FINAL EXPRESS TIMES WRESTLING RANKINGS

All of the wrestling has been completed except for the post-season All-Star matches and Scholastic Sports Editor Michael Blouse has put the finishing touches on the final individual rankings.

As the only state champion from the region, Hunterdon Central's Alex Shaffer (119) leapfrogs Nazareth's Zach Horan to finish as the valedictorian of "Head of the Class."

Individual wrestling rankings 103 Name Record School Class
1 Anthony Cabrera 36-7 Liberty Jr.

2 Evan Disora 35-11 Easton Fr.
3 Cody Barbiche 34-6 Delaware Valley Jr.
4 Anthony Bilotta 36-9 Pius X Sr.
5 Matt Williams 41-6 Pen Argyl Fr.

Honorable mention: Fr. Ian Evans (29-16) Parkland, Fr. Paul Hetrick (20-18) Northampton, So. DeMarquis Holley (29-6) Dieruff, Fr. Bryan Israel (33-13) Saucon Valley, Fr. Tyler Kozimor (26-12) Hackettstown.

Notes: No. 1 at 103 is obvious call with Cabrera atop rankings after fifth-place finish at PIAA Class AAA Championships. Cabrera defeated DiSora for fifth time this season, 3-0 in state's fifth-place bout. DiSora placed sixth. Barbiche remains ranked third. Bilotta edges out Williams for fourth spot based on better finish at Class AA district, state meets. Williams decisioned Bilotta 7-6 in consolations at regional tournament. But District 11 champion Bilotta registered forfeit win over injured Williams in fifth-place bout at state meet.

112 Name Record School Class
1 Randy Cruz 37-6 Beth. Catholic So.
2 Devon Lotito 27-8 Liberty So.
3 Jamie Welsh 39-12 Pen Argyl Jr.
4 Mike Pongracz 37-6 Delaware Valley Fr.
5 Mike Fake 33-9 Parkland Jr.

Honorable mention: Fr. Ty Herzog (28-12) Northern Lehigh, Sr. Dylan Long (29-5) Northwestern. Sr. Greg Rinker (29-11) Northampton, Jr. Ryan Nicotra (26-10) Hackettstown.

Notes: Relatively easy weight class to rank at 112. No. 1 Cruz suffered 5-3 defeat in Class AA state final to Athens senior David White but went 9-1 in postseason. Lotito placed seventh in Class AAA state tournament. Welsh was eighth in Class AA. Pongracz remains ranked fourth with Fake in fifth spot.

119 Name Record School Class
1 Alex Shaffer 34-0 Hunterdon Central So.
2 Anthony Marino 32-8 Liberty Sr.
3 Franco Ferraina 30-9 Nazareth Jr.
4 Brandon Davis 38-9 Parkland Sr.
5 Dylan Thorsen 25-4 Belvidere So.

Honorable mention: Sr. Lee Coleman (23-11) Bangor, Jr. Josh Fritz (25-15) Emmaus, So. Zane Heller (28-7) Northern Lehigh, Sr. Adam Phillippi (38-11) Saucon Valley, Jr. Jaydon Rice (26-12) Bethlehem Catholic.

Notes: Undefeated New Jersey state champion Shaffer earns No. 1 ranking at 119. Marino capped career with silver medal effort in Class AAA, falling to unbeaten Nico Megaludis 8-4 in final. Ferraina went 1-2 in AAA meet. Davis and Thorsen round out Top 5, respectively.

125 Name Record School Class
1 Zach Horan 38-2 Nazareth Jr.
2 Bobby Stevely 40-4 Delaware Valley Sr.
3 Jordan Glykas 25-13 Northampton Sr.
4 Corey Kozimor 29-4 Hackettstown Sr.
5 Spencer Parcel 27-8 Hunterdon Central Sr.

Honorable mention: So. Richie Cruz (27-14) Bethlehem Catholic, Sr. Tyrone Deschler (28-12) Saucon Valley, Sr. Constantine Filipos (28-7) Central Catholic, Fr. Mike Marano (21-17) Parkland, Sr. Justin Mazza (34-7) Pius X, So. Vinny Pellechia (27-8) Catasauqua, Sr. Mike Ramos (19-11) Allen, Jr. Rylan Watson (24-10) Phillipsburg.

Notes: Two silver medalists — one in Pennsylvania, one in New Jersey — highlight 125. Horan remains No. 1 after 6-3 loss to Bellefonte's Mitchell Port in Class AAA state final. Stevely remains ranked second. Glykas completed strong postseason with fourth-place finish in AAA meet. Kozimor and Parcel retain fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

130 Name Record School Class
1 Mitch Minotti 41-5 Easton So.
2 Mikey Racciato 45-5 Pen Argyl Fr.
3 Brian Bistis 38-3 Hunterdon Central Sr.
4 Greg Noll 29-11 Nazareth Jr.
5 Matt Schuebel 27-6 Warren Hills Jr.

