Wrestlers to watch:
Senior 138-pounder Mark McCormick has been one of South Jersey’s best wrestlers over the last two seasons and has state championship aspirations for his final year in green. Last year, McCormick (32-5 record) took seventh in the state, captured his third straight Region 7 title and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in District 27. The Rider recruit leads a group of five returning starters that also includes senior Jarret Zeigler (21-7), a district champ at 126 pounds who should move up in weight class. Senior 182-pounder Henry Morris also qualified for regions with a third-place showing at districts, and Jake Stillings is another key senior in the upper weights. The Irish also welcome in a strong freshman class—including 106-pounder Lucas Revano—that is expected to contribute right away.
Outlook:
Camden Catholic had a rare losing season, as it went 9-10 and saw its streak of 21 straight sectional titles come to an end with a loss in the South Jersey Non-Public A final. John Denuto takes over as the new head coach this year and is determined to return the Irish to their status as one of South Jersey’s elite programs.
Cherokee Chiefs
Wrestlers to watch:
Cherokee brings back eight starters, including three district champions and a region finalist. Senior Connor Cosgrove captured his second straight District 27 title at 113 pounds and took third at Region 7 to qualify for states, finishing with a 23-8 record. Cosgrove was joined in Atlantic City by sophomore Collin Wickramaratna (33-6), whose freshman campaign included second-place finishes at districts and regions at 106 pounds. Senior Mike Kringler (25-12) and junior Ryan Manahan (23-12) were district champs at 220 and 120 pounds, respectively. Junior Shawn Webb, a district champ as a freshman who took fourth at 126 pounds last year, is another key veteran.
Outlook:
The Chiefs went 12-11, lost in the first round of the South Jersey Group V playoffs and went on to claim the District 27 team crown for the second straight year. With a number of solid wrestlers returning, they have high hopes for this season.
Cherry Hill East Cougars
Wrestlers to watch:
The Cougars return one of the top heavyweights in the area in junior Ryan Swenson. He posted an impressive 36-4 record last year, took second in District 27 and reached the semifinals at Region 7. Other returning starters and key returners include seniors Alex Velez (126), Dylan Clark (160) and Chance Houston (170), junior Dillon Conrad (106) and sophomore Blake Impagliazzo (138).
Outlook:
Only four seniors graduated from last year’s 7-20 squad. The Cougars are poised to make significant improvement with all of that experience coming back.
Cherry Hill West Lions
Wrestlers to watch:
Cherry Hill West is led by a pair of stellar seniors who both recorded more than 30 wins a year ago. Connor Rogovich (35-5, 145 pounds) and James Potts (33-7, 182) were each District 27 champions and Region 7 runners-up. Manny Morales is another key senior who went 24-12 and took second at districts at 160, and junior Jayson Peralta went 18-12 at 195 and also qualified for regions. Senior Joe Ioannucci, who wrestles in the lower weights, is a former 20-match winner who returns after missing last season with an injury.
Outlook:
The Lions’ 22-5 season included their third straight playoff appearance and a trip to the South Jersey Group IV semifinals. They will remain competitive behind their senior leaders.
Clearview Pioneers
Wrestlers to watch:
Clearview’s loaded roster is headlined by a pair of state championship contenders in seniors Zach Firestone and Mike VanBrill. Firestone, who has committed to Bucknell, went 38-1 last year and placed third in the state at 120 pounds. His remarkable career has included three district titles and two region crowns. VanBrill, a Rutgers recruit, posted a 37-2 record and placed fifth in the state at 132 pounds. He was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the District 29 and Region 8 tournaments. Another standout senior is Stanley Atkinson, who transferred from Kingsway. Atkinson went 35-4 and won a district title at 132 pounds for the Dragons last year, and lost to VanBrill in the region final. Senior 195-pounder John Bonner is another returning district champ for the Pioneers, while seniors Henry Eisenhart (152) and Vito Nucci (220) were both runners-up. Seniors Austin Lee (138) and Clint Matthew (145) and sophomore Ayush Patel (113) are other important returners.
Outlook:
The Pioneers went 17-3 and won their second straight sectional championship last winter. With Firestone, VanBrill and Atkinson leading the way, they could be the No. 1 team in South Jersey.
