tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34324102064582182002026-09-08T21:08:22.688-04:00Follow us on Facebook, Twitter @Mike_Weilamann and Blue Sky @mikeweilamann.bsky.socialMike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.comBlogger2097125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-11270338915123463922026-03-18T01:05:00.003-04:002026-03-18T01:16:05.571-04:00

ATLANTIC CITY -- Vernon senior True DiGiuseppe embodies the qualities of a wrestling warrior in every sense.A year ago, DiGiuseppe was unsure if he'd ever step on a mat again after sustaining a serious neck injury while competing in the Sam Cali Invitational in December 2025. But somehow, he found the resolve to author one of the greatest comeback stories in Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area

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ATLANTIC CITY -- Turns out that High Point sophomore Elle Changaris wasn't just another flash in the pan a year ago. She's now an established force on the statewide wrestling scene and the scary part for future opponents is that her best may still be to come.Changaris took care of business in dominant fashion with a 12-3 major decision over Hunterdon Central senior Emma Peake in

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ATLANTIC CITY  -- High Point star Ella Poalillo always wanted to be among the greats at High Point from the time she stepped on a mat as a freshman. If this was the end to the high school portion of her stellar career, mission accomplished. Poalillo is the 19th HP wrestler to log 100 winsPoalillo capped her junior campaign with a third consecutive state title by pinning

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ATLANTIC CITY -- Newton senior Eva Barry was only too happy to end the title drought for one of New Jersey's most stories programs and ease the burden carried by one of its legendary wrestlers in the process. Barry made it look rather easy in doing so, pinning one-time champion Shea Aretz of Buena-Vineland in 1:07 at 145 pounds to end of the state's longest title droughts and

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-25495670016847736442026-03-12T01:55:00.009-04:002026-03-13T15:15:16.544-04:00

What: 93rd New Jersey State Wrestling Championships.Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Thursday's schedule: Girls pre-quarterfinals (eight mats), 10 a.m.; boys preliminaries (8 mats), approximately, 11:45 a.m.; girls quarterfinals (eight mats), approximately, 2:45 p.m.; boys pre-quarterfinals (eight mats), approximately, 3:30 p.m.; girls wrestlebacks one

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-89035990380576650842026-03-08T00:37:00.005-05:002026-03-08T00:51:26.088-05:00

We're on the final leg of the high school wrestling season, but before we turn our focus to the 93rd State Championships at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (Thursday-Saturday), let's take a look at some of the highlights from the five region tournaments that house teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.North advanced a HWS-best 7 to AC (NH Facebook)But before we do, a little PSA about the

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Schedules and other information for the regions involving Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area schools. All tournaments will be held on Friday and Saturday.NH's season record for champs is 4 (1985 and 2022)The top four at each weight class advance to the 93rd State Wrestling Championships slated for March 12-14 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.There are 99 HWS area wrestlers still competing throughout

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Let's review what happened in the nine districts that house teams from the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area. There are 98 local wrestlers still competing, down one from last season.P'burg advanced a Warren County-best 9 from D3 (photo/Ray Patt)Overall, here are the area qualifiers by season since realignment (which now changes every year) was introduced in 2017 -- 118 in '17 and '18; 125 in '19; 113

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Monday, Feb. 16(All matches 4 p.m., unless noted)NJSIAA sectional quarterfinalsNorth 1, Group 4Phillipsburg vs. Northern Highlands at RidgeNorth 2, Group 4North Hunterdon vs. Watchung Hills at Middletown North, noonNorth 2, Group 3Warren Hills at CranfordNorth 1, Group 2Glen Rock at High Point, 5 p.m.North 2, Group 2Hackettstown vs. Parsippany Hills at CaldwellNorth 1, Group 1Pequannock vs.