Honorable mention: Sr. A.J. Chernaskey (32-11) Saucon Valley, Sr. Doug Cowley (21-14) Belvidere, So. Ronnie Honickel (19-6) Voorhees, Fr. Ryan Todora (24-10) Bethlehem Catholic, Sr. Adam Simon (20-11) Phillipsburg.

Notes: Close call among Top 3 at 130. No. 1 Minotti was fifth in state at Class AAA level and defeated some top competition this season. No. 2 Racciato was third in Class AA and won 45 bouts as ninth-grader. No. 3 Bistis boasted perfect record entering NJSIAA tourney and finished sixth. None of our top three met on mat. Noll and Schuebel round out competitive weight class, respectively.

135 Name Record School Class
1 Joey Rizzolino 32-13 Easton Jr.
2 Nikko Stevens 32-10 Northern Lehigh Jr.
3 John Lynch 37-7 Saucon Valley Jr.
4 Vinnie Peoni 28-7 Voorhees Sr.
5 Justin Heller 34-14 Parkland Jr.

Honorable mention: Jr. Luciano Burriesci (32-18) Pen Argyl, Sr. Matt Klacik (21-14) Freedom, Jr. Josh LaBar (25-14) Pius X, Sr. John Horak (25-13) Phillipsburg, Jr. David Volyn (25-8) Hunterdon Central.

Notes: Just one state medalist at 135, not strong weight class this season. No. 1 Rizzolino went 1-2 in Class AAA state tournament. Stevens placed sixth in Class AA meet. Lynch was 1-2 in AA. Peoni and Heller complete Top 5, respectively.

140 Name Record School Class
1 Mark Hartenstine 44-3 Easton Sr.
2 Tyler Torcivia 34-9 Nazareth Sr.
3 Rex Lutz 33-11 Pen Argyl Jr.
4 Erik Mitchell 27-9 Hackettstown Sr.
5 Anthony Gaito 28-6 Warren Hills Sr.

Honorable mention: Jr. Dan Brockerhoff (22-12) Phillipsburg, Sr. Dan Costenbader (24-9) Palmerton, Sr. Jake Giovannini (29-8) Pius X, Sr. Garret Henning (24-13) Liberty, So. Dylan Hofmann (27-8) Northern Lehigh, Sr. Michael Kistler (30-12) Parkland, Sr. Matt Knowles (24-14) Delaware Valley.

Notes: No issues ranking 140. So, is Hartenstine best Easton wrestler to never win postseason tournament? No. 1 Hartenstine finished third in state at Class AAA level. Torcivia was 0-2 at PIAA meet. Positions third through fifth remain intact with Lutz, Mitchell and Gaito filling out Top 5.

145 Name Record School Class
1 Mike Ottinger 36-6 Parkland Jr.
2 Ryan Krecker 37-6 Nazareth Jr.
3 Phil Racciato 40-6 Pen Argyl Sr.
4 Oliver Brukardt 37-5 Phillipsburg Sr.
5 Elliot Riddick 28-11 Bethlehem Catholic So.

Honorable mention: Jr. Chris Carey (25-10) Hunterdon Central, Jr. Bobby Clymer (26-6) Northwestern, So. Nathan Dow (22-8) Belvidere, Sr. Kyle Mesce (32-6) Delaware Valley, Jr. Anthony Minotti (26-15) Easton, So. Beau Vranken (29-9) North Hunterdon, Sr. Aaron Williams (24-16) Whitehall.

Notes: Not extremely clear-cut at 145 weight class. No. 1 Ottinger missed PIAA Class AAA Championships after sustaining a shoulder injury at regional meet. Ottinger, however, went 2-0 on mat vs. Krecker — prevailing in LVC match and District 11 final. Krecker placed fourth at state tournament and ends season ranked second. Racciato earned second consecutive sixth-place state medal in Class AA. Brukardt and Riddick round out Top 5, respectively.

152 Name Record School Class
1 Austin Sommer 40-5 Northampton Sr.
2 Kyle Dehaut 37-7 Bethlehem Catholic Jr.
3 Kevin Brown 38-3 North Warren Sr.
4 Craemer Hedash 32-10 No. Lehigh Sr.
5 Chris Cancelliere 32-4 North Hunterdon Jr.

Honorable mention: Sr. Ahmed Burton (17-8) Allen, Sr. Greg Chrin (30-8) Notre Dame, Sr. Mike Englert (24-7) Palmerton, Sr. Ryan Gellner (25-8) Delaware Valley, Sr. Seth Guth (31-11) Whitehall, Sr. Andy Moore (23-18) Parkland, Sr. Todd Johnson (21-12) Hunterdon Central.

