Tuesday, January 06, 203
103 POUNDS
1. So. Andrew Flegler (12-4) Nazareth
2. Sr. Tim Dogmanits (11-5) Northampton
3. Fr. Dan Kelly (5-1) Delaware Valley
4. Fr. Pat Strizki (9-2) Hunterdon Central
5. So. John Gregory (4-3) Phillipsburg
6. So. Adam Kull (7-1) Hillsborough
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Fr. Matt Bogusz (8-5) Parkland,
Fr. Tony Comunale (14-1) Pius X, Sr. Chris Corona (14-5) Easton,
Fr. Ryan Cressman (11-7) Bethlehem Catholic, Fr. Adam Hluschak (10-6)
Northern Lehigh, Fr. Weston Loxley (9-7) Wilson, Sr. Michael Mendez (10-4)
Allen, Fr. Nick Parks (8-5) Emmaus, Sr. Dave Rusnock (9-4) Catasauqua.
( Notes: Flegler already has beaten Dogmanits. New Jersey boys make up the next
four spots. Kelly and Strizki are good-looking rookies, while Gregory looked
impressive in 10-3 thumping of Loxley on Saturday. Kull, stuck behind state
placewinner Andrew Gewain last season, is reigning Somerset County champ.
112 POUNDS
1. Sr. Steve Mytych (13-3) Northampton
2. So. Russell Souders (19-4) Wilson
3. Jr. Josh Oliver (15-1) Easton
4. So. Willy Horwath (12-3) Liberty
5. Fr. John Mangini (8-0) Hillsborough
6. Jr. Dan Boemio (7-2) Bridgewater
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): So. Mike Biase (12-3) Pius X,
Fr. Kyle John (12-6) Southern Lehigh, So. Eric Lobell (7-2) Voorhees,
Fr. Tyler Riccio (7-2) Watchung Hills, Fr. Andrew Ritchie (12-6) Nazareth,
Jr. Justin Shorts (15-0) Northwestern, Fr. Kris Sigafoos (6-0) Delaware Valley,
Jr. John Todd (5-1) Phillipsburg.
( Taking injury time: So. Nick Polly (12-0) Salisbury.
( Notes: An early clear pecking order has been established here, with Mytych and
Au beating Souders, who beat Oliver and Horwath. Northampton's Jeff Rinker (9-2)
also could be ranked here if not for our rule that no more than one wrestler from
each program be ranked in each weight class. Mangini is a blue-chipper capable
of making some noise in Jersey states come March. He pinned Boemio, a state
qualifier last season, in Somerset County finals.
119 POUNDS
1. Jr. Seth Ciasulli (16-1) Easton
2. Sr. Mike Pena (13-0) Liberty
3. Sr. Robert Au (6-0) Phillipsburg
4. Sr. Sean Carr (18-3) Whitehall
5. Sr. Kevin Vinh (13-4) Nazareth
6. Jr. Larry Unger (6-0) Salisbury
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jr. Garry Aviles (8-2) Allen, Jr. Brian Costello
(4-3) Delaware Valley, Fr. Tim Darling (9-3) Nazareth, Jr. Adam Fuderer (10-2)
Saucon Valley, Fr. Jared Holenda (8-3) Catasauqua, Fr. Josh Knerr (3-1) Belvidere,
So. Dan Konno (16-0) Northwestern, Sr. Mike Goffredo (10-2) Pius X,
Jr. Kyle Sutphen (8-1) Somerville, Sr. Tye Wagner (7-2) Hillsborough.
( Notes: Strong class here. The No. 1 ranking is a tossup, with Ciasulli getting the slight
edge because he's a returning state finalist. Au looked very impressive Saturday in
majoring Souders, ranked second at 112. Vinh avenged an overtime loss to Milton's
Matt Swallow in Bethlehem Classic quarterfinals by beating him 5-0 for fifth place.
Carr, who also beat Swallow en route to a third-place finish there, avenged a 3-1
quarterfinal loss to Blair Academy's Ross Gitomer by beating him for third place.
