Top performances by South Jersey wrestlers during opening weekend

Wrestlers hit the mats across the region last weekend as the 2023-24 season officially got underway.

Each week we will feature some of the top performances by South Jersey wrestlers in our seven-county coverage area.

Here's the list from the opening weekend of action:

Who had the best week? Vote in the poll at the end of the story.

More: Get ready for the South Jersey wrestling 2023-24 season with our preview

Burlington County League

Romeo Aviles, Pennsauken. The junior 165-pounder went 6-0 with five pins and a technical fall with five of the wins coming at the Ronald Bond Tournament in Haddonfield. He’s halfway to his win total from last season.

Nick Levach, Bordentown. After recording 17 pins last season, Levach kicked off his senior season with three falls en route to the 285 title at the Garden State Classic.

Jason Fagens, Pemberton. The senior 138-pounder recorded three pins, including two in the first minute, as the Hornets swept a season-opening quad-meet over Westampton Tech, Overbrook and Riverside.

Colonial Conference

Chris Broderick, Haddon Township. The senior went 3-0 over the weekend, including a pair of pins to win the 215 title at the Pete Adams Memorial Tournament in Vineland. Broderick needed overtime to seal the pin over Millville’s Jayden Jones in the tournament final.

Tyler Perrozzi, Audubon. The junior went the distance in each of his first four bouts of the season and claimed victories in all four, including an 8-5 decision over top-seeded Isaiah Garcia in the 138 final of the Pete Adams Memorial Tournament.

Dante Gismonde, Gateway. Without surrendering a point, the senior claimed the 132 title at the Gator Tournament. He scored a 3-0 decision over Palmyra’s Trevor Young, a 30-bout winner last winter, in the final.

Olympic Conference

Sammy Spaulding, Camden Catholic. The sophomore had one of the best opening weekends for a South Jersey wrestler as he placed second at 126 at the prestigious Beast of the East tournament. “The Bull” won his first six bouts to reach the final where he lost to defending state and Beast of the East champion Anthony Knox, of St. John Vianney, 16-9.

Josiah Canales, Cherry Hill West. The senior strung together two technical calls and pin to claim the 138 crown at the John & Betty Vogeding Tournament in Paulsboro. He outscored his first two opponents 32-2 before sealing a first-period pin in the final.

Frankie Colucci, Lenape. As a sixth-seed, the junior produced three wins to capture the 144 title at the Gator Tournament. Colucci knocked off the third seed with a pin before winning a pair of two-point decisions over the second- and top-seeded wrestlers for the title.

Tri-County Conference

Jason Meola, Kingsway. The junior started the season with a solid 8-3 decision over Rancocas Valley’s Hunter before earning the 106 title at the John & Betty Vogeding Tournament at Paulsboro. He went 2-0 at the tournament with a pin and a 4-0 decision over Phillipsburg’s Anthony Pettinelli.

William Lombardi, Clearview. The junior pinned his way to the 285 title and Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Pete Adams Memorial Tournament at Vineland. He decked district champion William Taylor, of Highland/Triton, in 20 seconds in the final.

Amari Vann, Delsea. Making his varsity debut, the freshman put together an impressive run at the Robin Leff Tournament earning the 113 title. He scored a 3-1 decision over Mount Olive’s Anthony Piemonte in the semifinals before scoring a 6-1 decision over Red Bank Catholic’s Michael DiBiase in the final.

Cape-Atlantic League

Julian Rivera, Absegami. The senior racked up four pins over the weekend, sealing a fall in a dual meet against St. Augustine before rattling off three more en route to the 175 title at the Pete Adams Memorial Tournament.

Chase Hansen, Lower Cape May. Hansen picked up where he left off last season with more pins. The sophomore, who had 29 wins last winter, piled up three on his way to the 138 title and Outstanding Wrestler award honors at Gateway’s Gator Tournament. The Caper Tigers also captured the team title at the event.

Maurice Matthews, Middle Township. The big fella racked up three straight pins to earn the 285 title at the Hammonton Kick-Off Tournament. He finished third at districts and sixth at regions last season.

More: Girls wrestlers to watch for 2023-24 season in South Jersey

Girls

Atiyana Williams, Pemberton. The senior delivered one of the biggest upsets of the Queen of the East tournament when she pinned defending state champion Ari Tyson, of Cherry Hill West, to capture the 165 title. Williams successfully defended her title at the QOE, going 4-0 with four pins, including three in the first period.

Jada Pichardo, Pennsauken. The junior earned the 126 crown at the Queen of the East tournament. She had two pins and a major decision to reach the final where she won by injury default. She has 48 career wins, including 30 last season.

Reagan Roxas, Kingsway. The sophomore captured the 120 title at the Queen of the East tournament. Roxas earned the crown with a 4-0 win over Paramus Catholic’s Grace Riley, who upset defending champion Riley Lerner the semifinals. Roxas went 5-0 over the weekend with a pin in the opening dual meet and two more falls at the tournament.

Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey wrestling's top performers from opening weekend