125 Shore Conference Wrestlers to Watch in 2023-2024

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The Shore Conference wrestling season begins on Thursday, Dec. 14 and once again Monmouth and Ocean counties are filled with dozens of talented wrestlers ready to make their mark on New Jersey

Here are the top wrestlers in the conference to keep an eye on as the road to Rutgers and Atlantic City set to begin. The list is in alphabetical order and broken down by grade level with returning state medalists first. Each team has at least one wrestler included regardless of postseason accolades. All weights are projected based on preseason information.

2023-2024 Shore Conference Wrestlers to Watch

Seniors

Matt Henrich, 157, Southern

Henrich won last season's 150-pound state championship and committed to Virginia Tech during the offseason. He went 40-3 last season with district and region titles, as well, while helping to lead the Rams to the NJSIAA Group 5 team championship. He is 83-14 for his career, a two-time region champ, and a two-time state medalist.

Hudson Skove, 215, Rumson-Fair Haven

Skove became Rumson's first state champion when he won the 215-pound title at Boardwalk Hall last March, completing a historic junior season that saw him go 40-1 (his only loss was in the Beast of the East final) and also win Shore Conference, district, and region titles. He has 85 career wins and is committed to Harvard.

Alex Nini, 144, CBA

A Rutgers University commit, Nini became a three-time state medallist last season with his highest finish yet by taking third in New Jersey at 138 pounds. He was 25-3 and won his second district and region titles, and enters this season with 68 career wins.

Zach Reilley, 138, Raritan

Committed to Long Island University, Reilly had an excellent junior season by placing fifth in the state to punctuate a 43-3 season that also saw him win district, region, and Shore Conference tournament championships. He has 86 career victories and is aiming to become Raritan's first two-time state medalist since Dan Seidenberg, who was a three-time state medalist.

Kurt Wehner, 120, Donovan Catholic

Wehner became Donovan's first two-time state medalist in program history last season when he placed fifth at 113 pounds. He was 36-6 and won district and region titles, as well. He has 70 career victories and recently committed to Rutgers University.

Sebastian Ortega, 132, Howell

Ortega enters his fourth and final year as a hammer in the Rebels' lineup and is coming off a junior season in which he posted a 36-6 record, won a district title, finished second in Region 6, and reached the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. He is a three-time state qualifier who finished fifth in the state as a sophomore. He enters this season with 76 career victories and is committed to the admissions process at Princeton University.

Lorenzo Portella, Hwt, Red Bank Catholic

Portella won his second District 20 and Region 5 titles last season and reached the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. He finished seventh in the state as a sophomore.

Luckenson Altidor, 144/150, Asbury Park

The Blue Bishops had three wrestlers finish just short of qualifying for the Region 6 tournament and Altidor was one of them (along with Amando Herrera and Iquann Crawford). He led the team with 22 wins and placed fourth at the district tournament.

Mitch Bivona, 175, Southern

A perfect example of Southern's exceptional depth, Bivona had a breakout season as a junior by going 26-11, winning district and region championships, and reaching the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

Nicholas Campagna, 150/157, CBA

Campagna comes to CBA as a transfer from South Plainfield where he went 32-4, won district and region titles, and advanced to the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

Matthew Castelli, 157, Middletown North

Castelli is a two-time district medalist who last season went 28-8, finished third in Region 5, and qualified for the state tournament.

Dane Colfer, 215, Howell

A two-time district medalist, Colfer went 14-8 and placed sixth in Region 6 at 215 pounds last season.

Marco Conroy, 144, Red Bank Catholic

Conroy went 22-9, placed third in District 20, and earned a sixth-place medal in Region 5.

Aidan Davis, 126, Raritan

Davis posted a 25-16 record, placed third at districts, and finished sixth in Region 5.

Donovan DiStefano, 150, Wall

DiStefano is a three-time state qualifier and two-time district and region champion looking for a state medal that has eluded him thus far. He was 34-3 last season with district and region championships and reached the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. He has 73 career wins.

Joe Dolci, 138/144, Toms River North

The Mariners are really struggling with low numbers but Dolci is the program's bright spot as a two-time state qualifier. He went 33-11 last season with a district title and a third-place finish in Region 6.

Ryan Dubnik, 132, Freehold Township

A season-ending injury limited Dubnik to just three bouts last season. He is primed to pick up where he left off after a promising sophomore season in which he went 34-5, won a district title, and finished second in Region 6 to qualify for the state tournament.

