TKDWN TOP 50: 1/30 UPDATE
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Pennsylvania State Tournament Finals Line Up: AA & AAA Boy Divisions & Girls
Click Here To Donate 2024 Pennsylvania State Finals: Finals Line Up 3/9 PIAA Finals Line Ups AA 107 #2 Dom Deputy (Chestnut Ridge) vs #1 Joe Bachmann (Faith Christian) 114 #1 Ayden Smith (Notre Dame-Green Pond) vs Will Detar (Trinity) 121 #5 Aaron Seidel (Northern Lebanon) vs Greyson Music (Biship McDevitt) 127 #20 Chris Vargo (Bentworth) vs #2 Jax Forrest (Bishop McCort) 133 #11 Brandt Harer (Montgomery) vs #13 Camden Baum (Bishop McDevitt) 139 #2 Bo Bassett (Bishop McCort) vs Cameron Mingee (Littlestown) 145 Reagan Milheim (Warrior Run) vs Mason Barvitskie (Southern Columbia) 152 #12 Melvin Miller (Bishop McCort) vs HM Max Stein (Faith Christian) 160 #3 Conner Harer (Montgomery) vs HM Cael Weidemoyer (Faith Christian) 172 #9 Adam Waters (Faith Christian) vs Luke Fugazzotto (Northwestern Lehigh) 189 Garrett Garcia (Southern Columbia) vs Andrew McMonagle (Huntingdon) 215 #3 Rune Lawrence (Frazier) vs #14 Austin Johnson (Muncy) 285 #20 Brenan Morgan (Central Valley) vs Brody Kline (Berks Catholic) AAA 107 Aiden Herndon (Cedar Cliff) vs #12 Dominick Morrison (Hatboro-Horsham) 114 #6 Landon Sidun (Norwin) vs Curtis Nelson (Ridley) 121 Ty Kapusta (Franklin Regional) vs #22 Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic) 127 Trey Wagner (Northampton) vs Dan Houser (Daniel Boone) 133 #7 Tahir Parkins (Nazareth) vs Tyler Adams (York Suburban) 139 #3 Maddox Shaw (Thomas Jefferson) vs #17 Dalton Perry (Central Mountain) 145 #1 Luke Simcox (Central Mountain) vs #2 Pierson Manville (State College) 152 #2 Kollin Rath (Bethlehem Catholic) vs #4 Collin Gaj (Quakertown) 160 HM Ryan Garvick (Central Dauphin) vs #9 Asher Cunningham (State College) 172 Bode Morgan (Trinity) vs #22 Vaughn Spencer (Pine Richland) 189 #2 Tucker Hogan (Daniel Boone) vs #13 Cole Bartram (Northern York) 215 #11 Dillon Bechtold (Owen J Roberts) vs Caleb Marzolino (Abington Heights) 285 #9 Sean Kinney (Nazareth) vs Dean Bechtold (Owen J Roberts) GIRLS 100 Val Solorio (Canon-McMillan) vs Grace Nesbitt (Neshaminy) 106 Julia Horger (Conwell Egen) vs Madilyn Enterline (Greenville) 112 Journie Rodriguez (JP McCaskey) vs Lane Fordyce (Bishop McCort) 118 Savannah Witt (Palisades) vs Ana Malovich (Butler) 124 Julissa Ortiz (Mariana Bracetti) vs Eliana White-Vega (Cumberland Valley) 130 Aubre Krazer (Easton) vs Haley Smarsh (Moon) 136 Haylie Jaffe (Kennett) vs Jordyn Fouse (Bishop McCort) 142 Violette Lasure (Chestnut Ridge) vs Sienna Landrum (Downington West) 148 Charlotte Gilfoil (Central Dauphin) vs Zoey Haines (Gettysburg) 155 Leyna Rumpler (North Allegheny) vs Avry Ryhal (Hickory) 170 Jael Miller (Punxsutawney) vs Maya Krieger (Bensalem) 190 Alyssa Favara (Bichop McCort) vs Natalie Rush (Canon-McMillan) 235 Brenda Banks (Panther Valley) vs MacKenna Atkinson (Souderton) Click Here To Donate
Todd’s Talks With Mario Hutcherson: “The Future Is Now”
Support Todd’s Talks “The future depends on what you do today” – Gandhi For those who don’t know, Mario Hutcherson is the future. This 8th grader at Kiski Junior High School is already a 4 time Pennsylvania State Champion. He’s also a 3 time Powerade Champion as well as a 2023 Super 32 and 2023 US Open Champion. The credentials speak for themselves. This is a career’s worth of accolades. He’s not even in high school yet. Let that sink in. Mario not only competes in the best state in the country but travels frequently, seeking out the best competition in the country. Most kids bust their butts for these accomplishments in a career. He achieved them before entering high school. Mario Hutcherson is a dude. He’s a guy that understands the long game. Wise beyond his years and willing