Hunterdon Central aiming to end group championship drought
Despite all its tremendous success over the years during the regular season and its 22 sectional championships, the one area where the Hunterdon Central wrestling team has not excelled on its the group level.
Hunterdon Central will attempt to change this Sunday in Toms River where it will attempt to end a group title drought that extends all the way back to 1989.
One of the two area teams to advance to this year’s groups along with Delaware Valley, Hunterdon Central (22-1) will take on fellowSkyland Conference member Watchung Hills at 2 p.m. in the Group V Group semifinals.
Hunterdon Central has already beaten Watchung Hills, 37-21, and should it advance as expected, it surely will meet Southern in the championship match at 7 p.m.
For its part, Southern is fresh off a 30-28 win over Howell in the South Jersey sectional final that ended a 78-match unbeaten streak for the Rebels. Howell had won two the last two Group V Group titles.
Look for a lot of team points in a Hunterdon Central-Southern match that is not difficult to forecast in many ways.
Hunterdon Central will score big in many of the lightweights while a Southern team stacked with experienced seniors is going to pile up the points in the upperweights. This could leave it up to a couple of critical bouts in the middle.
How healthy Hunterdon Central is also a matter of concern. Norman Cella (160) and Dan Furmato (170) have been in an out of the lineup with injuries and they will be desperately needed to beat Southern.
Southern was at the Hunterdon Central Christmas Tournament this year and piled up an impressive five champions. The Rams have been up and down at times, but recently did handily beat a Phillipsburg team that Hunterdon Central topped by only two points.
Based on the match-ups, Hunterdon Central is going to have to wrestle one of its best matches of the year to pull this off.
As for Delaware Valley, the Dogs did nail down a 17th sectional title Friday with a win over Whippany Park in North Jersey 2, but are in huge trouble in Sunday’s Group I semifinals.
Delaware Valley’s opponent at 2 p.m. is Paulsboro, which has lost only to Bergen Catholic and is an overwhelming favorite to win yet another group title. The two have a common opponent. Hunterdon Central beat DelVal, 38-21, but lost to Paulsboro, 51-16.
Group Wrestling Schedule
(Sunday in Toms River) Non-Public A Final, 9 a.m. Bergen Catholic (12-2) vs. St. Augustine (15-4) Non-Public B Final, 9 a.m.
Pope John (15-2) vs. Camden Catholic (19-2) Group 2 Semifinals, 9 a.m.
Final, 5 p.m.
High Point (15-2) vs. West Deptford (24-4) Hanover Park (13-6) vs. South Plainfield (23-2) Group 3 Semifinals, 11:30 a.m.
Final, 5 p.m.
Ocean Township (15-7) vs. 4-West Essex (20-4) Montville (15-6) vs. 3-Delsea (15-10)
Group 4 semifinals, 11:30 a.m.
Final 5 p.m.
Phillipsburg (17-2) vs. Wayne Valley (18-4) Jackson (16-4) vs. Kingsway (15-8)
Group 1 Semifinals, 2 p.m.
Final, 7 p.m.
Paulsboro (21-1) vs. Delaware Valley (13-7) Kittatinny (16-7) vs. Shore (25-1)
Group 5 semifinals, 2 p.m.
Final, 7 p.m.
Southern (18-4) vs. Passaic Tech (17-2) Hunterdon Central (22-1) vs. Watchung Hills (15-1)