Evan Eckerstrom, 215, Red Bank

Eckerstrom posted 18 wins, was a district runner-up, and placed sixth in the Region 5 tournament.

James Farina, 150/157, Ocean

A three-time state qualifier with 71 career victories, Farina enters his senior year after going 34-6, placing second at districts and third at regions, and reaching the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament to just miss out on a coveted state medal.

Collin French, 215, Southern

A two-time district medalist, French won his first district and region championships last season and reached the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. He finished his junior season with a 28-9 record.

Matt Gauthier, 144/150, Lacey

The Lions' returning wins leader went 33-4, finished second at districts, and placed fifth at the Region 7 tournament,. He is a two-time district medalist and a two-time region fifth-place finisher.

Alexander Grant, 138, Freehold Township

Grant was a district champ and a state qualifier last season when he went 28-10 and placed fourth at regions.

Alec Holland, 150, Middletown South

Holland went 27-13, was a district runner-up, and placed fifth in Region 5. He is a two-time district medalist.

Cael Huxford, 150, Jackson Memorial

Huxford enters his senior season as a two-time state qualifier following a season in which he returned from an injury to go 17-4, win a district title, and reach the second round of wrestlebacks at Boardwalk Hall.

Brady Klinsky, 113/120, Middletown North

Klinsky is a two-time state qualifier with 72 career wins aiming to end his career with a state medal. He went 37-3 last season with Shore Conference, district, and region championships before being eliminated from the state tournament in the second round of wrestlebacks.

Lawrence Liss, 138, Matawan

Liss is a two-time district champion and two-time state qualifier with 73 career wins. Last season, he went 36-8, won a district title, was a region runner-up, and advanced to the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

JJ Machnik, 157, Howell

Machnik went 27-12, finished second at districts, and placed sixth at the Region 6 tournament.

Noah Michaels, 126, Red Bank Catholic

Michaels went 31-11, finished second at districts, placed third in Region 5, and won a match at the state tournament.

Andrew Mucciolo, 120/126, Manalapan

Mucciolo led the Braves in wins last season by going 37-6 and won his second district title before placing fifth in Region 5.

Sawyer Ostroff, 126, Donovan Catholic

Ostroff went 27-8, finished third a districts and regions, and advanced to the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. He is a two-time state qualifier.

Mason Pirnik, 157, Brick Memorial

Pirnik is a returning state qualifier after a postseason run that saw him finish second in districts and fourth at regions.

Sam Rock III, Hwt, Donovan Catholic

After an excellent senior season on the gridiron where he was an All-Shore selection, Rock will turn his attention to the mat where he is coming off a junior season in which he went 24-12 and qualified for the state tournament.

Tyler Russ, 150, Colts Neck

Russ is a four-year starter, a two-time district medalist, and was a state qualifier in 2022. He went 27-7 last season with a fifth-place finish in Region 6.

Giovanni Scafidi, 138, Howell

A three-time state qualifier, Scafidi went 27-6, won a district title, placed second in Region 6, and reached the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

Jason Seda, 126, Jackson Memorial

Seda won 22 bouts last season but did not participate in the individual postseason. He was a state qualifier in 2022.

Amir Shakhnavazov, 215, Colts Neck

Shakhanavazov won his second district medal last season when he went 26-10, finished as a district runner-up, and placed fifth in Region 6.

Sam Sheridan, 120, Freehold

Sheridan earned his second district medal and finished sixth in Region 6 during a 21-win junior season.

Andrew Sherry, 138, Brick

Sherry is a two-time district medalist and is coming off a junior season in which he went 24-7 and finished third at districts.

Dominic Terraciano, 132, Keansburg

Terraciano went 21-5 and was a district runner-up last season.

AJ Todisco, 175, Holmdel

Todisco went 28-10, won a district title, and placed fifth in Region 6. He is a two-time district medalist.

Anthony Urso, 113, Jackson Liberty

The Lions' standout is a two-time district medalist who has placed at least fifth at the Region 6 tournament in each of his first three seasons. Last season, he went 22-10, placed second at both districts and regions, and advanced to the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

Tyler Venet, 150/157, CBA

Venet struggled through a meat-grinder of a schedule and tried to settle into the 120-pound weight class after a big growth spurt following a sophomore season at 106 pounds. His talent came through in the postseason when he was able to win a district title, finish second at regions, and win a match at the state tournament.

Joseph Weikel, 113, Jackson Memorial

Weikel debuted as a starter as a junior last season and turned in a great season that saw him win 25 bouts, claim a district championship, and qualify for the state tournament.