to do whatever it takes to be the very best of the best. Mario got his start wrestling at a young age, 4. He was encouraged to start by family members. That’s a pretty common thing in Pa. What’s uncommon is the fast success he found at the beginning. He quickly began to love the sport. He loved the process, not the results. Mario knew quickly what it was going to take to be the best. Hard work and dedication are sometimes hard for a young person, not Mario Hutcherson. He saw the work others who were successful around him put into being good. He admired that and wanted to be “next level” Hutcherson began going to clubs like Hutchy’s Hammers and Young Guns. He wrestled with guys like Landon Sidun and Maddox Shaw. If you know wrestling, you know, two of Pa’s absolute finest. He practiced relentlessly, always wanting to be better. His drive and motivation would ultimately lead him to where he is today. Only an 8th grader, Mario has young kids looking up to him already. He’s proof that with drive and a strong work ethic you can be great. Like most youth athletes, Mario played multiple sports. During Covid, he decided to drop the others and singularly focus on wrestling. Great decision! “I wanted to give my full attention to wrestling, I knew I was good but I wanted to be great” Pretty safe bet that it worked out for him. I mean the guy went 5-0, outscoring his opponents 86-0 on his run to his 4th state title last weekend. That’s a HUGE deal. Pennsylvania doesn’t divide schools in JR High. Saying he’s the best of the best in this state is an understatement. Kiski High School is getting a great one. They know that. The Wpial knows that. Hell, the state knows that. They return, next year Wpial placers at every weight from 172 lbs through heavyweight. Add Mario Hutcherson into the mix and they are a deadly team to watch within the state. He’s a building block, someone who’s work ethic, discipline and attitude is contagious. Mario Hutcherson is a guy to build a team around. He’s a dog. When asked what wrestling in the Wpial next year means to him, he simply said, “I love competition, I want the best guys. It’s a blessing to get that opportunity each and every week“ The Wpial is blessed with some of the best kids in the country year over year, adding the guy makes it even better. He’s truly a generational talent, that’s not hyperbolic, it’s the truth. Watch his matches, this kid is different. Mario is a guy I want on my side. A warrior, in every sense of the word. He’s special, folks. You’ll hear his name for years to come. You don’t believe me, watch him this July when he makes his Fargo debut. The coolest thing I learned about Mario when talking to him was yes, he’s a great wrestler but an even better guy. He’s well spoken, wants the best for others and is truly a great leader. His personality is infectious, someone who will make others better instantly. Talent and results are one thing but the whole package is rare. Not blowing smoke but this kid is rare. Get To Know Mario Better: Wings Favorite Food? Ocean City, MD What’s your favorite vacation destination? Steelers Football Favorite Pastime off the Mat “Don’t be a know it all.” What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? More Todd’s Talks: More Posts:
New Jersey State Tournament Recap: 5 Stories From Atlantic City
