We are heading into the dual match portion of wrestling season. So who are the best teams in New Jersey? Let’s have a look.

North 1

Group IV-Mount Olive not only has stars but very few weak spots and is one of the top public schools in New Jersey. Brick Memorial appears to be the only school standing in the way of the Marauders winning a second state Group IV crown in three years. North Hunterdon is another one to watch.

GROUP III-Montville has a new coach in Brian Kapral and is wrestling well. Same goes for Sparta. Those two appear just might be on a collision course for a sectional title.

GROUP II-High Point has very few weak spots and is the odds-on favorite to win its 31st sectional championship (seven Group titles as well). Jefferson has nine returning region qualifiers, which is the way to go about dual meet success. But can the Falcons win the big one if they run into the Wildcats?

GROUP I-Kittatinny is loaded with returnees and is the team to beat

The Cougars have won 25 sectional titles. The Cougars have also won eight state Group titles and will be in the mix to win it all this year.

NORTH 2

GROUP III-Morris Hills has made enormous strides as a program and Roxbury is good, but this a deep section with the likes of West Essex, Cranford and Warren Hills. The team to beat is Warren Hills.

GROUP I-Hanover Park is almost a slam dunk to win its 15th sectional title. The Hornets will have a tough time coming away with the state Group I title with the likes of Delaware Valley, Kittatinny and Paulsboro standing in the way.

NON-PUBLIC

GROUP A-St. Joe-Montvale shocked the world by beating season-long No. 1 Delbarton on the last day of the dual meet season in the Group finals at Rutgers last year. Ca the Green Wave return the favor?

Pope John is good but not at that level.

H-W-S on the horizon

One of New Jersey’s best county tournaments is the Hunterdon-Warren- Sussex tournament, which will be held in Phillipsburg on Jan. 13.

Here are some of the wrestlers to watch in each weight class.

106-Jake Holly (Pope John).

113-Joseph Celentano (North Hunterdon).

120-Anthony Rossi (Hunterdon Central).

126-Dalton Weber (Pope John), Jaden Perez (Delaware Valley)

132-Carson Walsh (Pope John), Matt Roche (Delaware Valley), Tyler Redfield (Warren Hills), Ryan Hrerenko (Sparta).

138-Nick Clayton (High Point).

144-Luke Geleta (Phillipsburg), Josh Lee (Warren Hills), Jacob Savage (Kittatinny), Marc Pavese (Lenape Valley), Logan Hrenenko (Sparta)

150-Gavin Hawk (Phillipsburg), Rhett Washleski (Hunterdon Central), Reese Smith (Kittatinny);

157-Ryan Day (Phillipsburg), Reece Smith (Kittatinny), Gage Graziano (Lenape Valley).

165-James Dacunto (North Warren).

175-Liam Packer (Phillipsburg), Ethan Dalling (Kittatinny).

190-Anderson Olcott (Delaware Valley); Bryce Coesfeld (Kittatinny).

215-Tucker Lockburner (Kittatinny), Mason Mericle (High Point).

285-John Wargo (Phillipsburg).

First look at newcomers

One of the things that makes the Morris County Tournament fascinating (at Mount Olive Jan. 26-27) is that most fans get their first up-close-and-personal look at the top wrestlers who are just breaking in (freshmen or kids who have made an early name for themselves). Think back to the days of Delbarton’s Mike Grey, Antonio Mangione, etc. When they walked onto the mat at the MCT, you could just tell that all eyes were on them.

It’ll be that way with the following group of wrestlers. In this case, fans will get an opportunity to watch the following standouts for the first time:

  • Delbarton’s Cameron Sontz (106) was second at the Beast of the East.
  • Delbarton’s Ryan DeGeorge (126) was fourth at the Beast.
  • Delbarton’s Gabe Logan (150) was eighth at the Beast.
  • Mount Olive’s Justin Bullock (132) won the Mustang Classic at Brick Memorial.
  • Mount Olive’s Brandon Beres (126) was JV last year but has already beaten returning state qualifiers Blaise Verdino (Delsea) and Jayden Barretto (Morris Hills).
  • West Morris’ Brody Neill (106) won his weight at both the Morris Knolls and John Goles Christmas tournaments.

NJWWA Top 20

Since combining Catholic and public schools in any poll is silly and a waste of time, I have decided to divide the two. So here is the first JHMSS (Joe Hofmann Morris-Sussex Statewide) Top 20 with a twist.

Catholic School Division

1. St. Joseph-Montvale

2. Delbarton

3. St. Peter’s Prep

4. Bergen Catholic

5. Paramus Catholic

6. Camden Catholic

7. Don Bosco

8. CBA

9. St. John Vianney

10. Seton Hall Prep

11. St. Joseph-Metuchen

Public School Division

1. Southern

2. Phillipsburg

3. Hunterdon Central

4. Delaware Valley

5. Mount Olive

6. Delsea

7. Brick Memorial

8. Cranford

9. Rumson