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Monday, Feb. 9(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferenceHopatcong-Lenape Valley at Newton, 7 p.m.Mendham at North WarrenIndependentKittatinny at Phillipsburg, 6:30 p.m.North Brunswick at Delaware ValleyTuesday, Feb. 10(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)IndependentHunterdon Central at Emerson-Park RidgeNorth Warren at South Hunterdon, 5Wednesday, Feb. 11(All matches 7

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-15464742205787109882026-02-01T17:22:00.003-05:002026-02-11T22:23:10.733-05:00

Monday, Feb. 2(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferenceNewton at Hackettstown, 6 p.m.Roxbury at Hopatcong-Lenape ValleyMountain Lakes at Vernon, 5 p.m.Skyland ConferenceSouth Hunterdon at Voorhees, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferenceHopatcong-Lenape Valley at Jefferson, 6 p.m.Hanover Park at Pope

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-72128277994293737852026-01-25T19:49:00.002-05:002026-01-25T19:49:10.406-05:00

(Through Saturday's matches) Skyland Conference Delaware Division Overall Division Phillipsburg (6-4) (2-0) Immaculata (10-3) (1-0) w-North Hunterdon (8-7) (1-1) Bridgewater-Raritan (11-6) (1-2)

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Tuesday, Jan. 27(All matches 7 p.m., unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferenceNewton at SpartaNorth Warren at Vernon, 6 p.m.IndependentMount Olive at Warren HillsWednesday, Jan. 28(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferencePope John at West Morris, 7 p.m.Sparta at JeffersonHopatcong-Lenape Valley at Morris Hills, 7 p.m.Skyland ConferenceWatchung Hills at

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Monday, Jan. 19IndependentPhillipsburg at Rumson-Fair Haven, 11:30 a.m.Tuesday, Jan. 20(All matches 6 p.m., unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferenceHackettstown at High PointNewton at KittatinnyPope John at Sparta, 7 p.m.Vernon at Wallkill ValleyWednesday, Jan. 21(All matches, 7 p.m., unless noted)Skyland ConferenceRidge at Delaware Valley, 6:30 p.m.Hunterdon Central at Phillipsburg, 6:

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-39410272774993838642026-01-15T19:34:00.009-05:002026-01-16T08:38:29.602-05:00

What: Delaware Valley Terriers at Phillipsburg Stateliners.Where: Phillipsburg High School, Lopatcong Twp.When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.Conference: Skyland cross-divisional.Records: Delaware Valley 11-0; Phillipsburg 4-2.State rankings (New Jersey Wrestling Writers): Delaware Valley No. 19; Phillipsburg No. 14.Coaches: Andy Fitz (316-99, 19th season, 1-14 vs. P'burg); Tim Longacre (39-7, third

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Monday, Jan. 12(All matches 6 p.m. unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferenceJefferson at KittatinnyDover at North WarrenIndependentPhillipsburg at Southern, 6:30 p.m.North Star Academy at South HunterdonTuesday, Jan. 13Skyland ConferenceDelaware Valley at North Hunterdon, 7 p.m.Wednesday, Jan. 14(All matches 7 p.m. unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferenceHackettstown at

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LOPATCONG TWP. -- True story. Vernon's championship drought is finally over.Jackson Moore and True DiGiuseppeVikings senior True DiGiuseppe made history by decimating the field at 190 pounds to claim his school's first individual title in the 16th Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament at Phillipsburg High School.DiGiuseppe (16-0), a four-time placewinner who finished third (2024) and fourth twice (

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-88045457361708067172026-01-10T21:40:00.018-05:002026-01-23T21:05:18.561-05:00

Team standings: 1. North Hunterdon (NH) 232; 2. Phillipsburg (P) 211: 3. Delaware Valley (DV) 201; 4. Pope John (PJ) 153 1/2; 5. Hackettstown (Ha) 113 1/2; 6. Hunterdon Central (HC) 107; 7. Sparta (S) 87; 8. Kittatinny (K) 75 1/2; 9. Newton (Ne) 69 1/2; 10. Voorhees (Vo) 61; 11. Hopatcong-Lenape Valley (HLV) 59 1/2; 12. High Point (HP) 57 1/2; 13. Warren Hills (WH) 53; 14. Vernon (Ve) 49; 15.