2024 New Jersey State Finals Recap: Top 5 Stories Top 5 Stories From New Jersey Fresh 3 One of the arguments around the country is the toughness of a particular state’s season ending championship tournament. Of course, many point to the states with the best talent and, regardless of the event construction, say those are the best, or among the best. And they’re right of course. The most obvious example of this is Pennsylvania. Widely regarded, perhaps unanimously so, as the toughest wrestling state, its tournament is a candidate for toughest, but it’s split into two divisions. Taken individually, each division is up there with any state. In totality it is the largest collection of national talent in one building in a single state. However, it is also obviously true that the toughest tournament possible in PA would combine both divisions. Maybe they’ll do that some day. No they won’t. Other top states that use a multi-division design are Illinois, Ohio, and well just about every other state does – the strong and not as strong alike. But there are states that run a single division tournament. And in that group are a few very strong states as well. California is most notable for the sheer size of its population, even just wrestling participation, it leads the nation. And when looking at ranked wrestlers for example, CA has more in a single tournament (PA has more combined). Indiana is another state that uses a one division system and every year you get some real strong NCAA prospects out of there. New Jersey is the 3rd of the “strong” states that compete in a single division. So what does this mean, why am I working through all this. Well, because for NJ and CA in particular the number of boys 4 time state champions is remarkably low. In fact, I believe they are tied with 4 such champions ever. In the entire history. 4. That’s it. On the girls side, Kira Pipkins has also done it. Of course to get there, one has to start their career in spectacular fashion. Winning that first title the first year out. And so we always keep a keen eye on the freshmen with the chance to do that and see just how they end up. It’s tough to wrestle a first HS season, a highly competitive schedule, and then navigate 3 days of weigh-ins and competition against older, more physically mature opponents. So, there is something special about those able to do it. Doing it doesn’t guarantee replicating it the remaining three years, but it does set the table at least. And any feast needs a table. Just don’t ask my kids to set. Forks on the right. Or is it left? Apparently, you shouldn’t ask me to do it either. Heading into Atlantic City there were a handful of freshmen that had a realistic shot at pulling this feat off. And coming away from Atlantic City, we have a handful of freshmen now on the 4-time clock. Cam Sontz The freshman from Delbarton wasn’t just among the handful of freshmen around New Jersey with a shot at being a 4 timer, he was among a handful on his own team with that ability. And as we’ll see in just a minute, a teammate of his joins him on this journey. Sontz season got started in pretty great fashion, reaching the Beast of the East finals against the top 106 pounder in the country, Joe Bachmann (ironically enough also a freshman, from PA). He held his own in that marquee matchup and kept it rolling all season. He suffered a loss to yet another national freshman phenom in Shamus Regan (Wyoming Seminary) but was then able to avenge that loss and even finish the season with the 2-1 series lead head to head. His only other hiccups along the way were when he bumped up to battle a top 10 senior from Wyoming Seminary (Davis Motyka) and to fellow New Jersey rival Killian Coluccio in the dual that would ultimately send Delbarton to the team state finals. And it was this result that would be most relevant to Atlantic City and set the stage for a possible rematch, for all the marbles. But the NJSIAA still hasn’t figured out what to do with freshmen and they say that like it’s a good thing and so these two freshmen would meet in the semis, not the finals. Oh well. At least it happened at all. And in this setting, it was Sontz coming out with the win, getting revenge on an opponent for the 2nd time this season. And he would close