The districts are on the horizon. For many of the top wrestlers, some weight

classes are like a flight pattern at the airport. Destination: Boardwalk Hall in

Atlantic City.

But in some districts, there are weight classes that are lined with potholes and

turbulence. Three wrestlers get out of the districts and advance to next week’s regions, but some weights have more than three good wrestlers. Someone is going home early.

Additionally, some district weights have two state-caliber wrestlers, so some

weights have a little extra spice at the districts. 

Here is a look at some of the

more interesting weight classes involving Morris and Sussex schools.

106 pounds, District 6 – Dover’s Jayden Mendez has had a big year, which

includes a pin over Par Hills’ Logan Forgatch in the Morris County Tournament

semifinals. Those two figure to advance deep into the district, and so should

Phillipsburg’s Anthony Pettinelli, who was third at Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex.

113 pounds, District 6 – What a weight class is shaping up to be, with Par Hills James McGinty, Parsippany’s Frank DeMary, Roxbury’s Daniel Visha, and P-Burg’s Massimo Gonzalez. 

120 pounds, District 12 – Mendham’s Rafe Fonte made the states last year and

wants to return to Boardwalk Hall. Generally speaking, returning state qualifiers

walk through their weight at districts, but Fonte will have his hands full with

Hanover Park’s Nick DiFrancescantonio, who is bidding to get onto the podium.

126 pounds, District 7 – This weight has some kids who may move up or down

because this is one clogged weight with the likes of Mount Olive’s Brandon

Beres, Morris Hills’ Jaydin Barretto, Montville’s Tommy Longo, Wayne Valley’s

Adam Janouk, and Morris Knolls’ Ryder Stambach.

126 pounds, District 11 – Pope John’s Dalton Weber is the runaway favorite

and is looking to place in Atlantic City, but the weight class in the district is deep

after him with such wrestlers as West Morris’ Jacob Harrison and Whippany

Park’s Devin Ferrante battling for region berths.

126 pounds, District 1 – Jefferson’s Michael VanderMeulen upset Butler’s top-

seeded Jason Chrostowski in the MCT semis. Those two are on a collision

course here. Don’t forget about Kinnelon’s Jack Doty.

132 pounds, District 11 – Pope John’s Carson Walsh is a state contender, but

his expected finals match against Hackettstown’s Nicholas Balella is a possible

matchup between two AC competitors, which doesn’t happen all that often at the

districts.

138 pounds, District 4 – Sparta’s Logan Hreneko beat Kittatinny’s Jacob

Savage in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex quarters, 4-2, and the two could well

renew acquaintances here.

144 pounds, District 6 – P-Burg’s Luke Geleta is the best in the weight but the

weight is strong – even without injured Par Hills’ standout Anthony Caponegro.

Watch out for Lenape Valley’s Gage Graziano, Randolph’s Connor Wysocki, and

Mountain Lakes’ Jordan Hernando.

150 pounds District 4 – Newton’s Tyler Morodan wrestled back to fourth place

at Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex, where he was majored by Kittatinny’s Aiden

McClain, 9-0. Those two could vie for a district crown this time. Sparta’s Anthony

Petrock is another one to watch.

157 pounds, District 7 – This’ll be an interesting race to the top between Wayne

Valley’s Rafat Al-Kardali, Boonton’s Jarel Hernandez, Morris Hills’ Roger

Barrezueta, and Morris Knolls’ Luke Shivas.

157 pounds, District 6 – Mountain Lakes won its first-ever sectional match and

the Lakers could do something more dramatic at the districts if Nick Fayo can win

a weight that includes P-Burg’s Patrick Day.

165 pounds, District 4 – Kittatinny’s Ethan Dalling and North Warren’s James

Dacunto are on a collision course in this district. Both are AC-worthy wrestlers.

Dacunto beat Dalling to win the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex title, 1-0.

175 pounds District 6 – P-Burg’s Liam Packer is the man to beat, but the rest of

the weight class is very strong with Roxbury’s William Knapp, Parsippany’s Malik

Alzubi and Mountain Lakes’ Rinaldo DiGiacopo others who are certainly region-

worthy.

215 pounds, District 4 – This final could be a barnburner between Sparta’s

Connor White and Kittatinny’s Tucker Lockburner. White stuck Lockburner in the

Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex final in 3:52.

285 pounds, District 4 – High Point’s Gavin Mericle beat Sparta’s Tahg

Herbison in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex … twice, including the match for third.

Can Herbison figure out Mericle if they meet again?