EXPRESS TIMES Individual wrestling rankings as of Feb. 22

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Individual wrestling rankings
Matty RitchieMatty Ritchie
103 Name Record School Class
1 Darian Cruz 30-2 Beth. Catholic So.
2 Brett Marino 28-3 Liberty Sr.
3 Cody Barbiche 33-0 Delaware Valley Sr.
4 Matt Williams 31-7 Pen Argyl So.
5 Kyle Baker 23-11 Easton Fr.

Honorable mention: Fr. Pat Antonacci (23-2) Central Catholic, So. Jaryd Flank (18-9) Wilson, So. Bryan Israel (29-3) Saucon Valley, Fr. Ethan Lizak (23-8) Parkland, So. Matt Moncourtois (26-8) North Hunterdon, Fr. Dylan Nace (27-5) Hunterdon Central, Fr. Matty Ritchie (21-7) North Warren, Jr. Brandon Sommer (17-13) Northampton, So. Tyler Yarnell (19-13) Voorhees.

Notes: Nace gave Barbiche everything he wanted and more in the District 17 final in a 5-3 overtime loss and he's very close to taking over No. 5, but we can't drop Baker for a defeat to Cruz. Also Israel isn't far off and can state his case at the District 11 Class AA championships. Ritchie, a factor to consider, won District 1. Marino pinned Sommer in a dual.

Justin PidotoJustin Pidoto
112 Name Record School Class
1 Zeke Moisey 31-5 Beth. Catholic Fr.
2 Anthony Cabrera 27-3 Liberty Sr.
3 Gary Dinmore 27-1 Hunterdon Central Fr.
4 Ryan Nicotra 29-3 Hackettstown Sr.
5 Chase Zemenak 24-13 Nazareth Fr.

Honorable mention: So. Anthony Dee (18-8) Salisbury, So. Ian Evans (20-14) Parkland, Fr. Josh Evans (22-4) Palmerton, So. Matt Gilmore (22-7) Delaware Valley, Fr. Christian Okulicz (21-12) Voorhees, Fr. Justin Pidoto (23-11) Warren Hills, Jr. Peter Stanley (21-13) Easton, Fr. Vinnie Vonelli (24-8) Pius X, Sr. Jamie Welsh (26-7) Pen Argyl.

Notes: Dinmore won District 17 and keeps moving on up, as Nicotra's loss in the District 1 final knocks the Tiger back a spot. Stanley hung in there in 8-4 loss to Moisey. Gilmore not making regionals was surprising. Parkland's Evans and Stanley could move up this week against Zemenak.

George SchafferGeorge Schaffer
119 Name Record School Class
1 Randy Cruz 33-5 Beth. Catholic Jr.
2 Mike Pongracz 33-1 Delaware Valley So.
3 Josh Ortman 22-7 Parkland Fr.
4 DeMarquis Holley 27-3 Dieruff Jr.
5 Evan Disora 23-7 Easton So.

Honorable mention: Jr. Joseph Dalessandro (20-10) Pius X, Sr. Lucas Dise (21-5) Northern Lehigh, So. Grimaldi Gonzales (21-7) Liberty, So. Andrew Kaluzny (21-15) Phillipsburg, So. Tyler Kozimor (19-5) Hackettstown, So. Dillon Massington (22-7) Palmerton, So. Mike Rodgers (24-8) Central Catholic, So. George Schaffer (22-4) Bangor, So. Jesse Thorsen (25-10) Belvidere.

Notes: Cruz handled Disora pretty easily in a dual, showing his command of this class. Pongracz, or "Pongo" as the Del Val fans chant, pinned his way through District 17 in dazzling fashion and probably deserves to be No. 1-A, not No. 2. Kozimor is knocking on the door after District 1 win, beating Kaluzny and Thorsen on the way.

Chris DavisChris Davis
125 Name Record School Class
1 Dylan Thorsen 32-1 Belvidere Jr.
2 Franco Ferraina 25-3 Nazareth Sr.
3 Devon Lotito 28-4 Liberty Jr.
4 Robbie Rizzolino 26-9 Easton
So.
5 Jaydon Rice 26-9 Beth. Catholic Sr.