out the deal in the finals against Anthony Mason, a sophomore from Southern that we’ve thought highly of all season and even predicted to be in the finals once the brackets were released. I expect him to be a worthy opponent for Sontz these next two years, should they be at the same weight. Although it’s safe to say the state’s best rivalry brewing for the next three years will be Sontz Coluccio. And assuming they stay at the same weight, it could well be Coluccio is the one that halts the Sontz championship train. But that’s a story for another day. A bridge to cross when we get there. For now, this is about a super frosh who did exactly what you would expect and part of the Green Wave rolling through the Garden State that shows no signs of slowing down. Ryan DeGeorge Like Sontz, DeGeorge was a freshmen coming in for the Green Wave with the expectations of filling in for departed state champion seniors. Not at their weights but rather just on the roster. Last year, the Green Wave had 4 champions, Tyler Vazquez, Alessio Perentin, Louie Cerchio, and Simon Ruiz. With Vazquez and Ruiz graduating, they would need two new wrestlers to step up. And they got that. They got it from Sontz and they got it
Minnesota State Tournament Finals Line Up: All Boy Divisions & Girls
2024 Minnesota State Finals: Finals Line Up 3/2 Minnesota Finals Line Up (number is TKDWN National ranking) 107A Gage Bjerga of Staples Motley Charles Ikola of Deer River 114A Javier Berg of Chatfield Miklo Hernandez of Pipestone Area 121A Zach Remer of Mille Lacs Raiders Reed Sommer of KenyonWanamingo 127A Donovan Schmid of Mille Lacs Raiders Devin Carter of TracyMilroyBalatonWestbrookWalnutGrove 133A Trey Gunderson of KerkhovenMurdockSunburg Parker Kamm of Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Area 139A Hudson Burnett of Pipestone Area Masyn Patrick of Holdingford 145A #12 Nolan Ambrose of Jackson County Central Gavin Johnson of KenyonWanamingo 152A Colbe Tappe of Staples Motley Carson Rowland of Chatfield 160A Tommy Elwood of Medford David Revering of BerthaHewitt Verndale Parkers Prairie 172A Maximus Hanson of BelgradeBrootenElrosa Carter Coauette of Crookston 189A Nick Slater of Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Area Nick Wagner of Canby 215A Jacob Schimek of Saint ClairMankato Loyola Will Van Epps of KenyonWanamingo 285A Keegan Kuball of WEMJWP Will Rustan of West Central AreaAshbyBrandonEvansville 107AA #9 Turner Ross of Simley Lincoln Christenson of Marshall 114AA Joel Friederichs of Watertown Mayer Mayer Luth. Austin Grzywinski of Simley 121AA Titan Friederichs of Watertown Mayer Mayer Luth. Jackson Refsnider of TotinoGrace 127AA Christian Jelle of Grand Rapids Calvin Singewald of Cannon Falls 133AA Dylan Louwagie of Marshall Justus Heeg of Simley 139AA #18 Jack Nelson of MoundWestonka Kaden Nicolas of Becker 145AA #23 Matt Randolph of Scott West Owen Denstad of CaledoniaHouston 152AA #18 Cash Raymond of Simley Cooper Rowe of MoundWestonka 160AA #20 Griffin Lundeen of Thief River Falls Luke Swanson of KassonMantorville 172AA Bryce Burkett of Watertown Mayer Mayer Luth. Dominic Mann of KassonMantorville 189AA Zak McPhee of ProctorHermantown Evan McGuire of Mahtomedi 215AA #10 Cy Kruse of TotinoGrace Caleb Johnson of DilworthGlyndonFelton 285AA Grady Minnerath of Rocori Logan Bender of Chisago Lakes 107AAA Dylan St. Germain of Eagan Liam Collins of Prior Lake 114AAA Brett Swenson of Mounds View Lincoln Robideau of St. MichaelAlbertville 121AAA Luke Koenen of Wayzata Lawson Eller of New Prague 127AAA Tegan Sherk of St. Francis Chase Mills of St. MichaelAlbertville 133AAA #5 Logan Swensen of Wayzata Michael Olson of Albert Lea Area 139AAA Davis Parrow of Farmington Charles Vanier of Eden Prairie 145AAA #4 Alex Braun of Woodbury #22 Tyson Charmoli of St. Francis 152AAA #3 Landon Robideau of St. MichaelAlbertville Brad Little of Woodbury. 