Eastern Vikings
Wrestlers to watch:
Eastern is paced by outstanding senior 132-pounder Brandon Barbella, who won district and region titles last year on his way to a 27-2 record. Expectations are high for his final season in the program before he moves on to wrestle in college at Clarion. The Vikings also welcome back junior Jordan Pinette, a district champ at 106 pounds who went on to qualify for states with a third-place showing at regions. Junior Jack Francesconi was a district champion two years ago and gives the team another proven competitor in the lower weights. Other returning starters include seniors Sal Delpalazzo and Joseph Dougherty, juniors Tamin Alyounes, Mike Fair, Ben Forsman and Cade Regn, and sophomore Dominic Ferriolo.
Outlook:
Eastern will be led by new head coach Brian Boland, who has been an assistant coach at various programs for 10 years, including the last three with the Vikings. He’ll look to keep the winning tradition going after a 22-6 record last year.
Gloucester Catholic Rams
Wrestlers to watch:
The 2014-15 season was a rebuilding one for the Rams, but the good news is that several young wrestlers gained valuable varsity experience. That includes junior 152-pounder Colin Corrado, who led the team in victories. Other returners include senior 145-pounder Frank Romeo, juniors Eddie Anyzek (138) and Nick DiCarlo (182) and sophomore Dante Firoe (106). Numbers are up for the program this year, which is another positive sign.
Outlook:
The Rams hope to make progress under new head coach Joe Ruggeri, who has been an assistant coach in South Jersey for nearly two decades, including five years at Gloucester Catholic.
Haddonfield Bulldawgs
Wrestlers to watch:
Frank Fortino was one of the top 195-pounders in South Jersey last year and will once again be a force in his senior season, whether he wrestles 195 or moves up to 220. Last year he went 40-5, won a district championship and placed second in Region 7, moving on to Atlantic City for states. Senior Peter Rhodes was a state qualifier as well, thanks to a third-place finish at regions in the 126-pound weight class. He also took third at districts and finished with a 30-14 record. Chris Bolletino is coming off a strong freshman season that saw him finish with a 30-12 record. Bolletino took second at districts at 113 pounds and was a region semifinalist. Junior Evan Finnegan, who took second at districts at 106 pounds and finished with 28 wins, is another key returner and could move up to 113. Other important returners include seniors Hunter Fasolo and Cole Pollack, junior Donny Siok and sophomores Jack Mooney, Jack Goldberg and Ben Klaus.
Outlook:
Haddonfield went 23-8 and reached the sectional semifinals for the second year in a row last season. Expect the Bulldawgs to remain competitive.
Kingsway Dragons
Wrestlers to watch:
The Dragons are led by the dynamic duo of brothers Trace and Quinn Kinner, who both turned in outstanding performances last season and placed at states. Trace, a junior, went 36-7, won the Region 8 title and took sixth in the state at 113 pounds and will likely move up to 120 pounds this year. All Quinn did as a freshman was win district and region crowns at 106 pounds, finish fifth in the state and post a 41-2 record. He should move into the 113-pound class as a sophomore. Senior Rory Bushby has won back-to-back district titles and added a third-place finish at regions last year on his way to a 32-9 record at 160 pounds. Senior Trent Tutko wrestled 126 last year and won 22 matches, and other key returners include senior Sean Calhoun, juniors Darrius Scott and Atlee Cullison and sophomores Colin Wexler and Matt Klaiss. Freshman Ryan Crane is also expected to have an impact.
Outlook:
The Dragons went 16-10 and reached the sectional semifinals last year. Despite the loss of district champ Stanley Atkinson—who transferred to rival Clearview—Kingsway has a dangerous core highlighted by the Kinner brothers.
Lenape Indians
Wrestlers to watch:
Lenape graduated its top wrestler in region finalist Kyle McIntyre, but several important returners are ready to lead the team. Senior Noah Snively has taken third at districts the last two years and posted a 15-7 record last season, wrestling mainly at 152. Junior heavyweight Tyler Steffa also placed third at districts and finished with a 24-8 record, while senior Richard Smith wrestled 138 and went 24-7. Seniors Jordan Davis and J.T. Bell and junior Robert McGrogan are other returning starters.