Honorable mention: Sr. Pat Boyle (24-11) North Hunterdon, Sr. Chris Davis (28-6) Voorhees, Jr. Zane Heller (21-5) Northern Lehigh, Jr. Ethan Keichel (17-9), Northwestern Lehigh, Jr. Sam Oberlander (23-5) Palmerton, So. Brandon Rothman (18-12) Hackettstown, Jr. Paul Sloand (20-10) Saucon Valley.

Notes: A quandary here. Rice, wrestling with one hand, lost to Rizzolino 4-2 in a dual. If the match wasn't so critical team-wise Rice may not even have wrestled, and it's difficult to drop him for going out and showing guts and fortitude ... but, then, we have to be fair to Rizzolino as well who did, after all, win. And then Lotito, who only loses to Ferraina, deserves a promotion. No room for Davis which is too bad because no one in New Jersey had a better weekend than the driven and intense Viking senior.
Rich CruzRich Cruz
130 Name Record School Class
1 Zach Horan 38-0 Nazareth Sr.
2 Matt Lane 29-6 Phillipsburg Sr.
3 Damien Hopper 23-1 Central Catholic Sr.
4 Rich Cruz 20-10 Bethlehem Catholic Jr.
5 Matt Ortiz 18-4 Northwestern So.

Honorable mention: Sr. Matt Boylan (20-13) Hunterdon Central, Sr. Mike Crawn (18-5) Bangor, Sr. George Dalessandro (22-11) Pius X, Sr. Calvin Daly (24-11) Easton, Jr. Walter Gonsiewski (20-9) Voorhees, Sr. Kevin Guenther (25-9) Delaware Valley, Jr. Javier Rivas (23-6) Dieruff, So. Mason Ryzoff (17-8) North Warren, Sr. Forest Touchberry (16-10) Parkland, Jr. Keith Wanamaker (22-12) Warren Hills.

Notes: Cruz's 5-1 win over Daly, who has committed to Clarion, in a dual causes major changes here. Hopper has pinned Cruz, so the Golden Hawk has to stay behind Hopper, whose only loss is to Horan. Lane dominated District 1, beating Ryzoff 15-5 en route.

Tyler RehlTyler Rehl
135 Name Record School Class
1 Mike Racciato 37-2 Pen Argyl So.
2 Joey Rizzolino 33-5/td> Easton Sr.
3 Greg Noll 32-7 Nazareth Sr.
4 Vince Pellechia 30-1 Catasauqua Jr.
5 Derek Zehnbauer 28-5 Delaware Valley Jr.

Honorable mention: So. Mike Marano (18-15) Parkland, Jr. Jose Morales (18-10) Dieruff, Jr. Aaron Morekin (23-6) Whitehall, Sr. Rob Napolitano (22-8) Hackettstown, Jr, Tyler Rehl (14-14) Phillipsburg, Sr. Paul Schwartz (16-10) Freedom, Jr. Jason Stephen (26-9) Northampton.

Notes: Zehnbauer's 3-0 loss to unbeaten Josh Garzio of Ewing in District 17 final doesn't cause him to drop, yet. Noll beat Stephen 7-1 in a dual. Rehl surprised to take third in District 1, beating Napolitano en route. Very strong class if not as deep as some others.

Colby BarrettColby Barrett
140 Name Record School Class
1 Mitch Minotti 33-2 Easton Jr.
2 Zack Wilson 19-10 Northampton Sr.
3 Ryan Todora 28-7 Beth. Catholic So.
4 Luciano Burriesci 32-9 Pen Argyl Sr.
5 Nikko Stevens 20-5 No. Lehigh Sr.

Honorable mention: Sr. Colby Barrett (17-7) Pius X, Sr. Billy Butka (24-12) Warren Hills, Jr. Victor Embardino (19-6) Notre Dame-Green Pond, Jr. Cody Grohotolski (17-8) Palmerton, Jr. Ronnie Honickel (32-1) Voorhees, So. Eric Matz (20-7) Catasauqua, Sr. Eric Seals (18-9) Allen, Sr. Rylan Watson (26-10) Phillipsburg.

