Central Jersey wrestlers to watch in 2023-24

Here are 110 of the top returning wrestlers in 2023-24 to follow in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset counties and part of Union in our coverage area (Governor Livingston, New Providence, Plainfield and Scotch Plains-Fanwood)

(NOTE: The weights are where the wrestlers are expected to compete this season).

State Placewinners

Logan Roman, Old Bridge, Sr., 120: Roman enters as the area’s top returning wrestler. He capped his memorable winter by capturing the school’s first state title with his win at 113. Roman finished 45-1 with a stretch of 36-straight victories after a loss on Dec. 28.

Anthony DiAndrea, Watchung Hills, So., 113: DiAndrea was the only Somerset County wrestler to reach the state podium with a seventh-place finish at 106 in a 42-4 season. He seems primed to be the next great wrestler in the storied program.

Matt Roche, Delaware Valley, Sr., 132.: Roche missed most of 2021-22 with a knee injury. He came back last season, navigated the Terriers’ brutal regular season slate and put together an amazing state tournament run placing 8th at 126 as the No. 22 seed and went 35-12.

State Qualifiers

106 to 132

Logan McDermid, Hillsborough, Jr., 106: McDermid kicks off a string of hammers in the lower weights for Hillsborough. He’s coming off a 38-9 season with 3rd places at the SCT, D17, R5 and reached SWB2 at 106.

Beniamino DiCocco, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr., 113: DiCocco battled with the state’s best at 106 and reached the fourth consolation round as the No. 25 seed to place in the Top 12. He won a GMCT title in a 36-7 year.

Ryan Sherlock, Hunterdon Central, Sr., 113: Sherlock finished 24-11 in his first fulltime year starting and reached Atlantic City with a 4th-place finish at 106 in Region 5.

Anthony Rossi, Hunterdon Central, Sr., 120: Rossi returns as one of the area’s most accomplished wrestlers with a 82-15 career record. He finished 35-6 last year and reached the state Consolation Round 3 at 113. Of note, he beat two state champions in the regular season (Roman and North Hunterdon’s Logan Wadle).

Jacob Taylor, Delaware Valley, Sr., 120: Taylor helped the Terriers repeat as Group 1 champions in a 28-9 season and placed second at 113 in Region 4.

Jahir Aguilar, St. Thomas Aquinas, Jr. 132: Aguilar was Mr. Upset last season at 120. He reached the GMCT final as the No. 11 seed with wins over the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 6 seeds. He then placed 4th R4 as the No. 10 seed, which included an upset over the No. 2 seed in the quarterfinals. He finished 21-9.

Gavin Duran, Ridge, Jr., 132: Duran is back as one of Ridge’s two returning state qualifiers after going 34-9 as a sophomore. He captured a D14 title at 126 and placed 3rd in R4.

138 to 165

Morgan Schwarz, St. Joseph Metuchen, So., 138: Schwarz made a splash as a freshman in the Falcons’ tough slate by finishing 33-9 at 126 and placing 3rd R5 and 1st D19. In the state tournament as the No. 20 seed, he upset the No. 13 seed in the opening round and reached the third consolation round.

Jackson Bush, Delaware Valley, Jr., 144: Bush looks to continue his improvement after going 29-12 at 138 and placing fourth in Region 4 and winning District 15.

Will Cella, Hunterdon Central, Sr., 144: Cella put together a 25-7 season and took fourth in R5 at 138.

Nick Villani, Bernards, Sr., 144: Villani had a strong state tournament in which he reached the blood round to finish in the Top 12 as the No. 20 seed at 132. He went 31-5 and won D15 and took second in R4.

Rhett Washleski, Hunterdon Central, So., 150: Washleski just kept winning as a freshman en route to finishing 32-5 and reaching state Consolation Round 3 at 144 and earning gold in the H/W/S, D17 and R5 tournaments.

Jake Kreisberg, Governor Livingston, Jr., 157: Kreisberg was another star underclassmen for the Highlanders, winning D15 at 157 and placing 4th R4 to finish 27-8.

Jake Tenebruso, Old Bridge, Jr., 157: Tenebruso gained valuable experience and key wins in a 27-16 season that saw him place fourth at 144 in R5 to reach Atlantic City and take second D19.

Tyler Whitford, St. Joseph Metuchen, So., 157: Another young Falcon star, Whitford went 33-9 as a freshman and won D19 at 144 and placed 3rd R5 and 2nd in GMCT. He reached the SWB2 in Atlantic City.

Cristian Gioia, Governor Livingston, Jr., 165: Gioia won D15 at 144 and placed 5th R4. However, he advanced to the state tournament when another wrestler withdrew and won a match in Atlantic City to finish 30-10.

Logan Wiecoreck, Voorhees, Sr., 165: Wiecoreck cranked out nearly 40 wins and was runner-up at D13 and R4 at 157 and finished 38-4.