Juniors

Anthony Knox, 126, St. John Vianney

Knox is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 126 pounds and is one of the top pound-for-pound wrestlers in the country. Last season, he went 39-0 and won his second state championship in dominant fashion. He has a 72-1 record and has not lost to an in-state opponent during his career. Knox recently won a Super 32 championship and immediately committed to Cornell following the victory. He has a chance to go down as the greatest wrestler in Shore Conference history if he can duplicate his first two seasons.

Harvey Ludington, 190, Brick Memorial

One of the top wrestlers in the country for the class of 2025, Ludington won a state championship as a freshman and finished second last season. He has a 76-3 career record and is a two-time district and region champion, as well. Ludington is committed to Arizona State University.

Wyatt Stout, 144, Southern

Stout followed up a great freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign. After helping the Rams win the NJSIAA Group 5 team state title, he won district and region championships before placing sixth at the state tournament to conclude a 33-9 season.

Patrick O'Keefe, 132, St. John Vianney

O'Keefe was a state runner-up at 106 pounds as a freshman and placed eighth at 132 pounds last season. He went 23-6 as a sophomore with district and region championships and a second-place finish at the Shore Conference Tournament.

Hayden Hochstrasser, 165, Southern

Hochstrasser earned a spot on the medal stand in Atlantic City last season with an eighth-place finish at 144 pounds. He went 22-12, won a district championship, and helped the Rams win the NJSIAA Group 5 team championship. He is a two-time district champion and two-time state qualifier.

Jordan Ayyash, 157, Jackson Liberty

Ayyash went 25-12 and placed fifth at the Region 6 tournament.

Elijah Bayne, 120, Rumson-Fair Haven

Bayne joins the Bulldogs after moving in from Oregon where he was a two-time state champion.

Frankie Burgio, 126, Point Boro

Burgio is a two-time state qualifier who reached the third round of wrestlebacks at last season's state tournament. He finished the season 33-8 and placed third in districts and Region 6.

Joey DeAngelo, 120, Point Boro

DeAngelo reached the fourth round of wrestlebacks at last season's state tournament to finish one win short of a state medal. He was 34-5 with a district championship, a second-place finish at Region 6, and a third-place finish at the Shore Conference Tournament.

Michael DiBiase, 113, Red Bank Catholic

DiBiase joins the Caseys after transferring from Wall. He is a two-time district champion and a two-time state qualifier, and last season went 35-7 and won his first Region 6 title before reaching the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament at 106 pounds.

Conor Delaney, 190, Rumson-Fair Haven

Delaney went 28-13, was fourth at the SCT, placed second at districts, finished third in Region 5, and won a match at the state tournament. He was also a district champ as a freshman.

Alex Delaurier, 144, Raritan

An injury wiped out most of his freshman season but Delaurier returned with a vengeance as a sophomore to go 35-6, win a district championship, and reach the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

David Dominguez, Hwt, Lakewood

Dominguez is the Piners' returning wins leader coming off a 16-win season and a fourth-place finish at districts.

Thomas Drea, 138, Neptune

Drea is the Scarlet Fliers' returning wins leader off a 17-9 season and a third-place finish at districts.

AJ Falcone, 138, CBA

Falcone followed up a strong freshman season with a breakout sophomore campaign in which he went 23-14, won his first district and region titles, and reached the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

Noah Fontana, 150/157, Southern

Fontana arrives in Manahawkin as a transfer from Mainland where last season he went 21-9 and qualified for the state tournament. He is a two-time district medalist.

Max Fredericks, 175, Keyport

Fredericks is the Red Raiders' returning wins leader after a 14-7 sophomore season.

Jacob Howland, Hwt, CBA

CBA struggled to fill the heavyweight position last year and often forfeited the weight. That won't be a problem this season now that Howland has transferred in from Hamilton West. He went 29-5, was a district runner-up, and qualified for the state tournament last season. He was a district champion as a freshman.

Alex Jang, 157/165, Marlboro

Jang just missed out on a trip to the region tournament with a fourth-place finish at districts.

Caden Langan, 157/165, Toms River South

Langan went 30-9 and placed sixth at the Region 7 tournament last season. He is a two-time district medalist.

Dezmond Lenaghan, 144, St. John Vianney

Lenaghan transferred to SJV from Donovan Catholic where he posted 51 wins and was a two-time state qualifier. Last season, he went 24-10, won a district title, was a region runner-up, and reached the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

James Lynch, Hwt, Toms River East

Lynch is a two-time district medalist who broke through at heavyweight last season to reach the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. He finished his sophomore season with a 30-6 record and second-place finishes at districts and regions.

