Wrestling – District 24 Preview

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2015 NJSIAA District 24 Tournament

Saturday Feb. 21 at Pine Belt Arena (Toms River North)

Click here for brackets

Prelims and quarterfinals, 10 a.m.

Semifinals, 1:30 p.m.

Finals, 4 p.m.

Defending team champion: Southern Regional

Returning individual champions: Jeff DeLuise, Sr., Barnegat, 106; Owen McClave, Jr., Toms River South, 120; Chris Crane, Sr., Southern, 120; Matt Wilhelm, Sr., Southern, 152; Antrez Clagon, Sr., Toms River South, 160; Tyler MacLaine, Sr., Toms River North, 182; Joe Salvato, Sr., Toms River South, 182.

Teams

Barnegat

Team titles: none

District champions: three

Last champion(s): Jeff DeLuise, Greg Moran (2014)

Central

Team titles: Two (Last: 1994)

District champions: 52

Last champion: Atanacio Carrillo (2014)

Donovan Catholic

Team titles: none

District champions: Seven

Last champion: Anthony D’Anton (2011).

Lacey

Team titles: One (1999)

District champions: 33

Last champion(s): Luke Fernandez, Pat Schinder (2013)

Lakewood

Team titles: Two (Last: 1968)

District champions: 47

Last champion: David Jusino (2010)

Manchester

Team titles: One (2010)

District champions: 35

Last champion(s): Jesse Meaney, Anthony Prendimano (2011)

Pinelands

Team titles: Two (Last: 1993)

District champions: 39

Last champion: Dan Mooney (2010)

Southern Regional 

Team titles: 16 (Last: 2014)

District champions: 101

Last champion(s): Chris Crane, Bryan Brown, Matt Wilhelm, Zach Wilhelm, Nick Racanelli, Jesse Bauta.

Toms River East

Team titles: Eight (Last: 2001)

District champions: 69

Last champion: Rich Lewis (2013)

Toms River North

Team titles: One (1971)

District champions: 57

Last champion: Tyler MacLaine (2014)

Toms River South

Team titles: Five (Last: 1979)

District champions: 121

Last champion(s): Owen McClave, Brandon Murray, Joe Salvato, Antrez Clagon (2014).

Weights to Watch

170

Toms River North senior Dylan DaSilva (23-5) is a two-time finalist but is still looking for his first district title. He is the top seed and a strong favorite to reach the final from the top half of the bracket. Pinelands sophomore Chris Nielsen (26-5) is the No. 2 seed, but look out for Southern junior Peyton Blauvelt (18-5), would could grind his way all the way to the title from the No. 3 seed. The quarterfinal bout between Manchester junior William Farparan (25-7) and Central sophomore Mike Bickford (16-8) is a rematch of a matchup won by Farparan, 9-5, on Jan. 14.

Prediction: 1-DaSilva; 2-Blauvelt; 3-Nielsen

195

Toms River South senior Quentin DeCarlo is a decent favorite to win the title as the No. 1 seed, while seeds two through five all have a good shot at advancing. Lakewood senior Anthony Terry (25-9) is seeded second and Manchester senior Javier Holguin (25-6) is the No. 3 seed. Souther junior Connor Scully (13-7) and Central senior Jordan Hardy (12-5) will meet in the quarterfinals as the fourth and fifth seeds, respectively.

Prediction: 1-DeCarlo; 2-Terry; 3-Holguin.

Heavyweight

Each of the top seven seeds has at least 15 wins, and it’s heavyweight, so anything can happen. Central junior Darius Morrow (23-2) is the No. 1 seed. He has been one of the Shore’s most consistent heavyweights all season and is a solid favorite to reach the final from the top half of the bracket. Toms River North senior Alex Scherer (22-8) wrestled at a class or two below heavyweight most of the season, but when at 285 has competed well. He is the No. 2 seed and will likely face either Manchester senior Rafael Natal (20-6) or Lacey senior Ray DiBenedetto (19-13) in the quarterfinals.

Prediction: 1-Morrow; 2-Scherer; 3-Natal.

Heavy Favorites

106: Jeff DeLuise, Sr., Barnegat (20-1)

120: Owen McClave, Jr., Toms River South (26-0)

145: Tom Poklikuha, Sr., Pinelands (29-1)

160: Antrez Clagon, Sr., Toms River South (26-3)

Solid Favorites

126: Cole Corrigan, Fr., Toms River South (24-3)

132: James Knoeller, Sr., Southern (19-4)

138: Connor Garrity, Sr., Lacey (27-4)

152: Matt Wilhelm, Sr., Southern (24-2)

220: 1-Mike Siwiec, Sr., Toms River North (24-0).

Collision Course

182: 1-Joe Salvato, Sr., Toms River South (26-0) vs. 2-Tyler MacLaine, Sr., Toms River North (22-10).

Wide Open

113: 1-Nick Gallicchio, Fr., Toms River South (21-6); 2-Mike Heck, Sr., Pinelands (23-7) 3-Ricky Diaz, Sr., Toms River North (17-8); 4-Luke Gauthier, Fr., Lacey (27-5); 5-Matt Barnett, Fr., Southern (17-13).