Wrestling rankings: The final area 2024-25 Skyland and UCC Top 10
The singlets are put away. The mats are rolled up.
It was another fun season with plenty of exciting dual meets. Here is the final Courier News Top 10.
Area teams are from Hunterdon, Somerset and area Middlesex and Union counties. (Middlesex area is Middlesex/Dunellen, Piscataway and South Plainfield. Union coverage area is Governor Livingston, Plainfield, New Providence, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Westfield).
Final Top 10
1. North Hunterdon (17-6): Few saw it coming. Sure, North Hunterdon was in the midst of a nice turnaround season but most observers didn’t consider the Lions a favorite in Group 4. Then, the Lions upset state-ranked Phillipsburg on Jan. 29. Then, the Lions rallied for an upset over Middletown North in the North 2 Group 4 final. Then, North Hunterdon topped Phillipsburg again in the Group 4 championship at Rutgers. That’s how you become the No. 1 team. The Lions, in Dave Bell’s second season as head coach, improved on last year’s 7-13 record and should be the preseason No. 1 with nine starters back.
2. Delaware Valley (19-3): Just about every team, especially at the Group 1 level, has rebuilding years on occasion. Not Delaware Valley. The Terriers keep rolling and this winter was as memorable as any in Frenchtown. Andy Fitz earned his 300th career win, the team captured its sixth-straight sectional title and the Terriers won their 11th overall team state title and the third in four seasons.
3. Bridgewater-Raritan (21-8): Panthers fans won’t soon forget the team’s magical postseason that included the program’s first Group 5 championship, where they fell to state power Southern. Along the way, Bridgewater-Raritan captured the program’s second-ever sectional title and knocked off Monroe in the Group 5 semifinal before a stirring home crowd.
4. Watchung Hills (18-4): The Warriors could make a case for No. 3 with their 35-33 dual win over Bridgewater-Raritan on Jan. 3. However, we decided to boost up B-R for its run to the Group 5 title. No matter, Watchung Hills had a memorable winter including an unexpected – and joyous – upset win in the Somerset County Tournament. The Warriors nearly pulled off another upset in a 34-32 loss over top-seeded Middletown North in the North 2 Group 4 semifinals. Anthony DiAndrea represented Watchung Hills in Atlantic City and placed third in the state.
5. Ridge (18-6): The Red Devils dealt with injuries at different times and just couldn’t recapture their amazing 2024 run to the Group 4 championship. However, it was far from a lost season. They piled up 18 wins, finished second in the SCT and advanced five to the state tournament in Owen O’Leary, Gavin Duran, Ryan Yang, Ryan Engle and Liam Thoma.
6. Hillsborough (15-11): You can just about book it, the Raiders will be a player in Somerset County. Hillsborough once again had a top three finish in the SCT and didn’t shy away from high-level nonconference matches such as matches against Phillipsburg and Southern. Ryan Spinelli and Nick Duarte each won county titles, while Duarte and Logan McDermid reached the state tournament.
7. Westfield (18-9): The Blue Devils always seem to be good under Glen Kurz and a pesky out. You want proof? Kurz won his 300th career match in his 29th season. Westfield scored key county wins over the likes of Governor Livingston, Roselle Park and Union, while Jake Zemsky provided individual highlights with a region title and a state medal.
8. Governor Livingston (16-8): The Highlanders overcame some injuries to have a 16-win season and reach the North 2 Group 2 final after upsetting No. 2-seeded West Morris in the semifinals. Cristian Gioia and Nathan Faxon each earned state medals.
9. South Plainfield (15-6): Hands raised in South Plainfield, now that’s more like it. The Tigers rebounded from a rare rebuilding campaign to earn another winning season, place third in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament and reach the North 2 Group 3 final.
10. Immaculata (13-11): The Spartans continued their upswing in the program’s second season. Immaculata navigated through a beefed-up schedule and won their first postseason match with a win over DePaul in the Non-Public B quarterfinals. Several impact wrestlers are returning and the lineup should be more experienced throughout. Watch out.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Wrestling rankings: The final area 2024-25 Skyland and UCC Top 10
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