Gavin Martin, 120, Brick Memorial

A two-time district champ, Martin was 22-11 and a fifth-place finisher in Region 6.

Dante Mortellite, 190, Manchester

Mortellite finished with a 22-13 record, placed third at districts, and won a Region 7 fifth-place medal at 175 pounds last season.

PJ Niethe, 132, Point Beach

Niethe is a two-time district medalist who went 26-9 and was a district runner-up last season.

Michael O'Connor, 138, Manasquan

O'Connor finished his sophomore season with a 31-9 record and a second-place finish at districts. He was a region sixth-place finisher as a freshman.

Xavier Ortega, 138, Howell

Ortega went 36-6, captured district and region championships, and reached the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament to earn a top-12 designation. He has 71 career wins and is a two-time district and region champ.

Colin Palumbo, 165, Matawan

Palumbo is a two-way standout on Matawan's football team as well as on the mat where he is a two-time district medalist. He went 29-9 last season while winning a district title and reaching the second round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

Cole Pangborn, 157, Rumson-Fair Haven

Pangborn went 28-12, placed fifth at the SCT, was a district runner-up, and finished third in Region 5 to reach the state tournament. He is also a standout defensive back for Rumson's football team and suffered an injury in the Group 2 state final, so his availability for this season is a question mark.

Jacob Portman, 126, Middletown North

Portman went 30-11, placed third at districts, and earned a fifth-place finish in Region 5.

Frank Romeo, 175, Red Bank Catholic

Romeo went 31-9, won his first district title, and placed fifth at 165 pounds in Region 5.

Scottie Sari, 132, Southern

Sari had a breakout sophomore season with a 31-11 record and a trip to the state tournament. He is a two-time district medalist.

Nick Sheldrick, 113, Raritan

Sheldrick won 19 bouts, was a district runner-up, and placed sixth in Region 5.

Cole Stangle, 165, St. John Vianney

Stangle is a two-time state qualifier who last season went 26-9, won a district title, was a region finalist, and finished one win short of a state medal by advancing to the fourth round of wrestlebacks in Atlantic City.

Ben Szuba, 215, Brick Memorial

Szuba went 25-11, won a district title, and placed third in Region 6 to qualify for the state tournament.

Boomer Volek, 144, Ocean

Volek had a very good sophomore season with a 31-8 record, a third-place finish at districts, and a fifth-place medal in Region 6.

Ryan Walsh, 126, Monmouth

Walsh is a three-year starter for the Falcons and went 23-10 with a second-place finish at districts last season.

Jake Zaltsman, 138, St. John Vianney

A two-time state qualifier, Zaltsman went 30-11, won a district title, placed second in Region 5, and won a match at the state tournament.

Sophomores

Matt Gould, 113, St. John Vianney

Gould earned a state medal as a freshman by finishing eighth in New Jersey at 106 pounds to polish off 27-9 season that also featured a district title and a second-place finish in Region 5.

Trevor Doremus, 113, Shore

Doremos is the Blue Devils' returning wins leader after going 24-12 and placing third in districts.

Bobby Duffy, 120/126, CBA

Duffy had an extraordinary freshman season with a Shore Conference Tournament title before claiming district and region championships and advancing to the fourth round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament. He finished with a 32-9 record.

Eamon Fry, 113, Rumson-Fair Haven

Fry went 26-10, won a district title, and placed fifth at both the Shore Conference and Region 5 tournaments.

Tornick Kajaia, 190, Long Branch

Kajaia was one of the best freshmen in the Shore last season going 27-17, placing sixth in the Shore Conference Tournament, finishing second at districts, placing third in Region 6, and winning a match at the state tournament.

Mason Lugo, 113, Central

Lugo won 18 bouts and finished third in districts as a freshman.

Greg Mamola, 132, Barnegat

Mamola went 17-9 and qualified for the Region 7 tournament last season, becoming the Bengals' first freshman region qualifier in 10 years.

Anthony Mason, 106, Southern

Mason had a dynamite freshman season by going 34-10, helping Southern win the Group 5 team title, winning district and region titles, and reaching the third round of wrestlebacks at the state tournament.

Armani McCann, 120, Jackson Liberty

McCann had a strong freshman season by going 23-11 and placing fifth in Region 6.

Ethan Michaels, 106, Colts Neck

Michaels went 26-11, was a district runner-up, and finished sixth at the Region 6 tournament to highlight a strong freshman season.