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-70657127023839603732026-01-09T22:16:00.003-05:002026-01-09T22:17:08.616-05:00

What: 16th Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament.Where: Phillipsburg High School, Lopatcong Township.When: Saturday's schedule (approximate times): Preliminaries and pre-quarterfinals (four mats), 9:30 a.m.; pre-quarterfinal losers and second wrestlebacks (four mats), 10:30 a.m.; quarterfinals and third wrestlebacks (four mats), 11:30 a.m.; championship semifinals and wrestleback semis (4

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-64862111386652330112026-01-06T20:12:00.003-05:002026-01-06T20:12:39.439-05:00

What: North Hunterdon at Phillipsburg Stateliners.Where: Phillipsburg High School, Lopatcong Township.When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.Conference: Skyland Delaware Division.Records: North Hunterdon 4-5 overall, 0-0 division; Phillipsburg 2-1, 0-0.State rankings: (NJWWA Top 20): North Hunterdon No. 11; Phillipsburg No. 17.Coaches: Dave Bell (28-24. third season, 2-1 vs. P'burg); Tim Longacre (37-6, third

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-306242904162780272026-01-06T06:01:00.004-05:002026-01-06T06:19:36.549-05:00

We're only one day away from perhaps the first of what could be two installments of the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area's most fiercest rivalry.North Hunterdon will aim to log another program milestone when it travels to Phillipsburg for a huge Skyland Conference matchup at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Lopatcong Township. The reigning Group 4 champion Lions (4-5), who have wrestled arguably the

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-56951799549619755222026-01-04T13:28:00.007-05:002026-01-06T21:53:46.737-05:00

Monday, Jan. 5IndependentHowell vs. Phillipsburg at The Pit, 6:30 p.m.Tuesday, Jan. 6(All matches 6 p.m. unless noted)Northwest Jersey Athletic ConferenceKittatinny at HackettstownNorth Warren at Wallkill ValleyMorris Knolls at Pope John, 7 p.m.Parsippany at Sparta, 7 p.m.Vernon at DoverIndependentDelaware Valley at BloomfieldWednesday, Jan. 7(All matches 7 p.m. unless noted)Northwest Jersey

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-7692142157968763352025-12-21T19:19:00.008-05:002026-01-02T21:27:00.956-05:00

Tuesday, Dec. 23(All matches 3 p.m., unless noted)IndependentBelvidere at Mendham, 6 p.m.Kittatinny, Lenape Valley, Vernon, Wayne Valley, Raritan in Kochakji Duals at West MilfordSaturday, Dec. 27(All events 9 a.m.)Voorhees at Hunterdon Central InvitationalHackettstown, Vernon, Wallkill Valley at Lenape Valley TournamentBelvidere, North Warrren, Sparta in Linn Crawn Classic at KittatinnySunday,

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-66669622838220514602025-12-16T05:00:00.002-05:002025-12-18T12:34:10.879-05:00

We're back and so is high school wrestling across the Garden State. Pardon the interruption as Open Mike was on extended hiatus and will post as time permits during the 2025-26 campaign. But continue to check back here each week for your trusted source of what's happening across the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex area.Tournaments were the name of the game during the first week of action, particularly

Mike Weilamannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188527980568751948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3432410206458218200.post-7870308032852871812025-06-13T17:46:00.006-04:002025-06-18T14:15:06.430-04:00

Hunterdon Central's search for only the fourth head coach in program history is over. And for the first time, the Red Devils have gone outside the ranks to find their new leader. ManahanRyan Manahan is leaving Cherry Hill East High School after just two seasons at the helm to take over one of the state's most storied programs. His hiring as the head wrestling coach and a Health and Physical

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