160AAA Charles Petit of Wayzata Terae Dunn of Eden Prairie 172AAA Jed Wester of St. MichaelAlbertville Jaxon Kenning of Saint Cloud Tech 189AAA Marcell Booth of Apple Valley John Murphy of St. MichaelAlbertville 215AAA #9 Quin Morgan of Mounds View Ben Schultz of Maple Grove 285AAA #21 Will Sather of Eden Prairie #25 Cittadino Tuttle of Stillwater 100Girls Ella Henning of WalkerHackAkeleyNevis Maggie Olson of Albert Lea Area 106Girls Olivia Sackor of Shakopee Angelica Benitez of Prior Lake 112Girls Bernie Rock of Luverne Lauren Elsmore of Pine Island 118Girls Charli Raymond of Simley Destiney Lofton of New Prague 124Girls Lanna Walter of Sauk CentreMelrose Andrea Quinones of Apple Valley 130Girls Riley Myers of Eastview Phoebe Kunerth of Minnetonka 136Girls Cassandra Gonzales of Apple Valley Diann Smith of GMLOS 142Girls Alley Altringer of Anoka Kylie Donat of Bemidji 148Girls Skylar Little Soldier of Hastings Cece Rock of Luverne 155Girls Sarah Pulk of BadgerGBMR Belle Suchta of Shakopee 170Girls Abby Ervasti of BerthaHewitt Verndale Parkers Prairie Grace Alagbo of Apple Valley 190Girls Gloriann Vigniavo of Apple Valley Maya Schmidt of Bemidji 235Girls Camryn Kenning of Saint Cloud Tech Ella George of South Saint Paul
New Jersey State Tournament Finals Line Up
2024 New Jersey State Finals: Finals Line Up 2/29 to 3/2 Finals Line Up(number is TKDWN National ranking) 106 #4 Cam Sontz (Delbarton) Anthony Mason (Southern Regional) 113 Tyeler Hagensen (Mt Olive) John McGinty (St Joe’s) 120 #1 Anthony Knox (St John Vianney) Kurt Wehner (Donovan Catholic) 126 #16 Ryan DeGeorge (Delbarton) Seach Hibler (Leonia) 132 #3 Adrian DeJesus (St Joe’s) Carson Walsh (Pope John) 138 #9 Caedyn Ricciardi (St Peter’s Prep) #5 Jayden James (Delbarton) 144 #9 Alex Nini (Christian Brothers) Sonny Amato (Rumson) 150 #25 Zach Ballante (St Joe’s) Gavin Hawk (Phillipsburg) 157 #7 Matt Henrich (Southern Regional) Kage Jones (Camden Catholic) 165 #6 Alessio Perentin (Delbarton) #7 Jordan Chapman (Cranford) 175 #3 Ryan Burton (St Joe’s) #10 Louie Cerchio (Delbarton) 190 #4 Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial) Vincenzo LaValle (Hanover Park) 215 Vinnie Lee (Delbarton) Hudson Skove (Rumson) 285 #18 Rocco Dellagatta (St Joe’s) Connor Martin (Delbarton)
New Jersey State Tournament Lowest Seed To Place Per Weight
2024 New Jersey State Lowest Seeds To Place Per Weight Class 2/29 to 3/2 Lowest Placing Seeds By Weight 106 (16) Brody Neill (West Morris Central) 113 (15) Colton Hagerty (Washington Township) 120 (24) Kevin Ruland (Red Bank Regional) 126 (16) Seach Hibler (Leonia) 132 (12) Nick Balella (Hackettstown) 138 (13) Jake Zaltsman (St John Vianney) 144 (10) Nick Villani (Bernards) 150 (11) Jeremy Quezada (Dumont) 157 (17) Jake Clayton (Point Pleasant Boro) 165 (8) Christian Gioia (Governor Livingston) 175 (10) Brock Oizerowitz (Christian Brothers) 190 (9) Frankie Martino (Passaic Valley) 215 (12) Ethan Mendel (Northern Highlands Regional) 285 (8) James Lynch (Toms River East)
New Jersey State Tournament Semifinals Line Up
2024 New Jersey State Semifinals Lineup 2/29 to 3/2 NJ SEMIFINALS LINE UP 106 HM Anthony Mason (Southern Regional) vs Alex Espositio (West Essex Regional) #3 Killian Coluccio (Christian Brothers) vs #4 Cam Sontz (Delbarton) 113 Nate Braun (Bergen Catholic) vs John McGinty (St Joe’s) #3 Paul Kenny (Christian Brothers) vs Tyeler Hagensen (Mt Olive) 120 #1 Anthony Knox (St John Vianney) vs Logan Brzozowski (Seton Hall Prep) Anthony Rossi (Hunterdon Central) vs Kurt Wehner (Donovan Catholic) 126 Seach Hibler (Leonia) vs Jaden Perez (Delaware Valley) Dalton Weber (Pope John) vs #17 Ryan DeGeorge (Delbarton) 132 #3 Adrian DeJesus (St Joe’s) vs