Notes: Some changes are in order for final 152 rankings. Sommer earns No. 1 spot based on outstanding postseason. Sommer captured bronze at Class AAA state tournament and earned plenty of respect with competitive 10-6 semifinal loss to three-time PIAA champ Dylan Alton of Central Mountain. Dehaut was second-place medalist in Class AA, falling 8-3 to Cody Wiercioch of Charleroi in final. Brown, seventh in New Jersey, drops to third in final rankings. Hedash placed sixth in AA and is fourth. Cancelliere completes Top 5.

160 Name Record School Class
1 Wade Rivera 44-6 Parkland Sr.
2 Jerry Somma 36-2 Hunterdon Central Sr.
3 Matt Artigliere 26-6 Warren Hills Sr.
4 Jon Blank 34-8 Notre Dame So.
5 Mike Brown 26-11 Liberty Sr.

Honorable mention: Jr. Zack Bambary (26-17) Easton, Jr. Mason McIntyre (11-7) Freedom, Sr. Josh Rodriguez (17-9) Whitehall.

Notes: No controversy at 160. No. 1 Rivera placed fifth at state tourney in Class AAA. Somma and Artigliere retain positions two and three, respectively. Blank was 0-2 at PIAA Class AA Championships. Brown finishes in fifth position.

171 Name Record School Class

1 Luke DeLuise 38-5 Pius X Sr.
2 Mike Hafke 35-5 Voorhees Sr.
3 Colin Hedash 36-5 Northern Lehigh Jr.
4 Tate Klidonas 34-6 Emmaus Sr.
5 Nick Edmonson 36-10 Saucon Valley Sr.

Honorable mention: Jr. Ben Bradley (27-10) Nazareth, So. Dylan Evans (30-7) Pen Argyl, Sr. Cody Lewis (15-6) Hunterdon Central, Sr. Tyler Marx (18-12) Northampton.

Notes: Close call among Top 3 at 171. DeLuise retains No. 1 position after seventh-place finish at state Class AA tournament. Hedash earned fifth-place medal but District 11 champion DeLuise won head-to-head and finished higher in regional event. Hafke was eighth in New Jersey at strong weight class. Klidonas and Edmonson, who was 1-2 in Class AA, round out Top 5, respectively.

189 Name Record School Class
1 Ian Gimbar 41-7 Saucon Valley Jr.
2 Tarik Haddad 37-13 Parkland Jr.
3 Chris Pintado 29-9 Liberty Sr.
4 Aaron Bradley 25-10 Nazareth Fr.
5 Andrew Scudder 25-10 Hackettstown Sr.

Honorable mention: So. Luke Garner (26-10) Catasauqua, Jr. Tyler Horn (29-16) Pen Argyl, So. Brandon Hull (22-13) Phillipsburg, Jr. Jake Maffucci (26-10) Hunterdon Central, So. Troy Newhard (26-12) Emmaus, Sr. Kevin Rehm (30-11) Whitehall.

Notes: Unproductive finish in one of weaker weight classes. Gimbar went 1-2 at PIAA Class AA tournament after claiming District 11, Southeast Regional titles but retains No. 1 at 189. Haddad placed eighth in Class AAA. Pintado was 1-2 in AAA. Bradley and Scudder complete Top 5, respectively.

215 Name Record School Class
1 Taray Carey 33-4 Whitehall Sr.
2 Curtis Garner 30-4 Catasauqua Sr.
3 Kyle O'Donnell 27-3 Warren Hills Sr.
4 Jalal Paige 27-16 Easton Jr.
5 Khalid Zubaydi 26-11 Hackettstown Sr.

Honorable mention: Sr. Dan Brereton (25-6) Voorhees, Sr. Shane Fenton (23-8) Hunterdon Central, Jr. Martin LaLuz (22-13) Bethlehem Catholic, Sr. Francis Roscioli (22-5) Wilson, Sr. Sam Tintle (20-13) Phillipsburg.

Notes: Solid at top two spots in weight class that lacks depth. No. 1 Carey suffered three of four losses this season in Class AAA state tournament, placing sixth at 215. Garner was fifth at Class AA level. O'Donnell, Paige and Zubaydi retain positions three through five, respectively.

285 Name Record School Class
1 Jack Delia 37-1 North Hunterdon Jr.
2 Jon Slack 34-5 Warren Hills Sr.
3 Brad Bormann 33-7 Hunterdon Central Sr.
4 Tony Bourizk 28-6 Whitehall Sr.
5 D.J. King 27-9 Nazareth Sr.

Honorable mention: Sr. Ryan Fazzi (24-15) Phillipsburg, Jr. Steve Giraldo (29-6) Hackettstown, Fr. Shaun Heist (19-18) Parkland, Sr. Greg Ritter (26-3) Belvidere, Sr. Kenny Zurbano (26-15) Saucon Valley.

Notes: New Jersey wrestlers dominate 285 rankings. No. 1 Delia lost only once, in the NJSIAA championship. Slack and Bormann both placed in their state meet on first weekend of March. Bourizk was 0-2 in Class AAA at the PIAA Championships. King completes Top 5.

From the Express Times