this year and he took the proper steps by wrestling throughout the spring and summer,” Wildcats coach Devon Engelberger said.

Added Dill, “Not going to the regions … I didn’t feel good about that and I wanted to make sure I got better so I can win some more matches this year.”.

The work is beginning to pay off as Dill pinned his way through the Pioneer Classic at New Providence and won his weight. 

Dill (9-2) decked Millburn’s Asher Holland in 5:00 and used a lateral drop to stick Summit’s George Pijut in 1:22 to win the weight.

“I felt pretty good,” he said. “In the semis, I felt good. I got into my attacks. I’ve been getting in my shots well and I finished them.”

Dill found himself in a brutal weight class at the district last year, which included eventual state finalist Vincenzo LaValle, Morristown state qualifier Henry Saxon, and Belvidere’s talented Kyle Blew, a former state qualifier. 

“I didn’t know too much about anyone other than LaValle,” Dill said. “I knew they were state-level guys. I wasn’t too intimidated but I saw that they were good.”

In the first round, the fourth-seeded Dill won by fall over North Star Academy’s Haamid Shakoor in 1:16.

Then it was on to the deeper end of the pool. LaValle pinned Dill in 11 seconds. Then in the consolations, Blew majored Dill, 14-4.

“He had gone to states,” Dill explained. “I worked my moves. It was close, I tried to throw him and didn’t get it. I thought I put up a good fight.”

Then it was on to the offseason. Dill plays baseball and football at Whippany and found the time to wrestle as often as possible. 

“I go to club a lot,” he said. “In the summer, when I didn’t have baseball I’d try and get to the club at least twice a week. I have made a lot of progress since last year developing my shots better. I get into my attacks stronger and faster and finishing better than last year.”

And now, he plans on getting out of District 12 and onto Region 3 at West Orange.

“I think that is definitely a realistic goal for his career as he is only a sophomore,” Engelberger said. “When he is wrestling confident that is when he is at his best and can be dangerous. Coach (Andrew) Flanagan (a two-time state champion out of Bound Brook who is on Whippany’s staff) has been trying hard to work on his mental side to the sport like wrestling through positions, Sean not getting down on himself, short term memory, etc. We are trying to teach the kids that the most important events in wrestling (counties, districts, regions, states) have ups and downs and they need to be able to mentally bounce back after a takedown, bad call or a loss on the day.”

Added Engelberger, “His off-season work improved not only his skills but more importantly, his confidence. He started the season strong with a win over a quality wrestler in Dylan Rommele from Pequannock (9-5) and he picked up a third-place finish in the Lenape Valley tournament.”

New Jersey Wrestling Writer’s Association Top 20

Also receiving votes: Immaculata (4-3) 4; Delaware Valley (8-0) 2; St. Augustine Prep (3-2) 2; Seneca (4-0) 1.