Patrick O’Keefe (St John Vianney) Bryce Manera (Southern Regional) vs Carson Walsh (Pope John) 138 #9 Caedyn Ricciardi (St Peters Prep) vs Anthony DePaul (St Augustine Prep) Dylan Ross (Paramus Catholic) vs #5 Jayden James (Delbarton) 144 #9 Alex Nini (Christian Brothers) vs Wyatt Stout (Southern Regional) #13 Auggie Hibler (Leonia) vs HM Sonny Amato (Rumson) 150 Jayden Iznaga (Bergen Catholic) vs HM Gavin Hawk (Phillipsburg) #25 Zach Ballante (St Joe’s) vs Drew Roskos (Delran) 157 #7 Matt Henrich (Southern Regional) vs Frank DiBella (St Joe’s) #22 Ryan Ford (Bergen Catholic) vs Kage Jones (Camden Catholic) 165 #6 Alessio Perentin (Delbarton) vs John Quinonez (Paramus Catholic) Tanner Hodgins (Howell) vs #7 Jordan Chapman (Cranford) 175 #3 Ryan Burton (St Joe’s) vs Connor Scuilla (Hasbrouck Heights) Thomas Brunetti (Hunterdon Central) vs #10 Louie Cerchio (Delbarton) 190 #4 Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial) vs Dan Rella (Paramus Catholic) HM Vincenzo LaValle (Hanover Park) vs Tyler Bienus (Mt Olive) 215 HM Vinnie Lee (Delbarton) vs Ethan Mendel (Northern Heights) Xavier Williams (Paramus Catholic) vs #23 Hudson Skove (Rumson) 285 #18 Rocco Dellagatta (St Joe’s) vs John Wargo (Phillipsburg) Connor Martin (Delbarton) vs Brandon Toranzo (Nutley)
New Jersey State Tournament Day 1 Update
2024 New Jersey State Finals Day 1 Update 2/29 to 3/2 NJ STATE DAY 1 Biggest Upsets 120 (24) Kevin Ruland over (9) Armani McCann (24) Kevin Ruland over (8) Elijah Bayne 126 (16) Seach Hibler over (1) Sammy Spaulding 138 (13) Jake Zaltsman over (4) Josh Lee 150 (20) Jake Wacha over (13) Matt Di Eduardo (20) Jake Wacha over (4) Austin Craft {dq} 175 (21) Jacob Shannon over (12) Nick Gonzalez 190 (20) Salvatore Marchese over (13) Sam Myers 215 (28) Alex Grippo over (5) Timmy Smith 285 (22) Matt Smith over (11) Gabriel McCulloch (20) Donovan Wilkinson over (13) Tim Connolly Best Matches 106 Killian Coluccio over Charles Esposito: 1-0 113 Paul Kenny over Amari Vann: 4-3 138 Blase Mele over Giovani Scafidi: 6-5 144 Nick Villani over Luke Geleta: 6-4 sv 175 Jaden Simpson over Liam Packer: 8-6 215 Dante DeLuca over Rocco Salerno: 5-4 utb Quarterfinals (bold are the matches I’m most looking forward to.) 106 Brody Neill (West Morris Central) vs Alex Esposito (West Essex Regional) Anthony Mason (Southern Regional) vs Michael DiBiase (Red Bank Catholic) Cam Sontz (Delbarton) vs Jordan Segal (Shawnee) Jake Holly (Pope John) vs Killian Coluccio (Christian Brothers) 113 Nathan Braun (Bergen Catholic) vs Joseph DeAngelo (Point Pleasant Boro) Salvatore Borrometi (St Peters Prep) vs John McGinty (St Joes) Paul Kenny (Christian Brothers) vs Anthony DiAndrea (Watchung Hills) Matt Gould (St John Vianney) vs Tyeler Hagensen (Mt Olive) 120 Anthony Knox (St John Vianney) vs Kevin Ruland (Red Bank Regional) Noah Michaels (Red Bank Catholic) vs Logan Brzozowski (Seton Hall Prep) Mikey Bautista (St Joes) vs Anthony Rossi (Hunterdon Central) Gage Summers (Delsea) vs Kurt Wehner (Donovan Catholic) 126 Seach Hibler (Bergen Catholic) vs Laudan Henry (St Peters Prep) Jaden Perez (Delaware Valley) vs Luke Sherlock (Shawnee) Vinnie Paino (St Joes) vs Dalton Weber (Pope John) Sawyer Ostroff (Donovan Catholic) vs Ryan DeGeorge (Delbarton) 132 Adrian DeJesus (St Joes) vs Jackson Slotnick (Williamstown) Nick Balella (Hackettstown) vs Patrick O’Keefe (St John Vianney) Bryce Manera (Southern Regional) vs Chase Hansen (Lower Cape May) Chase Quenalt (Delbarton) vs Carson Walsh (Pope John) 138 Caedyn Ricciardi (St Peters Prep) vs Blase Mele (Princeton) Anthony Depaul (St Augustine Prep) vs Jake Zaltsman (St John Vianney) Dylan Ross (Paramus Catholic) vs Noah Kochman (Bergen Catholic) Donny Almeyda (St Joes) vs Jayden James (Delbarton) 144 Alex Nini (Christian Brothers) vs