Notes: Watson is a three-time D-1 champ who cannot crack Top 5 and if he can't then Honickel, who was very impressive at D-17 but whose only loss is to Watson, can't, either. Minotti handled Todora 5-1 to make sure the rest of the Top 5 stayed the same. D-11 Class AA will be very lively at this class.

joe moyer headshotJoe Moyer
145 Name Record School Class
1 John Lynch 25-4 Saucon Valley Sr.
2 Chris Cancelliere 31-3 North Hunterdon Sr.
3 Justin Heller 19-7 Parkland Sr.
4 Cole Sheptock 23-6 Northampton Jr.
5 Rex Lutz 25-8 Pen Argyl Sr.

Honorable mention: So. Tyler Cote (19-7) Hunterdon Central, Jr. Steven Baker (23-8) Voorhees, Sr. Matt Gotzon (14-6) Southern Lehigh, Jr. Joe Moyer (17-16) Phillipsburg, So. Connor Hedash (15-8) Northern Lehigh, Sr. John Kelly (15-9) Bangor, Sr. Kyle Kilpatrick (18-9) Wilson, Sr. Josh LaBar (28-5) Pius X, Sr. Anthony Minotti (22-8) Easton.

Notes: Cancelliere's D-17 championship (he majored Cote in final) puts a lot of heat on Lynch who must be equally good this weekend at D-11 Class AA to hold on to No. 1 here (could be a dandy Lions' Club matchup, perhaps?). LaBar could make his statement for a Top-5 spot at D-11 AA as well. Moyer won D-1 in a surprise, beating the No. 1 and 2 seeds en route.

Billy ChristensenBilly Christensen
152 Name Record School Class
1 Mason McIntyre 22-1 Easton Sr.
2 Bobby Clymer 24-4 Northwestern Sr.
3 Chris Carey 27-5 Hunterdon Central Sr.
4 Dan Brockerhoff 26-9 Phillipsburg Sr.
5 John Lambert 24-5 Northampton Sr.

Honorable mention:Sr. Matt Bonshak (22-5) Whitehall, Sr. Kyle DeHaut (22-8) Bethlehem Catholic, So. Travis Buddock (14-7) Saucon Valley, Jr. Billy Christensen (21-3) Wilson, Sr. Luke Gotzon (20-4) Southern Lehigh, So. Ty Herzog (22-4) Northern Lehigh, Jr. Justin Marsh (18-2) Palisades, Jr. Mike Staufenberger (19-8) North Warren, Sr. Mike Rogers (21-13) Delaware Valley, Sr. Jason Rothman (22-6) Hackettstown, Jr. Beau Vrancken (29-4) North Hunterdon, So. Josh Young (17-5) Freedom.

Notes: At last a clear No. 1 here as McIntyre descends from 160 and decked DeHaut in his first match to make an impressive statement. This is McIntyre's class to lose the rest of the way. Elsewhere the usual confusion reigns with Carey pinning Vrancken in D-17 final to end eight-match losing streak to his rival and win OW for the tournament. To make room for McIntyre and Carey two have to leave top 5 and for now that is DeHaut and Vrancken. Brockerhoff won D-1. Need I say this is hardly set on stone?

Tim KunkelTim Kunkel
160 Name Record School Class
1 Elliot Riddick 30-6 Beth. Catholic Jr.
2 Ryan Krecker 26-1 Nazareth Sr.
3 Mike Ottinger 23-2 Parkland Sr.
4 Jadaen Bernstein 33-0 Voorhees So.
5 Jon Blank 24-2 Notre Dame Jr.

Honorable mention: Jr. Nathan Dow (30-5) Belvidere, Jr. V.J. Delmonico (24-13) Phillipsburg, So. Dave Fenton (19-14) Hunterdon Central, Jr. William Hailey (11-4) Southern Lehigh, Sr. Tim Kunkel (18-9) Northampton, Sr. Kyle Sorensen (23-6) Northwestern Lehigh, Jr. Richard York (15-5) Saucon Valley.

Notes: Welcome to defending D-11 Class AA champ Blank who cracks the Top 5 with McIntyre's descent to 152. Bernstein, who is a joy to watch, thumped Fenton en route to D-17 title. Dow lost to OW Ryan Harrington of West Mendham in D-1 final and is probably No. 6 here. Despite clamor from Nazareth faithful for Krecker's elevation top 3 stay in same order -- for now. Riddick wasn't dazzling in 15-6 win over Dyvon Gibson of Easton and is on notice.

