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WRESTLING

Finals may not be final answer
Without a T of C there's no clear-cut way to determine state's best team

Thursday, February 16, 2006
BY BOB BEHRE
For the Star-Ledger

The snow-covered picture in The Star-Ledger Top 20 should begin to clear tonight when 38 teams take the mat at 19 NJSIAA/Star-Ledger sectional final sites around the state.

But fans could still be left wanting at the conclusion of Sunday's group championships at the Ritacco Center on the campus of Toms River North because there may be three schools left without a loss against New Jersey competition -- No. 1 Jackson (26-1), No. 2 Camden Catholic (26-2) and No. 7 Kingsway (22-2).

A case can be made that each of those teams will leave Toms River on Sunday as a group champion -- Jackson in Group 4, Kingsway in Group 3 and Camden Catholic in Non-Public A. Should that occur, each would have a worthy claim to the top spot in the final rankings.

There has never been a formal proposal by the NJSIAA wrestling committee to organize a tournament of champions, according to NJSIAA executive director Steve Timko. But the parity of this season could
create a greater demand for such an event, which has been asked for in the past by coaches, wrestlers and fans.

Meanwhile, there is much to contemplate in tonight's sectional final lineup, which should further whet the appetite of those hungry for a T of C heading into Sunday.

Morris Knolls (18-3) of Denville visits Livingston (19-3), a tough squad that won the teams' other meeting, 33-32, in an Iron Hills Conference match on Jan. 19. This time it's for the North Jersey,
Section 1, Group 4 championship.

Senior C.J. Inglin (152) of No. 3 Delaware Valley (19-3) bids for his 100th career victory in his team's home meet against unranked Raritan of Hazlet, a team that shocked the Alexandria school two seasons ago in the same round of the Central Jersey, Group 2 tournament.

Hackettstown (13-5) and North Warren (13-4) will be at home as they attempt to win their first sectional championships. Hackettstown draws Caldwell in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2, while North Warren of Blairstown is host to eight-time section champion Emerson-Park Ridge in North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1.

The seemingly inevitable match-up between No. 6 Howell (20-1) and No. 1 Jackson in Central Jersey, Group 4 has come to fruition, creating another difficult task for host Jackson in its quest for its first
Star-Ledger Top 20 Trophy.

Perennial Group 1 power Roselle Park (15-2) has at shot at redemption in Central Jersey, Group 1 when it takes the short ride to No. 17 Brearley (24-2) in Kenilworth. Brearley, which has never won a sectional
title, defeated Roselle Park, 34-24, on Jan. 11. Roselle Park is chasing its 18th sectional championship.

Lenape Valley (19-6) of Stanhope, a three-time sectional champion, faces a formidable foe in No. 9 Kittatinny (21-4) of Hampton, which aims for its 13th sectional title and sixth straight Group 2 championship. D.J. Russo, ranked No. 3 by The Star-Ledger at 215 pounds, became Lenape Valley's all-time winningest wrestler last weekend. He is up to 112 victories.

Watchung Hills, ranked No. 16, must return to the intimidating Pit to challenge No. 15 Phillipsburg for the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 championship. Phillipsburg defeated the Warren school, 38-21, on Feb. 8. Phillipsburg bids for its 16th straight sectional crown and 26th overall in the 27-year history of the state team tournament.

Paulsboro takes the mat opposite visiting Schalick in South Jersey, Group 1, where it has won all 26 of the championships in that section.