Michael Napolitano, 113, Brick Memorial

Napolitano went 21-11, won a district title, and finished third in Region 6 at 106 pounds during a stellar debut season.

Tyler Palumbo, 175/190, Red Bank

Palumbo compiled a 32-10 record, placed fourth at the Shore Conference Tournament, was a district runner-up, and finished sixth in Region 5.

Tucker Pazinko, 126, Jackson Liberty

Part of a strong three-weight stretch down low for the Lions, Pazinko is coming off a superb freshman season where he went 28-11, placed third in Region 6, and won a match at the state tournament.

Wyatt Pharo, 113, Pinelands

Pharo had a strong debut season with a 22-15 record, a district title, and a sixth-place finish in Region 8.

Alex Reyes, 190, Holmdel

Reyes burst into the scene as one of the top freshmen in the Shore Conference last season. His 37 victories set a program record for most wins by a freshman and he finished in the top 12 in the state by reaching the fourth round of wrestlebacks in Atlantic City, one win short of a state medal. He finished 37-6, won a district title, and placed second at both the Shore Conference and Region 5 tournaments.

Trey Tallmadge, 175, Brick Memorial

Tallmadge won a district championship and qualified for the state tournament, finishing the season with 18 wins.

Atillia Vigilante, 126, Southern

Vigilante went 23-8 and placed sixth in the Region 7 tournament.

Freshmen

Paul Kenny, 113, CBA

Kenney enters high school as one of the most accomplished youth wrestlers in the country after winning a U17 world championship over the summer. That title is just the latest for Kenny's youth career, which includes a U.S. Open championship and two intermediate state championships.

Sonny Amato, 138, Rumson-Fair Haven

Amato figures to be one of the top freshmen in New Jersey after a youth career that includes an intermediate state championship, a cadet freestyle championship, and an NHSCA national championship.

Thomas Blewett, 106, Middletown North

Blewett was a middle school state champion in 2022 and 2021.

Killian Coluccio, 106, CBA

Part of CBA's outstanding freshman class, Coluccio won last season's 105-pound intermediate state championship.

Levi Foote, 175, Southern

Foote was the intermediate state champion at 175 pounds last season and gives Southern another standout upperweight alongside seniors Mitch Bivona and Collin French.

Jeremy Marsella, 150, Wall

Marsella won last season's 152-pound intermediate state title and will look to slide into the middle of the Crimson Knights' lineup and make ain instant impact.

Sonny DiMatteo, 106, Brick Memorial

DiMatteo joins Brick Memorial after a highly-successful youth career that saw him finish second at the intermediate state tournament last season.

Bubba Garvish, 150, St. John Vianney

Garvish was a runner-up at last season's intermediate state tournament.

Dominic Volek, 138, Ocean

Volek placed second at 136 pounds at last season's intermediate state tournament. He'll join brothers Jake (freshman) and Boomer (junior) in the Spartans' lineup.

Brock Oizerowitz, 175, CBA

Oizerowtiz placed third at 160 pounds at the intermediate state tournament.

Julian Zargo, 106, St. John Vianney

Zargo finished second in the intermediate state tournament in 2022.

Finn Devrous, 175, Toms River South

Devrous finished third at the intermediate state tournament at 215 pounds last season.

Cash McVey, 106/113, Southern

McVey enters high school after finishing third at the intermediate state tournament last year.

Jake Clayton, 157, Point Boro

Clayton placed third at the 2022 intermediate state tournament at 144 pounds.

Joey Davis, 175, Lacey

Davis had a strong freshman year on the football field and enters wrestling season off a fourth-place finish at 175 pounds in last season's intermediate state tournament.

Jacob Feinstein, 190/215, St. John Vianney

Part of a standout freshman class for the Lancers, Feinstein placed fourth in the 190-pound bracket at last season's intermediate state tournament.

Ricky DeLorenzo, 106, Toms River East

DeLorenzo placed fifth at last season's intermediate state tournament.

John Gann, Hwt, Holmdel

Gann was fifth in the state at last season's intermediate state tournament.

Tanner Hodgins, 175, Howell

Hodginns placed fifth at the intermediate state tournament last season and was the champion at the prestigious Tulsa Nationals in the 15U division.

Sullivan Hawkes, 132, CBA

Hawkes placed sixth at 136 pounds at last season's intermediate state tournament.

Luke Johnston, 106, Howell

Johnson was sixth in the intermediate state tournament in 2022.