175 to 285

Michael Feliciano, Colonia, Sr., 175: Feliciano excelled in the postseason by capturing the D15 title and then won R4 as the No. 3 seed at 175. He also won his opening match in the state tournament and finished 33-6.

Adam Bowles, Immaculata, Sr., 190: Bowles transferred to the first-year program from South Plainfield, where he won D14 and placed 2nd R4 at 175 and finished 19-14.

Anderson Olcott, Delaware Valley, Sr., 190: Another battle-tested wrestler for the Group 1 power, Olcott went 29-9 last year and placed fourth in Region 4 at 215 after winning D15.

Brian Christie, St. Joseph Metuchen, Sr., 215: The pin machine, Christie moves up after going 34-7 at 190 and winning GMCT, D19 and R5 titles en route to SWB2. He has an incredible 76 career falls.

Steven Coghan, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr., 215: Coghan reached the state tournament with a 3rd place in R4 at 215 and finished 32-9. He also won a GMCT title and took 2nd D16.

Nathan Faxon, Governor Livingston, Jr., 215: Faxon earned D15 gold at 190 and took fourth R4 to reach AC and finished 29-8.

Matt Jones, Hillsborough, Sr., 215: The Shippensburg-commit leads the Raiders’ upper weights and went 30-6 last season with 2nd SCT, 2nd D17 and 3rd R5 finishes and reached the SWB2 at 215.

Cameron Baumann, Voorhees, Sr., 285: Baumann is an upper-weight hammer for the Vikings and is coming off a 38-4 year with a D13 title and was 3rd R4 at 285.

Josue Cordoba, Plainfield, Sr., 285: Cordoba, an all-state football player headed to Kent State, is also a pretty good wrestler and placed 2nd R4 last season at 285 and finished 20-5.

Chris Oliver, Ridge, Sr., 285: Oliver cranked out a 31-11 season and claimed a D14 title at 215 and took 4th in R4.

Region Qualifiers

106 to 132

Julian Arango, St. Joseph Metuchen, So., 106: Arango went 20-12 as a rookie at 106 and placed 2nd D19 and 3rd GMCT.

Tanner Connelly, Ridge, So., 106: Connelly cranked out a 24-11 record as a freshman at 106 and placed second in the SCT and D14.

Dominick Lezark, East Brunswick, So., 106: Lezark is one of several promising underclassmen for the Bears. He made a splash as a freshman and went 30-9 and placed 2nd D18 at 106.

Joseph Celentano, North Hunterdon, Jr., 113: Celentano brings experience to the Lions' lower weights after going 27-13 and placing 2nd D13 at 113 last season.

Tommy Kester, Hillsborough, So., 113: Kester claimed a SCT title in his rookie season and placed 3rd D17 at 113 and went 24-9.

Thomas Nielson, South River, Jr., 113: Nielson returns as South River’s top wrestler after placing 3rd D18 at 113 and finishing 15-9.

Owen O’Leary, Ridge, So., 113: O’Leary is one of several Ridge fledging stars and went 21-16 as a freshman and took 2nd D14 at 113 and 3rd SCT.

Christian Sabatino, Governor Livingston, Sr., 113: He earned the bronze in D15 at 106 and went 26-10.

Christian Bollette, Voorhees, So., 120: Bollette cracked the Vikings lineup as a freshman at 106 and went 26-13 and placed 2nd D13.

Nick Cavallo, Monroe, So., 120: Cavallo captured the D24 title at 113 and placed 5th GMCT as a freshman in a 22-14 rookie season.

Justin Culver, South Plainfield, So., 120: Culver came on late to place third in D14 at 113.

Matteo Littman, Pingry, Sr., 120: He started at 120 last season, but dropped to 113 in mid-January and placed 3rd in D15 and 5th R4 and finished 28-9.

Josh Parks, Colonia, So., 120: Parks had a strong rookie season by finishing 23-10 and placing 3rd in D15 at 120.

Max Rotter, Westfield, Sr., 120: Rotter returns with 19 wins and a 2nd place finish at D16 at 113.

Andrew Roy, Woodbridge, Sr., 120: Roy cranked out 18 wins and placed third in D19 at 113.

Tahrae Brown, Plainfield, Sr., 126: Brown returns after taking 2nd D14 at 126 in a 26-6 campaign.

Anthony Caponegro, Monroe, So., 126: Caponegro cranked out a 23-16 season as a freshman and placed 3rd D24 at 126.

Nate DeCoite, Metuchen, Jr., 126: DeCoite returns as the Bulldogs most accomplished wrestler after going 21-11 and placing 3rd D19 at 120.

Jake Gujski, East Brunswick, So., 126: Gujski goes up a couple weight classes after finishing 29-7 as a rookie and taking 2nd D18 at 113.

