2018-2019 Shore Conference Wrestling Preview: Class A North

CLASS A NORTH

CBA - head coach: Billy Ashnault, first season

Freehold - head coach: Matt Shephard, 15th season

Freehold Township - head coach: Jesse Heubel, second season

Howell - head coach: John Gagliano, 22nd season

Long Branch - head coach: Dan George, 29th season

Manalapan - head coach: Scott Pressman, 12th season

Marlboro - head coach: Charlie Frankel, third season

Middletown South - head coach: Anton Atterbury, third season

THE FAVORITE: Howell

The Rebels enter the 2018-2019 season as one of the best teams in all of New Jersey following back-to-back state titles, including going undefeated and claiming the NJSIAA Group 5 title last season.

The Rebels return six wrestlers who won at least 20 matches last season, including seven region qualifiers and five state qualifiers. Junior Shane Reitsma, a Rider recruit, leads the way after going 40-6 and placing sixth in New Jersey at 170 pounds. Senior Darby Diedrich, who is committed to Brown University, was 41-3 last year at 126 pounds with Shore Conference, District 22 and Region 6 individual titles to his credit. Seniors Xavier Kelly (31-8 at 152, 3^rd Region 6) and Christian Murphy (39-4, Region 6 champ at 182) are also two hammers in the top half of the lineup. Sophomore Paul Jakub is coming off a tremendous freshman campaign where he went 34-7 at 145 pounds and finished second in Region 6.

Junior Ethan Liptzin could be primed for a big season and sophomore Kyle Nase should settle into a starting role and has the makings of another big-time wrestler down low.

Howell will begin the season ranked 40^th in the nation by InterMat and will test themselves in several high-profile out-of-conference matches. The Rebels open the season at the John and Betty Vogeding Tournament, hosted by fellow public-school power Paulsboro, and will head to Canon-McMillan High School outside of Pittsburgh for the prestigious Powerade Tournament on Dec. 28-29. They’ll also face 11-time state champions South Plainfield on Jan. 17 and wrestle in the Jack Welch Duals on Jan. 18-19 at Moorestown.

The Rebels are also chasing history this season as they try to join Long Branch as the only Shore Conference programs to win three straight state championships.

MAIN CONTENDER: Long Branch 

The Green Wave have been one of the most consistent programs in the Shore over the last decade and are coming off winning a sixth sectional title (Central Jersey Group 4) as well as claiming the District 23 team title.

Senior heavyweight Kevin Cerruti leads the way after going 39-6 with a Region 6 title and a seventh-place finish in the state tournament last season. Junior Ryan Zimmerman is another top returner at 132 pounds after a 38-7 season where he was second in Region 6. Senior Luke Arnold (182), senior Rey Guzman (120) and junior Ryan Carey (152) all won 20 matches last season with Carey winning a district title and Guzman placing third at districts. Seniors Stivini Silva (145) and La’Qym Morris (195) should also have solid seasons.

DARK HORSE: Manalapan

State qualifiers Alex Baran and Matt Benedetti anchor a Braves squad that returns five 20-match winners. Baran was 28-8 last season and second in Region 6, and will start the year at 138 pounds. Benedetti (182) had a very good sophomore season by going 35-10 with a District 21 title and third-place finishes in the SCT and Region 6. Senior Kareem Ghaida (132) was 24-13 and second in District 21 and senior Paul Santomarco (160) was a District 21 champion. Sophomore Calvin Burke was 21-12 as a freshman.

Wrestlers to Watch 

Alex Baran, Sr., 138, Manalapan: 28-8, 1^st D21, 2^nd R6

Matt Benedetti, Jr., 182, Manalapan: 35-10, 3^rd SCT, 1^st D21, 3^rd R6

Evan Brown, Sr., 160, Marlboro: 19-12, 3^rd D19

Kevin Cerruti, Sr., 285, Long Branch: 2^nd D23, 1^st R6, 7^th NJ

Avery Clark, So., 126, Freehold Township: 25-13, 1^st D24, 5^th R6

Darby Diedrich, Sr., 132, Howell: 41-3, 1^st SCT, 1^st D22, 1^st R6

Paul Jakub, So., 152, Howell: 34-7, 3^rd SCT, 2^nd D22, 2^nd R6

Xavier Kelly, Sr., 160, Howell: 31-8, 2^nd D22, 3^rd R6

Sam LaCorte, Sr., 138, CBA: 25-11, 3^rd D24

Nico Messina, Jr., 120, Freehold: 34-4, 1^st D23, 1^st R6

Christian Murphy, Sr., 182/195, Howell: 39-4, 2^nd SCT, 1^st D22, 1^st R6

Shane Reitsma, Jr., 170/182, Howell: 40-6, 3^rd SCT, 1^st D22, 2^nd R6, 6^th NJ

Brady Smith, Sr., 220, Middletown South: 28-11, 2^nd D17 

Key Dates 

Dec. 28-29

Howell at Powerade Tournament (Canon-McMillan HS, Pa.)

Dec. 15

Howell at John and Betty Vogeding Tournament (Paulsboro)

CBA at Colt Classic Tournament (CBA)

Freehold at Garden State Classic (Barnegat)

Freehold Township, Marlboro at Old Bridge Icebreaker

Long Branch at Neptune Classic

Manalapan at Nottingham Invitational

Middletown South at TCNJ Pride Tournament

Dec. 22

Howell at Jackson Memorial/Sparta

Dec. 27

Middletown South at Walter Woods Tournament (Middletown South)

Dec. 28

Freehold, Long Branch at Mustang Classic (Brick Memorial)

Jan. 4

Howell at Middletown North

Jan. 8

Manalapan at Colts Neck

Jan. 9

Long Branch at Ocean

Middletown South at Rumson-Fair Haven

Jan. 16

Long Branch at Raritan

Jan. 17

Howell at South Plainfield

Jan. 18-19

Howell, CBA, Long Branch at Jack Welch Duals (Moorestown)

Jan. 18

Middletown South at Holmdel

Jan. 19

Manalapan at Ocean

Jan. 23

Manalapan at Howell

Middletown South at CBA

Jan. 25-26

Shore Conference Tournament at Red Bank Regional HS

Jan. 30

Howell at Long Branch

Freehold at Freehold Township

Feb. 1

Middletown North at Middletown South

Feb. 4

NJSIAA sectional quarterfinals

Feb. 6

NJSIAA sectional semifinals

Feb. 8

NJSIAA sectional finals

Feb. 10

NJSIAA state semifinals and finals at RWJ Barnabas Arena (Toms River North)

Feb. 16

NJSIAA district tournaments

Feb. 20, 22-23

NJSIAA region tournaments

Feb. 28-March 2

NJSIAA state tournament at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.