North Hunterdon takes Group IV team title

Two years ago an undefeated North Hunterdon team won a group state championship with a very talented and solid group of wrestlers up and down in its lineup.

On Sunday afternoon at Jersey Mikes Arena the Lions won another one that was every bit as rewarding with a much different type of team.

Capturing the sixth group championship in program history, North Hunterdon beat Jackson Memorial by the score of 33-27, in the Group IV title match.

Everyone knew North Hunterdon had a handful of hammers in its lineup. They all won against the Shore Conference team with Daniel DeLusant (150), Alex Uryniak (190), Brendan Raley (185) and Logan Wadle (113) showing the way.

Although they all came through, North Hunterdon could not have won this match without some heroics by its less heralded wrestlers.

Enter John Van Doren, who filled that hero role to perfection by scoring a quick takedown in the next to last bout at 132 pounds to beat Jackson’s Nikko Rucci, 7-5, in sudden victory. With his win, Van Doren put his team up, 33-21, to lock up the match and end any chance of a late Jaguar comeback.

This is just a real feel good story when you consider Van Doren went into the bout with an 0-3 record and it was not originally expected for him to get on the mat at all.

“We did not plan on using him,” said North Hunterdon coach Chris Hrunka. “When that weight came up the coaches all looked at each other and decided why not give him a chance. I went up to him and asked him if he could do this. He said: ‘I’ve got this coach.’ ”

The Van Doren name is a familiar one in North Hunterdon wrestling circles. His father Mike was a state champion for the Lions in 1998 and his grandfather Jack was third in the state before that.

“My grandfather told me if you ever go into overtime go for the shot right away,” said John Van Doren. “Give him the credit. That’s just what I did.”

What he did was hit a single leg takedown to cap off a very satisfying year in which North Huntedon showed an uncanny e ability to win close matches and maximize what talent it had.

GROUP NOTES >> Delbarton was the No. 1 ranked team in New Jersey all year long, but it could not get it done Sunday as it fell to St. Joe’s Montvale, 28-24, in the Non-Public A final. … Other champions were Southern (Group V), Delsea (Group III), High Point (Group II), Delaware Valley (Group I) and Camden Catholic (Non-Public B). The High Point victory was an amazing story in itself when you consider John Gardner’s Hillbillies went into sectionals with a record of 7-9.