Donovan DiStefano (Wall) Wyatt Stout (Southern Regional) vs Zach Reilley (Raritan) Jack Myers (Morristown) vs Auggie Hibler (Bergen Catholic) Nick Villani (Bernards) vs Sonny Amato (Rumson) 150 Tyler Venet (Christian Brothers) vs Jayden Iznaga (Bergen Catholic) Gavin Hawk (Phillipsburg) vs Jake Wacha (Pascack Hills) Zach Ballante (St Joes) vs Jamar Dixon (Delsea) Drew Roskos (Delran) vs Gabe Logan (Delbarton) 157 Matt Henrich (Southern Regional) vs Max Nevlin (St Peters Prep) Nick Campagna (Christian Brothers) vs Frank DiBella (St Joes) Ryan Ford (Bergen Catholic) vs Roman Onorato (Paulsboro) Carl Betz (Delbarton) vs Kage Jones (Camden Catholic) 165 Alessio Perentin (Delbarton) vs Cristian Gioia (Governor Livingston) Hayden Hochstrasser (Southern Regional) vs John Quinonez (Paramus Catholic) Jake Zearfoss (Gloucester City) vs Tanner Hodgins (Howell) Ben Garcia (Don Bosco) vs Jordan Chapman (Cranford) 175 Ryan Burton (St Joes) vs Temuulen Mendbileg (St Benedict’s Prep) Connor Scuilla (Hasbrouck Heights) vs Mitch Bivona (Southern Regional) Thomas Brunetti (Hunterdon Central) vs Jaden Simpson (Camden Catholic) Michael Feliciano (Colonia) vs Louie Cerchio (Delbarton) 190 Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial) vs Frankie Martino (Passaic Valley) Nevin Mattessich (Don Bosco) vs Daniel Rella (Paramus Catholic) Vincenzo LaValle (Hanover Park) vs Alex Reyes (Holmdel) Kaleb Jackson (St Joes) vs Tyler Bienus (Mt Olive) 215 Vinnie Lee (Delbarton) vs Dante DeLuca (Don Bosco Prep) Ethan Mendel (Nothern Highlands) vs Nathan Fixon (Governor Livingston) Xavier Williams (Paramus Catholic) vs Matt Jones (Hillsborough) Collin French (Southern Regional) vs Hudson Skove (Rumson) 285 Rocco Dellagatta (St Joes) vs James Lynch (Toms River East) Daniel Eylash (Paramus) vs John Wargo (Phillipsburg) Ben Shue (Bergen Catholic) vs Connor Martin (Delbarton) Lorenzo Portella (Red Bank Catholic) vs Brandon Toranzo (Nutley)
New Jersey State Tournament Preview
2024 New Jersey State Finals Preview 2/29 to 3/2 New Jersey State Finals Preview Being primarily focused on the national scene, the nationwide landscape if you will, I’m mostly familiar with the guys I have ranked or have had ranked throughout the season. Of course rankings are just any one person’s opinion, and my opinion could be worth less than the paper this is written on, but I think highly of my opinion and I do have a fairly strong history of Nostradamus like clairvoyance. Like when it comes to betting on games. Which leads me to a side bar. I saw someone in the NJ Wrestling Forum post hypothetical point spreads for the state finals. And I have to say I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, if someone offered actual bettable lines, I’d kill that. On the other hand, betting on high school sports seems a little low, even for me. On the third hand (that I grew from living close to a radiation leak) papa needs some brand new shoes. And let’s be all the way real here, keep it a buck, the tournament is in Atlantic City. Like, I should be able to walk down the boardwalk to like Bally’s, drop a couple racks on a parlay of Knox, James, and Ludington and then sit back and hear the ca-ching all the way home. One day. Until that day, we have today. The day before the main event. The calm before the storm. And so we look at the weight classes and give some thoughts as to what we might see. 106 Top 8 Seeds: Tyler Hildebrandt (Williamstown) #3 Killin Coluccio (Christian Brothers) #4 Cam Sontz (Delbarton) Michael Dibiase (Red Bank Catholic) HM Anthony Mason (Southern Regional) Jordan Segal (Shawnee) Jake Holly (Pope John) Carmine Sipper (Caldwell) Thoughts: The clear top two in this weight are on the same side of the bracket. That’s unfortunate as that means we’ll see them in the semifinals