1. Long Branch - Hypothetical,
let's put the SCT at the beginning of the season, when BM and Jax were
the top two at everyone's polls. Who goes to #1 then? Long Branch takes
the top spot and High Point's win over Wyoming Seminary by virtue of
three weight classes forfeited seems even less impressive. Say what
you will about that team, but a team that has three forfeits would
beat any balanced team. How many of those kids are nationally ranked?
So it's isn't even like they are invincible. Anyway, the roles would
be reversed, so is that what we want as the #1 representative for NJ?
The team that ran to the “empty thrown” first when Jackson stumbled?
Look at the numbers. 22-0 overall, 7-0 against teams that were at one
time or the other ranked in the state. They won the grueling SCT, beating
3 Top Ten teams, two on the same day. In essence they beat Jackson (by
beating Howell, who beat them). They haven't won less than 7 bouts in
a single dual, this team doesn't live or die based on bonus points.
Quite to the contrary, they average number of bouts won is 10 or 11,
average type of victory: decision or major decision. Know what that
means? These kids go out there and wrestle. An extraordinarily young
team, watch how much more dominating they are in coming years. To win
just their section, they have to win one of the toughest sections in
NJ, with three other ranked team in it, besides them. Then the only
Group that has a claim to be tougher than Group 2 is Group 4. I am sorry,
but I want a team that would have been champion all year round, not
the one that “got there first”. I want a team that has great stats
and will just increase those numbers by the end of the year. With BM,
Pt Boro, and then a slew of individual standouts, what other team would
be favored in their District? HP may have Phillipsburg, Kittatinny,
Walkill Valley, etc in their Region, but just look at Region 6! The
cat is out of the bag about Long Branch, and any more denying their
claim to the #1 spot is just unrecognizing everything they're done this
season, everything they will do, and just how good of a team they really
are!
2. High Point - If anyone
had a claim for #1, it would be High Point. They ran the table in NJ
and have only lost to Blair. They are a balanced and deep squad, and
have shown that agin that this weekend when they handled Hackettstown and beat
Brearley by the largest of any team this year. Sayerville
and Ocean will be their final tests as a team this year.
3. Phillipsburg - A dominating
performance over Paulsboro this weekend just goes to show this is an
elite team. However, being as their match with Howell was really only
one match away from flipping in result, I still rank them next to Howell
and the middle of the pack bunch of the Top 10.
4. Howell - They handled Hackettstown
this week. The Rebels continue to look strong going into their mind
bogglingly tough Section this week.
5. Jackson Memorial - A
huge win over Cinnaminson this weekend just reminds us Jackson is definitely
the best team Ocean county and down. Their tough schedule and
huge wins earlier in the season have afforded them the separation from
BM and Howell in the Central Jersey Group 4 bracket, only having to meet one
of those two teams in the final.
6. Brick Memorial - With
no Huxford in the Jax lineup, I'm favoring BM as the Central Jersey Group 4 champions,
and the favorite to win the whole group. Again, with the missing starter
for Jackson, if Howell beats BM, then it is the Rebels that I see running
the rest of the table. Put Huxford back into Jackson's lineup and this
thing is a three horse race! BM looks strong going into Groups, but
will have to work on their studs that have a tendency to get caught
up in the moment and not wrestle smart. It isn't always the best wrestler
that wins… sometimes, it's the smarter one and BM needs to reinforce
that.
7. Eastern - Just as strong
as ever, this team looks to win their section by going through two top
teams from The Shore Conference, TRN and Southern. Eastern can definitely beat both and they should be in the team championships.
8. Camden Catholic - HUGE
weekend for CC, who sort of stumbled from a very high Top 5 position
in most earlier season polls to a 15 or so spot. Since then CC
has been wrestling a GREAT schedule, picking up wins over ranked teams
and losing to the most elite in NJ. At this point, everyone knows the
Top 7 in NJ is on a whole other page. With their
win over Southern this weekend, Camden Catholic stands on top of “the
second part of the poll”.
9. Southern - Not many
teams can claim to be having the season that the Rams are after losing so much of
their lineup. Southern is a tremendously balanced and hungry team, look for them to keep it close with Eastern this week.
10. Toms River North - The Mariners face a
big test for the this week against Eastern. TRN continues to
show they are the biggest surprise this year.
11. Raritan - A strong
season continues with LB looming in their section. Their task of reversing the
one-sided result the last time these two teams met will be a daunting
one. Look for the Rockets to juggle the lineup and narrow the
gap.
12. Sayerville - A big win
over Old Bridge this weekend showed that this team is super balanced
and definitely top dog in the GMC. They look strong in their quest to
win their section.
13. David-Brearley - A
strong season after their loss to the very deserving Bombers has brought
Brearley back into the Top 15. A good showing against HP shows this
team wants to prove they can roll with anyone and will win their section
title, despite moving up a group size this year.
14. South Plainfield - If
anyone could beat Brearley, it's South Plainfield, who has been picking
up more and more steam of late.
15. Delsea - A great season
continues, as Delsea looks to take home their South Jersey Group 2 title
this week.
16. Roxbury - A semifinal
showdown with Old Tappen should reward Roxbury with a chance to test
their metal against High Point this week. This team looks tough as ever.
17. Randolph - Randolph
should complete our "Fatal Group Four Championsips Four-way" at the Ritacco
Center this weekend, as they look to win the North 1 Group 4 title.
18. Hackettstown - Tough week against Howell, HP, and Brearley. However, these matches
are getting Hackettstown wrestlers ready for the post season.
19. Ocean - A big win over
Don Bosco Prep has shown that Ocean belongs in the Top 20 and subsequently boots
DBP out. A full and healthy Ocean squad can beat anyone, but with such
little depth, just a couple sicknesses and almost anyone can beat them.
20. Point Pleasant Boro - A good team looking to test themselves against
#1 LB this week. Kyle Coleman's availability will make or break this team
in their semifinals match with LB. Can Pt Boro
keep it close? Time will tell.
21. Delaware
Valley - A big win over BC this week has shown where the Terriers and
their friends in a triangle truly belong. Unfortunately, with Raritan
and Long Branch in their section, this week can be tough for Delaware
Valley. However, look for this team to BE tough!
22. Hunterdon
Central - A season riddled with injuries and illnesses has crushed this
team. However, their big win over N. Hunterdon still holds true.
23. North
Hunterdon - With Phillipsburg in their section, things look tough for
N. Hunterdon. A strong team with a slew of good wins and close loses
this season.
24. Bergen Catholic - Their
loss to Del Val was a telling sign where both teams belong. BC will
get a rematch with DBP this week, and then likely a HUGE test against
CC for the Parochial A champs.
25 Collingswood - Cwood gets a rematch
with Pennsville in the semifinals and then the winner of Paulsboro/Haddonfield
in the finals. Whoever comes out of this section will test Kittatinny
in a too hard to call Group 1 Championship.