Corey Iannucci, Hillsborough, Jr., 126: Iannucci piled up a 25-13 season and placed 2nd SCT and 3rd D17 at 126.

Logan Levine, Bridgewater-Raritan, Jr., 126: Levine brings a 50-17 career record into his junior season and placed 2nd D15 last year at 120 and went 27-8.

Jaden Perez, Delaware Valley, Jr., 126: Perez went 30-4 as a sophomore and won District 15 at 120 and placed 5th in Region 4.

Alejandro Montalvo, J.F. Kennedy-Iselin, Jr., 126: Montalvo returns after finishing 20-12 with a 3rd D13 at 120.

Michael Samayoa, Watchung Hills, Jr., 126: He placed third D15 at 132 in a strong postseason finish.

Joseph Stanzione, South Plainfield, So., 126: Stanzione captured the D14 title at 106 as a freshman and placed 2nd in the GMCT in a 22-9 season.

Zach Beadling, St. Joseph Metuchen, Jr., 126/132: Beadling captured gold medals at the GMCT and D19 at 120 and placed 6th R5 in a 26-10 season.

Zach Iannucci, Hillsborough, Jr., 132: Iannucci looks to build on his solid sophomore season after going 23-13 and placing 2nd D17 at 120.

Jeremy Negron, Edison, So., 132: Negron had an impressive freshman season by going 24-10 and placing 2nd at 120 in D19.

Aedan Samson-Huggins, East Brunswick, Sr., 132: He returns after winning D18 at 126 and finishing 29-9.

Josh Shumsky, Monroe, Jr., 132: Shumsky looks to make another step after finishing 27-11 at 120 and taking 2nd D24.

John Whitacre, St. Joseph Metuchen, Sr., 132: Whitacre won 23 matches at 113 and placed 2nd D19, 3rd GMCT and 6th R5.

Shane Wysocki, North Hunterdon, Sr., 132: Wysocki earned 15 wins in North Hunterdon’s tough schedule last season and placed 2nd D13 at 120.

138 to 165

Jordan Bash, Watchung Hills, Sr., 138: Bash seems primed for a strong senior season after going 28-10 and placing 2nd SCT, 2nd D15 and 6th R4 at 126.

Eatoniel Brown, Plainfield, Jr., 138: Brown had a good sophomore season and placed 2nd D14 at 132 and finished 21-15.

Grant Goldan, North Hunterdon, Sr., 138: Goldan won seven matches and reached the regions with a 3rd D13 finish at 126.

Nolan Hook, South Plainfield, Sr., 138: Hook started the season late after suffering a broken leg during football, but finished strong by winning a match in the Tigers’ victory over Hopewell Valley in the Central Group 3 final. He also took 3rd in D14 at 144 and finished 5-3.

Reed Kerstetter, St. Thomas Aquinas, jr., 138: Kerstetter had a solid sophomore season by going 21-11 and placing 3rd D16 at 132 and 4th GMCT.

Evan Thompson, Hunterdon Central, Sr., 138: Thompson looks to build on a solid 16-win season, in which he placed 3rd D17 and 6th R5 at 132.

Mason Atkins, St. Joseph Metuchen, So., 144: Atkins held his own as a freshman in St. Joe’s tough schedule by going 15-11 and placing 3rd D19 at 132.

Brian Butler, Piscataway, Sr., 144: Butler returns after winning the D19 title at 132 and reaching the GMCT final. He placed 5th at R5 in a 33-6 season.

Jomar Mena, North Brunswick, Sr., 144: Mena returns as the Raiders’ flagship wrestler after finishing 23-11 and placing 3rd D18 at 157.

Wyatt Olma, Monroe, Sr., 144: Olma earned a 3rd place medal in the GMCT and placed 2nd D24 at 138 and finished 28-10.

Garv Sen, South Brunswick, Jr., 144: Sen makes the jump to 144 after going 17-10 and placing 3rd D18 at 120.

Braeden Valley, New Providence, So., 144: Valley had a fine rookie season finishing 28-13 and placing 2nd D13 at 132.

Ryan Yang, Ridge, So., 144: Ridge needed an entry at 144 in District 14 because of an injury. Yang had two varsity matches but moved up a couple weight classes and stunningly reached the finals with upsets of the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds.

Ryan Engle, Ridge, So., 150: Engle wrestled his way to a 33-10 record as a freshman with 3rd SCT, 3rd D14 and 6th R4 finishes at 132.

George Crostewitz, East Brunswick, So., 150: Crostewitz had a strong freshman season going 26-13 and placing 2nd D18 at 144.

Joseph Dasti, Governor Livingston, Sr., 150: He reached the D15 final at 165 and placed second in an 18-6 season.

Charles Levine, Pingry, Sr., 150: Levine reached the SCT finals and placed 3rd D15 at 144 in a 26-10 season.