125 POUNDS
1. Sr. Ricci Bass (11-0) Liberty
2. Jr. Alex Krom (16-3) Easton
3. Jr. Brandon Stillo (4-2) Phillipsburg
4. Sr. Billy Stenack (12-4) Northampton
5. Jr. Eric Grida (10-2) Saucon Valley
6. Sr. Sean Greco (9-5) Freedom
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jr. Mark Bistis (7-3) Hunterdon Central,
Jr. Brian Lasso (5-3) North Warren, So. Jake Piasecki (3-2) Voorhees,
Jr. Jimmy Romano (6-2) North Hunterdon, Jr. Jeff Ruggini (6-2) Bridgewater,
Sr. Eric Schanz (9-3) Emmaus, So. Cody Struening (5-3) Wilson,
Sr. Bob Walsh (5-0) Warren Hills.
( Notes: Another tough call for top spot. Bass gets nod for now because he's just a little
bigger. This obviously could change in a hurry. Stillo's losses are to Absegami state
medalist Nick Bridge (3-2) and Wilson state placer Joe Kushnerick (3-1). Incidentally,
Stenack lost 3-2 to Bridge at the Beast.
130 POUNDS
1. Sr. Joe Kushnerick (17-5) Wilson
2. Fr. Justin Cohen (16-4) Nazareth
3. Jr. Dave Gilio (13-5) Northampton
4. Sr. Brian Ellis (11-4) Liberty
5. Jr. Chris Kelly (6-0) Delaware Valley
6. Sr. Kyle Ferris (9-0) Somerville
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jr. Ben Beitler (15-0) Northwestern,
Jr. Andrew Goldstein (18-7) Easton, Jr. Rich Kessler (8-0) Pius X, Jr. Gabe Moses
(8-4) Catasauqua, Sr. John Puleo (4-1) Warren Hills, Fr. Cory Vernon (5-2)
Hackettstown, Sr. Russ Yarnell (7-3) Voorhees
( Notes: A case could be made for Ellis being ranked as high as No. 2 because he beat
Cohen earlier this season. But he is fourth for now because he most recently lost to
Gilio at the Bethlehem Holiday Classic, where Gilio fell to Cohen. Confused? So are we.
135 POUNDS
1. Sr. John Paukovits (17-1) Northampton
2. Sr. Ronnie Banks (9-3) Whitehall
3. Jr. Brett Martinez (11-5) Northern Lehigh
4. Jr. Joe Caramanica (16-5) Nazareth
5. Sr. Rusty Hunt (5-0) Franklin
6. So. Shane Riccio (8-1) Watchung Hills
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jr. Chad Allen (11-2) Northwestern,
Jr. Nick Alparone (8-2) Hunterdon Central, Jr. Jon Hoagland (7-3) Wilson,
So. George Lobb (10-2) Bangor, Sr. Bobby Whelan (3-1) Belvidere.
( Notes: Paukovits' only loss this season was 10-5 to Millburn's Zach Tanelli, a
New Jersey state finalist last season, in the Beast of the East. Paukovits, an eight-place
finisher at Pa. states last season, rebounded to take third, while Tanelli fell to sixth.
Paukovits also beat Banks 8-5 in their dual meet earlier this season.
140 POUNDS
1. Sr. Jay Morrison (14-5) Whitehall
2. Sr. Mike Parisi (12-4) Northampton
3. Jr. Ryan Heard (13-4) Pen Argyl
4. Sr. Mike Detsis (6-1) Hillsborough
5. So. C.J. Inglin (5-2) Delaware Valley
6. Sr. Andrew Dally (7-3) Liberty
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jr. Nick Burgey (9-6) Easton,
Sr. Mike DeBellis (10-3) Emmaus, So. Josh Hunsberger (15-3) Salisbury,
Sr. Elliot Nolter (9-3) Catasauqua, Jr. Craig Plotsko (6-2) Northern Lehigh,
Sr. Matt Scherzberg (14-6) Southern Lehigh, Sr. Kris Thompson (2-0)
Warren Hills, Fr. Zach Ulm (2-0) Hackettstown.