Outlook:
With most of the starting lineup back, the Indians will look to improve on last year’s 10-12 record.
Moorestown Quakers
Wrestlers to watch:
The Quakers suffered a huge loss with the graduation of 220-pounder Tyreek Smith, a four-time district champion and three-time state placewinner. Leading the returners is senior Max Rohan, who has two district titles under his belt, including one at 120 pounds last year. Rohan was also a region semifinalist and finished with a 24-9 record, and will look to earn a trip to states. Sophomore Chris Tenenbaum is coming off a terrific freshman season in which he went 26-11 and took third at districts at 106 pounds. Junior Nate Dalmass (160) and sophomore JT Lumley (113) are other returning starters.
Outlook:
Moorestown is a consistent program that will look for another winning season after finishing 13-11 last year and qualifying for the playoffs. The Quakers will be led by new head coach Brian Cary.
Paul VI Eagles
Wrestlers to watch:
The Eagles have a solid nucleus led by senior Jordan Sciamanna, a consistent contributor since his freshman year. Sciamanna took third in District 28 at 160 pounds last year to qualify for regions, and finished with a 23-5 record. Junior Adam Goodwin (152) also placed third at districts and went 18-10 overall, and Joe Basil (145) and Colin Savacool (126) are other important seniors. Other returning starters include seniors Dominic Griffo (220) and Stephen Donato (285), juniors Kyle Kendzierski (113) and James Towson (126) and sophomores Brooks Warren (106), Sean Savacool (106) and John Donegan (132).
Outlook:
The Eagles went 12-12 and dropped a heartbreaking 34-33 loss to Bishop Ahr in the South Jersey Non-Public A semifinals. With most of the starting lineup returning, they should be in the mix for a winning record.
Seneca Golden Eagles
Wrestlers to watch:
After an outstanding freshman season, it will be exciting to see what sophomore 106-pounder Joe Manchio can do this season for Seneca. Last year, he went 39-3, captured a district title and became the first wrestler in school history to win a region crown. Manchio is one of four returning district finalists for the Golden Eagles, a group that includes the champion at 152 pounds, senior Sam Jordan. He posted a 27-11 record, while his twin brother Roosevelt went 31-6 and took second at districts at 138. Senior Randy Black was the other district finalist, as he placed second at 132 and finished with a 20-15 record. Other region qualifiers included senior Alex Funches at 145, junior Liam Casey at 220 and sophomore Jack Graff at 113. Other returning starters include seniors Joshua Ya, Geoffrey Lake, Dominic Ross and Kasey Szymanek and sophomore Matt Angelov.
Outlook:
The Golden Eagles rebounded from two rare down years to go 17-8, qualify for the playoffs and take third at District 27. They have the talent to make some noise again this year.
Shawnee Renegades
Wrestlers to watch:
Senior Isaiah Bryant is one of the senior leaders on a team with some promising young talent. Bryant posted a 26-12 record last year and took second in District 27 at 145 pounds. Sophomore Griffin Hastings was also a district runner-up, as he put things together in the postseason for a solid district tournament. Matt Higgins also had a strong rookie campaign, as he finished 23-7 and took third at districts at 106 pounds. Juniors Riley Tufts (126) and Mark Gross (160) also took third at districts, and junior Matt Balzan (126) is another returning starter. Senior Drew Lapinski and juniors Aaron Bill and Max Van Doren are other important returners.
Outlook:
The Renegades expected to take their lumps last year with an inexperienced squad, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them bounce back from a 6-21 record.
Washington Township Minutemen
Wrestlers to watch:
Washington Township once again has strength in the lower weights, starting with junior Evan Fisler, who is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign. After winning 19 matches as a freshman, Fisler improved to 34-6 with a district championship at 126 pounds. He also took third at regions to move on to states. Senior Dominic Pataky also had a 30-win season and took second at districts at 113 pounds, while junior Alex Basich went 20-4 and was a district finalist at 106. Senior Joey Chelston, junior Joe Gaspari and sophomore Tom Cole are other returning starters.
Outlook:
The Minutemen finished 13-12 last year and should remain competitive despite the graduation of two 100-match winners.
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family’s High School Winter Sports Preview, Volume 6, Issue 9 (November, 2015).
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