Ben Levy, Delaware Valley, Sr., 150: Levy was a mainstay in the Terriers’ championship lineup and went 27-7 and took 2nd at 144 in District 15.

Sean Love, Piscataway, So., 150: Love won 13 matches as a rookie and placed third in D19 at 138.

Ryan Closterman, Somerville, Sr., 157: Closterman returns as this year’s flagship wrestler for the Pioneers after capturing a SCT title and getting named Outstanding Wrestler and placing 2nd D16 at 157 and went 27-6.

Garrett Pech, Piscataway, Sr., 157: Perch earned 16 wins and placed 3rd in D19 at 157.

Dane Sorensen, Bridgewater-Raritan, Sr., 157: Sorensen reached the SCT finals last season and placed 3rd D15 at 150 and went 31-7.

Liam Thoma, Ridge, Jr., 157: Thoma was a steady contributor as a sophomore with 18 wins and a 2nd place D14 finish at 150.

Tyler Boelhower, Woodbridge, Jr., 165: He had a strong sophomore year going 23-4 and placing third in D19 at 165 and 4th in the GMCT.

Andrew Bouchard, St. Joseph Metuchen, Jr., 165: Bouchard went 20-9 with 2nd places at the GMCT and D19 at 175.

Anthony Mayers, Somerville, Sr., 165: Mayers finished 22-12 and placed 3rd D16 at 165.

Jake Saus, Hunterdon Central, Sr., 165: The football star took third at D17 and 6th in R5 at 157 and went 19-14.

Lucas Velando, Manville, Sr., 165: Velando returns after reaching the regions with a 2nd D17 finish at 157 and he placed 4th SCT in a 27-6 season.

175 to 285

Fabian Acuna, Somerville, Sr., 175: Acuna reeled off 33 wins (33-10) and placed 3rd and 3rd D16 at 175.

Omar Cholula, Monroe, Sr., 175: He won the D24 title at 175 and finished 23-15 for the Falcons.

Kevin Taylor, Ridge, Sr., 175: Taylor finished 27-13 en route to taking 3rd SCT, 2nd D14 and 6th R4 at 165.

Brian Wilson, North Hunterdon, Sr., 175: Wilson captured a D13 title at 165 and finished 22-13.

Thomas Brunetti, Hunterdon Central, Sr., 190: Brunetti hopes to return to the state tournament after qualifying in 2022. He just missed last season with a 5th-place R5 finish at 175 in a 29-7 season.

Nate Engdahl, Ridge, So., 190: Engdahl saw time at 165 and 175 early on as a freshman before setting in at 157 and took second in D14, earning 10 wins.

Alex Muntyan, Ridge, Sr., 190: Muntyan bolsters the Red Devils’ upper weights after winning 11 matches and placing 3rd D14 at 175.

Nazareth Pina, St. Thomas Aquinas, Sr., 190: Pina went 31-11 and took 5th R4 at 190 after a 2nd D16 finish. He was also the GMCT runner-up.

Yisreal Thomas, East Brunswick, Sr., 190: Thomas brings balance to the Bears lineup after getting 16 wins last season and placing 3rd D18 at 175.

Jake Zemsky, Westfield, So., 190: Zemsky had a strong freshman season in the upper weights with 15 wins and placed 3rd D16 at 190.

Evan Hartel, Franklin, So., 285: You don’t often find a freshman succeeding at heavyweight. Hartel held his own as a rookie by going 19-14 and placing 3rd in D17.

Connor Walsh, Sayreville, Sr., 285: Walsh, who has committed to East Stroudsburg for football, finished 20-5 and placed 2nd D17 and 5th R5.

Top 3 finishers: GMCT, SCT, UCT

Trip Freitag, Manville, Jr., 190: Freitag had a memorable SCT, in which he won the 175 title as the No. 5 seed with exciting wins over the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 seeds. He finished 25-7.

CJ McCrea, Sayreville, Sr.,126: He placed 2nd GMCT 113 in a 21-5 season.

Henrique Ribeiro, Governor Livingston, Jr., 126: He reached the UCT final at 120 and finished 19-7.

Jax Obe, Montgomery, Jr., 144: He went 10-1 and placed 2nd SCT 138 before an injury cut short his season.

Cam Kolakowski, Watchung Hills, Jr.,120: Kolakowski finished 3rd SCT 120 and took 4th D in a 21-10 season.

Matthew Di Eduardo, Bridgewater-Raritan, Jr., 150: He finished 20-10 in his sophomore season and placed 3rd SCT 144.

Jake Caldwell, Bernards, Sr.157: The football star went 24-4 and placed 3rd SCT at 150.

Paul Boyle, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, So., 285: Boyle successfully navigated heavyweight as a freshman and placed 3rd UCT at 285 and went 14-11.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ wrestling: Central Jersey players to watch in 2023-24