Liam KorbulLiam Korbul
171 Name Record School Class
1 Colin Hedash 23-2 No. Lehigh Sr.
2 Jake Maffucci 25-2 Hunterdon Central Sr.
3 Tyler Horn 30-8 Pen Argyl Sr.
4 Will Van Doren 27-6 Delaware Valley Jr.
5 Ray O'Donnell 29-4 Saucon Valley So.

Honorable mention: Sr. Zach Bambary (12-10) Easton, So. Evan Bray (19-11) Belvidere, So. Liam Korbul (19-14) North Hunterdon, Jr. Levi Veppert (24-5) Northwestern Lehigh, Fr. Jose Ortiz (14-5) Bethlehem Catholic, Jr. Eric Wolak (17-7) Nazareth.

Notes: Maffucci topped Van Doren 3-0 in D-17 final. Yes, we know Bray was pinned by Phillipsburg's Larry Giammarco in D-1 semis but Giammarco is 7-9 and a .500 record is a minimum to make HMs. Bambary's 3-2 decision over Josh Alpha of Becahi up at 189 was huge in the Red Rovers' triumph. Wolak beat Northampton's Tim Kunkel 6-1 for a nice win.

Anthony PareAnthony Pare
189 Name Record School Class
1 Ian Gimbar 30-2 Saucon Valley Sr.
2 Dylan Evans 24-9 Pen Argyl Jr.
3 Luke Garner 25-1 Catasauqua Jr.
4
Marcus Newsom 20-6 Northampton Jr.
5 Zach Bohn 29-5 Voorhees Sr.

Honorable mention: So. Josh Alpha (19-9) Bethlehem Catholic, Sr. Ben Bradley (16-9) Nazareth, Sr. Cory Bruder (18-6) Parkland, Fr. Fuad Haddad (17-9) Whitehall, Sr. Kyle Kathenes (25-8) Hackettstown, Jr. Nick Maddalena (21-6) Delaware Valley, Jr. Anthony Pare (17-10) Phillipsburg, Sr. Brandon Steele (17-11) Liberty, Sr. Kyle VanWingerden (20-11) Belvidere.

Notes: Newsom edged Bradley and Steele for a fine week and earned a Top 5 berth. Bohn gets a promotion for his D-17 title. Alpha's loss to Bambary may have cost him a top 5 spot here. Bruder and Bradley may well be back soon.

Ryan BarryRyan Barry
215 Name Record School Class
1 Brandon Hull 29-5 Phillipsburg Jr.
2 Tarik Haddad 17-3 Parkland Sr.
3 Tyler Greene 29-7 Easton So.
4 Nick Sharga 29-5 Northampton Jr.
5 Kyle Nerger 27-7 North Hunterdon Sr.

Honorable mention: Jr. Ryan Barry (24-11) Pen Argyl, Sr. Brian Guevara (25-5) Voorhees, Sr. Fred Jennings (25-9) Hackettstown, So. J.B. Lawson (20-11) Belvidere, Sr. Derek Knoop (18-14) Hunterdon Central, Jr. Kane Kralik (20-6) Palmerton, Jr. Dan Smith (28-7) Warren Hills, Jr. David Wilke (21-11) Nazareth.

Notes: Two New Jersey champs here, Hull and Nerger, and Nerger beat Knoop and then Guevara in OT for his crown. Hull beat Jennings 5-0. Sharga topped Wilke 7-5 to keep his Top 5 spot.

Chris LongyhoreChris Longyhore
285 Name Record School Class
1 Jack Delia 32-0 North Hunterdon Sr.
2 Jalal Paige 33-4 Easton Sr.
3 Steve Giraldo 28-6 Hackettstown Sr.
4 Aaron Bradley 20-3 Nazareth So.
5 Shaquone Williams 27-5 Pius X Jr.

Honorable mention:Sr. Steven Farr (25-6) Dieruff, Sr. Jordan Gonzalez (12-6) Allen, Sr. Shaun Heist (18-9) Parkland, So. Chris Longyhore (16-12) North Warren, Jr. Kirby Mutton (26-7) Pen Argyl, Jr. Andrew Romeo (17-6) Bangor.

Notes: Two more Garden State district winners here, though in different fashions; Delia blitzed through D-17 while Giraldo edged Longyhore 1-0 for D-1 crown. Quiet on the Pennsylvania side.

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