( Notes: Morrison, who placed sixth at the Beast, already owns a win over
Northampton state champ Joey Ecklof and also finished second behind Blair's
Gregg Romano at Bethlehem Holiday Classic. All of Morrison's losses are quality.
One of Parisi's four losses was in OT to Morrison at the Beast.
145 POUNDS
1. Jr. Joey Ecklof (15-2) Northampton
2. So. Alex Caruso (7-1) Watchung Hills
3. So. Kyle Honickel (9-0) Voorhees
4. Sr. Dan Horwath (14-3) Liberty
5. Sr. Kris Holzworth (10-2) Palisades
6. Sr. Mazen Kholi (10-7) Parkland
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): So. Josh Ballan (9-7) Whitehall,
Sr. Brian Nicholas (11-7) Wilson, Jr. Matt Vermeulen (10-3) Northwestern.
( Notes: Not a real deep weight class, but the top three are very high quality.
Ecklof, the 135-pound PIAA Class AAA state champ last season, lost to Morrison
in first bout of season. Caruso was an eighth-place finisher in Jersey states last
season as a freshman. His only loss this season is to Bound Brook state placer
Andrew Flanagan, who decked Caruso in the Somerset County Tournament finals.
Honickel won titles at Hermitage (Va.) Classic and Kittatinny tournaments.
152 POUNDS
1. Sr. Mike Rogers (8-1) Easton
2. So. Dave Richmond (4-0) Warren Hills
3. Fr. Thad Frick (11-4) Nazareth
4. Sr. Brad Nicholas (15-6) Wilson
5. Sr. John Newman (7-1) Hillsborough
6. So. Dave Quinn (8-3) Hunterdon Central
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jr. Dylan Badesso (13-2) Northwestern,
Jr. Scott Edwards (11-4) Liberty, Sr. Allan Fatzinger (5-3) Catasauqua,
So. James Sciascia (9-1) Bangor.
( Notes: Top two are solid, then there's a huge drop off. Frick was recently pinned
by Nicholas in Bethlehem Holiday Classic, but majored the Warrior 14-4 earlier this
season in Nazareth Invitational -- when both were up at 160. Richmond, a Jersey
state qualifier last season, may miss time with a shoulder injury. He basically beat
Cary Aldrich of Watchung Hills Saturday with one arm, then sat out the following
match against Somerville. Stay tuned.
160 POUNDS
1. Sr. Sean Richmond (7-0) Easton
2. Sr. Billy Haydt (14-4) Northampton
3. Sr. Mike Gatti (8-0) Watchung Hills
4. Sr. Ricky Kurtz (5-1) Delaware Valley
5. Sr. Jeff Harrington (8-1) Hunterdon Central
6. Jr. Sal Crivellaro (15-2) Bethlehem Catholic
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jr. Dan Billig (11-3) Northwestern,
So. P.J. DiStefano (12-6) Whitehall, Sr. Eric Foley (7-1) North Warren,
Sr. Pat Jastrzebski (6-2) Hillsborough, Jr. David Kolodziejczyk (3-1) Belvidere,
Jr. Justin Kulp (17-5) Southern Lehigh, Sr. Jon Molchany (11-1) Catasauqua,
Jr. Steve Voyce (5-2) Voorhees.
( Taking injury time: Jr. Vinny Catullo North Hunterdon.
( Notes: Richmond and Haydt are as close as they get. The Red Rover gets the upper
hand because of his better postseason run last season -- finishing fifth in AAA states.
Gatti placed eighth in Jersey states last season. Kurtz and Harrington have a history
as well with the Terrier winning two of three meetings a year ago.
