Delbarton’s Trevor Jones spent last week’s district final back on his heels against Hanover Park’s Joey Monticello and paid a dear price: He lost.
In the region final, Jones decided to cut it loose and it paid off. He is going to Atlantic City as a Region 3 champion.
Jones outlasted Monticello and came away with a 5-1 victory in four overtimes.
“This match, I pushed myself more in the first period,” Jones said. “Last week, I was hesitant.”
The Jones-Monticello bout was tight from the start. They were scoreless after one period but Monticello was whistled for slamming Jones to the mat in the second period before riding him out.
In the third period, Monticello escaped, sending the match into OT. No one scored in the first overtime and Jones rode Monticello in the next OT. In the third extra session, Jones escaped using a standing switch – “I had to dig deep,” Jones said – and then took Monticello down in the closing seconds to ice it.
“I push myself in practice every single day for these kinds of matches,” Jones said. “These are the kinds of matches where winning feels great. Winning this gives me a lot of confidence.”
Jones will be joined by the rest of the Green Wave lineup at Boardwalk Hall beginning Thursday. It is the second straight year that Delbarton will send its entire lineup to AC. The Green Wave pulled the trick last year, joining Bergen Catholic (2023) as the only schools to have sent its entire lineup to the states in New Jersey history.
Delbarton had 10 champions, two second-place finishers and two thirds.
The Green Wave has two 2025 state champions looking to repeat in Jayden James (165) and Cam Sontz (120), as well as 2024 champion Ryan DeGeorge (144).
Trevor Jones could well be standing at the top of the podium as well. That’s how much his win over Monticello has boosted his confidence.
“I can be a state champ,” he said. “I’m right in there.”
James, meanwhile, was dynamic on his feet (five takedowns) on the way to a 19-4 (1:22) technical fall victory over Nutley’s Antonio Maiden. James (31-0) became a rare four-time Region 3 champion and will go to AC as a huge favorite but doesn’t take winning the region lightly.
“I appreciate all the moments leading up to the states,” he said. “Now I hope to get it done when I get down there.”
Delbarton teammate Tommy Marchetti (126), who was third in the state last year, captured a 16-5 major over Warren Hills’ Augie Szamreta. Marchetti was solid in the neutral position and rolled up five takedowns, including one in the first period that gave him the confidence that carried him throughout the rest of the match.
“It felt like my offense was working and I did well with my attacks,” he said. “I’m confident on my feet and I try to score and put up points. I was confident I could take him down.”
Other Delbarton region champions included:
- Finn Anderson (106), who held off a late rally by Hanover Park’s Alex Spagnuolo to win, 4-3.
- Sontz, who majored Caldwell’s Carmine Sipper in a battle of two of the state’s best, 14-4.
- DeGeorge, who tecked Ridge’s Ryan Yang, 16-1 (3:21).
- Nick Schwartz (150), who pinned Madison’s Joshua Ortiz in 35 seconds.
- Gabe Logan (175), who pinned Ridge’s Ryan Engle in 3:34.
- Carl Betz (190), who tecked Randolph’s Andrew Zeidman, 19-4 (1:15).
- Brody Ismael (215), who majored St. Benedict’s Tuguldur Bayarkhuu, 10-1.
Hanover Park’s Nick DiFrancescantonio (132) saw his belief surge near the end of the first period in his 12-2 major over Delbarton’s P.J. Terranova. As the first period seconds ticked down under 10, DiFrancescantonio put Terranova to his back for a seven count.
It was just what he needed to get going.
“It felt great getting the points like that,” he said, “but I knew I had to stay on offense and stick with the program. Winning gives me a great confidence boost. I wanna get to AC and keep the ball rolling.”
West Morris’ Tommy Borgia (285) won his third straight region crown when he beat Delbarton’s August Moser, 4-0.
Caldwell’s Solomon Soriente (138) earned Outstanding Wrestler by virtue of his 22-11 major decision over West Morris’ Brody Neill.