and then someone will have to battle back for 3rd. Based on the season result, we would favor Coluccio just a little over Sontz. But we know freshmen often have big swings in performance and it wouldn’t even take a big swing to flip this one for Sontz. If this were the finals at 106, it would have been among the very best finals matches, maybe even the best one. On the top half of the bracket, I think the 4, 5 quarterfinals should be a close one between Mason and DiBiase. And then the winner there should come out on top in the semifinals. The top seed Hildebrant is looking at a possible rematch with Greyson Petit, who pushed the Williamstown junior 10-7 in the Region 8 bracket. Whether it’s Petit or freshman Brody Neill (West Morris Central), could be an upset alert here. There’s some history between the 8 and 9 seeds, where Alex Esposito beat Sipper for the Region 3 title. I would be thoroughly surprised with anything but a Coluccio/Sontz champion and the other being 3rd. I’ll ride with Anthony Mason as the other finalist, knowing that the top side here is wide open. As for the rest of the top 8, impossible to know how the consolations all shake out. I’m going with (14) Oumar Tounkara (Teaneck) to outpace his seed. Predicted Semifinals: (9) Alex Esposito (West Essex) vs (5) Anthony Mason (Southern) (3) Cam Sontz (Delbarton) vs (2) Killian Coluccio (Christian Brothers) 113 Top 8 Seeds: Nate Braun (Bergen Catholic) Tyeler Hagensen (Mt Olive) #3 Paul Kenny (Christian Brothers) John McGinty (St Joe’s Regional) Salvatore Borrometi (St Peter’s Prep) Anthony DiAndrea (Watchung Hills) Matt Gould (St John Vianney) Joseph DeAngelo (Point Pleasant) Thoughts: The big favorite here is the world champ, 3 seed freshman Paul Kenny. His only losses on the year came to the same PA state champion – needless to say that means he won’t be in this field. And that means, we’d expect him to work his way all the way to the crown on Saturday. There’s no season history between Kenny and the two seeded above him, however, he does have wins over McGinty, Borrometi, and Gould. His best win on the season was over an Ohio state champion, Ethan Timar (would be favored to win this bracket himself). But, some of the matches – like Borrometi – were close. And nothing is ever really certain here. Nate Braun was a finalist last year and should make at least the semifinals here. Almost all of this group was in the 106 bracket last year, where Braun beat Borrometi and DeAngelo. McGinty beat DiAndrea and Gould and Borrometi beat McGinty en route to 3rd. Borrometi has had a solid season, though he did just suffer a loss to Anthony Urso in the Region 6 finals. They could run that back if they each win their first two matches. For Urso, that would mean a win over McGinty. Oddly enough, Urso is slated to wrestle back to back McGinty’s. Hagensen’s only in-state loss this season was to Kurt Wehner, but Wehner is at 120. I don’t see any reason to believe we won’t get the freshman Kenny against the senior Hagensen in the semis. I got (14) Amari Vann (Delsea) as the low seed most likely to reach the podium. Predicted Semifinals: (1) Nate Braun (Bergen Catholic) vs (5) Salvatore Borrometi (St Peter’s Prep) (3) Paul Kenny (Christian Brothers) vs (2) Tyeler Hagensen (Mt Olive) 120 Top 8 Seeds: #1 Anthony Knox (St John Vianney) Kurt Wehner (Donovan Catholic) Mikey Bautista (St Joe’s Regional) Logan Brzozowski (Seton Hall Prep) Noah Michaels (Red Bank Catholic) Anthony Rossi (Hunterdon Central) Gage Summers (Delsea) Elijah Bayne (Rumson) Thoughts: I mean there’s not much to say here other than Knox is without a doubt the heaviest betting favorite to win his bracket – again, if betting were offered. The intrigue is almost entirely about who gets to face him in the finals and who comes out