171 POUNDS
1. Jr. Nick Guida (11-3) Parkland
2. Sr. Mike Somma (8-1) Hunterdon Central
3. Jr. Mike Thorsen (7-1) Voorhees
4. Sr. Doug Bernaski (12-6) Nazareth
5. Sr. Jack Gill (6-3) Northern Lehigh
6. Sr. Chris Fluck (7-3) Saucon Valley
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Sr. Kyle Dailey (10-7) Easton,
Sr. Jared Duffy (4-3) Phillipsburg, Jr. Scott Hunter (14-2) Emmaus, Jr. Mark Kearsing
(8-1) Watchung Hills, Sr. Austin Metzgar (14-2) Northwestern, Jr. Jon Rothman (8-1)
Bridgewater.
( Notes: Nice 1-2 punch. Guida placed fifth in AAA states last season at this weight class.
Somma was sixth at 171 in Jersey. Thorsen was recently named our wrestler of the week
after winning 171-pound tournament titles to open season.
189 POUNDS
1. Sr. Josh Haines (16-1) Northampton
2. Sr. Pete Grodziak (12-4) Parkland
3. Jr. Zach Pizarro (15-5) Easton
4. Sr. John Holenda (9-2) Catasauqua
5. Jr. Mike Lovett (10-6) Freedom
6. So. Scott Snyder (8-2) Northern Lehigh
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Sr. Clay Butler (4-1) Delaware Valley,
Jr. Andy Drake (10-5) Emmaus, Sr. Mike Eber (5-1) Hackettstown, Jr. Bob Kadel
(4-2) North Warren, Jr. Bryan Kopesky (4-2) Phillipsburg, Sr. Phil Lavoie (6-2)
Hillsborough, Sr. Andy Mann (11-2) Bethlehem Catholic, Jr. Pete Reid (4-5)
Hunterdon Central.
( Notes: Haines is defending Class AAA state champ and his only loss came at the
hands of Jersey state champ Ryan Goodman of Absegami, who pinned the K-Kid in
the Beast finals.
215 POUNDS
1. Sr. Jon Oplinger (15-1) Northampton
2. Sr. Matt Millen (3-0) Easton
3. Sr. Adam Atiyeh (16-3) Parkland
4. Sr. Rob Perricone (8-2) Voorhees
5. Sr. Dan Brice (5-1) Warren Hills
6. Sr. Mark Amerman (8-0) Hillsborough
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Fr. Roy Dragon (10-2) Bridgewater,
Jr. Marion Easley (5-3), Jr. Brad Humes (13-2) Northwestern, Sr. Nate Kranich
(10-0) Notre Dame.
( Notes: Oplinger owns two wins over Atiyeh this season -- both two-point margins.
Millen just returned to lineup after missing time with shoulder injury. Perricone looked
good in losses at Kittatinny Tournament, including 11-5 setback to Toms River
South state placer Kyle Bilquist in semis. Brice may drop to 189 before all is
said and done.
275 POUNDS
1. Sr. Jason Groller (15-2) Easton
2. Jr. Bryan Reiss (13-0) Emmaus
3. Sr. Devin Derrico (13-1) Liberty
4. Sr. Rob Keyes (7-2) Hunterdon Central
5. Jr. Kenny Somers (7-3) Voorhees
6. Sr. Jesse Miller (7-1) Somerville
( Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jr. Kevin Erdie (9-5) Nazareth,
So. Matt Giovannini (10-5) Pius X, Fr. Richie Smith (15-5) Notre Dame,
Jr. Eric Velasquez (12-1) Catasauqua.
( Notes: Reiss beat Derrico in close dual-meet encounter. Groller gets nod over
both by virtue of making states last season. Keyes won Caldwell Tournament to
open season. Rankings are compiled by Mike Weilamann, Nick Fierro and
Brian Fortner. Records reflect matches and tournaments that have been reported
to or covered by The Express-Times. Two wrestlers from the same team cannot
be included in the rankings at the same weight, and they have to be ranked at the
lowest weight that they've competed in, unless they move up for the postseason.
Blair Academy is not eligible for our individual or team rankings this season.
Only wrestlers from PIAA or NJSIAA member schools will be considered.
Questions about the rankings should be directed to Mike Weilamann by
phone at 800-360-3601 or email at mweilamann@express-times.com.
