DelVal, Hunterdon Central look to keep winning

Coming off a season in which it won an impressive ninth group state championship, the Delaware Valley wrestling team appears headed for another out- standing year.

While the Terriers did graduate some upperweights, there’s plenty back from last year’s 17-4 team. Furthermore, it has been bolstered by return of a wrestler who transferred back to the school after finishing seventh at Pennsylvania states last year.

Hunterdon Central also appears headed for another successful year in which it should contend for a sectional title.

DELAWARE VALLEY

Coach: Andy Fitz.

Last year: (17-4), Group I state champion, No. 3 ranking in the area. 106-Owen Kucharski (Sr.), Lucas Beyers (So.)

113-Tye Falkenstein (Fr.) 120-Jacob Taylor (Jr.) 126-Jaden Perez (So.)

132-Matt Roche (Jr.), Jared Leeds (Jr.), Michael Hasson (Fr.) 138-Jackson Bush (So.), Russell Prouty (Jr.)

144-Ben Levy (Jr.) 23-14, Luke Sinkiewicz (So.), Cael Dewire (Jr.) 150-Brayden Schneider (Sr.) 157-Chris Colasurdo (Sr.) 165-Mitch Sutter (Jr.), Garrett Tettemer (Sr.),Kevin Roman (Jr.) 175-Auggie Savacool (Jr.) 190-Anderson Olcott (Jr.) 215-Jake Lagun (Sr.), Evan Newman (Jr.), Brian Nicholson (So.)

Hvy-Kyle Cooke (Jr.)

Strengths: Starting with the lower weights, Kucharski was 27-9 and fourth at regions, Taylor was 20-11 and a district champion, and Perez was 16-11 and third at districts. Also look for good things from the talented Roche, who missed last year with injury. Capable middleweights include Bush (14-14, district runner-up Levy (23-14), Schneider (13-1), and Colasurdo (26-8, fourth at regions). There’s a huge addition at 165 as Tettemer has transferred back to the school following a two-year absence. He was seventh at the Pennsylvania states a year ago. Olcott will head up the upperweights following a 21-win season and fifth at regions.

Outlook: DelVal is going to have another very good season. A top 20 ranking in the state is a strong possibility and the team goes into the season as the favorite to repeat as the Group I Group state champion.

HUNTERON CENTRAL

Coach: Jon Cantagallo-Rohm.

Last year: (17-4), No. 3 ranking in the area.

106-Ryan Sherlock (Jr.)

106/ 113-Pete Plesh.

113/ 120-Anthony Rossi (Jr.)

126/ 132-Ahmed Hussain (Jr.) 132-Owen Hall (Jr.), Evan Thompson (Jr.) 138-Will Cella (Jr.), Eddie Klein (Jr.). 150-Henry Wilkinson (Sr.)

150/ 157-JT Wieder (Jr.) 165-Jackson Call (Jr.).

165/ 175-Tommy Brunetti (Jr.) 190-Ryan Seemon (Jr.) 215-Bennett Cayero (Sr.) Hvy-Charles Cowart (Sr.)

Strengths: The Red Devils have welcomed back a strong set of lightweights headed up by state qualifiers Plesh (29-8) and Rossi (38-6). Evan Thompson is another force down below after a 28-8 season. The team graduated some outstanding guns in the middle, but has returned region qualifiers Cella (22-12) and Wilkinson (18-8) as well as Brunetti (26-11). Region qualifier Cayero (20-12) is the top returning upper weight. The Red Devils also have a strong freshman class with Andrew Cella (138), Grant Thompson (144) and Rhett Washleski (144) among the frosh capable of making an impact.

Outlook: Hunterdon Central will have another successful season. While winning a league title will be difficult in a loaded up division that includes Phillipsburg, DelVal, North Hunterdon and Warren Hills, the team could make some noise in sectionals and possibly finish in the top 20 of the state.