For many years, the Morris County Tournament, wrestling teams competed … for second place.

Delbarton had won an unprecedented 15 straight team titles, more than doubling the previous two team records (Jefferson 7 in a row from 1990-96, Randolph from 1997-2002).

More often than not, Delbarton steamrolled the opposition. Last year, they had 11 champions and had 381 ½ points to outscore runner-up Mount Olive (221 ½) AND third-place Jefferson (147).

I always thought it was neat to have so many state contenders/returning state champions/future state champions under one roof, and we got that when Delbarton walked into the gym. 

Last year, Delbarton’s Cameron Sontz (106), Ryan DeGeorge (126), Alessio Perentin (165), and Vinny Lee (215) would be crowned state champions (So was Mount Olive’s Tyeler Hagensen at 113).

But the last few years, Delbarton was so overwhelming in so many weight classes that the capacity crowd at Mount Olive grew restless and bored.

But in a public-vs-public matchup (think about Mount Olive’s Tyler Bienus upsetting Hanover Park’s Vincenzo LaValle), the excitement was noticeable. 

Watching some of the Delbarton kids pin or tech their way through their respective weight grew a little tedious over the years. Impressive? Of course! Expected? Yup.

But the Green Wave have opted out and the MCT is wide open at many weight classes.

Here is a look at this year’s MCT.

Returning champions: None! That’s a first in MCT history other than the first one in 1986 (because the MCT began that year). Delbarton won 11 weights last year. The other three champions (Hagensen at 113, Morristown’s Jack Myers at 144, and Bienus at 190) have all graduated.

Toughest weight: At 120, you have West Morris’ Brody Neill and then a slew of terrific wrestlers such as Par Hills’ James McGinty, Boonton’s Isa Kupa, Morris Knolls’ Nate Gomes, Roxbury’s Daniel VIsha, and Montville’s Michael Frank, among others.  

Best final: The possible final at 126 between Hanover Park’s Nick DiFrancescantonio and Mount Olive’s Anthony Piemonte figures to be a good one. Both could well be on the podium in Atlantic City by season’s end. At 190, Mount Olive’s Tyler Cumming and Hanover Park’s Vincenzo LaValle could be another good one.

Weight-by-weight predictions:

106-Logan Forgatch (Parsippany Hills).

Others to watch: Kristian Beres (Mount Olive), Aidan Reilly (Mendham), Dom Lombardi (Morris Hills), Dominik Litterio (Morris Knolls), Jaedon Montalvo (Roxbury), Gabby Conte (Hanover Park).

113-Frank DeMary (Parsippany)

Others to watch: Jayden Mendez (Dover), Mark Montoure (West Morris), Luke Manieri (Montville), David DeFilippis (Madison).

120-Brody Neill (West Morris).

Others to watch: Nate Gomes (Morris Knolls), James McGinty (Parsippany Hills), Isa Kupa (Boonton), Daniel Visha (Roxbury), Michael Frank (Montville), William Jones (Butler), Gavin Rivera (Morristown).

126-Nick DiFrancescantonio (Hanover Park).

Others to watch: Anthony Piemonte (Mount Olive), Collin McDonald (Morristown).

132-Jason Christowski (Butler).

Others to watch: Matteo Eagelson (Mount Olive), Rafe Fonte (Mendham), Rylan Jones (Montville), Josh Levin (Morris Hills), Ryder Stambach (Morris Knolls), Jacob Harrison (West Morris).

138- Brandon Beres (Mount Olive).

Others to watch: Mario Fornini (Parsippany Hills), Jonathan Cabarle (West Morris), Roman Ritacco (Kinnelon).

144-Joey Tantawi (Hanover Park).

Others to watch: Aiden Dembowski (Montville), Colin Smyth (Mount Olive), Arthur Landkof (Boonton), Josh Ortiz (Madison).

150-Justin Bullock (Mount Olive).

Others to watch: Joey Borrello (Hanover Park), Phoenix LaCorte (Boonton), Charlie Bacinsky (Roxbury).

157-Tanner Perez (Mount Olive).

Others to watch: Nicholas Kemmerer (Roxbury), Sean Curnow (Morristown), Nando Ott (Hanover Park), Anthony Caponegro (Parsippany Hills), Kaden Montoya (Morris Knolls).

165-Luke Shivas (Morris Knolls).

Others to watch: Hossain Fallah (Montville), Scott Coppallo (Mount Olive), Gabriel Saliani (Whippany Park).

175-Stephen Hayek (Mount Olive).

Others to watch: Dimitrios Mihalakakos (Morristown), Jarel Hernandez (Parsippany Hills), Anthony Fedorchak (Roxbury), Rinaldo DiGiacopo (Mountain Lakes), Luke Baitzel (Kinnelon), Deacon Frayne (West Morris), Sean Dill (Whippany Park).

190-Vincenzo LaValle (Hanover Park).

Others to watch: Tyler Cumming (Mount Olive), Henry Saxon (Morristown), Dominick Kraemer (Montville), Andrew Zeidman (Randolph), Christopher Kowalik (West Morris).

215-Nicolas Gonzalez (Mount Olive).

Others to watch: Ralph Langone (Mendham), Sean Elsmore (Montville), Wyatt Sisco (Kinnelon).

285-Tommy Borgia (West Morris).

Others to watch: Greydon Carcich (Morristown), Auden Hamilton (Hanover Park), Leo Lima (Whippany Park), Jared Martini (Mount Olive).

Predicted team champion: Mount Olive